Jesus. What a day.
Had a blow out on the highway on the way down. The goal was to get down there about 3 hours before the bar started letting people in because the bar lets you in to the venue before the main line outside the doors. So I'm pissed at the delay. I have no spare or donut in the back of the car. Fuuuuuuuck. After some crazy running across several lanes of highway traffic with tire in hand to a tire shop I spot across the way I get that shit done and the car back on the road in 45 minutes.
Get to the venue and decide to have lunch with my date across the street. The food arrives and she says she is feeling fluish and about to barf. Asks if she can come back and get me after the show. I text Esq and he agrees to help me out instead of making her drive 45 minutes back to get me.
The gods are clearly working against me but thankfully Esq saves me at least $100 cab ride so I try to cover the gas money for him at least.
Everyone in line is old and hasn't seen Janes "since they played the Keil (St. Louis venue) 20 years ago" and "cant believe they're back." I'm really confused at these people and what they're saying until I realize they've been on acid for the last 20 years so I guess it makes sense.
After 2 hours standing around outside we get in to the bar, only to form another line. Here we stand for another hour, bullshitting with the other attendees. Trying to avoid conversations where people are talking about that time they got a picture with Perry and wondering if I've ever met him.
In to the venue and me and maybe 10 other people head to the pit. Everyone else fills in the GA seats, including Esq. Old fuckers. My feet are already killing me (thought of you Artemis) but I'm on a mission!
The gentleman that stands next to me asks me if he'll get busted for recording the show on his phone. I reply "Probably not." He angrily yells "why not?" I reply "because everyone records shows on their phones now and he yells "why??!!" Great. An hour of this. He then makes me look at a picture of Perry on his phone then tells me he'd have one with him from outside the venue but the guy taking the pic fucked it up and if he sees him he's going to kill him and then skull fuck him. I convince the gentleman that he's too close to the stage for a proper recording and he moves back. Genius move.
Black Box Revelation.
No way! A two person blues rock band. How novel!
Although it was funny to hear someone behind me ask "Where's the bass player? They must have his parts pre-recorded."
Someone convinces a photographer to use their cell to take a pic of the set list. It takes all I have to avoid looking at it with everyone else.
Finally Jane's. Band looks good. No ridiculous outfits. You've seen the pics.
Underground is okay. Not a bad opener. The crowd seems subdued but in to it. The band sounds fine. Then the lights go out and the band becomes backlit. Mt. Song starts.
I go nuts. The guy next to me goes nuts. The rest of the crowd stands still and claps and sways a little.
Just Because ends the momentum. I am fearing for the set list.
Been caught stealing. Sounds okay I guess. Not my favorite. My fears about an all hits shitty set list seem to be coming true.
ANR sounds better than usual. Perry is all over the stage. I get back in to it. Fuck these people around me. Don't get in the pit if you don't like wild hokas.
Ted sounds fine. Honestly, never been my favorite Jane's song. I like it, but not a favorite. Crowd stays lame. Perry fucks his voice.
Etty and Bubba the Clown are singing backing vocals.
Twisted Tales really kills the momentum like you wouldnt believe. I like it on the album but it's no good live and the lame crowd gets lamer. Bubba is dressed as a magician and does little magic tricks before hanging baby dolls and eventually himself. Coupled with the video footage of people mutilating baby dolls I'm all at once disturbed and annoyed at how fucking stupid this is. All of my excitement is dwindling.
Then the acoustic set up.
Dave and Chris sitting in chairs. Perry standing between them.
Classic Girl. Fuck yeah. I'm back in to it. Close my eyes and dance around a bit. Pretend it's old Jane's.
I Would for You. Awesome. Worth the admission price. I'm 14 again.
Jane Says. Im just happy it's not the encore.
Now we come to the "Interlude" and best part of the show.
IF sounds great. I'm blown away by that fact alone. The crowd is in to it and it doesn't sound awful after hearing 3 classic Jane's songs, 2 of which I haven't heard in over a decade.
Now Three Days. Perry is saying something softly during the beginning. Would like to know what this was. Might have just been the "At this moment...." part.
Song sounds really great. I'm way fucking in to it as is the crowd. Finally some life from these people.
Stop is the highlight of the show from a crowd perspective. Everyone's singing, the band is firing on all cylinders, and finally (I kid you not), for the first time i feel another person touch me. I'm fucking front and center in the pit and went untouched for almost the entire show. I feel the pit forming behind me and launch myself backward to get in to it and realize it's already dead.
Lame. Ass. Crowd.
Encore time.
Perry does his little. "you know everytime I'm here I seem to lose my voice..."
Words? What the fuck?
Feels totally wrong and doesnt feel like a Jane's song. I realize I thought I liked this song but live it might as well be Superhero.
Then it's over.
I wake up this morning feeling fluish and sore as fuck. Now I know why the old people stand still the entire show.
So all in all, the show was very hit and miss. Perry's banter was limited, and he didnt say anything cringe inducing. Dave seemed really in to it and he and Perry got together and jammed out quite a bit.
Perk was all smiles..
Chaney played competently as usual. No personality. He went ignored the entire show by Perry and Dave.
The highs were really fucking high and the lows were really fucking low. Made for a very uneven show.
The bass was way high in the mix, and Perry half sung a lot of the songs. He's really showing his age. You have to expect this or the show will be terrible.
I did like seeing Perk mouth "wow" while they took their bows and the crowd roared. At least what the crowd lacked in their ability to get physically involved they made up for in enthusiasm.