Alice in Chains- ‘Unplugged’
Recorded in 1996 for MTV, ‘Unplugged’ was Alice in Chain’s first live performance for two-and-a-half years, and ultimately one of their last with talismanic frontman Layne Stayley spearheading the band. This was part of a series of acoustic shows, and had been preceded by two legendary sets from fellow Seattle bands, Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Alongside Soundgarden, these acts were at the forefront of the Grunge movement, but the reality is that this was just a term coined by marketeers as a way of profiteering from bands hailing from the Pacific Northwest of America. Besides geography and a penchant for heavy guitars, the ‘Big Four’ of Grunge had little in common, and influences such as Black Sabbath and AC/DC resulted in Alice in Chains cultivating the heaviest sound of the cohort. Therefore, it is surprising that their music could be so easily adapted for an acoustic record; however, the evolution of their sound over time lessens the shock of a band with origins in hair metal producing an acoustic record of such beauty. Their debut album, ‘Facelift’, is explosive throughout, offering little reflection or respite, but Alice in Chains surprised fans by following this up with 1992 EP ‘Sap’, comprised completely of acoustic tracks. Additionally, their 1994 mini album, ‘Jar of Flies’, is an introspective masterpiece, turning away from the savage brilliance of their sophomore effort ‘Dirt’, which brought them widespread recognition. The discordant nature of Alice in Chain’s discography is what brings ‘Unplugged’ to life, as they couple the tranquility and beauty typically associated with acoustic music with the raw energy and power that became the band’s trademark.
Purely by listening to this record you can sense how the audience were clamouring for Alice in Chain’s return, with the tension palpable as lead guitarist Jerry Cantrell delivers the first chords of opener, ‘Nutshell’. Stayley’s arrival onstage is greeted with rapturous applause, and perhaps even a sense of relief, as the frontman’s worsening addiction problems had threatened to trigger the band’s end before the show had taken place. Despite the issues surrounding his health, his voice remains as powerful and unique as ever, captivating the listener from the very first note. Indeed, the melancholic beauty of ‘Nutshell’ is symbolic of what this set represented for Alice in Chains: a moment of utter perfection delivered by a band simultaneously experiencing their destruction.
‘Sludge Factory’ is a prime example of how Stayley, Cantrell and co were able to adapt their heaviest material for this performance. Despite the fact that distorted electric guitars are replaced with acoustic, the song somehow gets even heavier, with the harrowing significance of lyrics such as ‘Now the body of one soul I adore | Wants to die | You have always told me you’d | Not live past 25’ particularly dark due to the ominous nature of Stayley’s condition. Similarly, their performance of ‘Would’ encapsulates everything that made this song their biggest hit, and the tone Mike Inez’s acoustic bass– which is impeccably murky throughout the show– does justice to one of the most iconic bass lines produced in the era.
The album’s highlight is the stirring rendition of ‘Down in a Hole’, a song it seems was destined to be performed in this arrangement. The chemistry between Stayley and Cantrell is encapsulated on this track through the melodic vocal harmonies for which the duo was renowned. Their voices swim serenely over Cantrell’s opening riff, which is indicative of much of his songwriting in mirroring the poignance of the song’s lyrics in a truly haunting manner. The lyrics themselves describe the very spiral of addiction Stayley was experiencing, as he sings ‘Down in a hole and I don’t know if I can be saved’. And perhaps this is why he is able to deliver such an astonishing vocal performance; he is a man living the truth of what he sings. Stayley’s performance was so mesmerising that Inez said he had to remember to play his own instrument, so in awe he was of the man sat in front of him. It is testament to the power of the lead singer’s vocals that this effect is not lost when listening to ‘Unplugged’ in the form of a record.
Ultimately, this was a show which could easily never have happened, with Alice in Chains in the midst of capitulation and Stayley so deep in throws of addiction. Instead it has become their swansong, a perfect parting gift from a band who so deeply influenced the music of their era.
