We have been the biggest procrastinators writing about Tuesday’s Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at the Allstate Arena because we’ve had a ton of thoughts about the show.
Red Hot Chili Peppers has been one of those bands that always tripped our trigger. We had our fake i.d. taken away at a RHCP show, we had to hitchhike home from the first Lollapalooza they played, we lined up at midnight to buy Blood Sugar Sex Magic, Flea has been slated to be the father of our children for some time now, and we used to carve their lyrics on bar tables all around Iowa.
We kinda grew up in the years following those activities and so, rightfully, have the Red Hot Chili Peppers - releasing albums that focus more on the realities of adulthood, rather than the party anthems of the years past. We’ve defended the Peppers’ right to grow into entertainers, but after the show on Tuesday, we think they haven’t grown into full-on entertainer status yet.
Our first reason for this is the slow, plodding pace that their set list took. These guys have a plethora of songs to choose from when creating a feel for the night and chose to dirge it away with “Californication”, “Dani California”, and “C’Mon Girl” – all great songs, but not the most energetic. When the Peppers did slip in a couple fast ones (“Blood Sugar Sex Magic” and “Me and My Friends”) the songs were so sped up that they became caricatures of what they used to be.
Our second gripe of the evening was twofold - their inability to transition quickly between songs and the deference given to John Frusciante’s jams. Yes, he’s good. So is Flea. Buy his albums, see John play live where he can be all that he wants to be, don’t give me the Santanafication of the Chili Peppers. (All due apologies to Mr. Santana who actually is the leader of his group and gets to play like that because, well - he’s Santana – it’s his sound and it's his band.)
We guess what we are really saying is that the Red Hot Chili Peppers need to step up and take a lesson from the Rolling Stones. They’ve been around forever, their fans are still loyal, but they know that the majority of their best songs were written a long time ago. Therefore, when the Stones put together a set list, they may throw a couple new songs in, but the majority of the songs are from past albums. The crowd isn’t there to hear what’s new, they are there to be a part of the legend and experience The Stones. The Red Hot Chili Peppers need to ease into that role more than they are right now. Their musicianship is phenomenal, their stage presence is great. They just need to make their set list tell the exciting story of their whole journey more so than it did on Tuesday night.
Does this mean that we have to say we have agreed with Jim Derogatis? Not again...
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I wish these guys would just go away. How many fucking songs can you write about California? And they all sound EXACTLY THE SAME!
I don't know. The RHCP are that rarest of bands who have actually gotten better over time. There is definite value in playing some old stuff, but there new stuff has a place as well. This is not a Rolling Stones case of having to sit through three Keith Richards songs while waiting for Mick to sing Satisfaction.
Although in fairness, Mr. Richard's songs do provide a nice interlude for a bathroom break. Too bad everyone else is doing the same thing!
I'm a bit sick of them myself. Generic, watered-down music is the taste I'm left with after I hear any new Chili Pepper song.
The reason they don't play sets full of old material is because they don't want to be considered a nostolgia act. They continue to produce and play new material under the mistaken belief that they are still relevant.
Unfortunately, they are still popular and until that changes for a while, you're not going to see any 'greatest hits' sets.
it's funny you complain about the big songs being a caricature of what they used to be or for the lead guitarist playing something other than what plays on your cd player. ok, so the experiment failed in your opinion. but isn't it a good thing when a band does something besides playing their music note for note according to the version we know? i say it's funny because you later implore the band to be more like the rolling stones...who are nothing more or less than a caricature of who they used to be! rhcp isn't nearly big enough to be able to rest on their laurels and trot out 20 year old music for the next 20 years. even in rhcp's prime, the rolling stones sold more tickets than they did. if rhcp wants to tour forever playing music their audience knows by heart, they're going to have to take a page out of a musician's book that's closer to the size of their appeal...maybe prince or celine dion. an open ended gig in vegas isn't a bad thing these days.
I have been a fan of the RHCP's since the early days and I think Stadium Arcadium is one of their best. I am tired of people living only in the past. It is okay if you don't like their new stuff but you can't expect them to freeze time and do the same show and set list they did in 1992. Also, they are still very popular today. So some of us want to see the new stuff too.
