Welcome Back, Alice in Chains

Last Thursday, two days after Pearl Jam killed two nights at KeyArena, a reborn Alice in Chains did the same at the Moore Theatre. (Sadly, I missed it.) The like-old-times local show was just one stop on the band's first tour to support new music since 1993. Alice's heavy-as-ever new record, Black Gives Way to Blue, is released tomorrow.

The recent resurgence of Alice in Chains has been a contentious development for some nostalgic locals. The issue: Alice is continuing without its original enigmatic soul, the late Layne Staley. One writer, after catching the band's "secret" EMP acoustic set last month—happily, I made it—ditched the post-show Black Gives Way listening party because a Staley-less AIC challenged her constitution.

Look: Outright dismissal of this band's new and future musical output is stupid.

Yes, there's a new face (and much bigger hair) behind the mic that was once Staley's, but William DuVall isn't stepping right into the beloved former singer's shoes. Coincidentally or not, his vocal range is much like Staley's, though it has a signature nasal quality that sets it apart. And DuVall's tone complements co-frontman Jerry Cantrell's, creating vocal harmonies—always Alice's trademark—that beg you to sing along...and haunt your mind later. But Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Inez didn't invite DuVall into the fold to channel Staley. On the contrary, Cantrell honors his late cohort at every opportunity, still seeing Layne's absence as a regrettable, tangible void.

From the band's blog:

"The encore in Seattle began with Jerry coming out alone. A spotlight shined down on a stool, and Jerry sat down on another stool next to the empty one....I was wondering why our lighting guy didn’t take the spotlight off of the other stool and put it on Jerry, but then it dawned on me. Jerry played "Black Gives Way To Blue" by himself as the spotlight lit up the empty stool with a mic stand in front of it."

I too had been dubious about Alice in Chains reforming and revisiting the music given so much beauty and gravitas by Layne Staley. But my concerns vanished when I met Layne's brother, Eric, at that EMP show. When I noted that his presence said much about how he felt about Alice's continued existence, Eric said, "Jerry and the guys have been very respectful. They waited long enough." And what did he think of the news that the new record's title track, a tribute to Layne, featured Elton John vocals and piano? "Even my kids were impressed with that." Not only was it a pleasure to meet Eric—a very nice, gracious, obviously still heartbroken guy—but it allowed me to wholeheartedly appreciate and respect the show and new music that followed.

I hope other uncertain fans will do the same with Black Gives Way to Blue.

Easy Street Records' Queen Anne location is hosting a listening party and midnight sale of the record tonight. The album will also be available (as will liquor) at West Seattle's Feedback Lounge. Add Alice-related prizes to the music, videos, and fan fraternization, and it will be one fine night to both reflect back and look forward.