Red Hot Chili Peppers triumph in homecoming

Red Hot Chili Peppers

"I had some of the best times of my life in this building," rubber-spined bassist Flea said of the crusty but trusty Forum. And judging from the wild response to Red Hot Chili Peppers' homecoming show Thursday, many in the sold-out house would count this among theirs.

The veteran quartet left little doubt that it remains in its prime with a stellar two-hour show that mixed '70s funk and punk with their neo-signature mellow grooves. From the opening instrumental funk jam through big hits, a few deep album cuts and oddball covers, the band delivered a typically entertaining and energetic set that would have pleased everyone from

James Brown and George Clinton to the Clash to any number of guitar heroes.

With 10 of the night's 20-odd songs coming from their two most recent albums, the Chilis have no interest in simply trotting out their old radio standbys. But for a revved-up crowd ranging from tykes to salt-and-pepper beards, the set list gave them all something to cheer. The recent top 10 pop single "Dani California" was dispatched early on, and the oldest in the crowd got a chance to recollect with 1987's "Me & My Friends," before which singer Anthony Kiedis and Flea reminisced about old L.A.-area dives they played way back in the day.

Again sporting long hair and remaining shirted throughout, Kiedis was less kinetic and not in his strongest voice, but his vocals still resonate. Guitarist John Frusciante, meanwhile, has never been better. He added outstanding solos to nearly every song, employing more '70s wail than '80s shred, flecked with wah-wah and accented by pained guitar-god faces.

Flea reminded the room why he's the most influential bassist of his generation. From the heaviest thumps to finger-numbing speed playing that would humble a hair-metal guitarist, he continues to be the group's core. He pounded out P-Funk and L.A. punk with equal ferocity, while drummer Chad Smith added his smooth blend of speed and sock, along with showboat stick tricks.

For all their minimalist power, the Chilis have no trouble keeping up the momentum while slowing down the tempo. "Don't Forget Me," their spin on the power ballad, featured a majestic groove that fed an old-time stage flail by Kiedis. Another highlight among many was "Blood Sugar Sex Magik," whose dirty riff careened around the dusty rafters, with Frusciante's bracing lead recalling Ernie Isley. The best of the half-dozen tracks from the current "Stadium Arcadium" album was "Charlie," a James Brown-styled funk thang punctuated by Frusciante's staccato licks.

There's no denying that many of the Chilis' songs from the past decade-plus have similar-sounding melodies and often lack the explosiveness of the older material. But their rock is pure and without pretense -- soothing, then jarring.

Flea fairly summed up this terrific show from one of the world's biggest bands: "I see you old people dancing and little babies jumping up and down."