Alice In Chains

I simply love the damn record. I think AIC are one of the few bands in the world that each time they release a record it's top tier quality assured. Every F'ing Time! When TDPDH is the record that amazes me the least while being an incredible album, I think it's all said. Now Rainier Fog is some years older and spined it a zillion of times I can say it's by far my second favorite from the Duval era and my 4th favorite from the band (only trailing behind Black Gives Way To Blue, Dirt and their self titled. On one hand we have those sludgy soul crushers like Red Giant, Def Hears and So Far Under that dwell in that almost impossible balance between oppressive depression and bittersweet melodies AIC so masterfully achieves in an unique way. Then we have lighter songs (but still with a fair amount of a bitter sweet aftertaste), simple in structure but amazingly well composed like the title track or All I Am, heavily supported in absurdly gorgeous hooks and vocal harmonies. The track that portraits these compositions perfectly and happens to be my favorite is Maybe. This song is so good it should have a religion dedicated to it. :p
 
Fly and Drone took me a while. Red Giant is really Stone 2.0 but it still kicks ass.
 
I gave Jerry's new album Brighten a listen today, first impression is pretty good. It's hard to tell where Alice ends and Jerry begins, but that's neither surprising nor a criticism considering he writes 99% of Alice's material. The opening track "Atone" is probably the most Alice-ish song on the album with its dark, sinister tone, but most of what follows is much lighter, with Jerry really letting his country influences shine. Basically, if you like any of Alice's lighter material then you probably won't find much to dislike about this album.
 

Alice in Chains is touring with Breaking Benjamin and Bush this summer.

Aug. 10 - Burgettstown, PA - The Pavilion at Star Lake
Aug. 11 - Camden, NJ - Waterfront Music Pavilion
Aug. 13 - Syracuse, NY - St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
Aug. 14 - Wantagh, NY - Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Aug. 16 - Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
Aug. 17 - Noblesville, IN - Ruoff Music Center
Aug. 20 - Council Bluffs, IA - Westfair Amphitheater^^
Aug. 22 - Milwaukee, WI - American Family Insurance Amphitheater
Aug. 24 - Tinley Park, IL - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre - Chicago, IL
Aug. 27 - Englewood, CO - Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre^^
Aug. 29 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
Aug. 31 - Bend, OR - Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Sep. 02 - Ridgefield, WA - RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Sep. 05 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sep. 07 - Wheatland, CA - Toyota Amphitheatre
Sep. 08 - Irvine, CA - FivePoint Amphitheatre
Sep. 10 - Phoenix, AZ - Ak-Chin Pavilion
Sep. 11 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheater
Sep. 14 - Del Valle, TX - Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Sep. 16 - Dallas, TX - Dos Equis Pavilion**
Sep. 17 - Houston, TX - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman**
Sep. 20 - Rogers, AR - Walmart AMP
Sep. 21 - Maryland Heights, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre - St. Louis, MO
Sep. 27 - Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Sep. 28 - Alpharetta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Sep. 30 - Tampa, FL - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
Oct. 01 - West Palm Beach, FL - iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Oct. 04 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion
Oct. 05 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
Oct. 08 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center







** BUSH not appearing
^^ Not produced by Live Nation

Tickets go on sale on Friday, March 11 at 10 a.m. local time on Ticketmaster.com.

I've seen AiC three times, and Breaking Benjamin once, but I'll still most likely go to the Tinley show on Aug 24. It actually works out pretty well for me that it's on a Wednesday night, since Thursday is my day off at work. :)
 
I considered this one. I think I'll pass. I have enough concerts this year I have to travel for.
 
Jerry started his solo tour last night (I wasn't there; hope to go to Houston show next month)

 
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