If I’d known we were seeing one of Jane’s Addiction’s last live performances–at least in 2024– I would have taken more video!
Nothing’s shocking when it comes to Jane’s Addiction, I guess, but I was pleasantly surprised when they announced they were touring with Love and Rockets this year. I *think* I saw them back in the 90s, but I’m not positive (I saw a LOT of concerts in the 90s), and in any case I didn’t have any footage or concrete memories.
I was mentally prepared for them to cancel at any time, but thankfully (for us, anyway) they waited until the week after our show (September 7th at Etess Arena in the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City) to do so. I’m bummed for those who missed it.
Perry’s voice was, predictably, not in 90s condition. Going back and watching the videos I took, he sounds worse than he did live.
The band and Perry sounded great, they had fantastic energy, and they seemed to be having a lot of fun onstage.
Perry did stop a couple times for a somewhat incoherent monologue, but that was fine. The man was entitled to take a rest here and there.
This was my first concert at Etess Arena, although I’d been there for John Jon and Pete (John Mulaney, Jon Stewart, Pete Davidson). That event was seats only; this one was general admission, VIP GA, and seats.
I didn’t spring for VIP tickets– while I felt as a 90s teen I HAD to see Jane’s Addiction while I had a chance to do so, I didn’t need to be right on the boards.
Are VIP tickets at Etess Arena worth it? I’d say yes if you care about getting close to the stage at all. Unlike most general admission venues, where you can get close to the stage if you are committed enough, Etess’s general admission walls you off entirely. I’d say VIP gets the front 1/3 of the floor (so even if you buy VIP, you’ll want to arrive early enough to stake your claim and then stay there), then it’s general admission, then seats.
We did get to experience a mosh pit attempt back in GA, although it fizzled out pretty quickly. I was pretty disappointed to not even see an attempt made in VIP. You guys! You paid for the VIP experience at a Jane’s Addiction concert! A mosh pit would be the ultimate nostalgia fix, I’d think.
There are large screens on either side of the stage livecasting the event, so if you’re not as invested in physical closeness you can’t go wrong, you’ll have a great view anywhere in the arena.
Anyway, here’s the footage I got from one of the last Jane’s Addiction concerts.
They said they’d never get back together, but they did, for a short while. Maybe it’ll happen again. Maybe we’ll get another traveling Lollapalooza complete with mosh pits. A girl can hope.
