Times are changing. In May 2005, alternative supergroup Audioslave was the first American rock group to give a concert in Cuba as part of a cultural exchange. Why Audioslave received this honor remains unclear. Maybe because some of the group members in their previous band Rage Against The Machine were fiercely critical of the capitalist system? Anyway, on that historic day, 60,000 rock fans stood
… in the Anti-Imperialistic Plaza (!) In Havana and saw a fiercely rocking Audioslave pulling fiercely. After the logical opener Set It Off, fourteen typical nineties rock songs came along, with that typical sound of post-grunge and nu-metal. It is a pity that singer Chris Cornell regularly forced his voice, leaving little of the already not so melodic repertoire than a collection of obligatory rock riffs. What makes the DVD special is the special ambiance and the enthusiasm of the Cuban fans. The accompanying documentary Out Of Exile offers little more depth than the average holiday movie. Given the special sociocultural background of the concert, more could have been done there. (MS)more
