Perry Farrell is a happy, happy man these days. He's got Lollapalooza back on the road this summer, and Strays (formerly titled "Hypersonic"), the first Jane's Addiction album since 1990, is due July 22nd on Capitol Records.

Farrell and Jane's -- guitarist Dave Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and new bassist Chris Chaney -- got together with a few hundred friends to celebrate manager Adam Schneider's birthday and to preview material from the upcoming album Saturday night at Hollywood club A.D.

"Remember when they'd kick us out of here, Dave?" Farrell asked jubilantly. "They're much nicer to us now!"

Wine goblet in his hand and shirt off, Farrell led Jane's through a powerful seven-song set of old and new material. The band looked and sounded energized and genuinely thrilled to be there. New songs "Just Because" and "Strays" fit in nicely with old favorites like "Ocean Size" and "Mountain Song." The radio-ready "Wrong Girl" drew the best response of all the new stuff -- so good that both male and female partygoers touched, grabbed and squeezed Farrell's crotch repeatedly throughout the song.

"We got it going on, L.A.," Farrell shouted before the set-closing "Ain't No Right." "Don't forget us. Don't forget your roots!"

Even the VIPs were on their feet. Audioslave's Tom Morello was dancing in the balcony throughout the set. Other famous friends in attendance included Audioslave singer Chris Cornell, Jared Leto, Taryn Manning, members of Limp Bizkit and Korn, Kevin Haskins, Nine Inch Nails' Danny Lohner, and Matt Sorum.

As for the new album title, Navarro explained, "We kind of felt that Strays really captured what the band was all about a little bit better. We are like four stray guys that come together and make music."

CARRIE BORZILLO-VRENNA
(May 19th, 2003)