SXSW: Jane's Addiction rock an abandoned Safeway for Playboy

There are a lot of odd places to rock here in Austin, Texas. Last night, Grizzly Bear played in a church, many have been playing on rooftops or in alleyways, but Jane's Addiction may have found the most unique venue: a gutted former Safeway off Interstate 35 as headliners for the Playboy/C3 party.

The 10th annual Late Night Party lived up to its name -- the original members of Jane's Addiction didn't hit the stage (what would have been aisles 6-13) until 1:45 a.m., but once they did it was a trippy, hard rockin' excursion through the quartet's greatest hits.

Welcoming the crowd (who were pleasantly oiled up from complimentary Jack Daniels) with the familiar bass lines of "Three Days," Jane's took their time before they unleashed the majesty of their wallop. Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro might be the poster boys of this mighty band, but the newly regrouped rhythm section of Eric Avery and  Stephen Perkins have always been the special sauce.

Although last year's secret Porno for Pyros show at South by Southwest was a delight, you could tell that Perry was especially excited to be playing with the original Jane's Addiction as they blazed through classics like "Been Caught Stealing" and "Stop."

Jane's Addiction might consider this a warm-up show before they head out as co-headliners with Nine Inch Nails on a summer arena tour, but those of us in attendance will long remember this gig as a special one, and not just because of its bizarre location.

Set list via Mog:

"Three Days"
"Ain’t No Right"
"Whores"
"Standing in the Shower ... Thinking"
"Ted, Just Admit It ..."
"Been Caught Stealing"
"Had a Dad"
"Mountain Song"
"Ocean Size"
"Stop"

-- Tony Pierce

Photos: Tony Pierce

Comments

[cisan]

Good to see these guys back

Clean-up in Aisle 6!

[Dr.NosePikens]

Anybody from Texas is pro cannabis prohibition... + as long as i remember they don't like Californians so why listen to them if your from Ca? Check it out for yourself - do a Google ''do Texans like people from California''. talent or not we Californians had better stack up some State pride for once an invest in our own talents... San Francisco in particular has Tons, Tons, and more Tons of musical talent and they understand Texas attitude. Texas don't give California bands a chance that often but we tend to forget and forgive as consumers of their products. As California consumers we should invest only in ourselves and other Blue States until those drug store Cowboys in suits and fake rocker outfits figure out we know what's happening. Who wants to buy anything from the State that brought us g.bush jr. You need to let your Texas peers know how you feel about that for a change!!

[Tim]

Um....Austin has never had Safeway....that's a west cost thing...catchy title though!!

[D Bassist]

man, would have love to have been there. can't wait for the NIN | JA tour when it stops at Deer Creek this May!

[nakedrotc]

Dear Dr. NosePikens.. First..Texans don't hate Californians, but we do hate geographic biggots that stereotype people based on color, sex, or geographic location. Yes all three are the same. Biggots are biggots no matter who they hate and why they hate. Second...What does great music have to do with politics. Third...Austin is a very liberal city with a very liberal attitude toward all things including pot. Possesion gets you a ticket and no arrest.

Dear Tim.. You are wrong. I lived in Austin my whole life and it was a Safeway. Texas had tons of Safeways stores up until the early 80's when a strike killed them. My bestfriends mom was a union butcher at that store. I remember her going from this high paying job to being a minimum wage cashier after the strike killed safeway.

But to the real reason to comment. I was at the show and it was fantastic. Jane's Addiction is one of my all time favorite bands. I was so stoked to see them all together again.

[cdog]

um. Austin had tons of safeways back in the day. and as the article stated. janes played at an old safeway.

[Stoned Texan]

1. Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio = Blue.

2. Texans don't hate Californians. Austinites proclaim to (because of an alleged influx of Californians to their city), but make no mistake, they're not really grousing so much as they are boasting. Austinites do this a lot -- boast about their so-so city.

3. California does have tons of musical talent -- and, as you point out, most of it is in SF. That city has had a rich scene ever since a bunch of Texans came to make a scene happen in the 1960s. (Janis, Big Brother, Chet Helms, who ran several prominent venues, and the list goes on and on.)

4. As a Texan, I apologize for W, if that make you any happier (doubt it). So of course you'll be apologizing for Nixon and Reagan, right? Right?

5. As much as the nation reviles Texas and Texans -- now, you might want to sit down to read this -- they revile L.A. and Angelenos just as much. Curiously, the country has a longstanding love affair with the rest of California.

Cheers,
Stoned Texan

[Austin_chick]

Yep, Austin sure had tons of Safeways back in the day. The one by where I grew up went from a Safeway to a Tom Thumb (remember those) to a Randall's and is now a Steinmart. Quite the evolution indeed.

[Substance Abuse Center]

These days I am getting to know about many addictions like drug addiction, food addiction, blog addiction, but now there is new addiction for people that is Jane addiction which make people addict for his music and not at all harmful for the people like other addictions. I think I am also getting addicted of it.
Suzzane Waltz