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The night's first piece paired the Northwest Symphony Orchestra with Michael Shrieve, a badass, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer who played with Santana at Woodstock. The combination of heavy percussion and hearty strings and brass had our knees bouncing. Next up was Messina, a funny, chatty guy with endless reserves of enthusiasm for the cause his symphonies support. The tango "Dance of the Rain" featured Dance Contemporary performers and Andre Feriante on acoustic guitar. The orchestra's string section paid perfect compliment to Feriante's deft fretwork.
Messina then introduced a couple of friends, to thrilled screams and hollers: Ann and Nancy Wilson. With the orchestra and 100+ Northwest Girlchoir singers behind them, the Heart sisters worked through two Elton John numbers, "Sixty Years On" and "Seasons." They've still got it, too. Ann's throaty voice and Nancy's guitar both switched gears like it was 1975.
Twelve-year-old Children's Hospital patient Taylor Carol appeared next. Taylor, diagnosed with leukemia last year, had a bone marrow transplant and is now in remission. And he can sing. With Messina backing him on piano, he belted out "True Courage," a song he penned about his experiences at the hospital.
A kick-ass duet followed the intermission: Michael Shrieve beside didgeridoo player Aaron Straight. Straight's instrument looked like a long, hollow tree branch, reminiscent of the alpenhorns played in Ricola commercials. The thing's hollow, airy bass notes conjured images of the Australian outback. And somehow Straight punctuated the notes with beat-boxy stylings. This piece--which had us bouncing again--hinted at the full-on rock that would shortly follow.
After a piano interlude during which Messina teased Mother Love Bone's "Crown of Thorns" and killed Led Zeppelin's "Ten Years Gone," Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell and William DuVall took the stage.
Jar of Flies' "Whale & Wasp" was a perfect start to the band's short set, easily translated by the orchestra and softly punctuated by DuVall's electric, single-note guitar whine. More shouts and cries from the audience: "We love you!" "Jerry!" When the rest of the band appeared, the place felt more like the Showbox than a symphony hall.
"Sickman," a raucous, curious choice from Dirt, came next. The full-electric band sounded great; the orchestra, unfortunately, was an inarticulate wall of sound behind it. DuVall's voice was the highlight, resembling Layne Staley's slick rasp enough to impress, but differing enough not to come off as mimicry.
The sound improved for "I Stay Away"; the orchestra's intricacies could be made out under the guitars, and the choir shined. We sang along, momentarily forgetting it was 2007 and we were surrounded by people in suits and cocktail dresses.
A impromptu break followed, during which Messina auctioned off an acoustic guitar that Cantrell, DuVall, Mike Inez, Sean Kinney and Nancy Wilson signed onstage. The winning bid? $6500.
Messina introduced the last piece with this: "Hopefully we're gonna blow your mind."
And they did. With a perfectly balanced electric/orchestra/choir/piano take on Zeppelin's "Kashmir" that honored the original's perfectly lengthy eight minutes. DuVall, proving his mettle, nailed Robert Plant. (Plant's still around, still okay to mimic.)
At the two-hour mark, Cantrell and Kinney tossed picks and sticks into the crowd and slapped hands of those in the front row. Everyone who'd appeared lined up for a bow. Messina gave thanks. There was much hugging and dancing and smiling--some of the very gestures that inspired Messina's work. His efforts, it turned out, rewarded not just the kids at Children's, but everyone in that massive room.
Photo courtesy of Chad Bartholomew, Pearl Jam Message Pit contributor.
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