New stuff or old stuff, does it really matter when everything sounds the same? if you find yourself at an RHCP show and they're playing a new song but you want to hear an old one just use your imagination and plug the old lyrics in with the "new" music
I wouldn't waste my time seeing the Stones or Peppers these days with all of the great acts out there, mostly playing in much better venues too. I have only heard a few songs from the Peppers last couple of releases, they were ok, but didn't make me run out and buy the CD. If I were the Peppers, I would not just play my old stuff, 'cause who wants to fall into that category? A good mix of old and new is the best way to see just about any band. If you went to the show and didn't really like it, maybe it's time to move on!
One key issue to consider when writing about the RHCP live show is, I opine, the contrast between the live show and their recorded music. Anthony Kiedis cannot provide nearly the same quality of singing live as heard on their records. He benefits greatly from studio wizardry, a lot of which has been used on their albums since Blood Sugar. Rick Rubin adds textures and fixes to his vocals that really make them sound better. Fact is, Kiedis just cannot sing as well live as he sounds in the studio.
John Frusciante's efforts also benefit from the studio. I've read articles where he details the layers and layers of guitar treatment that he uses on the record in order to get that killer sound. Don't get me wrong, he is a great guitarist, one of the greatest of his generation, but with only ten fingers, there is no technical way he is able to reproduce the guitar sounds of their recordings live. He shuns live overdubs, and I think one reason for his extended solos might be to compensate for his incapacity to recreate the awesome studio sound of their recordings.
I have seen RHCP live several times in person throughout the past seven years and numerous times on DVD/TV within that time frame. When they all lock-in together, Flea and Chad are an unbeatable monster force of rock and funk and everything that's good about music. One reason I didn't buy tickets for these midwest shows (or for last year's Lollapalooza) is because I think that the RHCP live show just doesn't match up to their recorded sound. I can't stand to be disappointed by one of my favorite bands.
To whoever said al their songs sound the same I would really like to know where you are coming from. I'm not a huge fan but i have heard all their material and the only songs I can think of that sound the same are some of the later singles.
Singles are meant to be played for commercial radio and for their listeners who know little about music...and since your listening to these stations I can only assume you don't know much about music.
I'm not interested in forcing my music on people, and that's what the whole music industry nowadays is based on is forcing stations to play it, forcing people to listen to it.
-John Frusciante
listen to Warlocks, then listen to Slow Cheetah, then listen to Wet Sand, then listen to Snow, then listen to So Much I, then listen to Hey, and then tell me their songs all sound the same.
And you can throw in Around the World, Purple Stain, Over Funk, Body of Water, Someone, and Rivers of Avalon too.
The reason why the music on the radio is soooo horrible is because of people like these who don't actually LISTEN to what makes good music good. You let your guard down for a few years and, well, just look at what's on the charts.
peace, y'all.
The point of your article is based on the argument that "we think they haven't grown into full on entertainers yet." And to support your argument you suggest this band should "take a lesson from the Rolling Stones" and essentially just play more of their old work.
May i suggest you also take a lesson from your old self too and stick to sneaking into concerts with fake I.Ds and hitchiking home? Then you might enjoy the "experience" at least, since listening to John, Flea, and Chad--arguably three of the best musicians in their respective instrumental fields-- play live music together with Anthony's lyrics and vocals, as a band, at half the cost of a Stones ticket was not enough.
All kidding aside, i'd rather see the RHCPs play live their new music any day than break the bank for a ticket to the typical Stones show. These four musicians dont need back-up singers, a trio of brass instruments, and a string of old faithful sing-along songs on stage to entertain me.
Whoever says their songs are generic and watered down (Steven and Mike) Reviews 1 and 3 obviously don't have any concept of overdubbing. It is by far the best guitar work that Frusciante has done. Listen to all the layering in every song and think how much work was put into that. It is called active listening, not passive listening, you fucking idiots. Sorry it doesn't sound like the Good Charlotte songs you guys like. I just saw them in concert last night and they have all obviously matured and evolved as musicians. They are the best.
People that hate the latest RHCP album and concert are the same people that stopped listening to all new music after BloodSugarSexMagik. If you don't have any new RHCP album since 1992 then why go to the concert in 2007? God forbid a band put out additional albums past the one YOU deem the best. Haters need to get a life.
I love it.....