Red Het Chili Peppers w/ Mars Volta,

September 14 (GM Place

Orange Hot Hailey McCarthy-Goode, OP Contributor

of the most interesting live musical acts joined together

Thursday in a portrayal of where rock came from and

e it is soon to go. The veterans of funk and roll, the Red

Chili Peppers, delivered a sound performance while The

Volta, conversely, delved into their fresh new tracks with

charisma.

vith the new release of The Mars Volta’s sophomore stu-

lbum Amputechture the set list was profound and varied.

t set encompassed so much more than music, it seemed

theatrical in a way. The
band used their unique
textures to join old songs
with new songs by creat-
ing musical interludes to
form a continual hybrid
of fan and band
favourites. The Volta, led
by Cedric Bixler Zavala
and Omar Rogriquez-
Lopez, infused their
show with charisma and
an undeniable mix of
technicality and originali-
+h seemed to ooze
from their instruments

: aa A
and their bodies. Cedric’s

stylized dancing, which

i , me rs i
iInciudes CONVUISING,

have come to elaborate on in their own ways, as seen at many
underground concerts.

If you were to look in the dictionary under the word
“Freaky Styley” you would see the faces of the four members
of the Peppers. However, Thursday night was not their great-
est display of the funk we all know can be inside them, or
used to be at least. It’s understandable that the Chilis have
passed the pinnacle of their musical careers, with millions of
fans, over ten albums and countless hit singles. With the abun-
dance of practice over the years it was expected that they'd
tock the socks off the sold out show at GM Place, bur deliv-
erance did not come. Their segment of Thursday night's
show, however, did deliver an expertly designed light and
image show which had reputedly never been seen in North
America before that night.

Regardless, the sparks and magnetism just weren't there.

John seemed extremely distant from Flea and their duets were

few and far between. Stage chemistry between the four mem-
bers seemed to be falling apart, every piece in their own little
world. The band seemed somber, and their set list included
many of their less-uppity hits, only lightly touching on their
old funky days with “Me & My Friends” and “Give It Away.”
The Peppers played a safe set of songs mainly from By he
lay and their recent double disc Stadium Arcadium.
Surprisingly, they played a track called “Don’t Forget Me”
which turned out to be absolutely epic. The highlight of the
Peppers set was when John Frusciante melodically sang a

miraculous cover of Simon & Garfunkle’s “For Emily,

Whenever | May Find Her.” A tear-jerk Eee Seseiie.<]
cosaeamisieeney!
clapping,

xut soon could not avoid the call.

They encored with “Give [t-Away” (the funk element) and an
absolutely phenomenal hwenty minute jam session which wel-
comed Omar Rodriguez-Lopez to the stage. Unfortunately,

this left Tony Kiedis (frontman of the Peppers) to stand idly

and watch. Flea danced and played by himself. Frusciante and
Rodriguez-Lopez were absolutely enthralled with each other
and matched perfectly, but this showed the Mars Volta was
still the spotlight of the night because they brought back the
heavy weight charisma stealer, Rodriguez-Lopez, who finished
the evening with a supersonic riff from his scarred guitar.