Tom Morello at le Poisson Rouge

Born in New York City and raised in Libertyville, Illinois, a 13-year-old Tom Morello sang in his first band, a Led Zeppelin cover band, and purchased his first guitar. Around 1984, Morello started studying the guitar seriously and formed a band called the Electric Sheep, featuring future Tool guitarist Adam Jones on bass. After high school, Morello moved to Los Angeles, California, where he worked as a stripper named Tom "Meat Swinger" Morello, and played in a band called Lock Up. In 1991, Morello met vocalist Zack de la Rocha, and the two founded Rage against the Machine. In 2000, after four albums, de la Rocha quit the band. The remaining members formed Audioslave with then-former Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell and released three albums. Rage against the Machine reunited in 2007 and 2011. In the meantime, Morello developed his solo folk project, the Nightwatchman, and briefly led a hip-hop collaboration called the Street Sweeper Social Club. Most recently, he formed Prophets of Rage in 2016 with members of Rage against the Machine, Public Enemy, and Cypress Hill. Morello released a solo album, The Atlas Underground, on October 12, 2018.

Perhaps many anticipated a concert when Tom Morello brought The Atlas Underground Experience to le Poisson Rouge tonight. Instead, Morello promoted his forthcoming album with a nearly three-hour program that had no band and very little live music. The evening began with an animated and eloquent Morello passionately sharing his journey chronologically in an interview setting with the help of vintage photographs and demonstrations of how he developed his riffs. Afterwards, Morello introduced the audience to the first-ever listening of his new album, as he introduced each song with commentary on its origin. Finally, Morello strapped on a guitar to play three songs. The night ended with much of the audience on stage with him, providing the vocals as he shred on Rage against the Machine's "Killing In The Name." Morello fashioned a career introspective into a unique and immersive experience, a personalized, inside look at one of rock's most exciting rock guitarists. The presentation was thoroughly interesting and engaging, leading the listeners to crave more deeply a full concert by Morello.

Visit Tom Morello at www.tommorello.com.

Setlist:

Guitar demonstrations during the interview

1. The Garden of Gethsemane
2. Like a Stone (Audioslave song)
3. Mr. Crowley Jam (Ozzy Osbourne cover)

Performance

1. The Ghost of Tom Joad (Bruce Springsteen cover)
2. This Land Is Your Land (Woody Guthrie cover)
3. Killing in the Name (Rage against the Machine song)