Jane’s Addiction Live DVD a Letdown

Out today on Eagle Vision, the 91-minute Live Voodoo documents the reunited band's 2009 Halloween concert but, minus the confines of a sweaty club, Perry & Co. can't seem to generate sufficient energy to make the viewing experience memorable.

By Jose Martinez

A Jane's Addiction concert is always a special moment, so you'd think the release of the band's first-ever live DVD and Blu-ray concert, featuring the original lineup, would be stellar, but not quite so. Filmed during a 2009 performance at Voodoo Experience in New Orleans on Halloween night, this had all the makings for an unforgettable concert souvenir but watching the solid performance now leaves a bit to be desired.

We see and hear the band, guitarist Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins, in fine form, but it's charismatic lead singer Perry Farrell, one of rock's most dynamic showman, who misses the mark at times. Slightly off kilter and looking somewhat ridiculous, even by the singer's own out-there standards, and keep in mind it is Halloween night, he looks part space cowboy/part court jester, and his long cape only seems to get in his way of really being able to rock out. When he finally does ditch the hindering cape he looks like a Jack LaLanne wannabe and that certainly loses cool rock points.

As far as the music is concerned, the band tears through its groundbreaking catalog delivering 13 solid favorites, including "Mountain Song," "Three Days," "Ocean Size," "Summertime Rolls" and "Jane Says." It would have been nice if this was the concert in its entirety but that's not exactly the case as sometimes half the fun is listening to what quirky ramblings Perry Farrell will banter in between songs.

The two extra bonus songs - "1%" and "Ocean Size" taken from two separate Los Angeles surprise reunion gigs - may have actually made for a better DVD release as seeing the band perform in such a tiny, intimate setting, literally in front of its rabid, hometown fans, is really spectacular. Having actually seen Jane's Addiction in concert on Halloween, I do know just what a treat that really is but that excitement is missing on Live Voodoo, and the chance to see the band perform once again in a small, hot and sweaty club would be priceless.