Pink hair. Candlelight. A man singing the last honest words he had left. The Alice in Chains Unplugged Nutshell performance is a farewell letter set to music.
I'll have to give AiC another listen. I know they are good and know them a bit, your article really made me want to hear nutshell properly. I actually have a solo album by Cantrell which I really liked... It's called Boggy Depot which I don't quite understand. Anyway, anyone who likes Grunge is ok in my book. What other bands did you like, Kayleigh?
\o/ I grew up a scene kid. Black Veil Brides Paramore ect. My dad loved The Offspring so that was always on in the house. Ended up being a Hollywood Undead, Dead by April and Avenged Sevenfold (their earlier stuff) fan. Now days thanks to YouTube mymix, it’s just whatever sounds great!
I’ll have a look at Boggy Depot, i do like Cantrell’s style
i remember in high school when i first really discovered alice in chains (weirdly at the same time i started listening to the beastie boys, so the two are linked in my mind). i'd grown up with grunge and other varieties of 90s rock in the background (my dad has a good music taste), but now i was really listening to them for myself.
i fell in love with jar of flies immediately. every song on there is a complete masterpiece. when my dad found out what i was listening to, we took an afternoon and we watched this unplugged together (he had it on DVD!).
i didn't fully understand the story of the band at the time (and layne's story is one that, once i learned about it, has really stuck with me for so many reasons), but the line about a man singing at his own funeral - i've seen it a few times now - really captures the essence of the performance. and it is, somehow, still an incredible performance. it's almost ethereal, in a way. haunting.
i don't really know what i'm trying to say here. this was an excellent piece, so well written, and it's made me think about my relationship with alice in chains' music, and just what it is about it that makes me love it so much. thank you for sharing this.
the death of physical media is so sad to me, and they will pry physical books from my cold, dead hands. how are people supposed to immediately know i have great taste in movies when they come over if they can't be greeted by a wall of DVDs anymore? honestly, you're so right.
it's just so incredible to me that he could be going through all of this to the point that the rest of the band was unsure if he'd even show up and deliver such a performance.
All of those bands from that scene are all my regular go to music and were largely what I listeners to through my teens and continue to do so, today.
That Unplugged set is superb, and for Layne to pull it off like that was quite a feat considering the condition he was in at that time.
When they received the Founders award from the Seattle Museum of Pop Culture in 2020, they were featured as part of the museums' 'Founders' award and there was a range of singers and the current AIC lineup playing a set of their songs. It was in lockdown though so all largely from different places.
My favourite singer, Mark Lanegan (who was Layne's best friend) chose Nutshell as one of two songs that he covered. It's one that really hits hard.
Didn’t know about the Pop Culture Museum, that sounds so cool! Especially during Lockdown as well. They fully deserve the award and it’s great to know they were awarded it! Thanks Gary! :3
Love that unplugged, just as much as I love the one by Nirvana. A few years ago AiC was #1 band in my Spotify, I'd listened to all of their songs with Layne like a 1000 times, learned many of them by heart. Every now and then I still grab my guitar and play Would? or Down in the hole, or Nutshell of course, and it still resonates so fucking hard.
Thanks for taking the time to read, am surprised by the amount of AiC fans that have come out. Glad to have done it justice! But yeah Rooster has a special place in my heart, something just so…visceral about it.
I'll have to give AiC another listen. I know they are good and know them a bit, your article really made me want to hear nutshell properly. I actually have a solo album by Cantrell which I really liked... It's called Boggy Depot which I don't quite understand. Anyway, anyone who likes Grunge is ok in my book. What other bands did you like, Kayleigh?
\o/ I grew up a scene kid. Black Veil Brides Paramore ect. My dad loved The Offspring so that was always on in the house. Ended up being a Hollywood Undead, Dead by April and Avenged Sevenfold (their earlier stuff) fan. Now days thanks to YouTube mymix, it’s just whatever sounds great!
