The Kent Stage hosted a sort of ’90s reunion with grunge MTV faves Soul Asylum and Corey Glover, the lead singer of metal maestros Living Colour.
Dave Pirner, frontman and only consistent member of the quartet, headlined with a stripped-down acoustic trio. Drummer Michael Bland (formerly of Prince’s outfit NPG) sat this one out, leaving it up to Pirner and axe men Ryan Smith and Jeremy Tappero. The trio played a full set of nineteen tunes, starting with “Somebody to Shove,” an early ’90s breakout hit for them. They closed ninety minutes later with their Grammy-winning “Runaway Train” and “Get On Out.”
Kudos, by the way, to the Kent Stage. They’ve done some recent upgrades to the venue, adding new lighting that profoundly changes the experience. What was once a dimly-lity stage is now bright and dynamic.
Corey Glover opened the evening with a truncated set. Perhaps best known for his work with Living Colour, he is also an accomplished actor. Starting his career as one of the doomed grunts in the Oscar-winning Platoon, he took over the role of Judas in the 2004 Broadway revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. His vocal range or ability to nail a tune haven’t diminished in the years since. Here’s hoping we’ll see a full-blown Living Colour tour coming through Northeast Ohio soon.
