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Musikfest policy means Jane's Addiction fans won't receive refunds - UPDATE

Published: Friday, August 10, 2012, 11:19 AM
By Express-Times staff

Musikfest is sticking to its weather policy, so ticket holders to Thursday night's Jane's Addiction show on the Steel Stage at Steelstacks in Bethlehem won't receive refunds, a festival spokesman said this morning.

The show was about 30 minutes in when the festival's outdoor stages were closed because of a strong storm with lightning.

"A performance that has begun, but is shortened due to severe weather conditions, is not cause for a full or partial refund," is how Musikfest explains it on its website. If the show had not begun, refunds would have been provided, according to the website. But all shows are rain or shine, Musikfest says on the website, and the festival will not cancel in advance.

ArtsQuest spokesman Mark Demko, in a prepared statement, said the organization did everything possible to get the concert in and that both Jane's Addiction and opener Band of Skulls, combined, performed for more than an hour.

"We realize that some people may be disappointed about this, but what’s really important is that everyone was evacuated from the main stage, as well as all outdoor Musikfest stages, without any incidents or injuries," Demko said. "The bands, our patrons and everyone at the festival were very cooperative and extremely understanding of the situation considering the weather conditions."

ArtsQuest oversees Musikfest and other activities at the new complex in South Side Bethlehem.

"We love you Bethlehem," Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell said as he announced the evacuation, followed by festival organizers ordering fans to their cars. "We've got to keep you safe."

The band would like to return to Bethlehem, Farrell said. However, Demko said the concert will not be rescheduled and no refunds will be reissued.

“The safety of our patrons, performers, vendors and everyone at the festival is always our number-one concern,” ArtsQuest Senior Vice President Walt Keiper said in a statement Thursday night. “When it became apparent that severe weather was moving into the area, we made the decision to evacuate all outdoor venues and encouraged everyone to seek shelter immediately. The ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks remained open, with the performances there continuing as scheduled.”

Jane's Addiction's show one of Musikfest's best ever – when prorated for length
Alt-rockers pull out all the stops in 33-minute show halted by lightning.

By John J. Moser, Of The Morning Call
9:20 p.m. EDT, August 10, 2012

In just 33 minutes on stage in a lightning-shortened performance Thursday, alt-rockers Jane's Addiction brought more of a show than many acts do.

Pro-rated by time, it would be among the greatest concerts in Musikfest's 29-year history.

The band got to play just seven songs, the final one against the wishes of Musikfest officials. But for that short time, it was an assault on the eyes and the ears.

The band walked onto a stage filled with smoked pierced by colored lights, with two women in 30-foot-long flowing dresses suspended from high trapeze swings, guitarist Dave Navarro shirtless and wearing a fedora, and front man Perry Farrell in a black vest with no shirt underneath (it lasted until the sixth song).

They kicked into "Underground," a rush of Navarro's sonic guitar and Farrell's voice floating behind it, drummer Stephen Perkins' gunshot beats piercing through it much as the lights pierced the smoke.

The start of the second song, "Whores," started the pattern of the concert, whereby Farrell would introduce a song with a comment and the band would take off. For "Whores," it was simply, "Bethlehem, what's the …scene?" For the next song, "Just Because," it was, "We came to Bethlehem for one … reason: Just because."

The performance seemed to intensify with each song. Farrell covered the stage, running across it, running in place or going to the edge of the stage to shake hands or pull off someone's cowboy hat and place it on his head. With flashing lights and Navarro also playing from the stage's edge, all senses were attacked (if you count the faint smell of marijuana smoke).

But the short show's highlight was "Been Caught Stealing." Driving, hot and tight, it had it all: Farrell dancing and pantomiming before standing on the drum riser to sing scat; Navarro tearing riffs and a great bass line and drums.

That was followed by "Ain't No Right," nearly as compelling, with Navarro playing a crazy solo and Farrell wailing the chorus of "only pleasure and paiiiiin." He introduced that song by saying, "It's times like these … I like to sing under the moon!"

And on "Irresistible Force," his voices really soared, from a stage that often was totally dark.

It was after that that Musikfest officials took the stage, saying severe weather was imminent and the show had to be stopped. But Farrell defiantly instructed the band to continue.

"We're going to keep the show going as long as we can," he told the crowd — and they drove into a five-minute "Mountain Song" that was as ominous as the wind that was kicking up through the arena.

Farrell finished the song at the front of the stage, arms outstretched.

Farrell had introduced "Irresistible Force" by saying, "Tonight in Bethlehem, maybe the Messiah will return."

He didn't. But let's hope Jane's Addiction does soon.

helicine wrote:

fistula wrote:setlist

underground
whores
been caught stealing
aint no right
irresistable force
mt song

fistula wrote:And just because

where was JB in the rest of the list, want to get it fixed on the show info page

helicine wrote:

fistula wrote:setlist

underground
whores
been caught stealing
aint no right
irresistable force
mt song

fistula wrote:And just because

where was JB in the rest of the list, want to get it fixed on the show info page

fistula wrote:Hey Mike-- yep it was the 3rd song.

Happy to be here

Dave Navarro wrote: To our Bethlehem PA Fans: We are working on a solution to the rained out show. In the meantime, this is what really happened: Before the show started, we were told by the venue a storm was coming and that they may pull the plug on us. This was because of the recent series of stage collapses over the past few years. It was an electrical storm, not just rain, so evidently it was more of an issue. At one point they tried to call it, but we continued to play. Then they called it. As a result of disgruntled fans, they turned around the next day and blamed US! I mean, as if we haven't played in worse conditions. Anyway, we are going to find a way to make you all whole, as the venue refuses to do so. Sorry for the rant, but they fucked you AND fucked us. We are in this together.