Edited by Brett Buchanan
In their first T in the Park headline slot since 2006, Red Hot Chilli Peppers played closed out Scotland’s biggest music festival on Sunday to mixed reviews. Those who were at the festival enjoyed live music from the grounds of Strathallan Castle in Perthshire where the band stopped off on their European tour, while Twitter exploded with unenthused football fans who had switched over from a slow Euro Championship final to watch the gig.
The setlist was controversial, but clearly directed at the band’s truest fans. Those that would appreciate their talented sound would have enjoyed the jam session that introduced the set, albeit rather inessential. The biggest setlist blunder however, was the omission Californication, RHCP’s most popular hit from this century. Unforgivable as it was to casual fans, the song is overly commercialized and for an alternative rock band to play as many of their popular tracks as they did for us on Sunday night was chivalrous. Under the Bridge, the melodic Scar Tissue and ending the concert on a high with By the Way were highlights. The band also performed a live debut of Goodbye Angels from their latest album The Getaway during their encore which was refreshing if not slightly bittersweet.
Frontman Anthony Keidis’ recent health problems certainly didn’t hinder the aging band’s performance. The stage was atmospheric and the crowd were alive. The band didn’t fail to live up to Sunday headline standards, even during some of their newer numbers such as Dark Necessities. Sometimes this energy doesn’t transfer well through live television however, and there were many Twitter users expressing dissatisfaction with the band’s performance.
Criticism is undeniable throughout the music industry and is especially ripe during festival season. The truth is, bands like Red Hot Chilli Peppers have been rocking Scotland and its fellow European countries for three decades. They are an everlasting entertainment juggernaut that continues to experiment with their sound and provide fantastic quality live performances for fans across the globe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfv5ooP5ons