The surviving members of Mad Season (guitarist Mike McCready and drummer Barrett Martin) performed alongside the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall last night. Soundgarden frontmann Chris Cornell and former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagen filling in for the late Layne Staley and Baker Saunders during the three-song symphonic set. The newly arranged Mad Season 2.0 performed “Long Hard Day,” “River of Deceit” and I Don’t Know Anything” before the symphony retired and more guests joined McCready and Martin to perform selections from Mad Season’s sole album, 1995’s “Above.”
Later in the evening Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard and Matt Cameron joined Cornell and McCready for a two-song Temple of the Dog reunion set. The band performed “Call Me a Dog” and “Reach Down,” which Cornell dedicated to the late Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone.
RELATED: Watch Mad Season reunite at the Showbox
Photos from the concert, taken by Brandon Patoc and courtesy the Seattle Symphony, are below along with a complete set list featuring all of the performers and the press releases issued after and prior to the concert.
Seattle, WA – Ludovic Morlot and the Seattle Symphony presented this year’s Sonic Evolution concert tonight to a rapturous audience. The sold-out concert featured a star-studded line up of guest artists included Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready performing the world premiere of his original orchestra piece (arranged by Scott Teske) Waking the Horizon. American rock supergroup Mad Season reunited on stage for performances of orchestra arrangements of original songs with members Barrett Martin and Mike McCready, joined by special guests Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron, saxophonist Skerik, local singer Kim Virant, Walking Papers vocalist and guitarist Jeff Angel, guitarist Tim DiJulio and Alice in Chains drummer Sean Kinney.
The concert concluded with a few surprise appearances as Cornell, McCready and Cameron were joined on stage by unannounced guests, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard, for a surprise Temple of the Dog performance. The quintet played venerated hits Call Me a Dog, and Reach Down. The concert also featured a surprise appearance by Staley’s former bandmate Sean Kinney of Alice in Chains. Kinney accompanied Martin, McCready Cameron and McKagen for “All Alone” which was the closing song. A sample of Staley’s vocals for song was played during the performance, making for a fitting tribute to one of Seattle’s many fallen musical stars.
Set list
SONIC EVOLUTION
Special Performances
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Mike McCready, special guest
Mad Season
Chris Cornell, vocals
Kim Virant, vocals
Jeff Angel, vocals and guitar
Mike McCready, guitar
Tim DiJulio, guitar
Duff McKagan, bass guitar
Barrett Martin, drums
Sean Kinney, drums
Matt Cameron, drum kit
Skerik, saxophone
Josh Evans, vocal sample playback
Temple of the Dog
Stone Gossard, guitar
Mike McCready, guitar
Jeff Ament, electric bass
Matt Cameron, drum kit
Members of Vocalpoint! Seattle
Seattle Symphony
Program:
YANN ROBIN
Ashes (World Premiere)
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony
ANGELIQUE POTEAT
Beyond Much Difference (World Premiere)
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony
MIKE MCCREADY/arr. Scott Teske
Waking the Horizon (World Premiere)
Mike McCready, guitar
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony
INTERMISSION
SONIC EVOLUTION
Special Performances
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Mike McCready, special guest
Mad Season
Chris Cornell, vocals
Kim Virant, vocals
Jeff Angel, vocals and guitar
Mike McCready, guitar
Tim DiJulio, guitar
Duff McKagan, bass guitar
Barrett Martin, drums
Sean Kinney, drums
Matt Cameron, drum kit
Skerik, saxophone
Josh Evans, vocal sample playback
Temple of the Dog
Stone Gossard, guitar
Mike McCready, guitar
Jeff Ament, electric bass
