Red Hot Chili Peppers live at Sunderland, Stadium of Light, 24.6.12

Having been a decent stretch of years since the band started out, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have had their fair share of onstage experiences. It seems that, not too many years ago, the band were performing as young men, with only a sock hanging from their genitals, so it's hard to believe that three out of four of the band members are now middle aged fogeys. With their enthusiastic and unparalleled psyches, and well-kept figures, I often find myself refusing to believe that so much time has passed. 

Though the crowds didn't seem to pour in at their fullest for the most part of the support - Reverend & The Makers, Sunderland's very own The Futureheads, and The Wombats - fans did begin to enter by the dozen as the night progressed and the performance we'd all travelled to see reached its peak.

From the second the Chili Peppers walked onto the stage with a lofty and proud gait in their step, crowds roaring and arms flailing instinctively indicating their entrance to the unfortunate buggers on the - almost empty - north stand, it was certain that this was going to be a night full of psychedelic funk and beautiful sounds.

The band, needing no theatrical paraphernalia - their set including several screens and rows of simple lights - to please an audience, kicked off the night with Monarchy of Roses from their latest album 'I'm With You'.

Flea, the only one audacious enough to expose himself to the harsh snap of the weather, stealing the show with his purple hair as he played bare-chested in all his glory, grinned as he hopped from one foot to the other, his enthusiasm the heart of the crowd's developing energy from the first audible note.

Current guitarist Josh Klinghoffer seemed comfortable while owning the stage with his solos, so passionate as to stimulate emotion. Not being one to devour attention, Klinghoffer soon withdrew, Anthony entertaining to no avail with his infamous dad-dancing while Chad put a heart warming beat into the performance from behind his immaculate drum kit.

Delighting their dancing fans and drunken spectators with renditions of favourites such as Give It Away, a much loved Californication - Keidis' voice eerily beautiful and emotion inducing - the unexpected Soul To Squeeze, and Flea opening the encore by walking on his hands across the stage, earning a howl of encouragement and a round of applause to wave through the audience, the band satisfied to a superior extent.

I think it's safe to say that, even after so many years, the Chili Peppers are still red hot.

Setlist:

• Monarchy of Roses
• Can't Stop
• Dani California
• Scar Tissue
• Look Around
• Universally Speaking
• I Like Dirt
• The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
• Right On Time
• If You Have To Ask
• Ethiopia
• Under The Bridge
• Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder cover)
• Californication
• By The Way

Encore:

•  Chad & Mauro & Josh jam
• Suck My Kiss
• Soul To Squeeze
• Give It Away
• Final jam

Written by Katie Bartle
Edited by Anita