Jane's Addiction at The Fillmore Philly 7/20/2016
words and photos by friend and guest writer @samishoshi
I am to concert reviews as Melania Trump is to RNC speeches. This is my first attempt, I don't speak the language, and I am entering personally un-chartered waters. So please forgive me if I echo the sentiment and form of those who have come before me (I am lookin’ at you Michelle Obama and @TheVic.) Let me set the scene—its 10:45PM on a Wednesday night at The Fillmore in Philadelphia. Both Living Colour and Dinosaur, Jr. have already performed, and the main floor of the venue is jam-packed with excited 40-somethings eagerly awaiting the main act. Tonight, the main act is a band that they most likely discovered as juniors and seniors in high school back in the early 90s. It is also likely that they saw this band at the 1st Lollapalooza 25 years ago. Señores and Señoras....JUANAS ADDICCION!!!!
The crowd is primarily male, heavily tattooed, and rowdy. Spaces up front are hard to come by, but my tenacity for always getting as close as I possibly can overrides the dirty looks and shoves I receive as I make my way up. I find a spot front and center next to 2 very large gentlemen who immediately prove to be excellent pit-mates, and look to be ready, willing and able to protect me if things get weird. We are smushed together like sardines. Literally, no one is leaving.
I count myself firmly within the predominate fan demographic, with a few minor exceptions. I, too, am forty-ish. I am also thrilled to be at the Fillmore, a fantastic new (ish) venue in my hometown to see a band I fell in love with in high school, AND I am feeling quite rowdy myself! However, I am a 5'1 female, sans tattoos (that whole “Jewish cemetery thing”-thanks, Mom!) and I have never before seen Janes Addiction live in my life. Just before the lights go out, one of my superb pit-mates turns to me and asks, "are you a Perry Farrell or Dave Navarro kind of girl?” My answer will change multiple times over the course of the night...
Ok, so it's ON! The crowd absolutely freaks when the Boys, looking surprisingly fresh, fit, and delicious, storm the stage and give us “Stop.” (Note: This has been the opener of every show so far on the 2016 Sterling Spoon tour, which marks the 25th anniversary of the release of Ritual de lo Habitual and the 1st Lollapalooza.) Perry looks sharp, if a little Beetlejuice-esque, and Dave is smoking hot in all his tattooed, nipple-pierced, winged-eyeliner glory. Lots of eye contact, smiles, and “what’s up” head nods make for an instant connection between artist and fan right out of the gate, and I feel sure that whatever is in store, we are all going to be in this together.
The crowd is primarily male, heavily tattooed, and rowdy. Spaces up front are hard to come by, but my tenacity for always getting as close as I possibly can overrides the dirty looks and shoves I receive as I make my way up. I find a spot front and center next to 2 very large gentlemen who immediately prove to be excellent pit-mates, and look to be ready, willing and able to protect me if things get weird. We are smushed together like sardines. Literally, no one is leaving.
I count myself firmly within the predominate fan demographic, with a few minor exceptions. I, too, am forty-ish. I am also thrilled to be at the Fillmore, a fantastic new (ish) venue in my hometown to see a band I fell in love with in high school, AND I am feeling quite rowdy myself! However, I am a 5'1 female, sans tattoos (that whole “Jewish cemetery thing”-thanks, Mom!) and I have never before seen Janes Addiction live in my life. Just before the lights go out, one of my superb pit-mates turns to me and asks, "are you a Perry Farrell or Dave Navarro kind of girl?” My answer will change multiple times over the course of the night...
Ok, so it's ON! The crowd absolutely freaks when the Boys, looking surprisingly fresh, fit, and delicious, storm the stage and give us “Stop.” (Note: This has been the opener of every show so far on the 2016 Sterling Spoon tour, which marks the 25th anniversary of the release of Ritual de lo Habitual and the 1st Lollapalooza.) Perry looks sharp, if a little Beetlejuice-esque, and Dave is smoking hot in all his tattooed, nipple-pierced, winged-eyeliner glory. Lots of eye contact, smiles, and “what’s up” head nods make for an instant connection between artist and fan right out of the gate, and I feel sure that whatever is in store, we are all going to be in this together.
Perry Farrell
|
Dave Navarro
|
Insert extremely scantily-dressed, insanely hot dancing girls into the mix (including Perry’s sexy as hell wife, Etty Lau) and now we’ve got ourselves a party. As an avid live-music-goer, primarily of the jam band variety, I am used to dancing my face off at shows, surrendering to the flow, and entering a sort of hazy bliss. This is NOT the case tonight--I must keep my eye on the prize! In one instance, the prize is Etty Lau getting completely undressed by an adoring, nearly naked blonde hottie, dancing on a chair COMPLETELY naked, and then getting redressed by aforementioned hottie. In another instance, I think to myself that if I keep sending heady direct eye contact vibes to Dave, maybe, just maybe, I can get him to fall in love with me. At all times, I am focused and hyper alert. Instead of my normal dancing, I find myself standing there gawking. Song after song, of which the crowd knows every word, the band keeps coming at us with excellent vocals by Perry, intense and sexy guitar-playing by Dave, and expert overall showmanship. The relentless energy emanating from the stage keeps us firmly engaged in what is happening at all times. It is more of a spectacle than a jam session, with extremely high entertainment value. Although this is my first rodeo of the sort, it quite certainly is not the band’s. Transitions between songs are short and tight, the burlesque dancers are talented, lustful, and perfectly choreographed, and there is a sense of confidence and sexiness oozing from the boys that is making me want to be their bitch. Wait, did I just say that?
