The Red Hot Revolution

I've always prided myself on being pretty submerged in the world of music. It's just part of me, I suppose. Throughout the years, I've seen upwards of fifty acts- everything from country, to Christian, to rap, reggae, and rock. I've seen a little bit of everything, but I was not at all prepared for what was in store for me when I went to see one of my favorite bands of all time, The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

It was cold outside the Rose Quarter, in the lines of fans waiting to check their tickets and start rocking. That 30 minutes felt like a brief eternity, but it was well worth it when my husband and I made our way to our seats and realized that we were only 6 rows up from the side of the stage. Couldn't have gotten a better view if we'd tried.

We were taking some run of the mill Facebook pictures on our phones when I spotted Blackie Dammett, Anthony Kiedis' dad. I don't know what's wrong with me, to be honest, because I'd like to think I'm one of those cool fans that doesn't get star struck. But no, I blurted out without thinking, "Hey! That's Anthony's Dad!!!" My husband of course turned around just in time to see Blackie booking it the other way. Sweet, so I had become that fan. Yuck.  I tried to compose myself after being really embarrassed by my lack of discretion (although in all fairness, there were literally 4 people in our section at the time and none of them heard me). We settled in, welcomed some good friends we hadn't seen in forever, and readied ourselves for a wild night.

The opening band was The Rebirth Brass Band, a New Orleans based group that was full of funk and soul. I couldn't help but bop along to the beat of the snare drum as it mingled with the sax, trumpet, trombone, and tuba. I fought the urge to stand up and bust out some salsa moves that I didn't even know I had until I felt it in that music! The only disappointment I had with this fantastic opener was that the entire audience seemed to have a lack of enthusiasm for these amazing musicians. There were very few people even moving, and none were standing. Since we're being candid here, I was a bit embarrassed that Portland would react in such a way. I know they have more soul than that and it seemed really disrespectful to be "too cool" for a band that was showing up everyone, and had just traveled here from the other side of the country.

Remember now that our seats were stage right, so before anyone else realized it, I saw Flea come out, all incognito in a beanie and big ol puffy jacket (like we wouldn't recognize someone with his build and moves at his show). I had read that he really loved this band, so it was cool to get to see him enjoy their music as a fan himself, dancing along, moving with the grooves. He has always played trumpet and I can imagine that he must have a great respect for these guys, because they really brought it! It was sad to see that once people around Flea realized it was him watching, that they bothered him and tried to get pictures and talk to and touch him. He literally just ignored them and tried to enjoy the show, but it became a fruitless effort and he had to move away from his fans, presumably so that they would focus on Rebirth rather than him. I'm proud to say that when I noticed him, I just whispered to my husband that that's who was down there, but didn't say anything else so that no one in our section at least would do anything.I realized then more than ever that Flea and the rest of the guys were just like myself or my husband, people that love music and like to experience it. Yeah, they have sweet jobs, but at the end of the day, we're all just people. As that reality sunk in a little more, I stopped worrying about what Flea was doing and soaked in Rebirth and the incredible talent that I was lucky enough to experience. If at any time in my life I have another chance to see them, I'm going to boogie down so hard, because I'm already regretting not letting loose and living it up as completely as I could have during their show.

Changing sets after Rebirth created a sense of anticipation that was palpable. The whole Rose Garden just was buzzing and I could hear people all around me talking about how stoked they were to be there and guessing what songs would be played. And before we knew what hit us, the lights were down and this show was getting started.

