The show Flea claimed was the best live performance ever
I’m always open to different musical opinions. One of the greatest things about music is how subjective it is. However, there are some that I am completely unwavering on, and one of them is, no matter what you think of their music, you can’t deny that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the greatest live bands going.
Going to one of their gigs is the musical equivalent of drinking a Red Bull laced with LSD; there are colours, chaos, peace, love, dreams of sunsets and sunrises, and all-round excitement. Time has never passed so quickly as when you’re at a RHCP gig, as their music is great to hear live, and the band play it in an energetic way, which is easy to get lost in.
At the forefront of all this chaotic energy is the band’s bass player, Flea. He has a way of playing bass which is unlike any other musician out there, as he manages to cram notes in places where they have no business being. He is able to add new layers of funk to the band’s songs thanks to the intricate runs he brings to the table, which other people would just play root notes for.
This maximalist style of playing is reflected in his onstage persona as well. The same way that he crams notes in between bass passages, he also crams steps and dance moves in between songs. He must cover every inch of that stage during a performance and leave no section of the crowd unaccounted for. Speaking of covering up inches, he also insists on ending shows walking on the stage on his hands, naked, with a sock covering his tenderness.
A lot of people think that Flea’s on-stage persona is just a load of bundled-up energy being released, but there is a lot more to it than that. Flea is someone who truly appreciates the art of live performance; he knows how much of a special occasion it can be for the fans and how a good live show should be transportive. This sometimes resonates with energy, which is sometimes better shown using a stripped-back set.
The musician understands the kind of music his band is making and how his live performance can best reflect that soundscape. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t appreciate a more stripped-back gig, though. In fact, one of the best gigs he ever went to was Wayne Shorter, and he loved the performance so much because of how calm the whole thing was.
“I went to see Wayne Shorter recently, and it was one of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen. He played so little, and the rhythm section was going crazy, like John Patitucci and the rhythm section were leading the band,” Flea recalled, “Wayne was laying back, adding little footprints here and there, but every note he played was so majestic, and the whole thing made me feel so much. Hearing someone play like that gives you the sense of their concept of being alive; how they express their life, their honesty, and their truth through what they do. What it really boils down to is this: To be great, you have to be able to love and care way more than your physical body is capable of.”
No matter what your opinion on their music is or his onstage antics, you can’t deny that RHCP put on a great gig, and it’s having live performance maestros like Flea on board that helps them achieve this.