Matt Cameron, drum kit
Members of Vocalpoint! Seattle
Seattle Symphony
Program:
YANN ROBIN
Ashes (World Premiere)
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony
ANGELIQUE POTEAT
Beyond Much Difference (World Premiere)
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony
MIKE MCCREADY/arr. Scott Teske
Waking the Horizon (World Premiere)
Mike McCready, guitar
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony
INTERMISSION
MAD SEASON/arr. Scott Teske
“Long Gone Day”
Chris Cornell – vocals
Mike McCready – acoustic guitar
Skerik, saxophone
Duff McKagen, electric bass
Barrett Martin, drum kit
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony
MAD SEASON/arr. Scott Teske
“River of Deceit”
Chris Cornell, vocals
Mike McCready, strat
Duff McKagen, electric bass
Barrett Martin, drum kit
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony
MAD SEASON/arr. Scott Teske
“I Don’t Know Anything”
Chris Cornell, vocals
Mike McCready, 59 Les Paul
Duff McKagen, electric bass
Barrett Martin, drum kit
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony
MAD SEASON
“Wake Up”
Kim Virant, vocals
Mike McCready, Strat
Barrett Martin, vibes
Duff McKagen, electric Bass
Matt Cameron, drum kit
MAD SEASON
“Lifeless Dead”
Jeff Angel, vocals
Mike McCready, doubleneck SG
Duff McKagen, electric bass
Barrett Martin, drum kit
MAD SEASON
“I’m Above”
Jeff Angel, vocals
Kim Virant, vocals
Tim DiJulio, acoustic
Mike McCready, 59 LP
Duff McKagen, electric bass
Barrett Martin, drum kit
TEMPLE OF THE DOG
“Call Me a Dog”
Chris Cornell, vocals
Stone Gossard, guitar
Mike McCready, guitar
Jeff Ament, electric bass
Matt Cameron, drum kit
TEMPLE OF THE DOG
“Reach Down”
Chris Cornell, vocals
Stone Gossard, guitar
Mike McCready, guitar
Jeff Ament, electric bass
Matt Cameron, drum kit
MAD SEASON
“All Alone”
Mike Cready, doubleneck SG
Sean Kinney, congas
Duff McKagen, electric bass
John Evans, vocal sample playback
Matt Cameron, drum kit
“Long Gone Day”
Chris Cornell – vocals
Mike McCready – acoustic guitar
Skerik, saxophone
Duff McKagen, electric bass
Barrett Martin, drum kit
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony
MAD SEASON/arr. Scott Teske
“River of Deceit”
Chris Cornell, vocals
Mike McCready, strat
Duff McKagen, electric bass
Barrett Martin, drum kit
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony
MAD SEASON/arr. Scott Teske
“I Don’t Know Anything”
Chris Cornell, vocals
Mike McCready, 59 Les Paul
Duff McKagen, electric bass
Barrett Martin, drum kit
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Seattle Symphony
MAD SEASON
“Wake Up”
Kim Virant, vocals
Mike McCready, Strat
Barrett Martin, vibes
Duff McKagen, electric Bass
Matt Cameron, drum kit
MAD SEASON
“Lifeless Dead”
Jeff Angel, vocals
Mike McCready, doubleneck SG
Duff McKagen, electric bass
Barrett Martin, drum kit
MAD SEASON
“I’m Above”
Jeff Angel, vocals
Kim Virant, vocals
Tim DiJulio, acoustic
Mike McCready, 59 LP
Duff McKagen, electric bass
Barrett Martin, drum kit
TEMPLE OF THE DOG
“Call Me a Dog”
Chris Cornell, vocals
Stone Gossard, guitar
Mike McCready, guitar
Jeff Ament, electric bass
Matt Cameron, drum kit
TEMPLE OF THE DOG
“Reach Down”
Chris Cornell, vocals
Stone Gossard, guitar
Mike McCready, guitar
Jeff Ament, electric bass
Matt Cameron, drum kit
MAD SEASON
“All Alone”
Mike Cready, doubleneck SG
Sean Kinney, congas
Duff McKagen, electric bass
John Evans, vocal sample playback
Matt Cameron, drum kit
Original press release announcing the show in Dec of 2014:
Ludovic Morlot and the Seattle Symphony will present this year’s Sonic Evolution concert on January 30, 2015. Now in its fourth year, Sonic Evolution creates a bridge between the Symphony and Seattle’s storied reputation as launching pad for some of the most creative musicians on the popular music scene. In celebration of the past, present and future of our city’s musical legacy, Ludovic Morlot and the Seattle Symphony commissioned three artists to write orchestral world premieres inspired by bands that launched from, or are related to, Seattle.
