Jessica Doran – 09/12/02
Red Hot Chilli Peppers On a slightly chilly, but otherwise perfect Christchurch spring evening, I joined the thousands of Red Hot Chilli Pepper fans to watch the band perform at Queen Elizabeth II park.
Before the opening act of Papa Roach came on, there was a mellow atmosphere mixed with one of anticipation. Full advantage of the weather was taken, with fans arriving early, sitting down on the grass and comparing Red Hot Chilli knowledge accompanied by a few cold beverages.
Opening bands Opening act for the Chillis, was American Band, Papa Roach. They really got the crowd moving, setting the atmosphere for the main act. I didn’t really think of myself as much of a Papa Roach fan, only knowing a couple of released singles, but the performance of this opening band really had me considering purchasing their latest album. The crowd was also appreciative with a few mosh pits appearing, in the ‘Chilli Bin’ and the main area.
The main act By the time Papa Roach exited the stage at around 9pm, the crowd was warmed up and ready for the main entertainment, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The stage was set, with four massive screens and lots of lighting. However, as time passed, the crowd grew restless. A mere 45 minutes later (which seemed alot longer) the Chillis finally came on stage. They opened with By The Way which got the crowd pumping and really made up for the delay.
Anthony Kiedis (lead vocalist) was absolutely electrical during the whole concert, with crazy dances and doing full justice to every song he sang. Bass Guitarist Flea, was wearing a bright coloured outfit, which really made him stand out. Guitarist John Frusciante did some amazing solos and impressed the crowd with his rather high vocals.
I was positioned on the rail separating the ‘Chilli Bin’ (a designated area in front of the stage for a mosh pit and fans who wanted to get closer) and the main area, directly in front of the stage. I had a great view, and was glad I didn’t pay the extra $70 for a ‘Chilli Bin’ ticket but those in the ‘Chilli Bin’ would probably disagree with me.
As the Chillis came back on for their encore, fans were hoping to hear Under the Bridge and they weren’t disappointed. Everyone sang along to this timeless hit, and the band didn’t miss a beat, playing it to perfection. A fireworks show made a magnificent finale to what was already an unforgettable evening.
Pink Opening act for Pink, was New Zealand band Nesian Mystik. A big hit with a lot of the pre-pubescent girls in the audience, not to mention some of the more mature audience like me. They showed a lot of promise for a new band, with good stage presence and talent.
After a short delay between acts, Pink appeared in true superstar style. Dressed in funky torn jeans, and a blue and white singlet, she looked all the part of a pop/rock star with short black hair, styled into a mohawk. She started the show off with Get the Party Started, which showed only the tip off her talent.
I was extremely surprised to hear the range of Pink’s talent. She has a really strong voice, and will prove not to be a one hit wonder.
One disappointment was the lack of big screens for the people sitting down. Even though the concert area was quite small, a big screen or two would have been greatly appreciated.
