Chris Cornell is possibly best-known as the frontman for the recently reunited Soundgarden, the Seattle band that best approximated the grunge scene’s debt to countless metal bands who came before them. His trademark shriek carried over into his stint with Audioslave, which was essentially Cornell plus most of the guys from Rage against the Machine. So maybe the idea of a solo acoustic show seems incongruous with what you already know of Cornell, and perhaps that’s why it might just work.
Cornell plays the Bardavon in Poughkeepsie on Wednesday, November 30, making up for the original mid-April date that was canceled due to illness. Officially (and perhaps not overly creatively) dubbed the “Chris Cornell: Songbook Solo Acoustic Tour,” the timing of the performance is ideal, as it comes just nine days after the release of Songbook, an album recorded live during the initial tour this past spring.
If the album and its sleeve are any indication, Cornell will perform songs from his vast canon, including numbers popularized by Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog. There are also songs originally recorded during his solo days, as well as the possibility of a Led Zeppelin cover. One might also expect to see a sparse stage where Cornell is surrounded by acoustic guitars while sitting on a stool over a large area rug, all of which should at least fortify the feeling of acoustic intimacy that he’s gunning for.
Tickets originally purchased for the canceled performance on April 19 are also good for the show on Wednesday, November 30. Tickets are $40. For more information, visit www.bardavon.org.
Join the family! 
