Jane's Addiction - December 14, 1988 - Cat Club, New York City, NY
Date: | December 14, 1988 |
Location: | Cat Club, New York City, NY |
Recorded: | Audio (audience) |
Status: | Confirmed |
Type: | Concert |
Lineup: | Perry Farrell Dave Navarro Stephen Perkins Eric Avery |
Artwork: |
Setlist:
Kettle Whistle
Obvious
Whores
1%
Idiots Rule
Had A Dad
Ted, Just Admit It...
Standing In The Shower... Thinking
Bobhaus
Pigs In Zen
Thank You Boys
L.A. Medley
Summertime Rolls
Ocean Size
Mountain Song
Trip Away
I Would For You
Chip Away
Ain't No Right
Show Information:
The Cycle Sluts from Hell opened for Jane's.
The Record (New Jersey)
December 8, 1988
ANTHRAX: THE SPEED METAL BAND WITH AN INFECTIOUS FORMULA
Author: By Barbara Jaeger, Record Music Critic; The Record
When it came time to name his band, Scott Ian took a lesson from high-school biology.
"I remember learning about anthrax [an infectious livestock disease] and thought it would be a good name for a group," said Ian.
Today, Anthrax's fame has infected metal fans from America to Australia.
And that's no small feat for the New York-based group that specializes in speed metal. Anthrax's latest album, "State of Euphoria," cracked Billboard's Top 40 the second week of its release, and the band is on the road opening for Ozzy Osbourne, including a show at the Brendan Byrne Arena tonight.
Anthrax's aggressive, hard-edged music isn't played on most commercial rock radio stations, so the quintet has had to build its reputation and fan base through live performances and word-of-mouth.
"We can't worry about not getting air play, because the type of music we do has never gotten it," said the group's rhythm guitarist matter-of-factly.
Ian said Anthrax does, however, owe a debt to college-radio stations, which have more liberal play lists.
"While we've built a large part of our support system by constant touring, college radio's support has certainly helped," Ian said, speaking on a mobile telephone from a bus en route to a recent date in Philadelphia. "It seems that most [college] stations have at least one metal program. "
Ian, along with four other musicians, formed Anthrax in New York City in 1981. But constant lineup changes made it impossible to seriously pursue a career.
Said a laughing Ian: "It was like a revolving door, with about 30 people coming through the band over the course of two years. "
By 1983, there was enough stability for the group to head into the recording studio. Anthrax's first single, "Soldiers of Metal/Howling Furies," created such a sensation within the confines of the heavy-metal underground that the band immediately returned to the studio to begin work on its debut album, "Fistful of Metal. "
A couple of personnel changes occurred after the release of Anthrax's first LP and tour. But by the time the group entered the studio to start work on the EP "Armed and Dangerous," the present lineup was in place. In addition to Ian, there's vocalist Joey Belladonna, bassist Frank Bello, drummer Charlie Benante, and lead guitarist Dan Spitz.
With each successive work "Spreading the Disease," "Among the Living," "I'm the Man," and "State of Euphoria" Anthrax's popularity has grown.
"Since we first started, I think we've changed a lot," said Ian. "We still sound like Anthrax, but we've gotten better as songwriters. "
Without losing the raw musical energy that appeals to fans of speed metal, Ian and his cohorts have slowly set Anthrax apart by developing dare we say a social conscience.
On "State of Euphoria," the band tackles the problem of homelessness ("Who Cares Wins"), prejudice ("Schism"), and television evangelists ("Make Me Laugh").
"I never could see how a band could operate by making deliberate decisions," said Ian. "We've always operated by doing what we're comfortable with and writing about things that interest us.
"We're into real things, the things we see all around us every day. "
* * *
Anthrax, "State of Euphoria," (Megaforce/Island) @ 1/2
Infectious isn't the word that comes to mind when describing the music on Anthrax's latest album. Loud, raucous, and frenzied best describe the 10-song collection.
