3rd time I've seen Jane's Addiction live and the best performance since they blew my mind open the first time I saw them. They opened with "Underground" and kicked straight into "Mountain Song." They played songs massive in scale like "Three Days" and "Splash A Little Water On It." They kicked it up a notch with songs like "Price I Pay," "Just Because" and "Been Caught Stealing." They brought out an awesome front of the stage acoustic set for "Jane Says" and then got everyone on drums for "Chip Away" including opening band Big Black Delta. As per usual, Perry was having the time of his life, getting into two separate bottles of wine, arms spread open like the whole concert is an invitation to his living room. Like a big giant party hug of acceptance and love. Dave was off the charts as well, as he always is, flawless solos and in general just an amazing presence. Chad was 100% on the money all night long, the bass being the most well mixed in instrument of the night. And Stephen......good lord....the amount of fluids this guy must have to drink to not end up weighing 100lbs after performances like these.....
Phenomenal. And huge props to Perry, who basically gave security the night off after a fan rushed forward to collect a high five. "That's my cousin, it's cool," he said allowing the fan to get close. Security played it very cool and let the guy in. "Everyone here is a cousin of mine tonight."
Amazing shout out to Big Black Delta as well. My jaw was on the floor for the entire set. It came out like a complete wall of sound - 2 drummers and 1 singer/guitarist/synth/electro guy. I had never heard them before, and like I said, I just couldn't believe my ears. It was so well done, and so intense, that even though I'm the world's biggest Jane's Addiction fan and had seen them 2x already and was expecting the amazing show I got - I was slightly worried for a second that I was witnessing the old "opening band blows main act off stage" bit. It was literally that good. They caught an instant fan in me.
But Jane's A did not disappoint, nor did they get out-shined. You just can't beat the masters. That look on Perry's face when he lets it rip, like he's blown away every time that those sounds are in him. The amazing tightness of the band. An incredible time all around.