I've heard stories about the on stage antics and chemistry between these guys, but it's a whole different medium to experience first hand. It is so apparent that they have several decades of experience working with one another and learning how to play off each other. Had no one known that Josh was only in his second official year with the band, they'd have never sensed it otherwise. He fit into the crazy crew like the missing piece of a puzzle. I really can't describe Josh's presence other than to say that it makes sense to me that he and John have collaborated together, because they both have a quiet confidence about them- and this kind of indescribable comfort in what they are doing. It's like Josh was just really lost in his guitar, letting himself channel through it, letting it move him wherever it chose to. I gained a new found respect for him because of that. He was dressed in a ragged over sized t-shirt and some really normal red track pants, looked nothing like the rock star he is, but it didn't matter because his heart was pouring out of his guitar and that overshadowed everything else about him. Anthony's dance moves were so clearly from what he was feeling and not in any way choreographed or planned, and I loved that so much about him. It took all of two songs for him to lose his shirt, and I don't think a soul in that place was surprised when it happened. Anthony is  as known for being half naked as he is being a health nut. This aspect of his life was made apparent by the fact that at 50 years old, he was in very good shape and looked nothing short of  healthy and vibrant. For some reason, seeing his famous tattoos in person was another one of those humbling moments that made me realize that he's just a guy, mind you with sweet tattoos, but there's nothing mystical about them, other than that they mean something special to him personally. Anyway- Anthony and Flea just did whatever felt good, and sometimes that included galloping around, other times it was rocking that bass so hard it just made sense to lay on the ground to do it. This free spirited nature took Flea across the stage in a walking hand stand that could probably rival an amateur gymnast.  I found it to be really endearing that Anthony and Flea wore coordinating one and a half leg pants with tube socks and sneaks. It seemed kind of like an homage to the days when they did far more inappropriate things with their wardrobe, or lack thereof. Chad had a really great energy about him and seemed content in his role which is the funny guy, Mr.Personality. But mostly, he's just a really incredible drummer who seems to absolutely love what he is doing. He was throwing out drum sticks every few beats there for a while and got the hugest grin on his face when he'd look out at the crowd. We got a really good  taste of his fun side when he hung from the lighting fixture at the end of the night, and  left the stage with the standard tongue out, rock on horns in the air before he was out.

All of these elements collided in such a way that a really beautiful show was born. Although the lights and effects really added to the atmosphere, I would have been completely content to have them on a bare stage with a white background. I was just in awe of these men I'd grown up listening to and was so excited to be sharing this moment with my husband and friends. It really was surreal in so many ways. The set list was comprised of a wide variety of their best songs, not all huge hits, but well worth experiencing nonetheless. I've always been a bigger fan of some of their b-sides and lesser known songs, so it was awesome to hear Universally Speaking and Can't Stop right along with Snow and Under The Bridge. It was a well rounded experience in terms of the songs that were displayed. I've read that the Chili's don't often change up this set much, but as far as I'm concerned, they could do any combination of every song they played that night for every show forever on and it would still be an unforgettable time.

This is definitely speculation, but I would say Anthony must have been sick that night, as he was sipping tea consistently between songs.  Maybe it was just the effects of being on tour that was roughing up his voice a bit, maybe nothing was wrong, I have no idea. Regardless, his voice sounded incredible, far greater than I expected it to be live, actually. The one time he was having a tough time, he took a tea break and Flea and Josh gladly obliged to jamming with Chad for a bit. I thought it was so awesome that they had this synergy about them, always facing one another, feeling the music and letting it lead the jam. That is what music is all about, allowing it to just be, rather than creating a template for what we expect it to become. That was another really big moment for me that night, as i looked out at the crowd and realized how everyone was so pumped and moved by this beautiful thing that was happening onstage, I realized the immense power of music can have over our emotions. It can make us feel some intense things, and in that moment, I felt a sense of pride for these men and what they have preserved over the years and evolved into.

Of course no show can go on with only a band, there are always people behind the scenes and sometimes on stage, that help make it happen. Case in point: Mauro Refosco, a brilliant, well educated, trained percussionist from Brazil that played so many unidentifiable instruments that I can't even begin to explain. He played this thing that looked like a tree of tambourines, some bongos, and several other types of percussion instruments that made the concert so much better for their contribution of texture to the music. He jammed with Chad during a solo and that was really awesome to see because they were really in their zone. It was pretty clear that he was having a great time as well, which helped for sure. The addition of Mauro to the I'm With You album, and on tour, is proof that RHCP has discovered over the years that expanding their breadth of instrumental variety adds so much dimension to their music. I compare where they are now to the Blood Sugar Sex Magik album (which is amazing, don't misunderstand here), and they are two different musical forces. It was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to experience a musical evolution, as it were, in the concert as they visited a little bit of several of their albums. I feel that this showed the stark contrast of where the Chili Peppers have been as a band over the years.

As the last notes of Give It Away wrapped up, I instantly began to miss this show I'd been looking forward to for months  that I didn't want to admit was over. Never in my life had I experienced something so musically unforgettable as this concert. There are some moments in your life you know that you will hold in such high regard that you will use them as the standard by which to compare all other similar experiences. By a landslide, The Red Hot Chili Peppers set and hold that standard in my heart, and will forever be the act that I will be comparing my coming musical adventures to.

Cheers to the Chili's for an unbelievable night.