Intimate show for lucky fans
RHCP played six tracks from their forthcoming album 'Stadium Arcadium' at a tiny show in London tonight (April 14).
The band tore through a 90 minute set in front of an audience of just 300 lucky BBC Radio 1 competition winners at the
Canvas club in Kings Cross.
Security was incredibly tight for the hottest ticket in town. A roadblock was in place some 100yards from the venue,
stopping all except ticket holders getting close. Massive images of the new album were projected onto the exterior of the
club.
Aside from the brand new tracks - 'Slow', 'Charlie', 'Call Me Baby', '21st Century', 'Hard To Concentrate' and forthcoming
single 'Dani California' - the Chilis also ran through their extensive back catalogue, delighting devotees with tracks
including 'Scar Tissue', 'Other Side' and 'Give It Away'.
The band themselves said little from the stage. Wearing a black sleeveless t-shirt, frontman Anthony Keidis drank
frequently from a massive white tea-cup between songs. "Don't read magazines and don't watch commercials, they rot your brain
- unless its our ipod commercial," said bassist Flea.
The intimate gig was the band's first in the UK since their 2004 shows, which included a residency at Hyde Park in
London.
The full concert will be broadcast in a special show on Radio 1 on Easter Monday (April 17) from 7pm.
The setlist was:
Can't Stop
Charlie
Scar Tissue
Throw Away Your Television
Dani California
Me And My
Snow
Other Side
21st Century
Don't Forget Me
Tell Me Baby
Right On Time
Hard To Concentrate
By The Way
Soul To Squeeze
Give It Away
'Stadium Arcadium' is released on May 8 and the band will return to the UK for a series of dates the following month
calling at:
Ipswich Portman Road (June 30)
Coventry Ricoh Arena (July 2)
Reading Madjeski Stadium (3)
Derby Pride Park Stadium (5)
Sheffield Don Valley Stadium (6)
T In The Park Festival (8)
Manchester MEN Arena (11/12)
London Earls Court (14-15, 17-18)