WORDS AND IMAGES: DANIEL GRAY | It was a rainy Sunday night in downtown Los Angeles, but that didn’t stop Porno For Pyros from setting The Belasco on fire. (Figuratively, of course.) The packed house was there to see the group in what was billed as their farewell tour: Horns, Thorns, En Halos. Even though it was touted as such, it was a joyous occasion. Before the show, smiles could be seen on everyone’s faces all throughout the venue in anticipation as to what was to come.
Porno For Pyros brought along two opening bands (both three-piece) that were appreciated by the audience and seemed to fit The Belasco well. The first was Los Angeles-based, Glossy. They describe themselves on Instagram as, “3 smelly mfs scarin Karens on the west coast.” Next up was Tigercub from Brighton, UK. Jamie Stephen Hall, vocals and lead guitar, James Allix, drums, and Jimi Wheelwright, bass, were a bit more melodic than the opener and had the crowd ready to go for the headliners.
But let’s face it, the crowd was on hand to see Perry Farrell on vocals, Peter DiStefano on guitar, Mike Watt on bass, and Stephen Perkins on drums. They burned through (another fire pun) a sixteen-song set with most coming from their two studio albums. Rounding out the band on stage were touring keyboardist Robin Hatch and backup singer Etty Lau Farrell (Farrell’s wife). Farrell entered the stage with a bottle of red wine in his hand and while he took periodic swigs, this wasn’t a wine sippin’ type of show.
The alt-rock veterans brought the energy, the groove, and the power. Farrell was in fine form and voice. DiStefano showed his range whether it was using a bow on the opener, “Orgasm,” or wailing on “Meija” right after. Perkins laid down beats that propelled the band the entire night. Even sitting down, Watt thundered on bass in a way that matched the stormy evening outside.
Farrell has been very clear that he wishes this wasn’t a farewell to Pornos For Pyros. The band is still capable of more like the new, environmentally conscious song, “Agua” that was introduced on this tour. However, being in two bands doesn’t always work financially and there is more of a demand for Jane’s Addiction. So, if this was truly a goodbye to PfP in the Los Angeles area, (the tour moves on through March ending on the East Coast), it was a hell of a way to go out.
TIGERCAT
GLOSSY