I’ll have a look at Boggy Depot, i do like Cantrell’s style
Ah shit I've only heard of the stuff you're dad likes
I did write about it, I’ll throw it in dms! Feels wrong to link other stuff in comments of my own work :3
i remember in high school when i first really discovered alice in chains (weirdly at the same time i started listening to the beastie boys, so the two are linked in my mind). i'd grown up with grunge and other varieties of 90s rock in the background (my dad has a good music taste), but now i was really listening to them for myself.
i fell in love with jar of flies immediately. every song on there is a complete masterpiece. when my dad found out what i was listening to, we took an afternoon and we watched this unplugged together (he had it on DVD!).
i didn't fully understand the story of the band at the time (and layne's story is one that, once i learned about it, has really stuck with me for so many reasons), but the line about a man singing at his own funeral - i've seen it a few times now - really captures the essence of the performance. and it is, somehow, still an incredible performance. it's almost ethereal, in a way. haunting.
i don't really know what i'm trying to say here. this was an excellent piece, so well written, and it's made me think about my relationship with alice in chains' music, and just what it is about it that makes me love it so much. thank you for sharing this.
Firstly. Am jealous of that unplugged DVD. I know YouTube exists, but I like physical media. Call me old school.
100% agree with you on the almost haunting nature of the performance. God, its so good.
Thank you for taking the time with this and reading it.
the death of physical media is so sad to me, and they will pry physical books from my cold, dead hands. how are people supposed to immediately know i have great taste in movies when they come over if they can't be greeted by a wall of DVDs anymore? honestly, you're so right.
it's just so incredible to me that he could be going through all of this to the point that the rest of the band was unsure if he'd even show up and deliver such a performance.
i think it might be time for a full rewatch...
I think that was the most powerful part of it, that will he won’t he and he turned up for it 🥲
I love this - and I love that you love music. I do too! I need to go listen this stuff again...
\o/ so happy it landed so well. Yeah this performance was beyond something special even without the story behind it.🥲
AIC are one of my favourite bands.
All of those bands from that scene are all my regular go to music and were largely what I listeners to through my teens and continue to do so, today.
That Unplugged set is superb, and for Layne to pull it off like that was quite a feat considering the condition he was in at that time.
When they received the Founders award from the Seattle Museum of Pop Culture in 2020, they were featured as part of the museums' 'Founders' award and there was a range of singers and the current AIC lineup playing a set of their songs. It was in lockdown though so all largely from different places.
My favourite singer, Mark Lanegan (who was Layne's best friend) chose Nutshell as one of two songs that he covered. It's one that really hits hard.
Didn’t know about the Pop Culture Museum, that sounds so cool! Especially during Lockdown as well. They fully deserve the award and it’s great to know they were awarded it! Thanks Gary! :3
No problem. I think the whole thing is here. Some of the artists, friends and family have some little stories and anecdotes, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zTIF6CM1tI
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THATS MY WEEKEND GONE!!!!
Love that unplugged, just as much as I love the one by Nirvana. A few years ago AiC was #1 band in my Spotify, I'd listened to all of their songs with Layne like a 1000 times, learned many of them by heart. Every now and then I still grab my guitar and play Would? or Down in the hole, or Nutshell of course, and it still resonates so fucking hard.
Great to see this text of appreciation. RIP Layne
Thanks for taking the time to read, am surprised by the amount of AiC fans that have come out. Glad to have done it justice! But yeah Rooster has a special place in my heart, something just so…visceral about it.
I think you should make this a regular series 👏
Would love to see what you could write about.... Steps 😎
All Saints and then segue into a rant about the The Beach then segue into my appreciation for a young Leonardo Di Caprio….
I'M PARKED HERE AND WAITING FOR IT 🚗
So…All Saints, quick bit about the Book and Movie and then the majority about shirtless Leo right? WITH SCREEN SHOTS
absolutely 🏖
Love it
I expect it on my desk this time next week
Theres already a FAR more important post for next friday. Involves a hat!