[PICS] Red Hot Chili Peppers at Darien Lake PAC

In the last few years, the Chili Peppers have been opening up with what they call an “Intro Jam.”  Bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and Frusciante play a nice number warming up before vocalist Anthony Kiedis joins them. Flea did his usual walking on his hands to his bass stand while Smith hit the massive gong before the band did the jam.  Kiedis joined the band for one of their hits “Around the World.” This was a prelude of what was to come as the entire set was littered with hit after hit it seemed like. Kiedis continues to sport a walking boot on his left ankle. After seeing the band over a year ago, he was also wearing it at that time as well. So it might be for precautionary measures as I was unable to find anything else about it. Regardless, this didn’t detract from Kiedis as a performer or his vocals while singing. He moved all around the stage and was very active throughout the set. Frusciante back with the band really adds a whole new element that seemed to be lacking when he wasn’t in the band. He melodic background vocals and his spot-on playing really brings the back back to its formative years when they were ruling the charts and cranking out must see videos on MTV. Frusciante had a solo spotlight as he was alone covering the Ramones song “I Remember You.” The band added a 2nd Ramones cover in “Havana Affair.” After this, Flea led them on a barrage of hits that included ” Suck My Kiss, “Soul to Squeeze” and “By The Way.” It was funny on the latter song as Kiedis was galivanting across the stage at one point and Flea decided to follow him around. The band exited the stage and came back out for a tune they hadn’t played much on this leg of the tour in “Under the Bridge.” With such a broad range of material, it's funny how the band doesn’t play this hit song with more regularity. So it was great to hear them play it live. Flea took to the top of his speaker cabinets to help power the band through “Give It Away.” The band gave everything and then some to its fans.

Kiedis ended with saying, “Until we see each other again, be good to one another other and why not Love? Flea gave the heart emoji as he walked off and Smith threw his sticks and wristbands into the crowd and thanked them for coming. One of the best shows overall we have taken in a long time. The sound was great and the band was very interactive with each other and its fans. Hopefully, next time won’t be as long of a wait!

Setlist:

Intro Jam

Around the World

Dani California

The Zephyr Song

Aquatic Mouth Dance

Universally Speaking

I Remember You (Ramones cover -John Frusciante solo)

Eddie

Hey

London Calling-(Intro snippet)/Right on Time

Havana Affair (Ramones cover)

Suck my Kiss

Soul to Squeeze

Carry Me Home

Californication

Black Summer

By the Way

Encore:

Under the Bridge

Give It Away