The first half of the program features three world premieres and Seattle Symphony commissions and co-commissions. French composer Yann Robin’s Ashes, a piece inspired by the iconic American rock band Nirvana, which rose to fame in Seattle in the late 1980s, will begin the program. It is followed by Beyond Much Difference by Angelique Poteat, inspired by another legendary Seattle-based rock band of the 1990s, Pearl Jam. Poteat participated in the Seattle Symphony Young Composers Workshop from 2002 to 2004, and has since become one of the most promising young composers for new music. The Symphony commissioned Poteat to write a chamber piece, titled Much Difference, for its May 5, 2014 concert at (Le) Poisson Rouge in New York City. Beyond Much Difference is an orchestral arrangement and expansion of the earlier chamber work.
The first half of the program concludes with Waking the Horizon, a piece conceived by Pearl Jam Lead Guitarist Mike McCready (arranged by Scott Teske). Joining Ludovic Morlot, the Symphony, and members of Vocalpoint! Seattle on stage, McCready will perform during the piece. Ludovic commented during a recent score reading with McCready: “With this collaboraton we are both coming out of our normal comfort zones. This is an incredible opportunity to learn from one another and give ourselves a chance to grow as artists.”
Mike McCready returns after intermission with American rock supergroup Mad Season, including original drummer Barrett Martin. The star-studded line up will also include iconic Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell and Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan. Ludovic Morlot will lead guest musicians and the Seattle Symphony in a debut performance of orchestral and solo arrangements of original Mad Season works. See below for more details.
Yann Robin’s Ashes is co-commissioned by the Seattle Symphony and the Lille National Orchestra.
Angelique Poteat’s Beyond Much Difference is generously underwritten by the Brian and Lynn Grant Family.
Presenting Sponsor: CTI BioPharma Corp.About Yann Robin
French composer Yann Robin (b. 1974) merges his background in jazz with a compositional intensity honed at IRCAM, France’s renowned institute for music technology. He is best know for a trilogy of works titled The Art of Metal, featuring a contrabass clarinet soloist with ensemble and electronics. His elaborate, ornately layered scores represent a leading edge of musical technique, and yet anyone who has heard The Art of Metal will recognize in its aggressive, energetic expression an affinity with Seattle’s own heavy metal and grunge pioneers, including Nirvana — the band that provided inspiration for Robin’s new work, Ashes, co-commissioned by the Seattle Symphony and the Lille National Orchestra in France.
About Angelique Poteat
Angelique Poteat is a native of the Pacific Northwest. Her music has been described as“engaging, restless” (The New York Times) and “serious and nicely crafted” (American Record Guide) and has been recorded and performed in Australia, Germany, Lithuania, and all over the United States by ensembles including the Enso Quartet, New York New Music Ensemble, Claviola Ensemble, Woodlands Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Northwest, Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, Saratoga Orchestra, Trio Tara, and by members of the Seattle Symphony. Notable performances include Much Difference (2014) at (Le) Poisson Rouge in New York, as well as performances at the 2012 International Women’s Brass Conference, the 2012 Drukomanija festival in Lithuania, and the 2010 International VSA Festival. Poteat’s music is heavily influenced by her surroundings, most often drawing from personal interactions as well as nature and the Puget Sound area. As an avid cyclist, she does much of her “field work” en route, taking in the sounds, sights, adrenaline, and atmospheres for inspiration.
Poteat earned the degrees Master of Music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Bachelor of Music from Rice University and has studied with Samuel Adler, Joel Hoffman, Mara Helmuth, Anthony Brandt, Pierre Jalbert, Shih-Hui Chen, Arthur Gottschalk, and Samuel Jones. She participated in the FUBiS International Summer Institute in Berlin, as well as the Seattle Symphony Young Composers Workshop from 2002-2004. Poteat is a 2015 CityArtist from the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.
About Mike McCready
Mike McCready is the lead guitarist for and one of the founding members of the rock band Pearl Jam. He was also a member of side project bands Temple of the Dog, Mad Season and The Rockfords. In addition to Pearl Jam, McCready currently plays with friends in Flight to Mars, a UFO tribute band who does charity events. When not performing live, McCready scores TV and film projects, which have included The Glamour & the Squalor, Shameless, Fat Kid Rules the World, Hawaii Five-O, Fringe and The Westsiders.
