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Jane’s Addiction Shines in Intimate Chicago Performance |
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Written by COSME VIVANCO / Photos by BARRY BRECHEISEN
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Monday, 26 September 2011 |
In recent years, Jane’s Addiction lead singer Perry Farrell has received stinging criticism from both fans and critics alike for what they perceived as selling-out to the mainstream. From appearing on reality television to Lollapalooza partnering with corporate sponsors, it would be hard pressed not to agree with some of the judgments levied at the group and its eccentric co-founder. At the same time, I contend that the group has achieved enough success throughout their career that they can do whatever they please, even if it means alienating some of their fans. But if there’s one thing where fans and critics can find a middle ground on is that on any given night there is no one that can outperform Perry Farrell on stage.
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Jane’s Addiction
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The Metro
Chicago, IL
September 24, 2011
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The Godfathers of Generation-X appeared at the Metro on Saturday night for the first of two shows in support of their new album The Great Escape Artist, which will be released on October 18. Their set at times was a test into how much sonic force the ear drums can take. It was so loud that Dave Novarro’s rhythm guitar playing is still ringing in my ears. The intensity in which the band performed their hits “Been Caught Stealing,” “Just Because,” and “Nothing’s Shocking,” was quite extraordinary considering that this is a band that’s aging and has no business performing at a high level than say a group that could be on the rise. For me one of the highlights of the evening was the performance of “Up the Beach.” In my estimation, the opening track of 1988’s Nothing’s Shocking is one of the most underrated performances in the history of pop music. To hear and see the band perform this specific song sent chills up and down my spine. What I was most interested is how the band’s new song, “the Irresistible Force,” would hold up live. Their new track unfortunately is one of the worst songs in the group’s catalog. It has echoes of some of the most unpleasant tunes to come out of the 1980s. Even on a live scale, this song is quite excruciating to listen to. It sounded like a painful marriage between the 1980s group Asia and alternative rock that is begging for a quick divorce.
But despite that painful hiccup to which I’m still trying to find a remedy for, what I will take from Saturday night is how Farrell continues to shine on stage, despite the knee surgery and being a front man who is north of 50 years old. I was impressed by how he shimmied, shook, moshed, and posed throughout the evening. Someone had turned to me and said that he was the “Mick Jagger” of my generation. To which I replied, no, “Perry Farrell is the Perry Farrell of his generation.” Farrell’s voice continues to hold up despite the fact that there are some obvious cracks. He continues to succeed where this generation’s front man continues to fail and that is his desire to leave the audience begging for more. He is not detached from the core values of what makes a great front man, one of them being is to have a sense of humor about yourself. There was however one moment where he sort of became serious when he asked the audience “if anybody knows what it’s like to have a step-parent,” but nonetheless his attitude throughout the set was loose and in command. Farrell went so far as to take a few swigs from a wine bottle. As usual, the Gen-X pioneers closed out the show with their most memorable song, “Jane Says.” And as the final note hung in the air, and as the stage lights went up, the Los Angeles foursome completed their obvious task, which was leaving their hardcore fans begging for more.
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