The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com A RT S Monday, November 6, 2006 - 9A , Peppers bring it hard at the Palace By ANDREW SARGUS KLEIN ManagingArts Editor To some, the fact that the Red Hot Chili Peppers aren't putting out albums akin to 1989'sMother's Red Hot Chili Milk and 1991's e Blood Sugar Sex Magik is At the Palace of evidence of Auburn Hills their waning. Friday The good-time boys and their dirty sex funk days are over. But there's the fact that their last three studio releases, Cali- fornication, By the Way and Stadium Arcadium, have earned roughly 30 million in sales between them. The band seems to have traversed an extremely difficult threshold: con- tinuing to create material as indi- vidual as their earlier efforts in the face of a changing popular aesthetic and audience. On Friday night at the Palace, the Peppers came out of the gate with newer material, and damn, they came out hard. Guitarist John Frusciante's Marshall stack was about to crack in two, and when the opening jam abruptly jumped into By the Way's "Can't Stop," the funky-as-shit riff rang like the Pep- pers of old. Though not a dominating front- man - on albums he shines mostly on tactful solo breaks - Frusciante never played the same riff twice. His style is an overt evolution from Jimi Hendrix, but tailored to his own idiom of modern funk and melodic rock. Though Stadium Arcadium was criticized in part for Frusciante's constant shuffling of pedals and effects, his sound on Fri- day was straightforward, overdriv- en blues-rock. In no way were his select effects a stylistic crutch - the man has his own legit chops. "Californication" and "Dani Cali- fornia" were supported by precise musicianship and garnered positive crowd responses, but it was almost impossible not to feel melancholy. The Stevie Wonder-penned-turned- RHCP-classic "Higher Ground" was introduced as the audience's "Detroit song." The response was pleasant, though no more enthusias- Peppers' stand-out show proof they still can rock. tic than the show's other highlights. Frusciante and Flea kept up a wonderful dynamic throughout the show, and it could be said Kiedis appeared the most complacent of the four. But his voice has evolved much in the same fashion as Mick Jagger: into awell-honed maturity. Flea is still the envy of modern funk bassists. The man simply lays it down with unadulterated authority. The set ended with "By the Way" the best evidence of the Peppers's two worlds: a pop-melodic chorus and a gravel-filled funk verse. "Under the Bridge" segued into "Give it Away" for the encore, two seminal tracks off of their high- est selling album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The crowd was euphoric, as the band ripped out both without an ounce of boredom or complacency. They proved that they can still kick it old school when they feelthe need. Their hardline, no-school-like-the- old-school fans will just have to take what comes. Pilot's license not required. By Professor Robert J.Miller of Lewis & Clark Law School and Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Monday, November 6, 2007 Hutchins Hall 625 S. State Street, Room 2 Crobhid ?ftckaI J Nute Get your "Matched Set" of BUCKEYE NUTS to Crush & Hang with MAIZE & BLUE pride before the Big Game November 1 8th! Packaged in a colorful drawstring bag they are the True Blue WOLVERINE MISTLETOE www.erUih dbuekeqenuts.corm 9 SUBURBAN SMAA 1.808.385.8380 o C me m fW ______________________________________ S a _____________________________________ Spring semester is just around the corner, and there are many more things to pay for-books, lab and activity fees, room and board, a new laptop. If you have already explored the federal student loan options available to you but are still in need, consider a GMAC Bank Education Loan. With a GMAC Bank Education Loan you can get up to $4o,ooo* to help fill any gaps in your school financing. You have the option to make no payments while you're in school** and you can have a check mailed to you in about a week. Visit us online at www.GMACBankLoans.com or call i-8oo-641-9146 today to apply for your GMAC Bank Education Loan. GMAC Bank All los asurbet toapplication and crditapproval heCeonnngEducationlonprogram may borrowoannuallyup to 3o~ooo. Undaereraduaterstuaentsmay choose to defer repayment'untilsix monthsaftergraduation oresingto be eroledrat least haftm~re :shool.ntreset onlyandimediateerepayment options also avlble. Graauate lon epayment I automaticallydeferred. CotnuingEduation lonrepaymentvaries with program rype. GMAC Bank' reserves the right to change or discotinue this pogam without notce. GMCBank Edcato oans areot guaaneeby thefeerl government and ae not clssfidasfederal loan. (Daoo6, GMO BankMemer FDIC. 0llrghtsreserved. Thiso~kotaisopyigtedmeials oneby The EducationORsources Insttute, Inc. and hFrt MavrlheoadCorporation. I A 4 A il