Jane's Addiction brings Carb Day to intense conclusion

Jane's Addiction blasted open Indy 500 weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in blistering, all-business fashion.

The Los Angeles band headlined the annual Carb Day concert, typically a feel-good corporate gig in which musical acts play hit songs for a party-minded crowd.

Friday's audience seemed to dwindle between middle act 38 Special and Jane's Addiction, but those who stuck around were treated to one of the better spectacles in rock 'n' roll.

There's no compelling reason for Jane's to deliver such an intense, dynamic performance. The quartet hasn't released an album in four years and is more or less on hiatus.

But the hypnotic spell of 1988 release "Nothing's Shocking" endures. The album, a perfect union of mainstream metal and underground weirdness, stands as a key building block of the 1990s modern rock explosion.

Friday's performance in the Turn 4 infield boasted "Nothing's Shocking" selections "Up the Beach," "Had a Dad," "Mountain Song," "Pigs in Zen" and "Ocean Size." Vocalist Perry Farrell, 56, hit high notes with ease, while guitarist Dave Navarro portrayed a gunslinger who's perfected all variations of textures and tones.

Farrell paused just once to acknowledge his surroundings. "I thought that was sound effects," he said after an IndyCar roared through Turn 4 in an after-hours joyride. "But that's the real deal."

The concert's opening act, O.A.R., brought out a sizable amount of fans. The reggae-infused pop band enjoyed a sing-along moment during "Shattered (Turn the Car Around)" and playing cards were thrown in many sections of the audience when O.A.R. performed "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker."

"You can really tell they put their heart into it," Danville, Ind., resident T.J. Gerking said of Maryland-based O.A.R. "It feels like the peoples' music."

Indianapolis resident Jennifer Minkner said she wanted to catch the performances of Jane's Addiction and 38 Special, despite one band being an alt-rock pioneer and the other being a Southern-rock hit machine.

"I like all kinds of music," Minkner said during a Pagoda Plaza interview. "It's good to have variety."

Minkner's group of Carb Day friends listened to pre-concert music by running an MP3 device through a thrift-store boombox, which was secured to a beer-filled wagon by U.S. flag tape.

"We need to kick it old school," Minkner said of the boombox purchased specifically for the day.

On the topic of old school, the Rolling Stones made news at the track without even being on site.

The Stones will be represented on the car driven by Justin Wilson during Sunday's running of the Indianapolis 500, Andretti Autosport announced.

Wilson drove his newly decorated ride, sporting black, red and white with a "checkered tongue" Rolling Stones logo, during Carb Day's morning practice. Wilson's No. 25 car is part of the Andretti team.

A native of Sheffield, England, Wilson said he's a longtime fan of the iconic British Invasion band.

"Listening to the Rolling Stones was a Sunday tradition in our house," Wilson said in a statement. "We would wake up, and my dad would have the music on full blast."

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Charlie Watts launch the rock band's 2015 tour on Sunday in San Diego. On July 4, the Stones will perform at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

During a garage interview on Friday, driver Oriol Servia said his Indy 500 car will be decorated in tribute to David Letterman — the newly retired "Late Show" host and co-owner of the Rahal Letterman Lanigan team.

"The whole sidepod is going to be Letterman," Servia said of his No. 32 ride. "You'll see Sunday."

Jane's vocalist Farrell is sticking around to attend the race. Also on the roster of celebrity Indy 500 attendees unveiled Friday: actors Patrick Dempsey, Adam Carolla and William Fichtner.

Jordin Sparks will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the race, while 2013 "The Voice" winner Danielle Bradbery will sing "America the Beautiful."

Straight No Chaser will debut as the performer of "Back Home in Indiana." Jim Nabors routinely sang the tune at the track from 1972 to 2014.

Gymnast Nastia Liukin will serve as the race's grand marshal, and NASCAR great Jeff Gordon will drive the pace car.

Other aspects from the world of sports will be represented by Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, WWE wrestler Cameron and Olympic swimmer Tyler Clary.

Call Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter:@317Lindquist.