I don't remember how I came to possess it, but Jane's Addiction's Nothing's Shocking CD was one of my first few CDs. I didn't personally own a CD player at the time (1989/1990) and used a player borrowed from my brother - which I expected him to take back any time. So I always still bought records or cassettes. But I did start acquiring a few CDs. I remember how I obtained the other early CDs - Megadeth Rust in Peace was purchased at a midnight release sale at CD Warehouse; Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary soundtrack was purchased with a B.Dalton gift certificate that I got for Christmas; Toad the Wet Sprocket was left by my brother. But Nothing's Shocking? I don't remember buying or borrowing...it just seemed to appear one day. Months later, I'd asked everyone I knew if they had left it and all said something like "No, you always had that before anyone else," or "YOU introduced us to Jane's Addiction," etc... It became clear that either I bought it thinking the cover is cool (which seems like me) and had forgotten (which doesn't seem like me) or it had magically appeared as a divine gift (nothing's shocking?).
And a gift it was. I put it in my CD player, put on my headphones, laid back on my bed in the dark, and was completely blown away. The music, the vocalizations, and the odd syncopations of the lyrics almost put me in a trance. Everything about it was just mesmerizing. I put this album on repeat for months, I went out and bought the cassette version so I could listen while driving.
A year or so later when Ritual De Lo Habitual was released, I was at the record shop the first-day buying. I had to wait until after school and I was worried that the store would run out as they didn't carry many copies of alternative or hard rock music. When I said that I was glad that they still had a copy, the clerk told me I was the first to buy it...this was at 4pm and it made me sad. A week later, there was the big dust-up about the album cover and then it seemed like the record was flying off the shelves! (Oh no! Plaster boobies and penis corrupting our children!) It didn't make much sense to me, but it seemed to be good for record sales. Hopefully, some of those people also listened to and enjoyed the music.
Ritual was another powerhouse release for Jane's Addiction. From the frenetic guitar of Stop! to the delicious monumental-ness of Three Days to the subtle heartache of Then She Did. The entire album is a tour de force and still a favorite listen.
So I was excited when I heard that Jane's Addiction would be coming to Iowa. There were two problems: 1. The concert was a 3-hour drive away and being relatively newly licensed, I didn't feel comfortable making the drive. 2. The Red Hot Chili Peppers (with openers Nirvana and Pearl Jam) were playing the next day the opposite direction.
Problem one was easily solved by enlisting my brother Kelly and friend Steve to go with me. I don't know if Steve was much of a Jane's Addiction fan, but he was always up for concert fun. Kelly had become a pretty big fan of Jane's the past 6 months with the Ritual album. So additional companions and drivers = check.
Problem two was trickier. I really wanted to go to see Pearl Jam and Nirvana, but liked but didn't love the Chili Peppers. Both Pearl Jam and Nirvana were unknown at the time (neither Ten nor Nevermind had been released yet)...but I had heard a lot of buzz and some bootleg cassette copies of songs. I thought it would be a good show to see. There were a few deciding factors here.
A) was the cost - Red Hot Chili Peppers' tickets were like $20 (plus fees) which was pretty steep back then.
B) the bands I wanted to see were just the openers.
C) since they were newer, little-known bands I figured I would have plenty of chances to see Nirvana and Pearl Jam (who would have guessed a ticketmaster boycott would put PJ touring on hold for years...and then of course Kurt).
D) Kelly found out that the Black Crowes (with Jellyfish opening) were playing Davenport the same night and we could just stay for that show.
Problems solved. Plans were made. We were going to Jane's Addiction (tickets were purchased), crashing at a friend of Kelly & Steve's place (I believe he was a former student teacher they had in art?), then going to The Black Crowes (tickets would be bought at the door since I couldn't afford to front the cost for both shows).
This was the first concert that we went to at the Palmer Auditorium. I was expecting some kind of slightly stuffy theater-type theater, but it was really just a gymnasium for a small, local chiropractic college. We thought it be a kind of amateur experience, but Palmer ended up being on of the better places to see a show that we would go to. It was just big enough to pull good size acts, the security was cool, and from 1992-1995 hosted an amazing assortment of concerts. The main gym floor would be standing and then they would have the bleachers half open for the people that wanted to sit. Good and somewhat intimate views from all locations. It felt big and small at the same time. Unfortunately, I heard someone was being a drunk idiot on the bleachers at one of the shows, fell, and was severely injured*. This of course turned into a lawsuit (even though completely this person's own fault) and so the Palmer stopped booking any more concerts. *So I was told while waiting in line at the last show I attended there in 1995.
