JANE’S ADDICTION
ROLO TOMASSI
The Enmore Theatre
22/02/10
On a night celebrating alternative ‘90s rock, it seemed an odd support position for UK ‘mathcore’ outfi t Rolo Tomassi. Combining screamo with classical and prog rock infl uences, the set was jarring and disjointed, making it a diffi cult listen. The visual drawcard is tiny frontwoman Eva Spence, who dances and thrusts like a lithe bird across the stage, her little body oddly juxtaposing her guttural screams. Not everyone’s cup of musical tea, but the total physical commitment from all fi ve members is to be admired.
They’ve seduced us and broken our hearts so many times before and, for a few, the wounds from their 2009 cancellation were still fresh. Thankfully this time round Jane’s Addiction came, saw, and rocked the shit out of The Enmore. With house lights going down, a sea of men in black shirts swarmed forward towards the stage, and quietly all band members bar one casually took their place. Blinding back lights and thumping drums accompanied the entrance of a bejewelled Perry Farrell who was immediately the showman, shimmying, swigging from a wine bottle and jumping onto speakers.
Opening with On The Beach and Mountain Song, it was a night that drew heavily on their older material, totally ignoring 2003’s Stray. Through the self-controlled echoes of Farrell’s vocals, and intense solos of guitarist Dave Navarro, we were drawn into their wonderful world of elegant grunge; any bad blood between the two apparently faded as they tousled and teased each other for the spotlight. Bassist Eric Avery however, stayed fairly stationary on the wing driving the bass rather like a gridiron defence and shining strong in Ted, Just Admit It.
Providing theatrics and a sense of gothic romance was a giant screen projecting clips of Kevin Bacon, old burlesque acts, and a sultry Juliette Lewis. Dancing twins in silk kimonos also appeared for Three Days and later replicating the cover of Nothing Shocking, the whole production feeling very L.A.
Howling vocals, long psychedelic jams, driving riffs and pummelling drums - it was all there, perhaps breaking best in the encore’s first track Stop. Followed by an acoustic calypso-fl avoured Jane Says, Navarro and Farrell perched themselves on the edge of the stage as the crowd went nuts, singing along brimming with nostalgia, before signing off with Chip Away.
THE DRUM MEDIA MAGAZINE 02.03.10
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