Jane's Addiction End Theater Of The Escapists Tour At Home in L.A.!

The last show of Jane's Addiction's epic Theater Of The Escapists Tour 2012 took place, appropriately, at home in Los Angeles, at the classic Wiltern Theater.

As it was the Saturday before Halloween, there was a steady stream of ladies as sexy whatevers, ghouls, zombies, and even furry cows filing into the old building, milling around in the lobby, getting drinks. Ruling.

Also in the lobby were escapists entertaining the crowd with the "Immersive Theater" that has come to be a trademark of this tour.

There were girls chained to railings, old-timey looking guys getting into play-fights (so realistic that the Wiltern staff told them they had to tone down the violence a bit), and a girl contorting herself inside a cage.

As many people were in costume at the event, there was that fine line blur of what was for the show, and what was real. Perfect tone to set.

thenewno2 opened the night for Jane's, and the experimental indie group fronted by Dhani Harrison were waaaay more rocking than how I remembered them at Lollapalooza. Even Harrison's band mate (in Fistful Of Mercy), Ben Harper, was seen practically David Lee Roth jumping off the sound board, so into his friend's jams was he.

It was great stuff to get in a rock trance to, but I had a lot of catching up to do backstage with friends I rolled with earlier this summer when I was lucky enough to be along for the Theater Of The Escapists East Coast ride.

Getting backstage just in time for the "Boiler Room" jams was a great choice. We squeezed into a little tiny room to get to hear Perry, Dave, Stephen and Chris fully rock out "Standing In The Shower Thinking" to just a handful of friends. I was squished in next to Tom Morello, and we agreed that this was exactly like listening to your friends jam in the basement back in the day. Only this was the monstrous, huge Jane's Addiction we were being sweat-splashed by this time. Life is so fun.

Show time! The Pink Floyd intro music that will now forever be related to this tour for me began, and the sold out Wiltern crowd began to collectively lose their mind as the house went dark. Then BAM! "Underground" began the show and Los Angeles finally got to see Etty Farrell and Stephanie Spanski swinging in their giant white dresses off of their trapezes, as the band whipped the place into a frenzy that would last throughout the set-list. "Mountain Song" is always a highlight, and tonight was no different.

L.A. LOVES their "Mountain Song". It was HUGE and blew right into "Just Because" (my friend Steph's favorite jam), then "Ain't No Right" and "Been Caught Stealing" back to back. All the Jane's songs are so intricate and huge, you can look around at the crowd and see them not even knowing where to look during the songs, because there's so much excellence going on.

From Dave Navarro's scorching guitar solos to Stephen Perkins' wailing on those drums, to Chris Chaney's bass resonance to Perry Farrell's inimitable voice and front man theatrics, never mind the hottest lady dancers ever, Bubba Carr's performance art, and video screen visuals swirling above it all, and you're sweating yourself just to take it all in.

"Irresistible Force" (off the newest JA album, The Great Escape Artist) made it abundantly clear that the new stuff is as BIG as the old tracks, and blends in to the set list so well that they're just all classics. This hometown crowd would probably have been stoked if they'd just played the Empire Carpet jingle, but they didn't have to settle for that, as next up was everyone's jam, "Jane Says". The guys were all up front of the stage and acoustic for this all-time classic, but I can't say the same for myself, as "All Access" at the Wiltern does not mean that, and the security guys wouldn't let me go down into the pit mix with the superfan people. That is dumb.

So back to the side of the stage for me, which no one can ever be mad at. I just like to be in the middle of it all at rock shows I love, you know?

Halloween's vibe was evident, and Perry at one point said, "If Mitt Romney wins the election (God forbid, even typing that is scary), it's gonna be SPOOKY in this country." Uh, yeah. No dwelling on that b.s. on this night though, not when Jane's Addiction is blowing up "Chip Away" and "Up The Beach" and "Whores"!!! The ENTIRE crowd was losing their shit, from the lucky ones in the pit to the very last row of the balcony, on their collective feet, SCREAMING.

"That is some original Los Angeles shit right there!" yelled Perry, who then told a tale about singing that one on Hollywood Boulevard ("when Dave Navarro was underage") and old hookers with their big tits would come by and listen. Ahhh, L.A. in the dirty old days ....

Led to "Three Days." EPIC. This extravaganza featured every player at the very top of their game. Navarro's solo was just ... ridiculous:

... and Perkins' solo threatened to implode the old Wiltern.

Perry was throwing down some Jim Morrison style shaman dancing, crawling around on his stomach, twirling and toasting the crowd - the entire time.

The dancers were gagged and teasing Dave and Perry with their canes as they acted out the world's sexiest three way ... for three days (or 10 minutes or so, but you felt transported away for days). LOVE it.

I seriously think of "Splash A Little Water On It" every time I'm in the shower since I got back from this tour.

That one was next, and as Bubba flung mud everywhere, we all watched from the side of the stage, arms raised, reflecting the ones up and facing us from the audience.

The people were absolutely loving every second of it, as were we.

A dreamy instrumental opening led to the massive scope of "Ocean Size". Wow. WOW! I love this one every time it's ever played on any speaker, but to hear it live is just a perfect example of how ROCK is supposed to feel.

And how BIG this band has always been and will always be. I can't think of any band today whose songs are ALL this well-crafted and tightly played, never mind one who feels so fresh even 20+ years into their existence. SO much respect.