The Chickasaw Mudd Puppies opened the show. I had never heard of them but their high energy, catchy songs, and odd instruments (like the washboard) pulled me in. I still love and regularly listen to their two albums. I would have loved to see them again when I was more familiar with their music. There are a lot of power trio bands, but with The Chickasaw Mudd Puppies you get all the power of a full band made by only 2 people.
During the switchover, I decided I would like to sit and watch the show without having to fight the crowd (I still felt rather inexperienced with and a little intimidated by the general admission crowd). We headed up into the bleachers and had a good view of the stage. But there was a distraction behind us. Some middle-aged, dumpy-looking guy was standing on the bleachers and kind of dancing and kind of doing yoga poses at the same...none of which matched the music. It was weird and he didn't stop jiggling and shaking then entire show. He did this during the taped intermission-music as well as throughout Jane's set. One of his favorite moves was making his arms all wavy (like Jake from AdventureTime) and then bringing them together over his head in a pyramid shape, then keeping his arms outstretched, slowly bringing them to his side. We nicknamed him Jello-Man and in the future often referred to Palmer Auditorium as Jello-Man auditorium.
Kelly and Steve also started talking to some girls (I was still too shy). One had recently had her nipples pierced and although she wouldn't show them (and I don't blame her), Steve did talk her into letting me touch them. It was over her shirt, but she wasn't wearing a bra and it was pretty great for young me. So whoever you are, pierced nipple girl, thank you.
The curtain goes up for JA and the drum kit on its riser is upon a persian rug, with candles arranged, and a few strings of christmas lights strung around the area. This is a good sign, to me it says that they will play my favorite song. I didn't think they would, it's a 10-minute song, a bit odd in places, and I wasn't sure how others felt about it. Three Days is my favorite Jane's Addiction song. It has been since the first time I listened to Ritual de lo Habitual (it might have taken 2 listens). The stage is still dark (besides the ambient christmas lights and candles); the bass line for Up the Beach starts reverberating through the hall and the lights snap off which the first drum clash. It was beautiful. Eric Avery has intriguing and powerful opening bass lines on many Jane's songs and I don't think he got as much respect as he deserved by the public.
Even though Been Caught Stealing (personally, the worst song on the album) had been a big hit, I think Jane's Addiction was still very much an"alternative" band for most people. They were weirdos. We didn't have cable when I was young, so I hadn't really seen many of Jane's videos...but a friend had taped the videos for Stop and Ain't No Right for me. So my image of the band was based on those two videos and the pictures from the album covers; I was a little disappointed when Perry came out and didn't have dreadlocks, a crazy outfit, or a corset on. His head was closely cropped and he wore a linen suit with a white tank top, suspenders, and a matching fedora. He looked so normal - I was expecting a freak show. We, the audience were the freaks! Still for all normal appearance Perry still completely rocked and made his outfit look good. Looking back, Dave Navarro looked SO young; and although I thought he seemed the epitome of cool back then; he has only gotten better with age. It seemed like Perry had a new echo pedal on his microphone because he played with it for a lot of the show...too much for my liking because his vocals were awesome without it. Perry vomited several times throughout the show into the side-stage garbage can - was he rocking that hard, was he sick, was it drugs, nerves? Who knows. It didn't matter. I felt very connected with the crowd and music at this show. It was the quintessential concert experience for me, filling my senses and emotions. A natural high that I keep chasing at concerts but only rarely obtain.
I've copied the setlist listed on setlist.fm below, but I know for a fact it is wrong. They did NOT play Three Days (I was disappointed - maybe Perry was puking at that time) and I am sure they played Jane Says in there. It was an incredible show and one that I wish I could live over.
We stayed at the friend's apartment but my brother and Steve decided they didn't want to hang around town all night and wait for the Black Crowes concert. I was disappointed but figured I could then hit up RHCP with Pearl Jam and Nirvana...but one the drive back we heard that show had been postponed (it would take place without Nirvana about 6 months later, but by the time they put tickets back on sale RHCP had really started to take off and tickets were very hard to get - and I was unwilling to pay scalper prices - Pearl Jam would really take off a couple months after this show).
Setlist by Setlist.fm
