Jane’s Addiction – Live in NYC

In 2011, Jane’s Addiction released their first studio album for 8 years. The Great Escape Artist was instantly received with open arms from fans around the world, and to celebrate, the band played a free show in New York’s Terminal 5 on July 25th. The live album has finally been released on Blu-Ray DVD, CD and double vinyl, much to the delight of those who didn’t get the chance to be there on the night of the show.

The live album starts with a fan countdown, which always aids the listener’s excitement – and so it did, as Perry Farrell’s roaring vocals burst into the venue with enough energy to reach the whole of NYC. Whores proved a great choice of opener, as the rattling bass line and the echoing screams of Farrell alongside the achingly heavy lead guitar awoke an energy in the audience that is clearly distinguished on the CD.

Each song opens to a deafening cheer from the crowd, even before the opening lines are sung. Ain’t No Right and, a little later down the list, Ocean Size prove great examples of this – with well-known songs like Just Because and Been Caught Stealing causing sing-alongs that prove almost louder than the music.

It’s clear, even after only one or two songs, just how perfected Jane’s Addiction’s live sets are. The instruments are crisp and clear, with Farrell’s vocals never overtaken by a riff. Each off-note or even the few small mistakes throughout simply prove to enhance the atmosphere as the band control the show like masters of rock and roll puppetry.

Ted Just Admit It… gives the audience a chance to get going. With chants and “woahs” in full flow, the album has really kicked off. Drummer Stephen Perkins never misses a beat, particularly in tracks Irresistible Force (Met the Immovable Object) – evidently the only track played from album The Great Escape Artist – and Mountain Song.

The popular closing song Jane Says starts with Farrell getting a little over excited and telling the audience to “get this motherfucking party over, so that we can move into the next motherfucking party.” Although this little slip up of brain activity is soon forgotten as the opening bongo kicks in and the audience realises what song it is. Here Farrell’s vocals go a little out of tune, but this is understandable as the song before – Stop! – is a wild, out of control alt-rock jam which pushes Farrell’s vocals to the extreme.

Once it’s all over, the album stops almost too abruptly – leaving listeners wanting an encore, a secret track or something more. This said, the album blatantly has no faults besides ending too soon.

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