Review: 'Red Hot Chili Peppers'

BY JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
10/24/12 at 3:13 AM

Longtime rock act the Red Hot Chili Peppers got off to a rocky start as it played to a near-full house Tuesday night at the BOK Center. Frontman Anthony Kiedis fell during the opening song, the new "Monarchy of Roses."

First, though, Kiedis had cussed at an audience member who threw a beer on the stage, which held up the concert for several minutes as the stage was cleaned.

He had been hit with a water bottle at another stop on the tour.

Bassist Flea took up the slack with an impromptu solo before the quartet launched into its set, which included "Snow (Hey Oh)," "Can't Stop," "Throw Away Your Television" "Californication," "Give It Away," "By the Way" and an arena sing-along to "Under the Bridge."

Flea did most of the talking, too. He thanked Tulsa for music icons Bob Wills, Leon Russell and the Gap Band.

The night's energy never peaked, though.

Flea's solos brought fans to screaming between nearly every song as he'd tease with classic riffs including "Stone Cold Bush."

Flea easily stole the stage and the show with whacked-out punk-jazz-disco bass riffs.

Finally, it was a Stevie Wonder cover that brought the crowd to its feet.

The funk-punk classic "Higher Ground" screamed into every inch of air as fans pogo jumped and fist-pumped.

The Peps aren't a nostalgia act (not really), but a few of their older - and by older, I mean pre-'90s - songs would have gone a long way to add further context to the band's dynamic and influential sound.

Moreso, perhaps, to outline the early bass-punk-funk fortitude ("Catholic School Girls Rule," "No Chump Love Sucker," "Magic Johnson") that would thrust them through the following two-plus decades.

Some things haven't changed, however.

On stage, Kiedis is as frenetic and fleet-footed - and shirtless - as ever. Flea is boundless and relentless.

Longtime drummer Chad Smith defines ordered chaos. Relative newbie guitarist Josh Klinghoffer fills John Frusciante's kicks with apparent ease.

Groove-heavy mutant jazz cat and Los Angeles bassist Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner opened the night with a set of mutated jams, both '70s retro-inspired yet thought-provokingly (and sometimes jarringly) modern.
Original Print Headline: Chili Peppers concert saved by bassist

Jennifer Chancellor 918-581-8346
jennifer.chancellor@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

The Red Hot Chili Peppers performs at the BOK Center on Tuesday. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World

Bassist Flea. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World

Singer Anthony Kiedis. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World