Jane's Addiction Perform New Song in Hollywood

Perry Farrell is a celebrated frontman, songwriter and visionary, but his greatest gift is as a party host. And what promoter of fun and revelry could pass up the combination of Cinco De Mayo and Hollywood? Certainly not Farrell, who used the holiday and the presence of new Jane's Addiction bass player Duff McKagan to throw a very exclusive gathering at Hollywood's intimate Bardot, which Farrell called "one of the great structures in Hollywood." "Elvis hung out here," he added. "And now you have too."

But Elvis never partied there like the lucky 100 or so people, plus celebrities like Tom Morello, Joaquin Phoenix and more, did Wednesday night. Playing under green, white and red flags in honor of Cinco De Mayo -- and with couches to host the band's closest friends and family right in front of the stage -- Jane's turned the club into a house party.

Of course, what else would they start with on Cinco de Mayo but 'Stop,' with its recorded Spanish intro that culminates with, "Juana's Adiccion"? The half-hour set found the band playing only seven songs and treating the night as if they were in their living room, with Farrell stopping mid-set to lead the crowd in singing 'Happy Birthday' to McKagan's wife, Susan Holmes. The frontman also introduced a who's who of L.A. musicians, from Fishbone's Chris Dowd, who Farrell called "one of the best players I've ever played with" to Morello and Guns 'N Roses' Gilby Clarke and Matt Sorum.

The quartet mixed one new song, 'Soulmate,' in with Jane's standards like 'Had a Dad,' 'Mountain Song,' 'Whores,' and 'Ocean Size,' as well as the surprising choice of 'Ain't No Right.' After the new song, Farrell remarked, "It fit right in there, didn't it?" Indeed, with a vintage Jane's feel, it sounded like it easily could have been an outtake or rarity from the 'Cabinet of Curiosities' box set. Musically, McKagan, who is an old friend of the band and came from the same L.A. scene, slid in to the foursome as smoothly as 'Soulmate' made its way into the set last night.

So, for those stuck on Hollywood and Vine last night, unable to get in past the mobs of people waiting and pushing into the show, fear not -- it looks like this version of Juana's Adiccion is going to be hosting a lot more parties soon.