'Jane's Addiction: Live Voodoo' [Blu-ray]
(Jane's Addiction / Blu ray / NR / 2010 / Eagle Records)
Overview: Filmed live on Halloween night 2009 at Voodoo Experience in New Orleans, Live Voodoo sees the reunion of the classic Jane's Addiction line-up of Perry Farrell (vocals), Stephen Perkins (drums), Eric Avery (bass) and Dave Navarro (guitar).
Blu ray Verdict: No matter what anybody will tell you, fan or not, despite the strife between band members (primarily Eric Avery and Perry Farrell), Jane’s Addiction is a timeless concoction of artists and music.
After all the other band members had settled in on stage, as expected, Perry emerges last! Dressed as a flamboyant superhero here to raise the dead of New Orleans, complete with a black bedazzled lace cape, oversized belt buckle and a shimmering purple one-piece outfit, Perry smiles (I think!) at his gather throng.
Dave is has no shirt - already! Showing off his chiseled physique and countless tattoos, it's left to Perkins to briefly rock a Jason Voorhees-style hockey mask (and later, a Freddy Krueger mask, for some weird reason!) and a black wife beater! Whilst Eric Avery dons a simple black T-shirt and baggy pants - bless him, comfortability at all times, even in stage!
The band opens with “Up the Beach”, following with classics, “Mountain Song” and “Ain’t No Right,” all with superb high energy in tact. During “Three Days,” two exotic Geisha girls appear in white, barely-there dresses with black leather corsets to further entice the audience! I had to watch this part four times to make sure it was ok for future family viewing!
The band continue onwards and upwards with “Whores,” "Been Caught Stealing" (although, and annoyingly, Perry's vocals are low here, due to a straining voice, perhaps), "Ocean Size,” “Ted, Just Admit It,” and “Summertime Rolls,” before Perry wraps up the show with the tribal laced, “Chip Away.” Cut Perry chanting and dancing around the stage like he’s possessed by a Native American spirit!
And, as for the technical aspects, well, I just got done viewing it all the way through and while I did see occasional motion judder, usually from the quick movement of one of the band members and usually Perry Farrell, it was never too distracting. And the viewing, as expected, is crystal clear, my friends. This is a Full Screen Presentation (1.33:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:
1. 1% (Los Angeles, 2008)
2. Ocean Size (La Cita, Los Angeles, 10/23/08)
NME Featurette
Photo Gallery
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