The Details

Jane's Addiction

September 7, Boulevard Pool

Within the first 30 minutes of their performance at the Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard Pool last Friday, Jane’s Addiction had dispatched with four of their best-known hits (“Mountain Song,” “Just Because,” “Been Caught Stealing,” “Jane Says”), along with recent single “Irresistible Force (Met the Immovable Object),” which left a long way to go before remaining hit “Stop!” showed up at the end of the set.

The band filled that time with a series of long, meandering songs made even longer by extended instrumental breaks, and although it gave guitarist Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins a chance to show off their considerable skills, it also sapped the show of much of its momentum. The perpetually shirtless Navarro seemed a little disengaged, and while the background performers (including two scantily clad female back-up singers/dancers and one male performer who slathered his face in putty and feathers during “Ocean Size”) added a bit of flair, their intermittent presences felt tacked-on rather than integral.

Even operating below full strength, the band still played impressively, and moments like Navarro, Perkins and bassist Chris Chaney all pounding drums while Farrell sang “Chip Away” offered up enough excitement to carry through the lulls. By the time the band closed with “Summertime Rolls,” the 80-minute, encore-less show felt simultaneously too long and not nearly long enough.