Venue: The Padang, Singapore
Date: 22nd September 2019
Promoter: Singapore GP Pte Ltd
Review by: Maisha G.
Special Thanks: The Singapore GP Pte Ltd Team
Photos by Lee Jia Wen: The Ramona Flowers | Fatboy Slim | Toots and the Maytals | Larkin Poe | Red Hot Chili Peppers
The highly yearly affair of fast cars and fantastic entertainment approached us with much to boast for this year’s installation of well-liked reputable artistes whom one can only dream of seeing at our little red dot.
Gracing the lineup, Red Hot Chilli Peppers stuck out like a spiced sore thumb in a good way, no doubt. Never would I thought I’d have the chance to catch the band live, let alone in my hometown. It was definitely a night not to be missed. All the other bands and artistes were as equally enticing but the call from the legendary band was way stronger pull of my attention.
I remember being glued to the television in my early days of youth and having to watch MTV because that’s the only channel my siblings loved watching and I had no say but also no complaints. Then, I recalled having to watch a video which snippets of the shots are still very fresh in my head after more than 10 years it seems. It has got to be “Right Here, Right Now” by Fatboy Slim. And it was about time he graced our shores and let the youths of yesteryears re-live the glorified MTV days.
I was running a little late from work but I got there just in time to catch that exact song that I had spend hours infront of the television, staring and remembering the whole video, shot by shot. Under the famous moniker of the band itself, Quentin Leo Cook, despite his age, seemed more energetic that any other DJs I’ve had the chance to see. The backdrop and the backing visuals following through was hyper energetic through and through. It was ashamed I could only have sat through the last song but it was better than nothing at all.
I waited at the Padang Stage for the time to finally come to catch the legends themselves. It was a good three hour wait but I wouldn’t miss a beat to get the best seats in the house. During the course of the waiting time, I was still in a state of disbelief – am I really catching this band tonight? Is this really happening? I’ve seen my elder siblings rocking out to Red Hot Chilli Peppers and played a huge part in them growing up. It was a big deal for me to be able to relive those days when all we cared about was just being kids and listening to music. It was the purest form of happiness and those memories and feelings were making its way back that very night.
As the crowd waited in anticipation, the win went to Ferrari that night, and was celebrated with all rounded cheers and four minutes worth of non-stop fireworks. The hype was promising as the clock ticks closer to performance time.
The stage boasts of it greatness spread across the field and the spots were soon filling up. Bodies grew closer together and pressed against each other to witness the majestic league of extraordinary gentlemen themselves.
The crowd cheered as Flea, Chad, and Josh slowly graced the stage and poised themselves into position, teasing us with the intro jam that sent the crowd roaring. I could only have dreamed to see Flea live right before my very eyes. He was that one musician whom was refreshing and quirky yet till today, no one has been able to emulate his bass playing style, what more his dressing sense. He is an entity of his own and gosh I was smiling from ear to ear, just drowning in the massive intro jam that was presented to us.
Anthony made a grand entrance and the night started with “Can’t Stop” off their By The Way album, one iconic album after Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The crowd jumped and as I caught a glimpse of the group of people around me, I was surprised to see people whom I can confidently say are a few years ahead of me but they were bursting from the energy. It was crazy insane that the first song got the crowd chanting and jumping and that was just the start.
The night progressed into new songs that didn’t get the crowd hyped up as much but once the intro to “The Zephyr Song” hits, I could hear the mumblings reverberated across the crowd, and the tune hits, the familiar tune that sends us swaying our heads from side to side. That song was a preempt to a favourite song of mine of which I was on point. They transitioned into “Snow (Hey Oh)” and I found the fan girl in myself jumping out of my body as I sang to each and every word of the song. It was the song that managed to still be in the different playlists on my Spotify and will always be that one song that comes up on shuffle. Both Flea and Anthony were in unison with their high jumps and it got me thinking – are they really their age? I mean, I am half their age but no where as energetic as they are.
“Californication” came right after and I could feel my body being pulled with the sudden energy burst that struck the crowd. They went literally wild and the visuals were bamboozling us, to boot. It felt like watching them through the screens on my laptop or phone but this time, I am part of the live concert and I am actually there watching one of the highly acclaimed and celebrated bands all over the world.
The night ended with “By The Way”. It was when I was properly introduced to the band, again having myself glued to the television watching that one channel, I found an appreciation for the band. It was a biblical time for John Frusciante then as his riffs for this song was beyond magical and at that get go, every guitarist glorified him and wanted to be him. His departure caused a huge dent to the band but it didn’t stop them to find an equally good replacement, a good fit for the band and still maintaining their stature.
The light was panned out on Josh alone as he broke out into the lyrics of “Purple Rain” by the late Prince. The crowd sang in unison, backing him up on the riffs and the whole band soon joined and gave us one last taste of the spiciness that of the name suggests.
They closed the night with “Give It Away” and a lady in front of me had a sudden gush of energy and she was literally jumping higher that required of a normal human. She turned to scream – “THIS IS MY FAVOURITE SONG!” She sang her heart out and I could see tears rolling down her cheeks. It’s one to see your favourite band live but I could see and feel that it meant so much more to her, and the different takeaways for each and everyone who attended the show that night.
I was a little bummed that they didn’t play “Under The Bridge” or even “Otherside” and was most excited to see “Dani California” being sung live but suffice to say it was amazing. The energy exuded by the whole band spread to the crowd like a wild fire. Flea with his bass slaps that are out of this world, Chad hitting the drums like he just got out of gym to show his prowess and Josh strumming the guitar like it was his second skin. And of course, Anthony – that man had the energy of a 18 year old and that would continue and never die off. I was getting tired myself just watching him tire himself.
The exuberance and attitude of the band brought them to where they are today, from 20 years ago. Thank you Singapore Grand Prix for this amazing night, a night to be remembered for the many more years down the road.