JANE’S ADDICTION LIVE AT MANCHESTER’S O2 APOLLO

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

JANE’S ADDICTION PERFORMING AT MANCHESTER’S O2 APOLLO
PHOTOCREDIT: TREV EALES

Jane's Addiction close their short UK tour at Manchester Apollo. It's a gig I've approached with expectation and apprehension. In their prime Jane's Addiction were something special; iconic American alt rock with a social conscience who set their own template. Yet reunion tours can be dubious affairs. It's been over a decade since the original line up played together. Guitarist Dave Navarro's been battling long Covid for two years and the last time I saw Perry Farrell he was so off the wall it was embarrassing.

I needn't have worried . . .

House lights dim to the sound of tribal drumming, the pace steadily accelerating until our protagonists stroll into the shadows. Eric Avery, swaying head down in the half light opens up with the tender intro to Up The Beach. It doesn't last. Moments later thunderous guitar and drums crash the melody while Perry Farrell takes his first swig of wine; lubrication for what lies ahead. The tempo simultaneously funereal yet magisterial.

Had a Dad signals the first full tilt rock of the evening. It's driven by a great riff propelled by agile bass from Avery. At the back of the stage, still shrouded in darkness, Navarro weaves his magic, his fingers barely seen, move at lightning speed across his fretboard. Perry Farrell stands centre stage, his demeanour and vocals suddenly more ferocious as the song spirals upward and onward.

Ain't no Right follows. Again, Avery sets the tone, but it's Stephen Perkins who propels the track forward. He's one of those drummers who seem perform with their whole body on a song and performance that's imbued with a real punk rock feel.

1% maintains the energy while Ted, Just Admit It briefly takes things down. The calm doesn't last though. The loping jazz tinged bass and insidious riff gradually builds as Perry's voice becomes an increasingly frenzied howl.

Good performers know how to pace their sets. Jane Says brings us melody, performed acoustically with Navarro seated. It signals the first synchronised arm waving among the crowd. The melodic emphasis continues with Then She Did . . . It's an opus that inexorably builds. Beginning as tender and mellow, the semi acoustic melody gradually builds with a nagging riff as it's propelled by rock solid drums and bass.

Been Caught Stealing brings funk to the party with an irresistible rhythm that gets everyone moving before Navarro injects a blistering solo and Farrell adds jazz skit vocals. As the show rolls on, Ocean Size brings . . . well, an ocean sized riff with Farrell wailing over screaming guitar. Perhaps fittingly, they close with Stop! It's a return to buzz saw punk fuelled energy with Navarro's guitar driving the song forward.

They come back mellow to encore with Three Days, with a bass driven groove that builds toward some soaring guitar. There's an almost ethereal feel to Navarro's playing. Both song and performance are a tour de force, encapsulating everything that's good about Jane's Addiction. It would have been a great way to finish but there's more to come.

Mountain Song, pure rock with with mountainous riff closes the first encore with raw energy before Chip Away's tribal drumming brings us full circle.

Tonight, Jane's Addiction have been outstanding, a band playing as though they really mean it. There's little communication between them but all bring something special and there's an unspoken kinetic energy between them. Ringmaster Perry Farrell holds centre stage drawing our attention, ever the unconventional frontman. So much of their sound is propelled by Daniel Avery's dynamic bass with he and animal drummer Stephen Perkins forming a rock solid foundation. It's Navarro though who increasingly shines. Beginning the performance standing almost statuesque in the gloaming, wreathed in some kind of black cloak he fires salvos of stunning guitar breaks out of the darkness. By the set's close he's become the classic rock guitar foil. Front of stage, bare torsoed and heavily tattooed; a man who clearly works out, showing no signs of the debilitating Covid that's dogged him for the past two years.