Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Chad Smith (left) and Flea at the Sprint Center on Saturday night. Photos by Joe Ledford/The Star. For a slide show of the concert, go here.

They are recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees who will celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2013, and three of its four members are in their 50s (or about to be), but the Red Hot Chili Peppers aren’t exactly living off that past nor retiring gently into the twilight. And judging by the response the band got from a big crowd at the Sprint Center on Saturday night, they have no reason to do either.

More than 13,000 people showed up to hear a nearly two-hour showcase of material old and new, and the Chili Peppers, led by manic and feverish bassist Flea, delivered nearly everything with muscle and energy. Flea’s fervent valediction at the end of the show, a bleeding-heart expression of gratitude and appreciation to longtime fans, was the most emotional moment of the evening.

Anthony Kiedis

The band is touring on its latest album, “I’m With You,” released in August 2011, and band members opened with one of their tracks, “Monarch of Roses.” It may be a new song but it features the traits the Chili Peppers have forged into inimitable trademarks over three decades: atonal vocals by Anthony Kiedis, a funky-rubbery bass line from Flea and plenty of thunder and fills from drummer Chad Smith, who got some fortification from an extra percussionist. This tour also is the first to feature guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced John Frusciante in 2009 (and who appeared to be still nursing a foot he broke during a show in August).

The crowd gave a loud welcome to that song and to another new one, “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie.” But it saved the heavy ovations for the older stuff: “Snow,” “Under the Bridge” (which launched a thousand or so cell-phone video cameras), the cover of Stevie Wonder’s “ Higher Ground” and the ballistic “Give It Away,” which was delivered with extra menace.

Kiedis had little to say, leaving the emcee duties up to Flea, who also entertained with some gymnastic/yoga feats. He and Kiedis ended up shirtless, showing off their buffed/ripped arms and torsos. For the encore, Smith came back hanging by his arms from a klieg of stage lights. It all added vigor and levity to a show that opened at full throttle and stayed there until Flea delivered his tender farewell to a big, loud crowd that seemed to share his earnest appreciation.

Setlist: Monarch of Roses; Around the World; Snow (Hey, Oh); Can’t Stop; Otherside; Look Around; Breaking the Girl; The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie; I Like Dirt; Universally Speaking; Under the Bridge; Ethiopia; Suck My Kiss; Californication; By the Way. Encore: Instrumental; Higher Ground; I Could Have Lied; Give It Away; Instrumental.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[Rob]

I think you may have made a mistake. You posted a picture of a trucker, at a local truck stop, seemingly drinking from the pump.

The picture is labeled "Anthony Kiedis" but that looks like good ole Joe Trucker at the BP Truck Stop out in Belton. Ole Joe likes to drink the diesel when he runs out of meth.

[joeboo]

Anyone else think that the opening band, Thundercat, was pretty bad? Seems like it was some sort of modern jazz fusion mixed with a jam band or something. Not really something I would expect a RHCP crowd to enjoy. Everyone in my section cheered when they mentioned they only had 5 minutes left. I expected something with a little more energy from the ex bass player of the Suicidal Tendencies

[jmeier66]

Last I checked Flea never has and never will be a member of Suicidal Tendencies (though I'm sure he's a big fan and knows them). He did however play with punk rock legends Fear at one point. He is a big jazz fan and was at one point a jazz trumpet prodigy which probably explains the opening act. Get your facts straight before you bag on something dude.

[Jeopardy]

Facts, Straight, Internet.

beeepbeepbeep!!!

WHAT ARE THREE THINGS NEVER SEEN TOGETHER?

[Big Boy Jay]

You're bashing him for not getting his facts straight but if you would have read the post correctly you would see that he was talking about the opening band, not RHCP.

[Larry]

Since when does correctly reading, or comprehension, have anything to do with bashing on someone's post?

Sometimes, these days, the spelling NAZIs just get all pent up, you know with all the advances made in spell checking, so they just lash out at anything that might resemble their mother.

[1fjef]

Pretty sure joeboo was referring to Stephen Bruner of Thundecat also being the bassist for Suicidal Tendencies. Look him up, he's an interesting and ecclectic musician.(does work with Snoop Dogg too!)

[Sleepy]

I'm all out of snark.

