December 1980.
The Friday show in Tacoma was colder than usual. Chris Cornell stood outside "The Old Town Pier Bar" exhaled the fog while tuning his guitar by ear along with the session band members hired by Sub Pop Inc.
James and Joseph watched from the van, arms crossed, coats unzipped.
"Are you ready?" James asked with a smile.
Chris Cornell did not look back as he said, "Yeah!"
'Damn, this is good, he is gaining confidence now.' James thought.
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
Inside, the crowd was not large, maybe around forty people, mostly regulars, mostly disinterested. But once Chris Cornell stepped on the stage and belted the first scream of Beyond the Wheel, half the bar had put down their drinks.
James sat at the rear booth with Joseph Kennedy Sr., eyes locked on the reaction.
"He is doing it." James said.
"Yeah." Joseph Kennedy Sr. replied.
By the time Chris Cornell finished the fourth track, there were a few open mouths in the crowd. No one expected an opener to sound like that!
Backstage, a man in a faded denim jacket approached Joseph Kennedy Sr.
"You managing that kid?"
Joseph Kennedy Sr nodded.
"Name's Doug. I book for Spokane's Devil's End Bar. You want him up there next week?"
Joseph Kennedy Sr extended his hand. "Done."
On the side, James smiled as he heard the invitation while listening to the system's notification.
[CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ARTIST'S SUCCESSFUL SHOW!]
[AUDIENCE APPROVAL RATING: 99%]
[AUDIENCE SIZE: 45~]
[YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED A $52,000 MONEY BAG!]
'Yes! Another money bag!'
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
December 9, 1980 at Spokane.
The crowd at Spokane was smaller, around 25. But the acoustics in the cramped "Devil's End" gave Chris Cornell's voice an unnatural echo. It bounced off the walls and it hit people in the guts.
James leaned against the wall, scribbling notes into a small journal.
"Cleaner distortion in Head Injury. Push the bass down in the mix. Chris Cornell's upper range needs a warmer mic tone live."
He handed the note to Joseph Kennedy Sr.
A man near the pool table dropped his beer when Chris Cornell sustained a long, tortured note at the end of the set. No cheering, just stunned silence.
James liked that better and much better when he heard a new notification from the system.
[CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ARTIST'S SUCCESSFUL SHOW!]
[AUDIENCE APPROVAL RATING: 98%]
[AUDIENCE SIZE: 30~]
[YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED A $28,000 MONEY BAG!]
'YES!'
He felt the rush when he heard he got another money bag from the system.
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
December 12, 1980 at Olympia.
By the Olympia gig, the "raw version" cassettes had started to circulate. James and Joseph Kennedy Sr. overheard a group of teenagers before the show.
"He is that guy, right? The one from that tape?"
The 16 year old Chris Cornell hit the stage with more confidence this time. He opened with "All Your Lies" and the crowd actually leaned forward.
One guy sang along, only a few lines, but James and Joseph Kennedy Sr. noticed it.
After the set, Chris Cornell and his manager handed out cassettes near the exit while the other staff packed the gears.
"You killed it man" James said as he approached Chris Cornell, along with Joseph Kennedy Sr, who finished handing tapes and shaking hands at the booth.
Chris Cornell, dripping sweat, just grinned. "They knew the song!"
'Yeah, who would not with a voice of yours?' James nodded and smiled.
He moved and had the staff and Chris Cornell do their thing while he was on the side chatting with Joseph Kennedy Sr.
He heard the system again while chatting.
[CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ARTIST'S SUCCESSFUL SHOW!]
[AUDIENCE APPROVAL RATING: 95%]
[AUDIENCE SIZE: 900~]
[YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED A $149,000 MONEY BAG!]
'God damn! That is a lot!' He thought.
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
December 19 at Seattle, The Central Saloon.
This place was a good one.
The Central Saloon was the center of the underground. Grungy, authentic, and intimate. There was no separation between the artist and audience. James and Joseph Kennedy Sr could feel everything! Both of them thought that it was a perfect venue!
Chris Cornell tuned up while the headliner loaded drums. He paced like crazy while waiting for the staff to call his name.
James grabbed him by the shoulder. "Remember, leave a crater. Does not matter who follows."
Chris Cornell nodded. "Let us cause damage!"
The room was packed. Close to 150 people. A few cheers broke out when Chris took the mic.
That had never happened before!
He opened with Beyond the Wheel, then into 665, then Nothing to Say.
During the final scream of the set, someone in the crowd shouted, "Who the fuck is this guy?!"
They did not chant his name, but they remembered it!
Backstage, James sipped his water. "Four gigs down."
Joseph Kennedy Sr handed him a typed report.
Cassette Sales (Dec): 427 units
Zine Mentions: 6
Booking Interest: 3 more venues for January
Chris Cornell came in holding a note a fan had handed him. It just said, "Your voice sounds like it is bleeding. That is a compliment."
He folded it into his back pocket while smiling, feeling good.
As for James, well? He felt so good too!
[CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ARTIST'S SUCCESSFUL SHOW!]
[AUDIENCE APPROVAL RATING: 100%]
[AUDIENCE SIZE: 140~]
[YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED A $150,000 MONEY BAG!]