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Rating: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Alcatraz 29.04.06
In light of their latest releases, the question seemed legitimate: are they washed up or just simmering? The MTV event at Alcatraz for the presentation of their latest live album, soon to be released, was certainly an opportunity to understand better. The event's organization was fantastic, with significant production forces. An initial insight was offered by the audience, divided into roughly 70% of young people under 25 and the remaining over 35. I say so because, in some way, the new tracks and the concert’s setlist will take this into account.
The show began precisely at 9 PM, as scheduled, and immediately Flea's bass power was felt. Inspired. The rhythm section reclaimed its rightful role, leaving Frusciante the part of melody, which in the new songs leans towards ballads and engaging, but never disruptive, solutions. It seems that the new work re-applies the methods of "Californication" and "By the Way," more focused on pleasing and gaining consensus than on surprising with strong solutions. Nonetheless, the concert proceeds pleasantly, highlighting that the band is there, solid, without blemishes, but perhaps overly mature in their ability to "play their trade". Unsurprisingly, about halfway through the concert, they launch into the hit "Scar Tissue," igniting the young girls. However, there is still time for moments where the Peppers let themselves go.
If it's true that there aren’t moments where their compositional vein appears enlightened, to warm up (themselves), they reclaim their original spirit, which, coincidentally, particularly excites the older audience. They gift us an extraordinary "Me and My Friends" and conclude the set after an hour and a quarter with the funky "Give it away," preceded by a stunning intro of "You're gonna get yours" by Public Enemy.
I leave thinking that, to the initial question, there’s no definitive answer at the moment. The Peppers are contradictory. They are convincing live, a powerful band with one of the best rhythm sections, even more so than in '92 when Frusciante was completely out of control, but the riffs, those from 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik,' perhaps will remain unmatched.
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