About Mad Season
Formed by Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Layne Staley (Alice in Chains), Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees), and bluesman John Baker Saunders (The Walkabouts), Mad Season made one seminal album in the history of Seattle rock. That album, Above, was released in 1995 and immediately struck a resonate chord with the public that sent the album into gold status within a few weeks. It is the only complete album of Layne Staley’s introspective and mystical lyrics, which were highlighted by additional vocals from Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan and Seattle-based saxophonist/percussionist Skerik.
In 1996, work began on a second Mad Season album with Mike, Barrett and Baker writing and recording the basic tracks for 15 new songs. Unfortunately, because of declining health, Layne wasn’t able to make any of the recording sessions and the album was shelved. Fate subsequently took each musician in a different direction: Mike back to Pearl Jam and Barrett back to Screaming Trees. Tragically, both Baker (1999) and Layne (2002) passed away.
Rock icons Chris Cornell and Duff McKagen will join original members Mike McCready and Barrett Martin on stage on January 30. Cornell is a multi-Grammy winning, multi-platinum singer/songwriter, both with his bands Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog and Audioslave and throughout his diverse solo career. He was one of the pioneers of the 90’s grunge era and has been described as one of the best voices in music history. Duff McKagan is best known for his twelve-year tenure as the bassist of the hard rock band Guns N’ Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After leaving Guns N’ Roses in 1997, Duff has played with Velvet Revolver & Janes Addiction and currently plays bass in Walking Papers, a band that also features Barrett Martin.
About Ludovic Morlot
French conductor Ludovic Morlot is now in his fourth season as Music Director of the Seattle Symphony. During the 2014–2015 season he will lead the Symphony in performances of works ranging from Dvorák’s final three symphonies, the Mozart Requiem, Berlioz’s Roméo et Julietteand Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, to pieces by Ives, Dutilleux and Esa-Pekka Salonen, to world premieres by Sebastian Currier, Julian Anderson and Trimpin.
Morlot’s orchestral engagements this season include returns to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic. He also has a strong connection with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which he conducts regularly in Boston and Tanglewood, and recently on a West Coast tour. This relationship began when he was the Seiji Ozawa Fellowship Conductor at the Tanglewood Music Center and was subsequently appointed Assistant Conductor to the orchestra and Music Director James Levine (2004–07). Morlot has also conducted the New York Philharmonic and the symphony orchestras of Cleveland, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Elsewhere, Morlot’s engagements have included the Budapest Festival, Czech Philharmonic, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Dresden Staatskapelle, London Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, Royal Concertgebouw, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and Tokyo Philharmonic.Trained as a violinist, Morlot studied conducting in London and was Conductor in Residence with the Orchestre National de Lyon (2002–04). He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 2014. He is Chair of Orchestral Conducting Studies at the University of Washington School of Music, and lives in Seattle with his wife, Ghizlane, and their two children.
About the Seattle Symphony
Founded in 1903, the Seattle Symphony is one of America’s leading symphony orchestras and is internationally acclaimed for its innovative programming and extensive recording history. Under the leadership of Music Director Ludovic Morlot since September 2011, the Symphony is heard live from September through July by more than 300,000 people annually. It performs in one of the finest modern concert halls in the world — the acoustically superb Benaroya Hall — in downtown Seattle. Its extensive education and community-engagement programs reach over 100,000 children and adults each year. The Seattle Symphony has a deep commitment to new music, commissioning many works by living composers each season, including John Luther Adams’ recent Become Ocean, which won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Music. The orchestra has made more than 140 recordings and has received 18 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and numerous other accolades. In 2014 the Symphony launched its in-house recording label, Seattle Symphony Media.
About CTI BioPharma Corp.
CTI BioPharma Corp. (NASDAQ and MTA: CTIC) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel targeted therapies covering a spectrum of blood-related cancers that offer a unique benefit to patients and healthcare providers. CTI has a commercial presence in Europe and a late-stage development pipeline, including pacritinib, CTI’s lead product candidate that is currently being studied in a Phase 3 program for the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis. CTI is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices in London and Milan under the name CTI Life Sciences Limited. For additional information and to sign up for email alerts and get RSS feeds, please visit www.ctibiopharma.com.
