Red Hot Chili Peppers at Madison Square Garden
photo by Dana Distortion

Red Hot Chili Peppers began 3-night MSG run w/ Trombone Shorty (pics, setlist)

“Peace and love and good stuff!” screamed bassist Flea before the band launched into the smash “Californication.” “That’s the power we have.”

And they certainly used it for a career-spanning concert, with a focus on last year’s outstanding album “The Getaway.”

The new songs reflect more of a new-millennium sense of funk, in part thanks to producer Danger Mouse. It all sounds sleeker and more laid back than the p-funk that fueled the Peppers’ early days.

And the band’s stunning light show, with hundreds of LED lights undulating from the ceiling like a funky amoeba, just adds to the mood. – [Newsday]

Red Hot Chili Peppers played their first of three sold-out Madison Square Garden shows on Wednesday night (2/15). While heavy on cuts from 2016’s The Getaway, there were lots of older songs, like “Under the Bridge,” “Dani California,” “Californication,” and even songs that weren’t specifically about the Golden State or Los Angeles. Setlist is below.

RHCP and openers Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Jack Irons (RHCP’s original drummer) play MSG again on Friday (2/17) and Saturday (2/18). Pictures from Night 1 (no Jack shots, sadly) are in the gallery above.

SETLIST: Red Hot Chili Peppers @ Madison Square Garden
Intro
Can’t Stop
Dani California
The Zephyr Song
Dark Necessities
The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
Right on Time
Go Robot
Californication
Sick Love
Search and Destroy
The Getaway
Suck My Kiss
Under the Bridge
By the Way //

ENCORE:
Goodbye Angels
Give It Away

photos by Dana Distortion