WHO: Red Hot Chili Peppers and Santigold
WHEN: Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: New Orleans Arena
TICKETS: On-sale 12/10 at 10:00 am CST
In a world of real-time everything updates, if you keep your finger on the local concert pulse, it’s rare to initially find out about a big ticket concert on a television commercial. However, last night, when a Red Hot Chili Peppers commercial came up on the screen, that’s exactly how I learned about their upcoming show at New Orleans Arena on February 4.
Just after the new year, RHCP will hit the road in support of the band’s newest, GRAMMY-nominated release I’m With You, an album receiving lukewarm critical reception that debuted at #2 on the Billboard chart (and delivered yet another #1 single for “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie”). To add another layer of intrigue to the announcement, at the end of the commercial it was subtly announced that the supporting act would be genre-blending rock/punk/reggae artista Santigold, who also recently returned from a couple of years of obscurity, playing her first U.S. show in more than a year at this year’s Austin City Limits festival.
The I’m With You run marks the Chili Peppers’ first major tour in four years, since the band trotted the globe in support of Stadium Arcadium, and also marks their first full tour since the departure of longtime guitarist John Frusciante, who has been replaced by Josh Klinghoffer. The Red Hot Chili Peppers famously put a spin on The Meters’ classic “Africa” on their 1985 album Freaky Styley, with “Hollywood.” RHCP has a well-documented affectation for the famous New Orleans funk band and were joined by the quartet on-stage for their set at the 2006 Voodoo Experience. Perhaps RHCP will bring out the long-shelved cover on February 4, or even a guest spot by a Meter or two? We’ll have to wait and see.
RHCP – The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
Santigold – LES Artistes
RHCP with The Meters @ Voodoo 2006