BITE ME! Audioslave Live

Audioslave - Hollywood Boulevard

May 18th

Some people take a sick day to watch the Superbowl, some to be the first to watch Star Wars, for me it is to check out Audioslave shut down Hollywood with a free show.

With their new record due to drop any day, the supergroup decides to flesh out their appearance on Jimmy Kimmel into a full on gig for the Angeleno faithful. Word is the devoted and the curious could number 10,000, although honestly, judging by the band’s popularity right now I’d say you could double that estimate. I arrive way too early - just to check out the logistics of this thing. I scout a spot right over the stage on top of the Hollywood and Highland complex with some equally expectant fans. Eventually, the band takes the stage to sound check and run through new single "Be Yourself". The view from up here is great. Great that is until we all get moved off the roof. However, the lady cop was apologetic, and I noticed she had flames on her sunglasses - rock on!

I wander aimlessly as I hear the sound check continue and, unable to get close, I find refuge in Hamburger Hamlet. An awesome chicken quesadilla later and there are still a couple of hours to go. The position of the stage in the street means I'll have to work hard to get a good vantage point. Crowds are growing and suddenly all the security guards are working hard. Looks like I left it too late. Thank god for Jumbotrons.

After the taping of Jimmy it’s time for Cornell and the boys to present us with their gift. A storming "Set it Off" kick starts it, and "Like a Stone" has the whole place singing in unison. If Hollywood Blvd had a roof then tonight "Spoonman" would’ve blown it clean off. Unfortunately, the next track "Doesn’t Remind Me," sounds like a weird Kansas song. It is so far removed from both Soundgarden and Rage and is barely saved by a trademark sci-fi Morello solo. The pace picks up again with "Show Me How to Live". Then something insane happens…from the first chords of "Killing in the Name Of" the area I'm in becomes tense. The fans here have been kept too far away for too damn long and, sure enough, as the first chorus kicks in everyone sends the barricades flying and the whole place goes psycho. Cops in riot gear pile in and stage right turns into a riot zone. The police grab everyone left and right and haul ‘em away. The news quickly reaches the band who decide they can safely only play one more, and "Cochise" is as intense as the eyes of the LAPD staring back at us. It was an ugly way to end the night, but it felt strangely inevitable. And, as a guy said to me, “It’s cool being at a free gig, but not much use if you can’t actually see it.” -Glen