Friday, Oct. 10, 2003 | 9 a.m.
Spencer Patterson covers music for the Sun. His music notes column appears Fridays. Reach him at [email protected] or (702) 259-2309.
I've decided that I'm not a big fan of gimmicks at a rock 'n' roll concert.
I came to that conclusion late Wednesday night, when I got home after the Red Hot Chili Peppers' show at Mandalay Bay Events Center.
I was trying to come up with the best way to describe the night's opening act, alterna-rock veterans the Flaming Lips, when I realized I had virtually no memory of the music the Oklahoma band had played only hours before.
All I could remember were the giant balloons, hand-held floodlights, extras in furry animal costumes and bizarre screen images (including a topless woman dancing, a surgical procedure on an eyeball and a man snorting part of his own brain matter) employed by one of modern rock's strangest ensembles.
For 20 years the Lips have crafted heady songs featuring odd, descriptive lyrics. It seems like the sort of thing I might enjoy, if frontman Wayne Coyne didn't insist on singing through a megaphone or doing a ventriloquist routine with a nun hand puppet.
Sure, it can be funny. But as Frank Zappa once proved, funny only works in rock if the main statement is still musical. Just ask ridiculous karaoke comedy performer Har Mar Superstar, whose 15 minutes of fame finally seem to have expired.
Wednesday night's audience seemed pleased enough with the Lips' set, a surprise on one level considering what a mismatch the indie-minded outfit seemed for the heavier, aggressively funked-out Chili Peppers.
Then again, that wasn't any great shock, considering how easy it is to appease a crowd with that sort of over-the-top stage production. The same way Britney Spears' kiss with Madonna actually made viewers believe this year's "MTV Video Music Awards" were somehow better musically than previous episodes.
Meanwhile the Chili Peppers' performance stood in stark contrast. The quartet tore through a tight set drawn mainly from its most recent albums, 1999's "Californication" and last year's "By the Way."
The Peppers' music spoke for itself, as guitarist John Frusciante, bassist Flea and drummer Chad Smith demonstrated their ever-evolving instrumental skills. Flea played a trumpet for a bit -- a new wrinkle in the band's live show -- while vocalist Anthony Kiedis sounded as dead-on live as he does on the band's recordings.
Sure, the Chili Peppers' stage show included the requisite strobe lights and a giant screen behind the stage. But the band's primary visuals were its four members, who commanded the audience's attention throughout their set simply with their high energy.
Just once, I'd like to see the Flaming Lips play it straight-up that way. Because while they may be considered hipper these days, the Lips could stand to pepper their act with a dash more musicianship and a tad less eye candy.
Quick hits
A look at a few of the shows scheduled to hit Southern Nevada in the next week:
You won't find their names in Rolling Stone magazine's recent "Top 100 Guitarists," but the three men hitting the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay for tonight's "G3 '03" tour stop shred with the world's top axemen.
In fact, many fans of electric guitar insist Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen are the best in the business, period. Judge for yourself at 6 p.m. Tickets are $40, $55 and $70 for the 21-and-over concert.
If contemporary jazz is more your bag, head to the Sunset Station Amphitheater tonight at 6:30 for the smooth sounds of saxophonist Dave Koz, trumpeter Chris Botti, guitarist Marc Antoine and keyboardist Jeff Lorber. Tickets are $24, $34, $44 and $59.
Thursday, Ozzfest metal alums Godsmack play the first of two all-ages shows with opening act Adema at the House of Blues at 7 p.m. Two nights later, the two bands do it all over again at the same venue. Tickets are $32 and $35 for each show.
On sale
David Bowie plays The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on Jan. 30 with opening act Macy Gray. Tickets are $103, $203, $253 and $303 and go on sale Saturday at noon at the Hard Rock box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.
Social Distortion stops by The Joint on Nov. 2. Tickets are $28.50 and were to go on sale today at noon through the Hard Rock box office and TicketMaster.
King Crimson performs at the House of Blues on Oct. 29 with Pygmy Love Circus. Tickets are $30, $40 and $50 and are on sale now at the House of Blues box office, by phone at 632-7600, at www.hob.com and through TicketMaster.
The House of Blues hosts Frankie J and Baby Bash with Gemini on Oct. 30. Tickets are $15 and $20 and are on sale now through the House of Blues box office and TicketMaster.
Lit and American Hi Fi team for a Nov. 22 show at the House of Blues. Tickets are $18 and $20 and are on sale now through the House of Blues box office and TicketMaster.com
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