The first song is Monarchy of Roses though. Not Monarch

[bewlay]

That's an OFF hat Kiedis is wearing. OFF (featuring Keith Morris of Black Flag and the Circle Jerks) will be playing recordbar Halloween.

[Kurt]

It's good to see the RHCP drawing a near sell out. The tickets were priced to sell at $39.50 and $59.50. Too many acts charging way too much for tickets now.

[Jumpin Jack]

Another high-energy show from the seemingly ageless band. Sixth time I've seen them in six different venues including Riverport in StL and they always deliver. Klinghoffer is a great fit with them and Anthony's vocals sounded very good. Wonder if he was AutoTuned since he can be pitchy on live shows.

[Aaron]

Was disappointed to see I was in the minority as far as Thundercat goes. It was a very eclectic spacey jazz r'n'b fusion. I thought they tore it up. Kinda on the fringes at points pushing boundaries, but I enjoy that aspect of music. I don't go to hear cookie cutter top 40 singles. So it is what it is. If you like experimental jazz featuring strong bass elements check out Thundercat.
This was my fist time seeing RHCP live so they probably could have dealt me anything and I'd be happy. 30 years together and the age doesn't show. Full of life and energy playing songs as if they were written yesterday. Very pleased. The mix at the sprint center always sounds like garbage to me but after 45 min or so into RHCP I thought it had evened out some and Anthony was coming in clearer and all was balanced.

[Matt]

This was my fifth time seeing RHCP.

A few thoughts on the concert;

I think 'ageless' sums it up perfectly. Flea, Anthony and Chad never missed a beat and were high energy the entire show. Remarkable that these guys are 50 and bring that kind of energy.

Josh Klinghoffer fills Frusciante's shoes quite nicely. Lot's of passion, great sound.

I'm 31, and started listening to RHCP during Blood Sugar. RHCP is, and always has been my favorite band. So one of the coolest things about this show for me was the number of younger fans I saw. It was so great to see them experience what I did 20 years ago.

I wasn't a huge fan of I'm With You, but I really hope they keep going with Klinghoffer and Mauro and keep making new music.

All around great show, great experience.

[jhnycat]

Well, as long as they were buffed and ripped.....

[KC Jones]

something tells me that this go around was not nearly as good as the Pearl Jam/Smashing Pumpkins/RHCP show at Memorial Hall in late '91. That was absolutely stellar (minus the Pumpkins, they sucked).

[Dutch Rudder]

@ KC Jones - saw that same bill at the State Theater in Kalamazoo, MI that November. The reviewer in the local paper referred to Smashing Pumpkins as "Feedback Pumpkins."

PJ were excellent; Eddie Vedder climbed around the outside of the balcony. First time I'd ever heard them.

RCHP were aff the hook. First time a guard threw a guy off the stage, Flea informed him they WOULD allow stage diving. Became the most organized mosh pit ever!

[KC Jones]

yeah, at the end of the SP set, they cranked up all their guitars and just set them on top of their respective amps and walked off stage, just letting the feedback wail louder and louder until some sound guy finally cut it off. even back then, billy corgan was acting like a little b*tch, complaining to the crowd about various things. Eddie Vedder had a broken hand and still climbed all over the stage rigging and even stage-dived/crowd surfed saying "watch out for my hand".

I saw the SP members at the Shadow in Westport after the show and got to talk to D'arcy. She was sooooo hot. Too bad she looks like hell now.

[Geordan]

I only saw Billy Corgan & company once at Kemper back in '95 and that was mainly because I wanted to see openers, Grant Lee Buffalo, whose "Mighty Joe Moon" remains one of my favorite albums from the 90's, and some of the Pumpkins fans had the gall to boo them. I also kinda wanted to see the aforementioned D'arcy. Corgan's voice just grates on me and his ego doesn't match his talent, in my opinion anyway. Do wish I had seen that Memorial Hall Chili Peppers show. The last time I saw them live, at Municipal in the 90's, Dave Navarro was on guitar and Anthony Kiedis was hobbling around on stage with a crutch on the "One Hot Minute" tour, which certain members have called the band's worst album (and tour).

[simon george]

Ill always love the chilli peppers. I think flea is unbelievable and I think they are one of the greatest bands of a generation (despite going through several guitarists) Cant wait to see them again. Great post keep up the hard work. Check these out IStillGotMyGuitar.