Jerry Cantrell – Uptown Theater – Minneapolis MN – September 12th 2025

Jerry Cantrell with Sparta – Uptown Theater – Minneapolis, MN – September 12^th, 2025

Review and photos by Kate Klaus

Jerry Cantrell’s solo tour, “I Want Blood”, built around his 2024 album of the same name brought a fresh and yet simultaneously nostalgic show to the beautiful Uptown Theater in Minneapolis.  Joined by support from Texas trio Sparta, the show was a full evening of high caliber music and performance.

Sparta made for a strong and mood-setting opener. They didn’t steal the spotlight, but they warmed up the theater with melodic strength and an emotional performance, setting the tone nicely for Cantrell’s heavier, more intense set.  Their set drew heavily from their earlier music, with a familiarity that gave long-time fans a taste of their favorites, while also delivering new listeners a clear sense of who Sparta is and where they came from.  Their performance was also well paced and had the feel of a purposeful lead-in, gradually building tension, driving energy, and getting the crowd fired up for main performance.

From the moment that Jerry Cantrell hit the stage, it was apparent that this show would be more than just a nostalgia trip. He opened with “Psychotic Break” off of his 2002 solo work “Degradation Trip”, immediately setting a darker and grittier mood.   He then set the crowd on fire by launching into Alice In Chains song “Them Bones” before returning to more of his solo tunes.  Backed by a stellar band, including Eliot Lorango (Dorothy, Billy Howerdel, Corey Taylor) on bass, Zach Throne (Corey Taylor, Ace Frehley) on guitar and backing vocals, and monster drummer Roy Mayorga (Ministry, Melvins, Stone Sour and more), the group delivered hit after hit with the crowd intensity increasing with each song.  They crafted a captivating set by mixing in Alice in Chains favorites (including “Man in the Box”, “Rain When I Die” and “Rooster”) in between powerful solo hits spanning his expansive career.  Despite being one of the heaviest hitters in the heavy rock scene, Cantrell’s performance felt authentic and grounded with a noticeable humility that connected deeply with the crowd.  The performance overall was a gripping statement from an icon of an artist who isn’t resting on his legacy.  He delivered a performance that honored his past with Alice in Chains, while  he simultaneously showcased his powerful new solo record, and delivered the lucky fans a set that felt dominant, emotionally grounded, and musically cathartic.