Jane’s Addiction continues to put on a theatrical experience as the last leg of the Theatre of Escapists tour stopped at Williamsburg Park. Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Chris Chaney and Stephen Perkins continue to put on a spectacle worthy of their legacy.
Read more of the review including photos from Jane’s Addiction and Die Antwoord after the jump.
Having caught Jane’s during one of the earlier stops of the tour, I was pretty prepared and knew what to expect from the band. Even after the release of The Great Escape Artist, the band has refused to take a break which includes a lengthy tour schedule.
There has been no drama, no whispers of fighting; instead the focus has remained on the music and the performance. Each night, it is a celebration of the excess, the sexual and the alternative that is the legacy of Jane’s Addiction. The focus tends to be on Farrell as he struts and preens or on Navarro as he shreds shirtless but the greatest joy remains in being to get lost in classic songs like “Mountain Song,” “Been Caught Stealing” and “Ocean Size.”
There have been quite a few changes since their first stop at The Paramount which is surprising for a travelling theatrical act. At The Paramount fans were treated to “Ted, Just Admit It…,” “I Would For You,” “Chip Away” and “Words Right Out of My Mouth.” At Brooklyn fans those songs were switched out for “Classic Girl,” “Up the Beach,” “Whores” “Splash a Little Water on It” and “Summertime Rolls.” As a show, Jane’s Addiction are seasoned performers, having put in the hours of practice. For fans celebrating and coming for the ride in Brooklyn what they get is a classic show that hits all the right notes.
The template is easy to follow and in some ways helps get fans even more excited about the show, effortlessly drawing them in. The band lets you catch up with them, showing off some of the newer songs such as “Underground” that fit nicely with older hits. As the scene is set, Jane’s adds intensity by playing an older classic. Before you know it, the band has established the whole tone of the night, showing off the unexpected with the expected.
The obligatory sit down acoustic version of “Jane Says” comes midway through the set but when you have something as good as that in your back pocket, its hard not to let it fly and have a giant singalong.
Like any night at the theatre the show must end, the performers take a bow and the curtain is drawn. The night with Jane’s Addiction ends with “Summertime Rolls” and the band says its farewell. As reinvigorated as the band seems, and how happy they look on stage, here’s hoping for another new album and another tour that builds on the legacy of Jane’s Addiction.
Before that, fans were treated to the craziness that is Die Antwoord. As a live act, they are incredibly fun and pretty out there. As an outsider act, they have gained numerous fans and several even dressed up in those gold tights of Yo-Landi.
It’s plenty of style but with plenty of interesting substance too. Fans were enjoying themselves and the high-energy antics of Ninja and Yo-Landi.
Jane’s Addiction
Die Antwoord
