4/5
Under The Dome.
Ever since Tokyo opened up its post-pandemic borders to the world last year, a slew of superstar artists from America have stuck their set-lists to the stage. Lady Gaga. Norah Jones. Bruno Mars and Maroon 5 to name just a formidable few. The latter two performing in the Giants home of the Tokyo Dome. Under a sphere in this land of the rising sun. Now in the same week Phoebe Bridgers is set to punish this town in Zepp, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are back after a bittersweet sixteen years for a sweet set of their signatures.
Get the funk up for one of the best bands in a sold out show. Because what a spontaneous night this was. A buzzer-beating affair for the Laker fans decked out in purple and gold in Rui Hachimura’s home. A last minute decision to cop some discount tickets behind the nets that usually catch baseballs, but closer to the stage than most, no foul. Besides at stadium shows, even row A is a postcode away. This Sunday we were so skin of our behinds close that by the time we resisted the merch, got a drink, paid a visit and found the seats, a second after a quick snap of our tickets for the socials journals it went dark, and the show started...at 5.30pm. This is Japan after all.
As Chad Smith took to the skins, John Frusciante opened proceedings with a raucous riff and Flea provided the beautiful bass backing and all the best lines (wondering whether he ate "a donkey's a##hole" for breakfast may have gone over the heads of most in the Dome, but his "beautiful and mysterious" comments were exactly that), Anthony Kiedis came bounding out chords later with his signature stamping puddles style of stage rug cutting. Exploring all the space of this live studio like a spinning top.
From the first classic to the last, the Chili's couldn't stop. Performing choice cuts from their duet of albums last year ('Love Unlimited' and the 'Return To The Dream Canteen') before the bicep flex of a 'Black Summer'. Because 'suns out, guns out', let's face it, the Ant man's giant, tribal tattooed shoulders belong in the Smithsonian like this all American dream of a band from a Hollywood basement belong in both the hip-hop and rock and roll Hall of Fame. Or any genre they blend brilliantly and effort less as such like Prince's before them. One hundred years from now, the Red Hot Chili Peppers identifying signature sound will be as instantly recognizable as Sinatra's. Yet, talking about my generation, one of two of the world's biggest bands alongside the Foo Fighters are amazingly treated with apathy instead of appreciation these days. Like you're not witnessing living legends like LeBron in the flesh. With their boundless body of work still being classically curated, far from the peak.
Whether it's dreaming of 'Californication' or 'What Hits' ('Funky Monks', 'Suck My Kiss' and so much more nostalgia for your tube sock, that's what). Or surprising us with standout favourites like 'Soul To Squeeze', before the epic encore of back-to-back absolute classics 'Under The Bridge' to thousands of smartphones and 'Give It Away' to even more hands thrown in the air. One of the most amazing bands we need to appreciate whilst they're still in their prime (still swinging at 60) know how to rock out (without their c###s out, these days, but still shirts off), but with a Chili chilled vibe. Much like Rihanna's real touchdown of a half-time show from last week. But now the Mars Superbowl spot nostalgia is complete with those that are Red Hot, the Tokyo Dome knows how to knock it out the park again, and the Yomiuri Giants haven't even sent out the first pitch yet. Now, bathed in a neon surfing crowd sea of red, how's that for liking it hot? TIM DAVID HARVEY
Set-List Picks: 'Black Summer', 'Soul To Squeeze', 'Under The Bridge'.
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