Hard Rock Calling 2012 (Day One)

There is nothing more likely to make a Seattle band feel at home than overcast skies and London was happy to oblige on Friday night with Hyde Park bathed in glorious grey in the middle of summer.

Some 15 years after calling it a day Soundgarden, one of the pioneers of the grunge phenomenon of the early nineties, are back with their hard to define brand of rock and are an unusual but welcome headline choice for Hard Rock Calling. It’s not metal but it’s heavy, it’s not pop but it can be seriously catchy and it’s not punk but it’s occasionally angry and anti-social.

While the DM’s, baggy shorts and flannel shirts may be missing, the air of goodwill and nostalgia is thick down front for singer Chris Cornell, guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd and the hardest working man in rock, drummer Matt Cameron. That Cameron, one of the best and most proficient tub thumpers in the business, had finished a European tour with his other band Pearl Jam a mere three days previous to the Hyde Park show, proving the dedication that these four men have to this reunion. This is no cash grabbing exercise where they bowl up, play the hits, cash the cheque then return to bad mouthing one another behind the scenes. New material is in the offing, we’ve already had one new song ‘Live to Rise’ written especially for The Avengers Assembled soundtrack - although it is sadly absent from tonight’s set list - and a new album is due later this year.

Thanks to some ludicrous Draconian rules regarding sound levels and curfews when playing Hyde Park, the volume is lower than one would wish for at an outdoor show. Left of stage is a soggy place to stand and that’s not just the weather we’re alluding to. The sound is never good on that side, every Hard Rock Calling seems to suffer left of stage. It’s something unexplainable but try shifting sides and things just sound better. The fact that left of stage seems to house all the liggers and freeloaders doesn’t help matters either and the lack of atmosphere and genuine excitement at the band’s entrance onstage is disheartening. This is Soundgarden, people! Four highly accomplished and passionate performers are back after 15 years, they’re playing ‘Searching With My Good Eye Closed’ and no one nearby seems to be interested. Second song ‘Spoonman’ illicits no reaction and so it is time to search for better concert pals and sound.

Once a new position is found, better sound, better view and actual fans, things improve immeasurably in terms of atmosphere and enjoyment. The heavens open and instead of dampening the mood the sense of togetherness between the band and audience kicks in and ‘Black Hole Sun’, perhaps their best known song, results in a soggy but triumphant sing-a-long.

Cornell’s haunting wail sends shivers down the spine. Still one of the best voices in rock, he makes for genial company. He’s mellowed considerably over the years, no longer the angry young man of the past, he’s healthy, happy and it shows. Joking with the crowd about having ‘another 3 hours to play,’ and showing solidarity with the faithful down the front, he descends the stairs and allows himself to get soaked with his people. It lifts spirits considerably.

The doom laden likes of ‘Gun’ and the frankly mental ‘Beyond the Wheel’ sit comfortably with the later sounds from the ‘Superunknown’ and ‘Down on The Upside’-era, Thayil’s guitar making a heavenly racket and Shepherd’s bass adding a sinister edge.

While Soundgarden may not have won many new friends amongst the casual Hunter wellie wearing portions of the crowd they do prove to the old school fans that not only are they still a force to be reckoned with, but are essential and vital once more.

No amount of grey skies, rain or indifferent liggers can hide the fact that Soundgarden are back and the future is bright. Now where did we put that flannel shirt of ours?