So anywho, I mentioned earlier Perry looking a bit like Beetlejuice what with his straw hat, pin-striped pants, and a bit of a whitish, well-preserved face. The similarities to the Beetlejuice vibe continue. When the 2 bikini-clad girls rise above the crowd suspended to flying wires by their back piercings, yes you heard me right—back piercings, what unfolds before my eyes is right out of the waiting room scene from Beetlejuice, complete with tons of zany characters all trying to get noticed while waiting for their number to be called. And there is blood, people. Blood dripping down the backs of the maniacal-looking zeniths who are wriggling back and forth above me, hanging by their own skin. There are strippers slithering around everywhere like sexy weird animals stalking their prey. Sex is Violent…um, right? Although I appreciate the "nothing's shocking" approach to which the band is firmly committed, I am glad that the girls are being lowered, and this part of this show is over because TBH, I am starting to get a little skeeved out.
So anywho, I mentioned earlier Perry looking a bit like Beetlejuice what with his straw hat, pin-striped pants, and a bit of a whitish, well-preserved face. The similarities to the Beetlejuice vibe continue. When the 2 bikini-clad girls rise above the crowd suspended to flying wires by their back piercings, yes you heard me right—back piercings, what unfolds before my eyes is right out of the waiting room scene from Beetlejuice, complete with tons of zany characters all trying to get noticed while waiting for their number to be called. And there is blood, people. Blood dripping down the backs of the maniacal-looking zeniths who are wriggling back and forth above me, hanging by their own skin. There are strippers slithering around everywhere like sexy weird animals stalking their prey. Sex is Violent…um, right? Although I appreciate the "nothing's shocking" approach to which the band is firmly committed, I am glad that the girls are being lowered, and this part of this show is over because TBH, I am starting to get a little skeeved out.
Perry Farrell
|
Dave Navarro
|
I am grateful for the change in vibe as Perry lights up a joint, a gift that he has received from a fan earlier in the night. He wonders aloud if it is “grown hydroponically, or in the great outdoors?” Who cares, if Perry is gonna light up right here, right now, so are we! Um, by “we” I mean everyone else….not necessarily me, per say, but the collective “we.” Right.
With Perry’s mellow vibe hydroponically situated, the stage is set for the last song of the evening. Drums are brought out to the front of the stage, the lights come up a bit, and Dave takes a well-deserved seat and puts his feet up. As soon as we hear the familiar melody of the steal drums and the gentle strumming of Dave's acoustic guitar, we know it's "Jane Says." Perry is so close to me during this song, physically and spiritually, that I'm fully convinced that if I reach out and caress his brow, he would take my hand.....Wow. Just wow.
As the lights come up and the crowd clears, I make my way back across the pit, nearly slipping multiple times on all the spilled beer and empty cups. I wonder what in the world did I just see? Does it get any better than this? How lucky am I to have gotten the chance to see one of my all-time favorite bands ever? And more importantly, how much will it hurt when I get my first tattoo? And my nipples pierced??
With Perry’s mellow vibe hydroponically situated, the stage is set for the last song of the evening. Drums are brought out to the front of the stage, the lights come up a bit, and Dave takes a well-deserved seat and puts his feet up. As soon as we hear the familiar melody of the steal drums and the gentle strumming of Dave's acoustic guitar, we know it's "Jane Says." Perry is so close to me during this song, physically and spiritually, that I'm fully convinced that if I reach out and caress his brow, he would take my hand.....Wow. Just wow.
As the lights come up and the crowd clears, I make my way back across the pit, nearly slipping multiple times on all the spilled beer and empty cups. I wonder what in the world did I just see? Does it get any better than this? How lucky am I to have gotten the chance to see one of my all-time favorite bands ever? And more importantly, how much will it hurt when I get my first tattoo? And my nipples pierced??
More Photos from Fillmore Philly
video clips from the Fillmore
7/20/2016
Fillmore Philly
Philadelphia, PA
Setlist:
Stop, No One's Leaving, Aint No Right, Obvious, Been Caught Stealing, Three Days, Then She Did, Of Course, Classic Girl
Encore:
Mountain Song, Just Because, Ted, Just Admit it, Jane Says
Fillmore Philly
Philadelphia, PA
Setlist:
Stop, No One's Leaving, Aint No Right, Obvious, Been Caught Stealing, Three Days, Then She Did, Of Course, Classic Girl
Encore:
Mountain Song, Just Because, Ted, Just Admit it, Jane Says
