Jane's Addiction are, without a doubt, one of the most important rock'n'roll bands of all time. They were one of the first "alternative" bands (whatever the hell that term actually means) to break through to the mainstream, all whilst maintaining their dignity and preserving their art. Instead of cashing in when grunge started booming, they did the smart thing and bowed out, cementing their legacy as a band you just couldn't put your finger on. And to be quite honest, I think they were better than most of those bands anyways. With Jane's, you were always working in the spiritual realm, intangibles abound (mysticism was a heavy part of their early work). Their ethereal combination of funk, punk, hard rock and soul was captivating and important. In a world pre-internet, where virtually everything is known, the mysteries were what kept us fascinated.

Since that time, the band has re-formed several times, and although that aura of mystery around the band no longer exists, it doesn't mean that Jane's can't still put on one helluva show. Not that I would know. I've never seen them. I've only seen videos. Jane's is actually one of three bands on my bucket list I've been waiting most of my life to see. Needless to say I am excited.

Artpark is ground zero tonight (7pm, 40-50$). Along with the ever popular Mutemath, what you can expect is a visually and aurally pleasing show and probably some extra surprises. Perry and Dave like to "free" themselves and that takes different forms in their shows. Head out tonight and see what I mean.

It's pretty fair to say that Jane's Addiction is the most legendary alternative band that never made it mainstream. Oh sure, they had a bit of success with "Been Caught Stealin'" and no doubt turned heads as Lollapalooza headliners, but the kind of fame and fortune reserved for the Nirvana's of the world never seemed to come. They were everyone's influence and chart-toppers to boot but always seemed to exist in the periphery; familiar to some, but not most. A strange enigma in the world of rock. I'm ok with that though. Oftentimes, the music industry machine chews up and spits out groups, turning great bands into one hit wonders (See: Nada Surf). When Janes decided to call it quits in the early '90's, it was on their terms, cementing their reputation as a band that didn't give an F about the money; it was always about the art. Since that time, the group has re-formed on three separate occasions dosing the world with their undeniably unique blend of funk, punk, and hard rock.

I have to be honest:  I'm really excited to break this news. Jane's is one of my all time favorite bands and I honestly thought I would never get the chance to see them. So you can probably understand how I felt when I heard that the group would be coming to Artpark August 20th. Elation would be the best word to describe it. So details: Along with Jane's MuteMath, another excellent band, will also be playing. There are reserved seating and lawn seats. Tickets ($47.50 reserved seating / $32.50 GA lawn plus $2.00 facility fee) are available through Tickets.com or the Artpark Box Office and go on sale this Monday, May 21st, at 10am. I am willing to bet this is going to be a sell out so don't sleep on tickets! Get them now. If you know anything about Jane's you know that their is a mystical force that guides them; their shows are still the talk of the town some 25 years later. Experience the experience.