Soundgarden + Audioslave + Temple of the Dog… ONE Tribute Band?! Ep;52

How do you build a tribute around one of the most powerful—and difficult to reproduce—voices in rock history? You find five musicians crazy enough to try. On this episode of Tribute Band Sessions, Mike sits down with members of Superunknown: A Chris Cornell Tribute, a Philadelphia-area band taking on the music of not one, but THREE legendary catalogs: Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog. And they aren't taking the easy songs. Frontman Jason Reed talks about the challenge of performing Chris Cornell's incredible vocal parts night after night—including the songs that once genuinely scared him to attempt live. The band also reveals how Superunknown came together almost by accident. Jason originally launched the project in 2018 as a solo acoustic tribute following Cornell's passing. After crossing paths with members of the Foo Fighters tribute White Limo, drummer Ron DiSilvestro essentially made the decision for everybody: “We're his band now.” From there, things moved FAST. By only their THIRD SHOW, Superunknown was on a plane to Honduras performing for U.S. troops. That led to performances in Guantanamo Bay, Singapore and the Middle East—including some of the most intense audiences they've ever experienced. We also get into what makes Soundgarden's music so deceptively difficult: bizarre guitar tunings, unconventional drum parts, technically demanding arrangements and, of course, Cornell's seemingly impossible vocal range. The guys explain why they don't dress up and pretend to BE Soundgarden. Their mission is different: reproduce the MUSIC as faithfully and powerfully as possible. They also reveal how they build their setlists across three enormous catalogs, why Soundgarden remains the most requested material, the deep cuts hardcore fans constantly request, and the brutal reality of learning entire albums for their specialty anniversary shows. Then we go behind the curtain into the BUSINESS of running a successful tribute band: management, professional EPKs, social media, live video, touring logistics, repeat markets, band chemistry and why cutting corners gets you exactly the gigs you paid for. Their philosophy? Don't half-ass the presentation—because secondhand promotion gets you secondhand gigs. Superunknown is also helping push something much bigger: the arrival of 1990s alternative rock on a theater circuit traditionally dominated by classic-rock tributes. And they believe they're only getting started. From Philadelphia to Honduras, Gitmo, Singapore and the Middle East—and with bigger theaters and bucket-list venues in their sights—Superunknown is proving that the music of Chris Cornell still belongs exactly where it was meant to be heard: LOUD and LIVE. The band's military touring is one of the strongest stories in the episode. Jason is a Marine veteran, and they discuss performing in Honduras, Guantanamo Bay, Singapore and the Middle East. Find The Band Superunknown Here ; https://www.thesoundgardentribute.com/ Find Tribute Band Sessions Here ; https://www.youtube.com/@TributeBandSessions Websitetributebandsessions.com Spotifyopen.spotify.com/show/6uWts5wBIgoZmB3wmL3tsq Apple Musicpodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tribute-band-sessions/id1843760366 Facebookfacebook.com/tributebandsessionsInstagraminstagram.com/tributebandsessions TikToktiktok.com/@tributebandsessions Xx.com/TributeBandsPod 00:00 Introduction 03:26 Jason Reed’s Musical Background 10:40 How Superunknown Began 16:45 Taking on the Music of Chris Cornell 21:20 Recreating Cornell’s Powerful Vocals 27:27 Expanding from a Solo Act to a Full Band 32:15 Building the Right Band Chemistry 37:18 Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog 40:38 Choosing Songs and Creating the Setlist 46:05 Connecting with Chris Cornell’s Fans 51:08 The Emotion and Responsibility Behind the Tribute 57:25 Memorable Shows and Audience Reactions 1:03:10 The Business Side of Running Superunknown 1:08:35 What’s Next for the Band 1:13:18 Final Thoughts and Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices