Review of the Irving Plaza show
(lifted from NY Post…)
May 10, 2006 — AT the Red Hot Chili Peppers super-exclusive, no-VIP gig Monday at Irving Plaza, the California funk punk icons played a roller-coaster show that mixed loads of killer songs with just enough filler to let you know they ain’t perfect.
The two-hour showcase served as a fan appreciation performance as well as a release party for the band’s double-disc “Stadium Arcadium,” which dropped yesterday.As they have with recent shows, the band opened and closed the concert with powerful instrumental jams that featured shirtless bassist Flea, along with drummer Chad Smith and guitarist John Frusciante. Those opening riffs limbered the boys up for the night, and the encore jam decompressed the audience for the world outside of Irving Plaza.
In between those jazzy instrumental bookends, the Chili Peppers’ spicy program leaned heavily on new tunes and a few classics like “Californication” and the very well received “Scar Tissue,” with its seductive lyrics about a Kentucky girl in a push-up bra.
Frontman Anthony Kiedis was the center of the show. His risky fashion combo – a short-sleeve shirt and a waistcoat – showed off how buff he is; his vocal chords seemed equally exercised. In the past, fans often complained Kiedis had trouble delivering his vocals live with the same precision as on records. Not true at this show.
The guy sounded great for the whole concert. Which should have made him comfortable onstage, yet his angular body language was anything but relaxed.
Kiedis received some top vocal support from Frusciante, whose solid tenor reaches high notes just out of the lead singer’s range. Frusciante illustrated just how high he could get in a weird yet wonderful cover of the Bee Gees’ “How Deep Is Your Love.” The band’s take was crisp, but the crowd didn’t know how to react to the odd choice.
They needed no instruction on cheering and clapping for the rest of the set, which was highlighted by “Dani California,” “21st Century” and “Snow” – all songs from the new album. Oldies including “Under the Bridge” and “Suck My Kiss” were conspicuously absent, but no doubt will surface when the band returns to New York in October for shows at Madison Square Garden.
If you can’t wait, check out their live performance in Times Square yesterday, which will be broadcast on cable’s Fuse channel at 9 p.m. on May 20.
