Photo by Richard Reyes, PDI
CLARK FREEPORT ZONE—Early this month, American band Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) drew flak for miming to a pre-recorded track during its performance at the Super Bowl XLVIII half-time show.
But Sunday night, the iconic rock group earned nothing but roars of approval and pleas for more songs from the thousands of fans who trooped to the Global Gateway Logistics City for the two-day 7107 International Music Festival.
Opening its show with a ripping performance of “Can’t Stop,” RHCP dished out a 90-minute set of about 17 songs. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis hippety-hopped around the stage as he performed crowd-pleasers like “Californication,” “Snow (Hey Oh)” and “Soul to Squeeze,” as well as more recent songs such as “Look Around” and “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie.”
More than the hits, RHCP’s set was interspersed with frenetic jamming from bassist Michael “Flea” Balzary, guitarist Josh Klinghoffer and drummer Chad Smith.
It was, however, the slower, more subdued hits such as “Otherside” and “Under the Bridge” that elicited rousing sing-alongs from the buzzed out crowd.
With “Give It Away,” the RHCP ended the second and last day of the 7107 fest, which likewise saw performances from 26 other acts. Grammy-nominated artist Kendrick Lamar had everyone bobbing their heads to his slippery smooth rapping, while Australian duo Empire of the Sun unleashed the theatrics in their reverb-heavy electronic music.
Not to be outdone, the local artists—most of which took the stage earlier in the day—also delivered fantastic sets. Itchyworms and Rocksteddy were wacky and playful; Up Dharma Down, sultry and impassioned; and Radioactive Sago Project, festive and bombastic, as always.
Other acts who performed in second day were the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, She’s Only Sixteen, DJ Ron Poe, Luciana, Abra, Loonie, and Sponge Cola.