New York/Jersey With Jane's Addiction - My Last Stop

The Jane's Addiction company pulled in to our New York City hotel around 5:00 in the morning, after squeezing the tour bus around the labyrinth that is Soho. An exhausted bunch slept for a few hours, and then tried to cram as much New York stuff in as possible before show time that night across the river in New Brunswick, New Jersey. I hit the Museum of Natural History with the kids, saw the giant tower going up on the World Trade Center site, the very pretty High Line, and everything else I love about New York from my cab window. Then I raced back to meet up at the hotel to head to Jersey.

Traffic was so bad in Soho that we decided to hoof it to our bus stuck in it 6 blocks away, so we wouldn't be late for the show. We were probably quite a sight, the band and entourage filing through cars, carrying pizza (the perfect New York plain cheese) and all. You do what you gotta do, laughing all the while.

Once we arrived at the State Theater in New Brunswick, it was quick change time. The Great Escape Artist tour is full of what Perry calls "Immersive Theater", and as it was my last show on the tour, I tagged along with dancer, Bubba Carr, as he rounded up what they call the Chain Gang.

Bubba goes out into the crowd with chains and straps and picks out people from the crowd that he finds interesting or super-fan or just plain hot, and chains them up together to lead them back for a private Jane's Addiction jam in the "Boiler Room". It was hilarious to observe, as the fans have no idea what's going to happen, and I heard one wife's husband say, "This show might end up in Divorce Court", as she happily split in chains, and he watched her go.

Once backstage, Bubba led the group into the Boiler Room, where the band was already jamming "Pigs In Zen" in what felt exactly like a basement party. Their faces were thrilled, and I imagine it will be an experience they brag about the rest of their natural lives. It's that cool.

After a couple songs, the guys adjourned to get ready to ROCK the place, but not before we caught a minute of the mock-able Olympic closing ceremonies. WHERE was the punk rock that we loved England for?! Anyway ...

The night felt electric, and I don't think it was just me feeling nostalgic already. The fans were fired up and slamming drinks (JERSEY!) when I was out in the crowd with Bubba, and you just knew the place was going to go OFF. Which it did as soon as "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" began and the lights dimmed.

"Underground" and the giant white skirts had everyone's jaws gaping, and they never shut. Because "Mountain Song" was next, and it never let up from there. "Before I came here, I thought New Brunswick was a bowling ball ... Now I know better!" said Perry to the adoring throng. "Just Because" is Hezron Farrell's favorite tune, and the kids were rocking out on the side of the stage the entire show. Get ready for the next generation, everyone, because it's in these little ones DNA. Fun.

I don't know if the guys were showing off for me or what (ha), but they were simply on fire, to a man. "Been Caught Stealing" found Perry telling the crowd to move up to the stage, and once that happened, it was a madhouse of people reaching for his legs, holding their arms up for Dave to slap, screaming while smiling.

Perry took someone's camera and took a photo of them, managed to sign peoples' stuff and slap fives, all while singing these monstrous tunes. "Ain't No Right" had simply ferocious drums from Stephen Perkins, and Perry was a spinning, dancing machine.

 I marveled at how little sleep I know we all had, how Perry had a surfing injury on his hip that's been bothering him, and yet from the look, sound and feel of it, it was as if it was their first headlining show ever. MARVELOUS.

"Irresistible Force" was huge, and Etty once again flew and sang above the crowd from her perch high above on a trapeze. Then the crazy music plays as Stephanie Spanski as an Automaton in a baby carriage walks across the stage and trips everyone out. I love it.

The acoustic "Jane Says" is always a crowd pleaser, and sure enough, everyone in that joint was on their feet, front to back, singing along LOUDLY to every word, absolutely beside themselves with elation. Ask 'em.

Someone handed a flask to Perry, who took a swig, and then he returned the favor by passing around his wine bottle down front.  The good times were rolling, for sure. New Brunswick!!!

"We always get requests for this next song {often by me}, and this one will always help you get laid, fellas", said Perry to introduce the pure classic of "Classic Girl". I, and everyone else, almost died. You don't get to hear this one very often, and I've loved it from first listen back in college.

Women were all over Perry and Dave in the front, hanging on to their arms and legs to the point that it was surprising they could still move and play. One lady even had a custom "I heart Perry" shirt on. Meaning it. Looking at the faces, it was as if everyone was having a collective holy experience. Beatific smiles that you couldn't help but return.

