Jane’s Addiction headlined a show that included Love & Rockets and Crawlers that stopped at the Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina on September 3, 2024. The venue was packed and rocking all night long. They opened the show with “Kettle Whistle” followed by “Whores.” The setlist leaned heavily towards Ritual de lo habitual. The classics such as “Jane Says” and “Been Caught Stealing” were there and the guys added “1%” which made its US debut. The band sounded great but shortly into the show you could tell that something was off with Perry Farrell. At times it seemed as if he was having a balance issue and maybe it was a health issue like an inner ear infection. That would affect your timing, your rhythm and your balance. Maybe that was just the good in me trying to find a reasonable issue. I didn’t want it to be something worse, referring to his past demons maybe resurfacing. There were times when Dave Navarro seemed to look back at drummer Stephen Perkins as if he was possibly asking him to adjust his timing in hopes of allowing Farrell to catch up and get back on the correct beat. It seemed to get better and then it would get off track again. The band was able to finish the show, amid the frustration of the band towards Farrell’s problems. As for Navarro, Perkins and bassist Eric Avery, they sounded amazing. Being able to witness Navarro playing guitar live was something that I’ll never forget because the guy has an aura about him when he starts soloing. It’s something rather magical. It’s a shame that a mere 10 days later at a show in Boston that our “something seemed off” came to a head when Farrell took swing at Navarro onstage. They stopped the show short, canceled their next show and then issued a statement canceling the rest of the tour. What could have been, should have been, would have been.

Review & pix by I’m Music Magazine Owner/Editor Johnny Price