2008 Woodie Awards
The Chili Peppers Rocked, but The Mars Volta Brought the Heat
Jason Barr
Issue date: 9/1/06 Section: Entertainment
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The Red Hot Chili Peppers staged sold-out shows at the Oakland Arena Thursday and Friday in support of their new album "Stadium Arcadium." Following their opening act, The Mars Volta, the RHCP demonstrated their brand of funk rock that continues to appeal to the energized youth rock market. Both bands delivered spectacular, though dissimilar performances.
The RHCP kept the packed crowd dancing and cheering wildly with every solo, mostly for John Frusciante's increasingly effective guitar work, though Flea's infamous bass lines and Chad Smiths' legendary drumming also received plenty of appreciation.
Their set revolved around songs from the new album, like "Dani California," "Charlie," "Snow (Hey Oh)," "Tell Me Baby" and "Readymade", and included past hits such as "Can't Stop", "Scar Tissue," "Around the World," "Throw Away Your Television" and "Give it Away."
While most of their show reflected the sound that gave them mainstream popularity following the release of their 1991 album "Blood Sugar Sex Magic," there were a few surprises in store for older fans, like the 1989 classic "Nobody Weird Like Me," and covers of The Clash's "London Calling" and Simon and Garfunkel's "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her," which showcased John Frusciante's talent while the rest of the band took a break offstage.
John's contribution to the band extends far beyond guitar wizardry, as he also provides backup vocals in harmony with Anthony Kiedis's rap-singing. While the group is continuing to evolve musically, they are beginning to show the inevitable side effects of their maturity.
Frontman Anthony Kiedis still supplied the raw energy fans have come to expect from a RHCP show, bouncing and stomping all over the stage. Flea and John remained mostly immobile though, favoring poses for the cameras that fed large video screens behind the stage, giving the presentation the feel of a music video. Gone are the days when the RHCP rocked out in their underwear, sporting flamethrowers on their heads.
The RHCP kept the packed crowd dancing and cheering wildly with every solo, mostly for John Frusciante's increasingly effective guitar work, though Flea's infamous bass lines and Chad Smiths' legendary drumming also received plenty of appreciation.
Their set revolved around songs from the new album, like "Dani California," "Charlie," "Snow (Hey Oh)," "Tell Me Baby" and "Readymade", and included past hits such as "Can't Stop", "Scar Tissue," "Around the World," "Throw Away Your Television" and "Give it Away."
While most of their show reflected the sound that gave them mainstream popularity following the release of their 1991 album "Blood Sugar Sex Magic," there were a few surprises in store for older fans, like the 1989 classic "Nobody Weird Like Me," and covers of The Clash's "London Calling" and Simon and Garfunkel's "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her," which showcased John Frusciante's talent while the rest of the band took a break offstage.
John's contribution to the band extends far beyond guitar wizardry, as he also provides backup vocals in harmony with Anthony Kiedis's rap-singing. While the group is continuing to evolve musically, they are beginning to show the inevitable side effects of their maturity.
Frontman Anthony Kiedis still supplied the raw energy fans have come to expect from a RHCP show, bouncing and stomping all over the stage. Flea and John remained mostly immobile though, favoring poses for the cameras that fed large video screens behind the stage, giving the presentation the feel of a music video. Gone are the days when the RHCP rocked out in their underwear, sporting flamethrowers on their heads.
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