Venue: Jannus Live
City: St. Petersburg, FL
Date: August 26, 2025
Review and Photographs by: James Zambon (https://jameszambon.com)
Jannus Live never disappoints as a venue, and Tuesday night’s show with Jerry Cantrell and Sparta was no exception. The outdoor courtyard always feels like the perfect place for live music, with great sound and a nice breeze through the venue. And let’s be honest—grabbing a slice of Joey Brooklyn’s pizza just inside the entrance is still one of the best bonus perks of catching a show there. Pizza, cold drinks, and good bands? That’s pretty much a perfect night in St. Pete. Sparta opened the evening with plenty of energy. You could tell they were pumped to be on this tour, and their set had a consistent drive. Their sound meshed well with what Cantrell would deliver later—tight, punchy, and just heavy enough to get the crowd locked in.
When Jerry Cantrell took the stage, the vibe shifted into something a little more focused and deliberate. The whole band planted at their microphones, set to deliver a solid technical performance. Cantrell himself kept things tight—vocals were dead on, and his guitar work was dialed in to sound exactly like the recordings. No frills, no showboating, just a seasoned musician delivering precision. What struck me was how the crowd was completely into every word and note Cantrell played. There was no pit, no dancing, just a sea of people standing and intensely watching and soaking up his every move. The biggest reactions came when Cantrell dipped into Alice In Chains material, and you could feel the shift as soon as those opening riffs hit. His performance of “Would?” had the audience fully hooked and might have been the high point of the night for many longtime fans. Cantrell didn’t offer much in the way of banter or interaction, but it was clear he was there to let the music do the talking. Jannus Live’s always-excellent sound gave the set real punch, and by the end of the night, the crowd seemed satisfied to have witnessed a legend at work. Between the great opening set from Sparta, a strong technical performance from Cantrell, and the usual Jannus perks like Joey Brooklyn’s pizza. and the amazing bartenders, it was another solid night in downtown St. Pete.
SETLIST: Vilified – Dickeye – Afterglow – Brighten – Held Your Tongue – Angel Eyes – Atone – Them Bones – Rain When I Die – Cut You In – My Song – I Want Blood – Man in the Box – Had to Know – Would? – Echoes of Laughter – It Ain’t Like That – Rooster
JERRY CANTRELL LINKS:
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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries
About the Author (Author Profile)
ToddStar – that’s me… just a rocking accountant who had dreams of being a rock star. I get to do the next best thing to rocking the globe – I get to take pictures of the lucky ones that do. I love to shoot all genres of music and different types of performers. If it is related to music, I love to photograph it. I get to shoot and hang with not only some of my friends and idols, but some of the coolest people around today.