Red Hot Chili Peppers 2022 Concert Review (Charlotte, NC)
The Charlotte Observer
Setlist (9/1/22)
1. Intro Jam
2. Can’t Stop
3. Dani California
4. Scar Tissue
5. Here Ever After
6. Snow (Hey Oh)
7. Charlie
8. These Are the Ways
9. Soul to Squeeze
10. Nobody Weird Like Me
11. Parallel Universe
12. Otherside
13. The Heavy Wing
14. Black Summer
15. Californication
16. Give it Away
Encore
17. I Could Have Lied
18. By the Way
Last Thursday night I had the opportunity to go to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte to see one of my favorite all time bands, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. From the moment I found out nearly three years ago that guitarist John Frusciante was re-joining the band, I knew I had to go and see them live. All four band members are living legends and pretty much all their hit songs were part of my childhood (through high school) years. I knew it was going to be an experience like no other, and of course I knew they would put on a fantastic show. And I was not wrong.
After the two opening acts (Thundercat and The Strokes), we waited in our seats at Bank of America Stadium alongside 50,000 others as the evening slowly turned to night. After 30 minutes or so, the lights went out and we all knew what time it was. It didn’t take long for the intro jam to begin and everybody was standing on their feet. The atmosphere was electric. And speaking of electric…
Out of the intro jam came the intro to Can’t Stop and instantly the entire stadium let out a huge roar. The build up by Frusciante was magnificent and when the loved and recognizable guitar riff kicked in…it was ON. I’ve been a part of very, very few moments that were as electric as that one. After Can’t Stop the band transitioned into Dani California, and then Scar Tissue. I remember thinking, “Man, what a start to the show!” I’m sure everyone in the crowd was thinking the same thing.
After three of the band’s classic tunes to kick off the show, the Chili Peppers played a song from their new album Unlimited Love, “Here Ever After.” It was one of four songs they played from their new album. The other three were, “These Are the Ways,” “The Heavy Wing,” and their first single from the album “Black Summer.” As much as I love their classic stuff, it was great to hear their new stuff as well. My personal favorite of the four was “These Are the Ways.”
After “Here Ever After,” the classic guitar riff to Snow (Hey Oh) began, which sent the crowd into the familiar frenzy again. That’s not to say everyone didn’t enjoy “Here Ever After,” but those older, familiar songs just give you an unparallel feeling of excitement and nostalgia that is just hard to compete with. And that’s what happened when Snow started to play.
They stuck with the same album, Stadium Arcadium, for their next song, “Charlie.” After that and “These Are the Ways,” it was time for another classic: “Soul to Squeeze.” It was probably around this time I was thinking about how lucky we were because we were getting a great setlist. We knew it was probably only halfway over, but we had already heard so many great songs. And more was to come.
Next, the Chili Peppers dug WAY back into their catalog by playing, “Nobody Weird Like Me” from their 1989 album Mother’s Milk. That was the band’s first album with guitarist Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith. Though not the original group, that was when the Red Hot Chili Peppers became the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They had found their sound.
After dipping into the Californication album with “Parallel Universe” and “Otherside,” the last of their two newer songs were played, “The Heavy Wing” and “Black Summer.” Of course they were awesome, and at this point, I knew the concert was on its last leg. That’s when the Chili Peppers treated us with two more classics, yet again, with “Californication” and “Give it Away.” After Californication, I was sure they were done. It just felt like a great song and time to end the show, before the encore. So when the fast-paced, energetic “Give it Away” started, it was a surprising treat.
Fast-paced and energetic. Those two words have always described the Chili Peppers. And I was thrilled to see that they very much still do. With the exception of Frusciante, who is 52, the rest of the band members are either 59 or 60 years old. The crazy thing is, though, they still put on a show like they are in their 20s. The energy they brought was insane for 60-year olds. They looked to be in fantastic shape. I was so happy to be able to see Flea doing his thing, jumping around on stage while slapping the bass. Anthony Kiedis still does his wild dance moves (or flailing around) while on stage, running from side to side, while never out of breath.
And major props to Chad Smith. It was absolutely incredible to watch him put on a show on the drums. The guy is truly un-real behind the drumset. I knew he was awesome, but to see it live is a whole other thing, and I loved it. And while Frusciante mostly stands there and is the complete opposite from his bandmates as far as energy goes, he more than makes up for it with his talent on the guitar. He is one of the best to EVER do it, so being able to watch a legend and one of my favorite guitarists was such a treat.
Another testament to these guys is the fact that they played for about 1 hr and 45 minutes straight, with no breaks. It was only one set. Now, there were a few times Anthony or Flea would say a few words to the crowd, or make a joke or something, but then it was back to performing. Besides the break before the encore (which was perhaps only five minutes) the band just kept on trucking.
While we were waiting for the encore, one song was on my mind. It was probably on 90% of the minds there. Of course, it was the classic “Under the Bridge.” I knew they played it a lot during their 2-song encores, and I also knew they hadn’t played it at their previous show in Miami two days earlier. So hopefully, I was thinking, we would hear it. It didn’t work out that way, though.
When the band came back onto the stage, where Flea was doing a handstand walk to his spot on the stage with a kilt on (at least there was another layer on, and wasn’t like Woodstock ’99), the band kicked into their 1991 tune “I Could Have Lied” from their hit album Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Man, what a nice surprise that was. I’ve always loved that song and thought it was severely underrated. It was an awesome song to be able to hear live. The last encore song was By the Way, yet another great song from the vast Red Hot Chili Peppers songbook, and a great way to end the night.
Other than a small handful of songs, they played so many of their huge hits throughout all the years. Aside from “Under the Bridge,” I was really hoping to hear “Don’t Forget Me.” Now, I knew the chances of hearing that one was slim, but it’s one of my favorite Chili Peppers’ songs, so I had my fingers crossed. But after the concert I really felt lucky to not only have seen the legendary band live, but also to have heard such a great playlist. We were all very excited while leaving the concert to have seen the show. One thing is for sure, if they every come back around town, I’m definitely going back to see them. I would have to say it was the best concert I have ever gone to.
Garett