"What are you drinking?" asked Perry to one guy, who replied, "I Would For You!" probably thinking he should get his request in vs. answer the question. "You're drinking I Would For You?!"

But instead they got "Up The Beach", which is so massive you could only throw your head back and soak it in. Dave's guitar on that is full Pink Floyd huge, and I had chills the whole time. Which carried over into "Had A Dad", because it too is beyond big.

"Three Days" was the hottest thing ever, with Etty and Steph gagged and wielding canes to surround Perry in a threesome of fever dream proportions. Married ten years, Perry and Etty still look at each other like they're about to devour each other on stage, and having been a bunk mate of theirs along this tour, I can tell you that their love is true, palpable, and one of the few marriages I admire these days.

Aside from the obvious hot as hellness, the music on this one takes you on an epic journey, with Dave and Chris Chaney's guitar and bass swirling around Stephen's heavy drums that had the drooling fans hooting and hollering at how very metal it was.

After the screaming and stomping and clapping for an encore reached frantic proportions, Perry came back out and said, "President Perry told you so, you work your ass off, so you need to party your ass off!" and no one disagreed in there.

They gave them the awesome "Splash A Little Water On It" that went right into "Ocean Size", where I don't believe I'd ever seen Dave so animated or Perry so possessed by the moment. He was rolling around on the ground, giving his fucking ALL to these New Jersey people, who were jumping and holding up their arms like it was the first and last show they'd ever see.

"Stop" was last and when it got to the part everyone knows every word to: HUM along with me, hum along with the tv, hum along with the GODDAMN RADIO!!" the poor State Theater's roof was blown off and I don't even know where it went. But it did have to Stop, and when the sweaty and spent band left the stage to people shouting for even more, it was a group that knew they had kicked some serious ass. The crowd looked it too, wrung out, but joyously happy.

As was I. It was a complete blast going along on this leg of the Jane's Addiction journey, and documenting it along the way. I'll have these monumental memories for a lifetime, sad as I was to wind it up for now. I am blessed. I am inspired. I am thrilled that I get to know these creative, talented, visionary people, and even more so that I get to call them true friends.

THANK YOU from the depths of my heart to Perry and Etty Farrell, Hezron and Izzadore, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins, Chris Chaney, Stephanie Spanski, Bubba Carr, Doug Goodman, Monique Sanchez, and all the crew, drivers, venues, and places that we rocked together ... for sharing your world with me ... and the whole world. Wow. For the people at the rest of the tour stops, I sure hope you all get out to see this tremendous show, because you will carry it with you the rest of your days. I know I will.

And Summertime Rolls on ....




*Bus and Me photos by Mr. Bubba Carr.

Jane's Addiction Had A Farm - Syracuse

Jane's Addiction and Company (and me!) went to sleep on the bus from Cleveland and woke up the next morning on a farm in upstate New York. When I say farm, I mean a FARM.

Beautiful green rolling hills, all sorts of animals (whose friends were our barbeque later), the freshest possible produce, and the nicest possible people. We all explored and ate and made up drinks with that produce, and I had my first lamb burger. As I listened to them Baaaa from the nearby barn.

It was delicious, though we felt a little guilty when later learning how the sheep are milked, and ate the creamy, artisan cheese made from that milk. Ahh, the circle of life. It was the first time on a farm for Perry Farrell and his kids, so there was a whole lot to take in. I laughed a lot.

Well fed, sated, and entertained, our band of gypsies got back on the bus for the leafy drive to Syracuse, New York. Everyone got a solid sleep in, and before we knew it, it was time for sound check and another show, this time at the Landmark Theater in downtown Syracuse. It was an ornate and beautiful (and I assume old) concert hall, once again full of dedicated fans.

I got there after the opening act for this leg, Mute Math, but I heard they were great, and Stephen Perkins said their drummer is his favorite. High praise, indeed. I will get there on time next time, lesson learned.

I was standing next to Perry and his kids as Pink Floyd played right before Jane's was going on. I love watching him with them so much, and vice versa, as there is such a tangible, mutual pride - and Perry and his son, Hezron, happen to share the same dance moves. Genetics. Perry is all sweet and gentle, and then two seconds later is out there rocking peoples' minds out. Balance.

