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Sundance: Downstairs with Dave Navarro

January 27th, 2010 Posted in Opinion

Review and photo by Ben Hansen
Special to Hard News Cafe

PARK CITY–Monday nights in Utah are usually not anything to get excited about. Unless it happens to be the Monday night following opening weekend of Sundance, and one alternative icon, Dave Navarro, happens to be in town.

The Downstairs club featured a special one night only acoustical performance by former Jane’s Addiction/Red Hot Chili Peppers/Camp Freddy guitarist Dave Navarro on Monday night. The club, owned in part by Danny Masterson, is an intimate venue off the corner of Main Street in Park City, and proved to be the perfect outlet for Dave’s performance.

Dave was dressed in black and sporting his signature goatee and moustache. He was joined on this tour with guest vocalist Tuesdae from The Chelsea Girls. Her vocal range and stage presence served to be a good yin to the yang of his guitar precision throughout the evening.

The all-cover set list kicked off with Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song and Heart’s Crazy on You, both meshing powerful vocals by Tuesdae and solid guitar work from Dave. As the twosome continued into the next song, Twisted Sister’s I Wanna Rock, Tuesdae began reaching out to the audience for involvement. They happily responded, singing backing vocals on her cue that were loud enough to almost entirely drown out the sound of the accompanying guitar.

As the night continued, Dave churned out rock classic after classic. The audience responded in an almost sing-along form to both Dio’s Holy Diver and Guns N’ Roses Sweet Child O’ Mine, meeting Tuesdae note for note with Dave’s music as the driving force behind it.

Towards the end of the set, Tuesdae made a special acknowledgement towards Dave, stating that “It wasn’t until we played this song that it hit me…I can’t believe I’m singing with Dave Navarro!” They then began a duet of Dave’s mega-hit from Jane’s Addiction Jane Says, which flowed seamlessly into the ending of Led Zeppelin’s Over the Hills and Far Away.

After a rendition of the Sex Pistol’s Pretty Vacant, the pair ended the night with Metallica’s smash Enter Sandman. Dave then jokingly mentioned to the audience that he needed to get Tuesdae home before she’d pass out, and they left the stage. Before leaving the club, he continued to show his appreciation towards his fan base, posing for countless pictures and talking with all who went out of their way to meet with him.

Dave Navarrro once again delivered an excellent show. Regardless of who is playing with him, he continues to cement his status as a rock guitar icon.

Tags: Dave Navaro, Downstairs club, Review, Sundance