The Movable Buffet

Dispatches from Las Vegas
by Richard Abowitz

Category: Red Rock Resort

An alternative reunion for Farrell and Navarro

July 14, 2008 | 10:37 am
20080712_7670 On Saturday night a most unexpected reunion took place between Jane's Addiction principals Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro.

Announced about a week before the event took place, this was actually, according to Farrell, the first time the two had ever played together (their names both on the casino marquee) outside of the years with Jane's Addiction.

Obviously, when Navarro came out for a few songs joining Farell's band, the highlight was the crowd sing-along, as the two worked through their hit "Jane Says." That moment was about as cliched as any Vegas reunion moment could be. And by the next day the clip was posted on YouTube.

But still there was something very different about this reunion. This was not a big-money cash-in on Jane's Addiction's legendary status. This was a short concert that was also a pool party. Tickets for the show with Farrell and Navarro were $20. Farrell did a DJ set afterward. And the show was not on the Strip in a major venue but at the pool of high-end local's casino Red Rock Resort.

This was the second event in one of the most-buzzed-about series to emerge this summer: "Bottle-Rock-It." Red Rock Resort's new Saturday night "Bottle-Rock-It" series mixes a pool party with a nightclub vibe (rented VIP cabanas) and a concert followed by a DJ set. 

The series was meant to be eclectic and debuted the week before (the July 4 weekend) with Slash and friends (including Jason Bonham and Jerry Cantrell as well as Farrell). The growth between the events was impressive. To keep excitement the resort has been announcing the shows just around a week before they happen  Despite this short notice, about 2,000 people were there for the premiere "Bottle-Rock-It" for Slash and friends. That number hit around 3,000 Saturday. And soon the resort is now planning to issue a calendar of upcoming shows.

For Farrell, the "Bottle-Rock-It" vision fit perfectly with his own sense of how electronic and live music should mix these days. He has been doing DJ sets for more than a decade. So Farrell scheduled himself to appear both as a DJ and with his current band, Satellite Party Project. He then called Navarro.
Just before the soundcheck Farrell explained in his VIP suite, with a gorgeous view of the entire Strip (miles and miles in the distance), the performance was happening more in the spirit of the "Bottle-Rock-It" event than under the auspices of the well-oiled reunion industry. "Dave's never done this with me before. I haven't even rehearsed with him. I have been using YouSendIt.com to get him tracks. He is in his room rehearsing now."

This get together with Navarro followed the original Jane's Addiction members performing in April a  few songs after being honored by NME. "I asked Dave to do this (Red Rock) because we just made up. We hated each other for years. We did the NME with all the original members. And we missed each other. That's it. Dave and I have a lot of history, and we are not making war, we are making music. Dave is a wild man. I love him because he is himself. Oh, and he is the sharpest guitar player there is."

20080712_7493_2 As you can see, Buffet photographer Sarah Gerke captured Navarro not only comfortably reunited with Farrell but also making himself at home on stage with one of the go-go dancers.

As for Farrell, he hopes to be back again for more "Bottle-Rock-It" events this summer. The vibe reminds him of Lollapalooza, the alternative festival he created. (Photo by Sarah Gerke)


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