Review: The Red Hot Chili Peppers boast technique, but fall into the usual trap in the short SP show

The band led “Unlimited Love Tour”, a tour marking the return of John Frusciante to the group, with a “celebration of themselves”. They continue for two more performances in Brazil

The band spicy red chili peppers took the stage at the Morumbi Stadium, in Sao Paulo, this Friday 10th, to present the Unlimited Love Tour. The group, which turned 40 this year, performed a sold-out “event-show” style that attracted 70,000 loyal fans who have followed them since they were teenagers.

Forty years, in fact, is something to celebrate. After all, many bands that reached their peak in the 90s didn’t have the same luck – the Gallagher brothers say so. And it was with this “self-celebration” style that RHCP began the Sao Paulo leg of the group’s biggest stadium tour to date.

Bassist Flea entered, wearing a skirt and socks of every color, doing a handstand. Shortly after, Chad Smith and John Frusciante appeared and the three played the long-awaited jam from the beginning.

Singer Anthony Kiedis joined his bandmates and with everyone we have already created a hit sequence I can not stop, The song of the Zephyr AND To snow.

The climate has cooled Here forever and the show soon became lukewarm. The technical part is there, but the charisma that made the Red Hot Chili Peppers so famous is missing.

In more than twenty years, it was the first time that the lineup that created the band’s best albums returned to Brazilian soil. A delight for fans. The return of Frusciante, responsible for much of the riff unmistakable characteristics of RHCP, was what caused the enormous excitement around the five shows that the group planned in the country.

The chemistry between the four members is undeniable and admirable, especially if you take into account that the guitarist left the band in 2009. Everyone looks at each other as if they already knew what would happen: another show in which, despite the improvisations, everything will be under control. Perhaps there lies the trap that set the tone for St. Paul’s presentation.

RHCP uses the Unlimited Love Tour to promote their latest two releases, Unlimited loveof 2022, and the “double album” The return of the dream canteenalways from 2022.

Convenient location

The presentation with Frusciante had all the elements to become one of the best RHCP in the land of São Paulo. The band, however, chose not to leave the expected “more of the same”.

You can see that the group has become an underground band mainstream, full of paradoxes. After all, they emerged with psychedelic rock – which at the São Paulo show was represented with psychedelic figures on the screen – during the grunge era, and play lively and, at the same time, melancholic songs.

The members have a reputation for being “weird”, but the “good weird people” type. At the Sao Paulo show, this aspect was explored little and the impression is that the highlight is all Flea, who still embodies the character.

Frusciante sometimes enjoys a certain “hostile” reputation among the group’s admirers. Just like Anthony, he interacts little with the public and at the beginning he limits himself to risking a “thank you”. He always seems to be worried and, most of the time, he sings with his eyes closed.

Chad was “a good guy” off stage and before the show. The drummer has already played Legião Urbana in a bar in Rio de Janeiro, went to a show of the duo Jorge and Mateus in Sao Paulo and played with a cover band of the group, also in the capital of Sao Paulo. Eventually there was a more direct interaction, with him throwing his drumsticks at the audience.

It is Flea who holds much of the charisma that made the band famous. The musician explores the stage well, dances and seems to be having fun all the time.

The bassist, considered one of the best in the world, stands out as a figure who takes away the “invisibility” of bass players – exercise: how many famous bands can you name? -, considered the “heart” of the band. At the Sao Paulo show, as in the vast majority of presentations the group has made in recent times, Flea is the heart, soul and face of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Short show and poorly personalized setlist, but a touching moment

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are the kind of band that boasts hits even to those who are “not that close.” Just put it Californication and, certainly, those who lived through the nineties will try to risk some verses, even slurred ones, sung by Anthony.

It’s very difficult, though, for someone “not so close” to know how to sing Black Summerone of the famous Unlimited love. There is affective memory Californicationof course, which was definitely what drove most of the 70,000 in attendance at the São Paulo show.

It was the lack of hits that made audiences complain about the Brasilia show, but the band varied their menu more in the capital of Sao Paulo. Of the five most listened to songs on Spotify, four appeared in the slideshow: Under the bridge, Californication, I can not stop AND To snow.

This “improvisation” even in the set list is another of RHCP’s distinctive traits. On stage, however, the transitions seem confusing and the songs poorly stitched together. Between one and the other the stage would darken and, every now and then, Flea and Frusciante would meet again for another jam.

The band played for 1 hour and 40 minutes in Sao Paulo. A very short duration compared to shows by musicians who have been active for longer.

Paul McCartney, for example, performed almost 40 songs and almost three hours of tour Got back, which will arrive in Brazil at the end of November. Roger Waters sings about 24 songs in more than 2h30 with the This is not a drillwhose first show in Sao Paulo is scheduled for this Saturday 11th.

However, there was a touching moment after the “encore” which summed up the affective symbol of the group. On the screen, one by one, the fans with posters and symbols of the band were shown.

“Thank you for helping me overcome depression and loneliness,” one said. Then came the penultimate song, Under the bridgewhich speaks, precisely, of loneliness.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have already played in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. The group will head to Brazil for shows in Curitiba next Monday, the 13th, and in Porto Alegre next Thursday, the 16th.

Check out the lineup for the Red Hot Chili Peppers show in Sao Paulo

• I can not stop
• The song of the Zephyr
• Snow (Hey Oh)
• Here forever
• Havana Affair (Ramones cover)
• Eddie
• Parallel universe
• Soul to squeeze
• Just in time
• Tip my tongue
• Tell me baby
• Terrapin (cover by Syd Barrett)
• Do not forget me
• Californication
• Black Summer
• On purpose
• Under the bridge
• Give it away

Source: Terra

Earl

Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.