POP MUSIC REVIEW : JANE’S ADDICTION NOT HABIT FORMING

If you’ve ever wondered what Led Zeppelin would’ve sounded like without that mystic twerp singing lead, the answer might be the local quartet Jane’s Addiction.

The as-yet-unrecorded outfit--named top L.A. band in Music Connection magazine’s 1986 poll--opened its show at the Roxy on Monday in fine, tie-dyed velvet tradition with a 40-minute acoustic segment of psychedelic folke ‘n’ blooze variations that included Rolling Stones and Lou Reed tunes, five minutes of strobe-lit, man-discovers-echo-unit shenanigans and a way out on the tiles rendition of the band’s own instant classic and signature song, “Jane Says.”

After an aggressively unremarkable set by Shrill Strained Shtick--er, Thrill Train Tricks--the headliners returned in their more familiar electric incarnation for more than an hour’s worth of howling, mad-dog, sheet-metal ramalama.

While guitarist Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Steve Perkins may light candles to the presence of a certain twisted monolith, the strength of Jane’s Addiction lies in the band’s willingness to explore the super-duty funk and minor-key, droning cornerstones of the mighty Zep, their obvious rock ‘n’ role model.

Having frontman Perry Farrell flailing his white Rasta hairdo around the stage as if he were the godson of Iggy Pop added character, as did his edgy, vibrato-laden vocals. But the choking sense of Hollywood street dread that hovered over the entire evening is the band’s real step beyond. Now if all their material were as strong as their best 30 minutes. . . .