WINNIPEG -- These late-career makeovers can be kind of tricky.

Just ask Chris Cornell, who's already achieved mega-success as frontman for grunge gods Soundgarden -- and then again as the voice of rock-radio staples Audioslave -- but who's faltered slightly in his stabs at a solo career.

Cornell's first solo outing, 1999's Euphoria Morning, found the formerly metal-maned screamer dipping his toe in less aggressive waters, and his most recent release Carry On is even more testosterone deficient, so it was nice to see Cornell back in fighting form when he stopped by The Burt last night.

Looking street-corner chic in a grubby blazer and skintight jeans, Cornell, 46, made his entrance to the strains of some monster guitar riffs from his four-piece band, before launching into the lyrics of Let Me Drown, the opening track from Soundgarden's seminal 1994 disc Superunknown.

The track gave him plenty of opportunity to unleash that trademark howl of his (Cornell is widely believed to possess one of the best voices in modern rock), as did follow-up Outshined, another Soundgarden gem.

After dipping into the Audioslave vault with Show Me How to Live (from that band's eponymous debut), Cornell addressed the sold-out crowd.

"It's been a long time," he said. "I've been wanting to tour across Canada for years. I asked my last band, but they didn't have time, and I asked my band before that, but they didn't have time, either."

For the record, Audioslave played Winnipeg once before disbanding, and we're pretty sure Soundgarden played the old arena at least once, as well. But hey, maybe the guy's had other things on his mind -- like how to beef up the first two offerings from Carry On.

Though the album versions are kinda wishy-washy, his live run-throughs of No Such Thing and You Know My Name, both sounded hefty as all get-out. Ditto Hunger Strike, Like A Stone and Rusty Cage.

Our deadline came way too early for anticipated follow-ups, but earlier in the evening, openers Earl Greyhound proved they would've made a perfect match for Soundgarden's brand of '70s-inspired badass-ness.

And while the band's psychedelic freakouts and slow-building jam sessions were definitely a treat, we went away even happier knowing Cornell delivered on the raw-power payoff they set us up for.