After More Than Two Decades Away Alt Rockers Porno For Pyros Reunite With Tour Stop In Chicago

Feb 28, 2024 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

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By James Currie

After the demise of the original Jane’s Addiction lineup, Perry Farrell and Stephen Perkins formed Porno For Pyros. A seemingly side project to get their minds off things and just have fun with it. They brought in guitarist Peter DiStefano and bass player Martyn LeNobel and created two full length albums in the six years they existed producing several hits and chart toppers that left many fans wanting more. After much talk of a full reunion for years, this year it finally happened. The band got a couple practice gigs in and teased the masses through one off shows at Perry’s 50th birthday party, the pandemic 2020 Lolla streaming event, private parties and Lollapalooza Chicago 2023 appearance. Last night, Porno For Pyros played live on stage in Chicago at the Salt Shed on their 2024 US tour.

It’s finally happening. Reading the reviews from prior shows leading up to the Salt Shed had me chomping at the bit in anticipation. I’ve been following the band since they announced their original formation and record releases back in the day. I have been one of those fans waiting for this reunion to happen and tonight it finally was. Although slightly different than expected as original bassist Martyn LeNobel backed out and Mike Watt stepped in.

 

At the venue, Porno For Pyros took the dim lit stage and kicked off the night with “Orgasm”. The final track off their debut release, Porno For Pyros (1993). Perry strolled on stage after the others and approached his digital pulpit. He seemed to be moving slower than usual. Not the normal wiry, excitable, wine bottle wielding front man we were expecting. This version of Farrell was much more reserved and almost stoic. Hidden under a large brim fedora, wearing coveralls and a Montana sweater, the light stayed deep blue on him and hid his mood whatever it was. Farrell approached each song meticulously. Dialing in his sound before crooning each track. Gingerly wavering around his assigned space carefully. I’m not sure if he was sick, hurt or just feeling down, but something was off from his demeanor. Vocally, he sounded good, but his normal physical presence was not there.

Perkins was hot. As always. He signals to start the show and the band kicks into high gear. His drumming still makes him one of the best at his craft. A drummers, drummer. He’s right up there in my book as one of the greatest drummers of my generation for sure. Known for his tonal colors and varied percussive effects, he drives a tribal rhythm with hard grooves that make their music danceable and heartfelt. In Porno For Pyros, he brings a new sound that hints to Jane’s Addiction, but creates something new. The song, “Pets” still, one of the trickiest beats to play live.

Peter DiStefano is back in the hot seat doing what he does best. Pete continued playing guitar ever since Porno For Pyros called in quits back in the late 90’s and kept playing and performing as a special guest with other musicians in the industry. He got himself cleaned up and that’s when his playing really shined. I’ve seen him play with DJ’s and solo artists doing remixes of Black Sabbath songs and even joining Perry on the kids stage at Lollapalooza doing stripped down versions of PFP songs. Tonight, he took command of the stage. Strutting around like a lion on the hunt. Bouncing off Perry and Steven, smiling between them all, sharing inside jokes and truly in his happy place. Starting with his bow on the guitar and ending with punishing strokes, he knows how to work a guitar to create sounds all his own.

Watt isn’t new to the guys at all, but it is the most he’s played with them live. He actually recorded a couple songs on 1996’s “Good God’s Urge” as well as was part of other one off shows. He also joined up with Perkins on a side project called, Banyan. So that backend is tight and sounded great together again. Watt sat in a chair for this performance donning a neon yellow jacket making himself really stand out even more. Seemingly with a bad back, foot or injured leg, he was still animated and fully engaged rocking back and forth, screaming in the mic and following the leads of his bandmates. Watt is a master at his craft as well. His sound is known throughout the music community. While he played LeNoble’s parts with honor and conviction, he still managed to work in his sound letting us know he was there. I was looking for his bottle of hot sauce, mega side key ring and pocket knife to come out at some point, but not tonight. Tonight, he held down the low end of things just right.

At this performance, we pretty much heard all that Porno For Pyros ever released. Seventeen songs live as they only have twenty one total from their two albums released in the 90’s. But we also got something new. They played the new single, “Agua”. A track off the forthcoming new, and apparent final, Porno For Pyros album. It would have been amazing if they would have played them complete back to back but this still worked as they played the biggest hits and deep cuts fans thought they’d never hear live again.

Throughout the performance, Farrell chimed in with thoughts and aspirations about loving one another, the joy he has for playing with these guys again, wishing for world peace and loving playing in Chicago. But still, his voice was weak and reserved. He sounded great on the songs though hitting the notes through the aid of his trusty vocal processor and backing vocals from his wife Etty and DiStefano. Farrell is and always has been a voice of a generation. Even while seemingly reserved, he still manages to command an audience and reminds all who started this west coast, So-Cal, LA alternative revolution.

 

It was great to hear all those songs live again. It brought back the memories and feels of my youth while vision of the future grew stronger. You can tell these guys really enjoy playing together, they way they played off each other, smiled from ear to ear and hugged it out in the end. The house, although sadly, not as full as I was expecting, was still into it as they sung along to the classics and cheered Farrell on with his kind words. As much as I dig Watt, I really would like to have had “Ghost Tooth” back in his role holding down the backend. Maybe we’ll get another round from Porno For Pyros when they release their upcoming new album scheduled for later this year. Something I was hoping they would have been selling at the show, or at least the original two albums in a re-released form.

For more on Porno For Pyros, click here

For photos from the show, click here

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Porno For Pyros Live in Chicago at The Salt Shed – Feb 26th, 2024

1. Orgasm
2. Good God’s://Urge
3. Sadness
4. Meija
5. Porno For Pyros
6. Agua – (new single)
7. Wishing Well
8. Cursed Female
9. Cursed Male
10. Porpoise Head
11. Pets
12. Little Me
13. Bali Eyes
14. Blood Rag
15. I Got A Right
16. Tahitian Moon
17. Bad Shit

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