Phoenix, Arizona—August 16, 2024, at the Arizona Financial Theatre was the scene for a triple shot of rock and roll, starting with British band Crawlers, which includes Holly Minto (vocals/guitar/trumpet); Amy Woodall (guitar); Liv May (bass/backup vocals); Harry Breen (drums); and Lucy Jones (piano-session/touring). Founded in 2018 and currently promoting their new debut album, “The Mess That We Seem to Make,” Crawlers is a band to watch, with a massive growing fan base and early success in obtaining tour gigs. Emotional, energetic, and enigmatic, Crawlers well represents today’s movement in rock and roll. Crawler songs encompass a gamut of topics, from love to self-identity to racial issues to feminist ideals, and so much more. Lead singer Minto gives high energy from the moment she comes on stage and keeps the momentum going the entire time. It was an opening act well worth seeing, and it will be interesting to watch the trajectory of their musical career.
The next opening act was the beloved Gen X band Love and Rockets, with band members (all formerly of Bauhaus) Daniel Ash (vocals/guitar/saxophone), David J. Haskins (bass guitar/vocals), and Keven Haskins (drums/synthesizers). The band has had a tumultuous journey, and what band hasn’t, but it was fantastic to see the three of them together on tour, and they were as smooth as they’ve ever sounded. The transition from Crawlers to Love and Rockets was a creatively logical one for the Jane’s Addiction tour, and the crowd was thoroughly warmed for the headline show.
Love and Rockets’ Phoenix, AZ setlist
With recent media excitement about their new release “Imminent Redemption,” Jane’s Addiction came out on stage, and lead vocalist Perry Farrell was ready to get the show going. Dave Navarro stepped out on stage first and the crowd went wild. Having Navarro back on tour with Jane’s Addiction after a two-year hiatus due to long COVID was a moment that the crowd was looking forward to. Farrell opened with “Kettle”, set amongst a darkly lit stage. Navarro was rimmed by backlighting much of the time, but it fit. Navarro is a pro at not only playing the guitar, but setting the visual bar of what a legendary guitar should be. Farrell reveled in the darkness, and built up the crowd tension with his trademark vocals. Drummer Stephen Perkins and bass guitarist Eric Avery were a bit more in the visual background, but their presence was definitely heard and felt. Perkins periodically was blasted by the backlighting, giving the audience a chance to see his drumsticks pounding a furious staccato. Avery was a cool, calm presence amidst the storm that is Jane’s Addiction, but his bass riffs were a definite backbone to the setlist.
The next two songs were “Whores” and “Pigs”, and the band really revved up the crowd. Farrell and Navarro took turns sharing the spotlight on stage, and Farrell was deep in his lyrics, often with eyes closed, almost as if in a trance. The crowd never sat the entire show, even during the slower songs. At times Farrell grew philosophical about life, hinting at his own journey and mistakes and successes. When the band sang “Jane Says,” a fan favorite, Navarro took a seat at front of stage and got comfortable playing acoustically, and even then, the fans never sat. They came to relish in the music that is Jane’s Addiction, and it was evident the show was a success.
The three bands touring together make for a great musical journey, bringing what’s new and fresh today, paying homage to the past, and showing how all three are cohesively relevant in the world today.
Jane’s Addiction Phoenix, AZ setlist
