None of this, of course, was a real surprise for any Chili Peppers fan, but it was once again impressive and in spots jaw-dropping to see and hear the group’s musical tapestry come together in real time, precise but not polished, in a good way. 14, at Detroit’s Comerica Park (Photo by Mike Ferdinande)Īnd Smith held everything together with both muscle and restraint, steering the dynamics and making sure the virtuosic displays from his fellow instrumentalists never drifted too far off course. Frusciante mixed rhythmic drive with fierce solos on songs like “Universally Speaking” and “The Heavy Wing.” Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, who was raised in Bloomfield Hills, performs Sunday night, Aug. Kiedis and Flea (who dedicated “Tell Me Baby” to the late Tigers manager Sparky Anderson) jumped, skipped and twirled around the stage like they were 15 rather than 59. Playing in front of a giant screen that wrapped above and behind the stage and carried psychedelic images throughout the show, the group (occasionally adding Chris Warren on keyboards and percussion) tore through the set with visibly renewed energy. The variety clearly sparked the Chili Peppers. More strikingly, however, the band explored its album tracks, including four selections from April’s “Unlimited Love,” a reach-back to “Nobody Weird Like Me” from 1989’s “Mother’s Milk” and catalog excursions such as “I Like Dirt,” “Universally Speaking” and “Hard to Concentrate.” There were hits, to be sure - staples that included the likes of “Dani California,” “Snow ((Hey Oh)),” “Californication” (marred by Frusciante’s malfunctioning guitar), “Give it Away” and “Under the Bridge,” the latter of which hasn’t been played frequently on the Chili Peppers’ current stadium tour. Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer comes home for biggest gig yet The 18-song, hour-and-50-minute show was filled with more intricate between-song improvisations, but the focus was on the songs and a song list that dug deep into the repertoire from Smith’s era with the band. The Chili Peppers’ first area show in more than five years - since February 2017 at Joe Louis Arena - brought the heat immediately as Smith, Flea and guitarist John Frusciante, on his third tour of duty with the band, launched into freeform five-minute jam that set the template for the group’s trademark fusion of rock and funk a few jazz riffs throw in. Related ArticlesĪll of that, meanwhile, only added to a musical performance that was equally special. “(Smith) beat my ass - on stage,” Kiedis said as Smith, who wore a Los Angeles Dodgers’ baseball cap backwards, smiled and nodded behind him. Thank you for Anthony and Flea.” Shortly after Kiedis recalled a November 1989 show at the city’s Latin Quarter club, when he tried to burn a Pistons jersey on stage in retaliation for the team winning the NBA championship that year over the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA championship that year. Early on, after rolling through “Around the World,” bassist Flea issued a “thank you Michigan. The renewal of the love affair started early Sunday, after opening sets by bass wizard Thundercat and a tight, rocking Strokes. 14, at Detroit’s Comerica Park (Photo by Mike Ferdinande)Īnd adding Bloomfield Hills-raised drummer Chad Smith, who brandishes an olde English D on his bass drum head, in 1988 further sealed the compact between band and city. The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, left, and Anthony Kiedis, a Grand Rapids native, perform Sunday night, Aug. A love of all things George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, and recording its second album, 1985’s “Freaky Styley,” in Detroit with the funkmeister, only furthered the love affair. The band’s affinity for Michigan came early, of course, thanks to Grand Rapids born-and-raised frontman Anthony Kiedis. 14, at Comerica Park, when the quartet played its biggest show ever in the area before 33,000 fans. That was certainly the case Sunday night, Aug. A hot show is never a surprise from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.īut whenever the band comes to Detroit, it’s always a bit different.
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