"Underground" is quickly becoming a fan favorite, and it's impressive theatrics (with Etty Farrell and Stephanie Spanski flying overhead from trapezes in their gigantic white hoop skirts) set the tone for the whole show. The next one, the classic "Mountain Song", always gets the crowd fired up, and tonight was no exception. Perry was FEELING it on that one, even more animated than usual. All the guys were extra on feeling, giving it their all, as they do. "Just Because".

"Been Caught Stealing" featured a searing Dave Navarro solo, and all the guys were going off. Jane's is a band where the bass lines are so noticeable too, thanks to that Chris Chaney. So good. There was one guy right down front who I don't think was sober, but I don't think it would matter, as he was a SUPER fan, with his finger pointing at Perry, jabbing out every syllable to every song. I know how it feels to love a band, clearly, but this guy was on his own level. It cracked me up, even though I was happy for him, that he was obviously living out a dream.

We had a chat at Lollapalooza about how all the things that feel good are bad for you (drugs, alcohol, fattening food, etc ...) and that seems so backwards (This topic will wind up as a song, I have a good feeling). Perry brought that up to this crowd, and told them about our day at the farm, and how sometimes you just have to say, "I WILL have a lamb burger, and I WILL have that delicious beer with it, because there ain't no wrong and 'There Ain't No Right'". Word. This one had Dave with another blaster of a solo that was just - Yikes.

"Twisted Tale" had Bubba Carr beating up baby dolls and Etty Farrell singing and dancing around him like ... well, a twisted fairytale. I love the creativity so much in this company, and it just keeps getting better.

Perry told the crowd more about our farm time, and what a great way of life it is, (it clearly made an impression on him) and asked our new friends from the farm to shout out if they were at our barbeque. The whole place screamed, so I know there were some fibbers in there, but everyone seemed happy to share in the fun. Especially when they got acoustic "Jane Says" played for them next. That's a song you just never tire of, and once again, the whole room sang along, so happily.

"Then She Did" I love every time. "Splash A Little Water On It". Huge. "Ocean Size" - even bigger. "Stop". No way. I went up to the dressing room with young Izzadore Farrell, and he said, "We should go back downstairs for your favorite song." Which he knows very well is "Summertime Rolls". It was indeed on, and the last one. That melted my heart as much as the song does.

It was faces that were melted when I looked out at the crowd, smacking big balloons around and loving this band for every single note played. As Perry had said earlier in the show, "Our job is fun." Amen, my brother, Amen.

May Day Rebellion!

Happy May Day, 99%! On the same day that he led a GuitArmy through New York City in a May Day Occupation, Tom Morello released his jam documentary short, World Wide Rebel Tour. Here it is for your viewing pleasure ...




Whatever it takes!  Solidarity.

Ahmed Alsoudani at L and M Arts Venice

I had a little window of time to myself to go check out the latest exhibit at L&M, though I had to wait until this remarkable summery January mind blower of a day started to turn golden hour before I could force myself to be remotely inside.


Maybe it was because all seemed so well in the world outside that I was even more affected by the art of Iraqi-born, New York-based Ahmed Alsoudani inside.


I entered the West gallery, and was delighted to see the bright colors and whimsical (from a distance) paintings. As you can usually have the whole place to yourself on a weekday, you can really take your time and stand there and take it in when it's not the opening night squeeze experience. When I did just this, it soon became clear that a whole lot more was going on in these works than a bright circus-y good time.


Baghdad-born Alsoudani left Iraq 15 years ago, but it's clear that the destruction and mayhem of that war-torn land is present in every stroke. Spooky faces, disembodied bits, violence, meat cleavers and claws compete with the cheerful hues to impart what a dichotomy life is EVERYWHERE these days. At least that's what I took from it all.


All of the charcoal and acrylic paintings in the show are titled Untitled, 2011, so you kind of have to interpret it all yourself, with the limited knowledge of Alsoudani that is provided. And you SHOULD interpret your feelings for art for yourself anyway.


I felt sad that a lot of the pain within this exhibit is the fault of my own country. I felt even harder core that we should be going nowhere near Iran (duh). I felt grateful that art helps us to (hopefully) better understand our fellow People of the world. I felt like going back outside and embracing the gratitude and luck that enabled me to breathe sea air in deeply as the sun turned orange and purple a few blocks to the West, without the threat of war immediately overhead.


So I did.

The Ahmed Alsoudani exhibit is on at L&M now until March 3. See what YOU think.



L&M Arts
660 Venice Boulevard
Venice