Despite suffering from woeful sound in this enormous, built for sports venue, The Mars Volta stand before us and prove they are one of the most important bands on the planet. Featuring the near legendary afro section of At The Drive-In - Cedric Bixler and Omar Rodriguez - they're an inspired, thrilling, at times perplexing genre meltdown.
Their feral punk, p-funk, free-jazz collages are frequently breathtaking, even if tonight it's like hearing them through earmuffs. Bixler and Rodriquez hurl themselves around the stage as though they're in the grip of a hurricane. They eschew recognisable choruses and conventional structures opting instead for visceral, raw inventive energy and gear changing dexterity. Quite a way to start the evening then.
When the Chilis hit the stage, beginning with a Keidis-less jam, they're greeted like mythical heroes. The perky-pecced frontman arrives, the opening chords of 'By The Way' are struck and, already, it's game over. They simply can't lose.
In a career spanning twenty odd years, there's been overdoses, socks on cocks, jaw reconstruction, sexual ambiguity and god knows what else. Somehow they've managed to survive the lot, emerging in 2003 middle aged, more popular than ever and with enough cred to keep a new generation of baggy shorted, hoodie wearing young bucks happy.
Tonight's set is drawn predominantly from their more recent, grown-up works. The loose-limbed psychedelia of 'By The Way' and lachrymose soul of 'Californication' replacing the bombastic bluster of 'Blood Sugar Sex Magic' and mayhem of 'Mother's Milk'. They've done away with the goofy stage gimmicks of old allowing the music to take centre stage. A brave step in a hall this size.
Keidis does his muscular, chest rocking, spinning top routine and Flea's wobbly, rubber band bass slapping adds the necessary funk. But the real star of the show, responsible for elevating 'By The Way' above and beyond the ordinary is reinstated guitar virtuoso John Frusciante.
Able to switch styles in the blink of an eye' his innovative, spine-tingling fretwork, haunting pedal steel and note perfect harmonies carry the show. Album highlight 'Warm Tape' is exceptional with Frusciante taking care of keyboards and guitars, 'Under The Bridge' has people predictably reaching for their lighters while the melancholic magic of 'Don't Forget Me' launches them into the stratosphere.
They pay tribute to Joe Strummer, tease us with the intro to 'London Calling' and return for an encore walking on their hands. Older, wiser and hitting a creative peak, live the Chili Peppers are hotter than ever.
