Photo Credit: Richard Giraldi

Considering Jane’s Addiction are from Los Angeles, their closing set at Chicago’s Lollapalooza 2009 was hardly a homecoming. Still, the band was in pure celebration mode with good reason. Not only has lead singer Perry Ferrell successfully created an extremely popular metropolitan summer music destination – this year marked the second straight complete sell out – but the original Jane’s lineup is back including powerhouse bassist Eric Avery.

On Sunday, August 9, Jane’s Addiction stormed the stage at 8:30 p.m. to perform what would be a curtain call for 75,000 plus in attendance for the third consecutive sold out day for Lollapalooza 2009. The band’s set began with a little controversy as Lou Reed, the previous performer on the same Budweiser stage where Jane’s were playing, went about 15 minutes over time. This caused Band of Horses to start and end their set late on the opposite side of Grant Park at the smaller Playstation stage.

If caught in the mid-section of the huge crowd when Jane’s started promptly at half past eight, then you were most likely treated to a garbled mix of high energy LA alt-rock and lush Seattle indie southern-rock. Not to mention the helicopter circling the field shining a search light on the audience, which was a supposed to be a powerful stunt for Jane’s set but didn’t seem to garner much attention from the crowd.

Still, Jane’s energy withstood any problems as the band ripped through a practically greatest hits set list. With bassist Avery back in the fold, the band didn’t even touch any material from their lackluster 2003 album “Strays” and instead focused on tracks from their classic albums such as 1988’s Nothing’s Shocking and 1991’s Ritual de lo Habitual.

One aspect that was prominent in Jane’s set that was missing in many other Lollapalooza performances over the weekend was theatrics. Jane’s had it all: Women dancers in body suits, a blue light up Chinese dragon in front of the crowd during “Ocean Size” and Perry Farrell’s mid-song chatter about women and booze. There are many bands in which it’s probably best to have the music do the talking, but Jane’s Addiction’s knack for showmanship really enhances their show. It’s over-the-top, yes, but so are their 15-minute epic rock journeys such as “Three Days” or “Ted Just Admit It/Nothing’s Shocking.”

Once again the generational divide was apparent at Jane’s Addiction. While middle aged men in Lollapalooza ‘94 T-Shirts were head banging and fist-pumping to the music, quite a few younger fans stood in an almost daze seemingly wondering, “Why did I chose this over The Killers?” It’s hard not to feel for them though. Many in attendance at Lollapalooza this year weren’t even born when during the original Lollapalooza era. A few songs – “Mountain Song,” “Stop” and “Jane Says” – did get an equal positive reaction out of everyone, however.

Guitarist Dave Navarro was one of the most impressive performers on the stage that evening. To this day he might be one of the most underrated guitar gods of our era. The man can rip it with the best of them, and he has a gift for playing riffs that perfectly weave in and out of rhythm and lead sections without missing a beat.

On the lower end, drummer Stephen Perkins’ is a machine. The band had to cancel their Australian tour a few weeks back after Perkins got an elbow infection. Farrell proclaimed that Perkins was playing the show against doctor’s orders. Not sure if this was really the case or just a chance to play to the Jane’s Addiction hype. But it didn’t matter in the end. Perkins could play and he did impeccably. The African-tinged, voodoo drum solo at the start of “Ted, Just Admit It/Nothing’s Shocking” was nearly jaw dropping.

At the start of the encore, the band brought out Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry to help them on “Jane Says.” It was a nice move albeit somewhat random. After the song was completed, Farrell thanked the crowd and plugged Chicago for the 2016 Olympics. Although touching, one can’t help but wonder why he’s plugging it now as the selection committee came months ago.

The show was a spectacle, but the music did most of the talking. Jane’s Addiction was one of the few headliners to use every minute of their set time. The thunderous drums, booming bass and snarling lead guitar was a perfect sonic ending to this new version of Lollapalooza that’s miles away from its old identity as an alt-rock showcase. Now the festival is seeming a cornucopia of today’s top and lesser known indie rock and pop acts. The next biggest challenge will see if Lollapalooza’s Austin-based booking company C3 can once again pull off a third consecutive sell out in 2010. While it may be a challenge, it’s definitely not a long shot.

Setlist: Up the Beach, Mountain Song, Ain’t No Right, Three Days, Whores, Been Caught Stealing, Then She Did, Ocean Size, Ted, Just Admit It/Nothing’s Shocking, Summertime Rolls, Stop!, Jane Says (w/ Joe Perry)

[Editor’s Note: SOUND OFF is a column from Loud Loop founder/editor-in-chief Richard Giraldi. The views stated in SOUND OFF don’t represent the views of Loud Loop Press or probably anyone with half a brain.]

Remember last year’s Lollapalooza lineup? Sure, the middle-tier acts were lacking, but who cares? Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Wilco, Kanye West, The Raconteurs and Nine Inch Nails. That’s all I needed to know. Ticket bought.