From the instant the stereo needle touches the groove of "Be All, End All" until it lifts off at the conclusion of "Finale," the sound emanating from the speakers bludgeons the ears.
Unlike most speed metal bands, Anthrax, on occasion, can turn philosophical. And songs such as "Schism" and "Who Cares Wins," dealing with prejudice and homelessness respectively, show some thought and caring. But other songs, peppered with profanities, are a turnoff.
For head-bangers, "State of Euphoria" is just that. For those who prefer subtlties and melodies, spinning Anthrax on the turntable will leave you with a strong desire to bathe your stereo system in antiseptic.
* * *
Quick spins: ZZ Top's Muddywood guitar, carved from a beam salvaged from Muddy Waters boyhood home, will be on display Monday through Jan. 10 at Manhattan's Hard Rock Cafe. Taking the Muddywood on tour it has already been displayed at the Dallas and Houston Hard Rock Cafes and will be featured at the restaurant's locations in London, Stockholm, Reykjavik, and Tokyo is part of the effort to raise $1 million to rebuild the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Miss. All profits from the disp lay of the guitar and the sale of commemorative T-shirts will go directly to the Delta Blues Museum Fund. Those wishing to make tax-deductible donations may send checks to: Delta Blues Museum, c/o Carnegie Public Library, 114 Delta Ave., Clarksdale, Miss. 38614.
Rap stars and record-industry figures are responding to recent violence at rap shows with the Stop the Violence (STV) Movement. The collective will produce a 12-inch single to raise consciousness about the dangers of youth violence. Among the artists taking part will be Kool Moe Dee, Public Enemy, MC Lyte, and Big Daddy Kane.
"Moonwalker," a musical journey into the world of Michael Jackson, will be released Jan. 10. Among the songs features in the 94-minute anthology are Jackson's "Man In the Mirror" and "Smooth Criminal" and the Beatles "Come Together. "
Concert and club dates:At The Ritz in Manhattan, Britny Fox and Warrant perform tonight, Was (Not Was) Friday, and Hot Tuna Saturday. At the Cat Club in Manhattan Prophet performs tonight and Jane's Addiction has a Wednesday date. Satin performs Saturday at The Cove in Roselle. At the Bitter End in Manhattan, Judy Bongiovi performs Saturday and Tall Stories Monday. Little Feat has a Wednesday date at the Capitol Theater in Passaic.
Talent in Action: Jane's Addiction
Bessman, Jim
Billboard; Jan 14, 1989; 101, pg. 20
Jane's Addiction
The Cat Club, New York
Word is definitely out on Jane's Addiction. The controversial Los Angles band, which showcased at the World during the CMJ Music Marathon in October, sold out this Dec. 14 booking in an instant. The latest show only reinforced the impression that the group is staking out a place for itself; it is not merely "the next Gun N' Roses," as one CMJ radio panelist opined.
Though there is some overlap with the big Gunners in terms of aggressive attitude and attack, Jane's Addiction takes a more "psycho-delic" approach live.
The band's distinctive hard-edged, open-ended material was shaped by guitarist David Navarro, who drifted between raga-like minimalism and blazing metallic fretwork For his part, dreadlocked vocalist Perry Farrell seemed entranced at the mike stand; he only moved to hurl full drinks into the crowd. (A severely sprained ankle curtailed any desire he may have had to stroll over and wet-kiss Navarro, as he did at the World.)
As a new act, Jane's Addiction might be criticized for starting off with three songs not found on its debut Warner Bros. album as well as for showing complete disregard for pacing and for staying on too long. But then again, the audience seemed totally enthralled, even when Farrell followed the original "Pigs In Zen" with a dynamite cover of the Doors' "L.A. Woman."
Ultimately demonstrating his hold on the fans, Farrell "hypnotized" one easy mark into climbing on stage and turning over his James Dean T-shirt to the bare-chested lead singer, who stalked off to end the set.
- Jim Bessman