We all had a bunch more songs we hoped for, but the last one (of the relatively short set list) was ... HERE WE GO!!! - "Stop!" I wrote "Crowd = ECSTATIC" in my book here. And they were. This was Jane's Addiction tearing up Los Angeles! The crowd all sang along, and this extra fast paced one was over in no time, and then so was the show.

The band and the dancers took their bows, Dave Navarro put on a Slash costume, and performers and fans beamed mutually at each other as the crowd kept screaming for more.

But that was it, and as the band waved and left the stage, you could hear the people's thunder all the way back downstairs. Jane's Addiction definitely left them wanting more, just like all the very best things in life do.

THANK YOU to Jane's Addiction for all the great rock they threw down in 2012 ... I can't wait to see and hear what's next! Classic, guaranteed.

Lollapalooza - Day One Of The Best Time Ever

I have arrived in Chicago for Lollapalooza 2012, and it's already exceeded all expectations. I'm fortunate (and mind blown) to be the guest of the Farrells/Founders, and as you can imagine, it makes it a rather unique and perfect situation to see all the world's greatest bands perform at what I truly believe is the best festival of all time. Check out just Day One alone!

It is oppressively hot in Chicago, but bright blue skies, and bright spirits (really, every single person I encountered was in the very best mood - all day and night) made you not mind a bit. We had a fun night before, arriving to town late and heading straight to Prosecco in downtown Chicago to join the Farrells for a homemade limoncello Lolla kick-off toast. Yum.

We got to beautiful, impressive Grant Park just in time to see Michael Kiwanuka on the Play Station stage. I had just read an article on him the night before, and just as I walked up, the talented guitarist and singer strummed the opening notes to my all time favorite song ever (and that's a hard decision, but I have come back to it time and again) of any genre, "May This Be Love" by Jimi Hendrix. What a wonderful omen and way to start off an incredible three days of music. Kiwanuka and his band (featuring two drummers on two drum sets) ruled it - not easy. I was impressed. And stoked.

Good omen number two, and even better, was when we were standing there waiting for a golf cart to take us to the Artist area to meet up with all my friends, and no volunteers really seemed to know where to send us. RIGHT then, up pulls a cart driven by my friend, Smitty, from years of Rage fun. We hopped right in, had some laughs with him, and he dropped us off right where we wanted to be - the back stage of the back stage area, Farrell compound.

We had some champagne to toast all the fun we were about to get into, and lapped up the chilly AC before heading back out to explore. We may have lagged longer than necessary, and missed a good chunk of afternoon bands, but it was hard to leave the bubbles and the cool. But we did.

And glad we did, because the golf cart ride - driven with confidence and hilarity through the throngs by Etty Farrell (in a highly covetous frock by Rodarte for Opening Ceremony) - was quite an experience. We finally gave up on following the Perry driven cart because he would be stopped every few feet by adoring and grateful fans wanting a high five or a photo, and we wanted to get to Die Antwoord. They were awesomely awesome.

The crowd didn't seem to mind the heat a bit, and were all squeezed in, shoulder to shoulder, loving every super fast beat. I Fink U Freaky! Ruling.

Their energy was infectious and pumped us up to keep the carts going on to the next good time.

We sped over to see thenewno2, Dhani Harrison's band at the BMI Stage. He had some die-hard fans wearing some Eyes Wide Shut kind of masks (that must have been uncomfortable, so they must be really loyal people) to enjoy his lighter, poppier jams.

That didn't last very long for us, as people were hungry, and Perry had been raving about the lobster corn dogs. Yes, lobster.

 He was right, and thus fortified, we all carted up and headed on out again to do fly-bys of M83, Band of Skulls, and then all the way over to catch Passion Pit, who had a huge crowd, all extra into it.

The same goes for Nero, playing Perry's Stage, who I think had the most exciting crowd jumping, energetic scene of the day so far. I felt instantly rowdier.

We had a little break to cool off again, drink up, and gather the posse to hit the big Bud Light stage to see ... BLACK SABBATH!!!

One of my favorite memories - of the day and probably up there with ever - was when we walked down the center aisle to head to the sound board to watch, following Perry. Every single person screamed and held out their hands for Perry to slap, and you could hear them all yelling THANK YOU above the din. Rightly so, as this festival is well thought out, so well planned and executed, so FUN, that everyone should be thanking Perry for all time. It's his vision, and the people know it.

I was just happy to be there, but even more so to see it all so up front and special. Black Sabbath from the sound board!!

Everyone was wondering how Ozzy would do these days, and I'm here to tell you that the guy KILLED it. Like eat a bat's head off killed it (figuratively, these days, of course).

The band was so tight, the crowd was so into it, and the respect for this band was palpable. (To the extent that we all skipped The Black Keys, who I also love. But C'mon - it's Sabbath!!) They played all the classics, from War Pigs to Iron Man, and then we walked back through the crowd to watch from the stage. Black Sabbath from the stage!!!

There's not much I can say to follow that tough act, so suffice it to know that we ALL had a complete blast. By we, I mean everyone in remote ear-shot of that fantastic first day of this fantastic festival. I gotta go now, as it's all about to start all over again.

Wish you were here, if you're not! Finger horns held high, my people!