Porno For Pyros / Live on Stage
Salt Shed, Chicago IL
February 26, 2024
Performance review by Tom Wojcik
Photos by Roman Sobus
PORNO FOR PYROS hit Chicago with the “Horns, Thorns En Halos” tour also billed as their reunion and farewell tour. The tour was announced in July of 2023, scheduled for that October but was postponed until February 2024.
As ringleader of the city’s largest summer party Lollapalooza, Frontman Perry Ferrell kept assuring the audience all night that he was there to deliver a good vibe. The tall and lean Jane’s Addiction founder did just that with the band he formed after Jane’s initial demise in 1991.
Thirty years and only two full albums in their catalog, PORNO FOR PYROS opened with “Orgasm” as guitarist as Peter DiStefano’s magical use of the bow almost set a somber tone, but it wasn’t until Ferrell lurched on stage wailing through “Sadness” and “Meija” that really found PORNO FOR PYROS getting comfortable.
During the band’s eponymous track “Porno For Pyros”, legendary Minutemen bassist Mike Watt sat upstage jointly with backup vocalist (and Ferrell’s wife) Etty Ferrell screaming his lungs out leaving anything but a somber tone on stage left.
“Agua”, the band’s first song since the 90’s followed and was greeted with cheer as keyboardist Robin Hatch rounded out the stage at the former Morton Salt factory. The real smack in the face came from Stephen Perkins, a human drum machine capable of laying down beats and rhythms so claustrophobic and fluid at the same time, it is impossible to predict what and where his arm’s next swing will smash. From massive Japanese gong chimes to the delicate chimes, Perkins is the secret weapon (and show stealer) that has sat behind Ferrell for thirty plus years.
While Ferrell continued between songs with more well-wishes for those in attendance on this Monday night, the band continued with “Cursed Female / Cursed Male”, “Porpoise Head” and “Pets”, before closing with a teasing cover of The Stooges “I Got a Right”, “Tahitian Moon” and fan favorite “Bad Shit”.
Tigercub from the UK warmed up the Chicago Crowd with a 45 minute set of bouncy, gothy-indie stylings. The three piece bass-heavy, synth-guitar tunes brought an almost Jazzy feel to their simple yet impressive live show.