However, it seems as though this year’s Lolla went the complete opposite direction in booking. The middle-tier acts are there, including a great number that played at 2008’s Pitchfork Music Festival such as Animal Collective, No Age, Vampire Weekend and Fleet Foxes.

But this year’s headliner selection is just so “Meh.” And I don’t mean the headliners just aren’t my cup of tea, but I’m talking about why are some of these acts even headline worthy? Since when did the Kings of Leon or The Killers become big enough to play opposite Jane’s Addiction or Depeche Mode?

Attention U.S. summer music festivals, I present you with a booking time saver.

Here are five sets of criteria that acts should meet in order to be a music festival headliner:

Let’s jump in, shall we?

1) Be Relevant (meaning that you are either touring in support of a recently released new album or will be releasing a new album soon).

I never understood how an album cycle or two could pass and a band could still be headline-worthy. Tool exemplifies this. They’re touring on an album that came out in 2006. At least make it seem like you’re trying. (Exceptions to the rule: Kick ass reunions i.e. The Pixies or Rage Against The Machine).

2) Your debut album has to have been released more than five years ago.

The Killers barely make the cut here. Their first album came out in 2004. It’s 2009, and apparently they’re primed for playing opposite alt-rock legends and innovators Jane’s Addiction. The Killers? Well, they have that one damn song that you hear at bars, which everyone sings along with except you because, well, it’s The Killers.

3) You can only headline one festival per summer.

Every summer there is one band that’s the flavor of the month and they’re headlining like three or four festivals. It’s like, “Oh man, Kings of Leon were sure sweet at Lollapalooza in Chicago. I can’t wait to see them again in a month at Austin City Limits where they play the same set in the same time slot for the same length of time.”

4) Don’t Suck.

I can’t stress this enough. It’s a slippery slope. I mean Eminem is headlining Voodoo Music Festival in New Orleans come October. Weezer is the big name act on this year’s edition of the Virgin Festival. It’s only a matter of time before these guys are on the [insert beer brand here] stage playing in front of 50,000.

5) You are Radiohead.

If you are Radiohead, then none of these rules apply to you. Radiohead are the end game of headliners. They’ve got the cred, the songs and the following. Radiohead as a summer concert headliner is NEVER the wrong choice.

This year all three days have dual headliners, which for the most part works…emphasis on for the most part. Friday August 7 has Depeche Mode going up against Kings Of Leon and Sunday August 9 offers Jane’s Addiction versus The Killers in apparent no-brainers.

But it’s Saturday August 8 that really seems most divisive. While arguably not as bad as last year’s Rage v. Wilco or NIN v. Kanye debate, The Beastie Boys will go head to head with Tool pitting two acts from Lollapalooza’s heyday against each other. But I’m fairly certain the edge goes to the Beasties seeing how they are still relevant and have a new album due in September. Tool on the other hand haven’t done anything of signifigance since Lateralus…sorry 10,000 Days fans but it’s true.

In addition to releasing the schdule, single day tickets are now on sale as well as three-day passes here. Get them while you can. Last year became a bit of a clusterfuck when tickets acutally sold out for the first time in recent memory. Still with this year’s line-up maybe the demand won’t be as high, which is okay with me because that means a less crowded Grant Park.

No better way to brighten your morning than with the Lollapalooza 2009 lineup alongside your cheerios! Great timing on Lolla’s part because today is a nasty, nasty day in Chi-town. Anywho, here’s who you’ll be seeing this August 7-9 in Grant Park:

Nice lineup. Not as headliner heavy as last year, and I’m surprised at the number of bands that made the jump from Pitchfork last year to Lolla this year. Also a bit disappointed a few bands rumored for the fest didn’t make the cut. *cough* Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Regina Spektor *cough* Also why, oh why, does Lolla always leave out metal acts? Give me Mastodon, Boris, the Sword, anything! Ah well. Maybe there will be some more additions down the line. Finally, since when did The Killers become headliner worthy?

So one band I’m secretly excited about is Depeche Mode. Here’s a YouTube video of their newest single, “Wrong.” It’s pretty freakin’ sweet. Enjoy!

Depeche Mode – “Wrong” (official music video)

Here is a list to Record Store Day 2009 special releases straight from the official web site and you can probably still find some schwag if you hurry!

I hit up both Reckless Records on Broadway and Dave’s Records on Clark here in Chicago and picked up quite a few items including both Sonic Youth 7″ splits, a Flaming Lips/Black Keys 7″ split, a Jane’s Addiction “Mountain Song” 7″, and the new LP Cryptomnesia from El Grupo Nuevo De Omar Rodriguez Lopez of Mars Volta. And you’ll be seeing a review of Cryptomnesia up very shortly.

So be sure to share your Record Store Day 2009 stories. Let us know how you did by commenting! Hopefully we’ll get some more content including reviews of select record store day items up shortly. Stay tuned!