Red Hot Chili Peppers – Harriet Island – St. Paul MN – July 20th 2024

Day 2 of the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival – The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Presented by Live Nation

I’ve seen a decent amount of bands over the years, but the Red Hot Chili Peppers were not one of them… until today. I remember hearing stories about them last year, like how Flea and Anthony Kiedis were trying to find bathrooms downtown and finally located one at the Nicollet Ave Target. I’m still not sure if that was a true story or just a myth.

Several friends attended their concert last year, but I didn’t buy a ticket. I’m a fan, especially of their high-energy songs, but while I appreciate some of the slower tracks, they didn’t interest me as much. Fast forward to this year, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were the headliners for the Saturday portion of the inaugural Minnesota Yacht Club Festival. I wasn’t sure what to think of the name at first, but it grew on me.

Although I missed seeing other acts, I was finally able to catch the Chili Peppers, and they did not disappoint. Unfortunately, I missed the first two songs due to the amount of people and parking. I had to park off site, cross a bridge, go down one road and then another, get my wristband scanned, and finally, I was there. The crowd was massive! I tried to weave my way through, but I could only get so far. I suggest and early arrival for next years festival.

The concert was already high-energy, kicking off with an Intro Jam followed by Can’t Stop and Scar Tissue. I didn’t anticipate how much Flea and Kiedis would engage with each other, but their chemistry was undeniable. They played a solid mix of hits and deeper cuts, including Here Ever After, Pea, Snow ((Hey Oh)), and I Like Dirt. The energy only intensified with Wet Sand, Eddie, and Soul to Squeeze.

While I enjoyed the set, I was hoping for a few more of my favorites, like Higher Ground and Under the Bridge. However, tracks like Tell Me Baby, Whatchu Thinkin’, Californication, and Black Summer kept the crowd engaged and vibing. The spirit of Los Angeles shone through in their performance, and you could feel the bond between the band members.

As they closed the show with By the Way, the energy was electric. Chad Smith was the last person on stage, and he mentioned that he was born in Minnesota—Richfield, to be exact. It felt fitting, considering he’s known as the nicest member of the band. For the encore, they played I Could Have Lied and wrapped up with the iconic Give It Away.

Overall, the experience was unforgettable, and I’m glad I finally got to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers live. They left me buzzing with energy and excitement long after the show ended!

Review and photos by Todd Johnson.