Charlotte, NC – Knocking on the door of the Labor Day holiday weekend, a crowd of concertgoers spanning generations packed the Bank of America Stadium on 9/01/2022 for the North American leg of the Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Global Stadium Tour (aka Unlimited Love Tour). RHCP are out trekking around the world in support of not just one, but TWO new albums. Unlimited Love, is the band’s twelfth studio album and was released through Warner Records in April 2022. The album was produced by Rick Rubin, features 17 songs and marks the return of guitarist John Frusciante (who rejoined in 2019).
RHCP have also announced a new double album, Return of the Dream Canteen, due out October 14th. The album was recorded during the same sessions as Unlimited Love and also produced by Rick Rubin. Find the official music video for the album’s first single, “Tippa My Tongue” HERE. 
The evening started off with an opening set by bass guitarist and funk/electronica artist Thundercat (AKA Stephen Lee Bruner). The two-time Grammy award winner, which includes the 2021 Best Progressive R&B Album for It Is What It Is, stood confidently with his custom six-string bass guitar in front of a giant cat head featuring light-up, color-changing eyes, as the crowd filed into the 74,867-seat football open-air stadium.
Up next and ready to cut deep with their tight sound, The Strokes took to the stage in a steady and thoughtful way. Formed in 1988 and hailing from New York City, the band has been extremely influential in the alternative music scene. Rocking their original lineup, Julian Casablancas (vocals), Nick Valensi (guitar), Albert Hammond Jr. (guitar), Nikolai Fraiture (bass), and Fabrizio Moretti (drums) journeyed through their carefully crafted setlist as the lights from the giant LED screen seemed to dance around them in complimentary harmony.
The Strokes – SETLIST
From the early Los Angles days of the band’s formation circa 1983, Red Hot Chili Peppers took to creating their own fusion of rock, funk, reggae, metal, punk and whatever they might vibe with to then develop an instantly recognizable, highly distinguishable RHCP unique sound. With the (then) new genre of popular music termed “Alternative” making waves in the ears of Generation X’ers, the band’s 1991 album Blood Sugar Sex Magick became a launching platform that would thrust the band into the universe.
Tonight, Red Hot Chili Peppers would light the match by way of an opening jam (John Frusciante on guitar, Flea on bass, and Chad Smith on drums) until transitioning into “Can’t Stop” from By The Way (2002), where lead vocalist Anthony Kiedis would join the party. With the return of long-term guitarist Frusciante, the core band felt firmly intact and ready to get serious about the fun in how they work. The immense LED screen covered the top, back, and front of the stage, flooding the area with vibrant, psychedelic themed visuals. The excitement and energy of the crowd continued to explode, as the 2006 fan favorite “Dani California” filled the stadium. RHCP proved that although the 80’s were miles behind in the rearview mirror, their full throttle vitality is on overdrive. RHCP was on point all around, delivering a phenomenal performance with a packed setlist that included hit songs and material from the most recent albums.
RHCP SETLIST
Intro Jam
Can’t Stop
Dani California
Scar Tissue
Here Ever After
Snow (Hey Oh)
Charlie
These Are the Ways
Soul to Squeeze
Nobody Weird Like Me
Parallel Universe
Otherside
The Heavy Wing
Black Summer
Californication
Give It Away
Encore
I Could Have Lied
By the Way
For more about TOUR DATES, visit HERE.
Show Date: September 1, 2022
