Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live at Slane Castle

RHCP at Slane Castle is simply great. It starts out with a great jam - what do you expect from Flea and John? Plenty of awesome tracks in this video.

From By the Way to Californication to Power of Equality. RHCP are all about improvisations so every song has a certain new tune or solo to it. Check Don't Forget Me - the last two minutes of it is very melodic and reminiscing-quality tune. Or the customary intro into Californication is one of the best the Chili Peppers has managed. This video has several covers too. A full length Havana Affair to a shortened Maybe. This video has everything. It makes you jump to the bass-slapping, sit to the enigmatic Frusciante playing, hitting to Chad's drumbeats and sing to Kiedis's ever-improving singing. It is as good as being there! Check this out!

I'm not one of those who can say I've been a Red Hot Chili Peppers fan since the beginning, due to the fact that their first couple albums came out before I was born. It wasn't until about eight years ago when I got a copy of their then-latest album, 1999's "Californication". After that, I started exploring their previous work, and have continued to follow them since then. Before getting this concert film on DVD, I had seen some Chili Peppers concert footage, but this was my first time seeing an entire concert film of theirs, and it didn't let me down.

"Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live at Slane Castle" features the California quartet (Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante, and Chad Smith) performing (as the title says) at Slane Castle in Ireland, in front of a crowd of 80000 people filling the field, on August 23, 2003! It shows them performing a set of songs from what were their last two albums at the time, "Californication" and "By The Way", as well as songs from their 1991 smash hit, "Blood Sugar Sex Magik". The set also includes interludes, brief solo performances from guitarist John Frusciante, and a ballad version of "Havana Affair", by the Ramones. Apparently, the band also played "Soul To Squeeze" (their contribution to the soundtrack for the 1993 film, "Coneheads") at the show, but it was cut out because a string on Frusciante's guitar broke during the song.

Slane Castle is definitely a good place to shoot a concert film. I usually find that concert films are better when they take place at outdoor venues with big crowds, and this is one of those. Also, the band who lured those tens of thousands of people to the venue to see them that day in 2003 definitely made it worthwhile for them! All the band members are in excellent form, playing so many great songs, and not failing to make them sound impressive live! They also know how to keep the audience enthused with their energy and charisma, and there is occasional humour in between some songs. The cinematography in "Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live at Slane Castle" isn't disappointing, either. As you would probably hope for in a concert film, this one shows multiple perspectives; from the stage, from various parts of the crowd, from overhead, etc. I've noticed some brief slow motion scenes around the beginning, which are unnecessary, but, no big deal.

Although I've been familiar with Red Hot Chili Peppers for many years now, I still haven't gotten the chance to attend any of their gigs, but certainly wouldn't mind doing so. In fact, I wouldn't have minded doing so years ago, and this "Live at Slane Castle" video, which I have now seen several times, certainly hasn't made me change my mind! This well-crafted 2003 concert film really doesn't have a lot, if anything, to disappoint fans of the distinctive California quartet! If you've ever been lucky enough to see the group's current lineup in concert, this will likely bring back memories. While I can't talk from a first-hand experience, I haven't found much criticism of this video from those who can, so I guess it does the band's live performances justice, pretty much at least. If you're like me, a fan who hasn't seen them in concert, "Live at Slane Castle" just might make you more determined to go and see them if you have the chance!

May 1, 2012 Update: A few days ago, I finally got to see the Chili Peppers in concert for the first time, and was not let down. It obviously wasn't QUITE the same without John Frusciante and with Josh Klinghoffer in his place, but all the members still managed to deliver, including him. Now that I can talk from a firsthand experience, I can say that the band sure knows how to put on a show, and "Live at Slane Castle" is a great representation of what their live shows are like!

I actually stumbled upon this DVD accidentally. I am a huge fan of the Chili Peppers but somehow hadn't heard about this concert. I of course purchased it, and after watching it, was just blown away. I have never seen the Chili's live, but I can say after about a decade of going to live shows and concerts, this was the best live performance I have ever seen. Every song is right on point, even the covers are amazing (1 cover is Havana Affair by The Ramones). Some highlights are Parallel Universe and Throw away your Television. Both songs are extended, mostly by John Frusciante just absolutely shredding the stage apart with his guitar. I have never heard guitar playing like this before, it's almost extra terrestrial. The intro to Californication by John and Flea is one of the more beautiful moments I can recall in live music history. John's 3 band mates are of course nothing short of excellent. The energy they display throughout every song is unmatched by any live band in music today. And John's harmonizing vocals to Anthony's lead is just perfect. I really can't say enough, I have probably watched this concert 15 times in about 2 months. And playing to 80,000 fans, with Slane Castle in the backdrop, it just doesn't get much better. If you want to see music played to absolute perfection, just check out Venice Queen, which is the last song they play before the encore. Breathtaking!

In the midst of eighty-thousand screaming people, the ruthless screech of John Frusciante's guitar swoons through the air. In response, Chad Smith attacks the drums with unrivaled ferocity, and pauses. John repeats his feral outcry, and Chad returns, this time with the familiar funk of Flea's bass, and the concert begins. Towards the end of the jam, Antwon the Swan himself storms up to the front of the stage, and starts into their latest hit, 'By The Way'. For those who aren't savvy on the history of the band, suffice it to say that these guys have been through it all. All of the struggles of self-discovery, all of the past blunders, all of the pain of losing their beloved Hillel Slovak (their first guitar player)--these experiences show in each note they play and sing. There's something for everyone in this concert, because the peppers sound varies from album to album. Their versatility demands respect and appreciation--they'll play an angst-ridden ballad in one moment, and follow it up with an up-beat funk number the next, and not skip a beat. But it's not what they play, so much as HOW they play it. Flea's bass-playing is so beautifully complex, yet he makes it look so simple. Watching him jump around, kicking his legs out at the audience with his bass at ankle-level, all the while maintaining a ridiculous bass riff.. what can I say? It's bad-ass. Meanwhile, Chad Smith slams his drums with the fierceness of a beast, and all the sensibility of a jazz drummer. The two of them together are a formidable rhythm section in the Rock and Roll world. Anthony's vocals, while they lack the polish of some other singers, are the best they've ever been. An important thing to keep in mind is that he began the band with the intention of being a rapper, more or less. Seeing how far he's come is definitely goose- bump-inducing. All the while, John Frusciante acts as the icing on the funk-rockin' cake. His less-is-more approach to guitar- playing sets him apart from the other instrumentalists, and his gorgeous falsetto has great chemistry with Anthony's melodies. Due to his hard drug use in the past, the mere fact that he's on stage with them at all is nothing short of a miracle. For my fellow Chili Pepper fans, obviously this concert will be a religious experience for you. For those of you who aren't sold on my favorite funksters yet, well, just try and refrain from head-banging... I dare you.

Red Hot Chili Peppers played in front of 80,000 people at Slane Castle on the 23rd of August 2003. They gave their heart and souls into that performance and it really shows on the dvd presentation of the event. Not only should the Chili Peppers be credited with the fact that their performance was fantastic, the camera work was great too - compared to their previous dvd 'Off the map' which show cased some shoddy camera work.

Performing 18 songs including "around the world", "scar tissue", "venice queen" and going back to the favourites "give it away", the classic "under the bridge" and also "power of equality", this dvd is recommended to anyone who is a chili peppers fan or a new fan, or even someone who has never been to a Chili Peppers' concert, this will show viewers what the Peppers are made of.

Anthony Kiedis, Flea and Chad Smith have more energy than any other 41 year old performers and John Frusciante plays his guitar with such passion that cannot be matched with other current guitarists. This video is worth your time and money.