Stone Temple Pilots Charter One Pavilion Review

Saturday, August 21, 2010
By Aaron Keker

CHARTER ONE PAVILION, Chicago – Yesterday, rain or shine, Stone Temple Pilots performed at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois.

Before Stone Temple Pilots raged the stage, the near sellout crowd was entertained with performances by Fang Island and Cage the Elephant.

It wouldn’t be a rock concert unless the headliner started later than their scheduled time slot. Stone Temple Pilots’ scheduled time was 9:00 p.m., but ten minutes later, they commenced their evening with “Crackerman” as the strobe lights flashed.

STP performed their second song on the set list with the continuation of the Core album theme by performing “Wicked Garden.” STP then time-traveled in various degrees between Core and Stone Temple Pilots.

STP even dusted off an older track that they rarely perform live. Scott Weiland commented, “We haven’t played this song in a while. 1997, I believe.” STP then performed “Heaven & Hot Rods.”

The most memorable Scott Weiland moment occurred during “Hickory Dichotomy.” As Weiland stood on a ledge behind drummer Eric Kretz, he belted out several lyrics to the song, jumped off the ledge and landed safely onto the stage. At that moment, I realized it was going to be an entertaining evening!

Scott Weiland is a modern day Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. When Scott Weiland performs as a solo artist his performance is very tranquil in nature like the personality of Dr. Jekyll. Weiland transforms into the dual personality of Mr. Hyde when he performs with STP because of the vigorous sound of their music.

At 10:30 p.m., the weather worsened and started to drizzle during “Sex Type Thing.” Rather than run for cover, the audience continued to be struck by the drizzling rain until the conclusion of “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart.” STP opted to reserve some of their biggest hit songs like “Big Empty,” “Plush,” “Interstate Love Song” and “Sex Type Thing” for later in their performance. If I can borrow a line from Scott Weiland that sums up STP’s evening, “Right On!” Below is the set list for Stone Temple Pilots at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois.

STP fans were well behaved, but rambunctious that evening. Their behavior affected Scott Weiland so substantially that his favorite lines were “Thank You!” “All Right!” And “Right On!”

Scott Weiland was extremely animated too. Weiland used the megaphone on “Crackerman,” “Silvergun Superman,” “Sex Type Thing” and “Dead & Bloated.”

Scott Weiland took a cue from the first lyrical line in Led Zeppelin’s “Dancing Days,” which is “Dancing days are here again.” Weiland danced the night away on “Wicked Garden,” “Hickory Dichotomy,” “Silvergun Superman,” “Huckleberry Crumble” and “Down.” Weiland even proceeded to perform a spin-o-rama on “Pretty Penny” and “Silvergun Superman.” Could it be that Scott Weiland was practicing so he could audition for Dancing with the Stars? I seriously doubt it, but I guarantee Weiland would last at least a month before potentially being voted off. Scott Weiland possesses such a superstar quality that it would entice anyone to tune in and watch the show.

Charter One Pavilion Set List:

1. “Crackerman”
2. “Wicked Garden”
3. “Vasoline”
4. “Heaven & Hot Rods”
5. “Between the Lines”
6. “Hickory Dichotomy”
7. “Still Remains”
8. “Cinnamon”
9. “Big Empty”
10. “Dancing Days”
11. “Pretty Penny”
12. “Silvergun Superman”
13. “Plush”
14. “Interstate Love Song”
15. “Huckleberry Crumble”
16. “Down”
17. “Sex Type Thing”

Encore:

18. “Dead & Bloated”
19. “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart”