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The Red Hot Chili Peppers were not content on resting upon their legendary laurels at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena Monday night.
They performed a blazing set of hits led by the ferocious guitar work of Josh Klinghoffer and propulsive bass of Zen master, Flea. Anthony Kiedis looked like a Geraldo Rivera impersonator with his wicked porn 'stache, and Will Ferrell is simply amazing on drums.
Original RHCP drummer Jack Irons opened the evening by inviting us into his trippy beat lab, before Babymetal, the trio of teenage girls that front a fusion of heavy metal and Japanese idol culture performed. For some convoluted publicity marketing nightmare reason, we were not allowed to photograph Babymetal's set.
I was so blown away by Klinghoffer. There is no denying the influence of his friend, mentor and former Chili Pepper guitarist John Frusciante, but dude is a standout on his own. To be six feet away from one of his blistering solos was like standing on the side of a race track with cars whizzing by. Fast. Dangerous.
I've got to admit, I went in not expecting much, as it would be so easy for a band with this kind of longevity to just phone it in, but I left being impressed with the amazing energy and gusto that these veterans performed with. There's a reason some bands get called legends.
Set list:
Around the World
Dani California
Scar Tissue
Dark Necessities
Hey
Tell Me Baby
Go Robot
Californication
Factory of Faith
Search and Destroy
ENCORE
Suck My Kiss
Soul to Squeeze
By the Way
SECOND ENCORE
Goodbye Angels
Give It Away