March 15th
I was at Moda Center watching the Red Hot Chili Peppers
on their Getaway Tour.
In some
ways the show was a testament to the band's longevity. Performing about two
songs per album - so performing many favorites but leaving many favorites
unheard - reminded us that this is a band with eleven studio albums covering 34
years. That's time to build a lot of fans, and even up in the cheap seats the
arena was packed.
Despite that
level of history, nothing felt old or nostalgic about the show. The band was
vibrant, the crowd was energetic, and the venue was alive.
The funny
thing about me being there is that I have never been a fan. I haven't been
against them either; I think it was mainly an issue of timing and exposure.
However, my friend Karen is a lifelong fan who had never seen them before.
(This is also how I ended up at Gogol Bordello.) I had become fond of bass
player Flea since seeing The Other F-Word, but otherwise I knew two
songs and not much else. (And no points for guessing those two were "Give
It Away" and "Under the Bridge".)
So speaking
as someone who did not have much familiarity but was sitting next to someone
who really needed to be there, the show worked on multiple levels. For me, they
served up good rock. Having been exposed, I like them.
(And not
that kind of exposure. Singer Anthony Kiedis did remove his shirt at one point,
but everyone was pretty clothed.)
For a
long-time fan, it was much more. Yes, there were some songs missing that she would
have liked to hear, but there were also really important points touched. She
did not know how much she needed to hear "Scar Tissue" until she
heard it played. I know that feeling.
There are
two other things I want to mention. One was the sense of camaraderie. Yes,
Kiedis and Flea have been together for decades, and drummer Chad Smith came not
long after, but there have been many line-up changes.
Even those
show loyalty. Chris Warren has only been touring keyboardist since 2007, but he
has been a drum technician for them since the '90s. Guitarist Josh Klinghoffer
toured with them in 2007, then became part of the band in 2009. Watching Kiedis
introduce all of them, and others, it was easy to believe that the band takes
good care of their crew and is well cared for in return. There was an easy
affection going around. The sweetest moment of that may have been when Flea and
Klinghoffer walked toward each other and Klinghoffer briefly rested his head on
Flea's shoulder, but there seemed to be general good feelings all around.
(I can't
explain why, but Klinghoffer's playing style really appealed to me.)
I also need
to mention the show design. In addition to good use of video and live footage,
there was an amazing light set-up, described as "history's largest touring
kinetic light structure" at http://livedesignonline.com/concerts/picture-perfect-shots-chili-peppers-getaway-tour.
In arena
shows it is hard to maintain intimacy. Leif Dixon's video meant that the
audience could get close-ups while still balancing with visual material chosen
to enhance specific songs. That was important, but I was fascinated with Scott
Holthaus' light structure.
With the
lights being able to change their color and intensity, as well as being able to
go up and down, there was incredible versatility. The lights could create a
frame for the stage and floor seating, defining the space. The could create an
arching roof like an awning you might see at an outdoor show. They could
represent undulating waves or rotating geometric patterns, and they did all of
those things and more. I can only imagine some of the technical difficulties of
setup and take-down and transportation, but it feels like it's worth it.
I do not
doubt in any way that just the four members in a small venue would still have
that energy and fun, but all of these elements combined makes a team effort
that I can really appreciate.
Congratulations
all around!
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