ICHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- The screen blazed red. Crowds scattered throughout the grounds at Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival swarmed the main stage. As 10 p.m. approached on Friday night, the Red Hot Chili Peppers clambered onto the Korean stage for the first time in 14 years.
Jisan Forest Resort rang with cheers as the iconic rock band kicked off the show energetically with “Can’t Stop,” during which drummer Chad Smith delivered a spirited drum solo, and followed up with the 2006 hit “Dani California.”
The energy of the band, which has enjoyed legendary status in the world of alternative rock music since its 1983 debut, was palpable as spectators chanted lyrics and banged heads to the music.
After “Scar Tissue,” during which guitarist Josh Klinghoffer showed off an elaborate solo bridge, the bare-chested Anthony Kiedis, frontman and lead vocalist, shouted into the Korean audience: “I’d like to thank you for the spicy rice cakes. I’d like to thank you for K-pop. I’d like to thank you for those little black and white shoes I saw someone wearing this morning.”
Bassist Flea amped up the groove during “Dark Necessities,” a track listed in the band’s 11th album “The Getaway,” released in June. Then came the grittier “Parallel Universe.” Hits like “Snow (Hey Oh)” and “Californication” followed.
Given the band’s lengthy career, fans of all ages were present, from 20-somethings to families with children.
“I never thought I’d see the day when I would be witnessing this moment,” said Kim Myung-joon, 53, present with two friends his age. “I can’t forget the moment when I first heard their songs on the radio when I was visiting Europe 10 years ago,” he said.
Jung Mi-yeon, 34, was there with her husband and infant daughter, on whose head she had donned earmuffs to muffle the loud music.
Rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers performs on stage at the Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival on Friday. (CJ E&M)
“I still wanted to bring her along,” said Jung. “I remember listening to (the band) when I was in my 20s. This brings back a lot of memories,” she said.
The 90-minute set saw the group belting out 16 songs, including “Right on Time,” “Factory of Faith,” “The Getaway,” “Go Robot,” “Under the Bridge,” “Detroit,” “By the Way,” “Goodbye Angels” and “Give it Away Now.”
Rock and moreThis year’s Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival, the annual music event launched in 2009, was revamped to deliver more than just rock, its organizer CJ E&M said. The change reflects the growing popularity of hip hop and electronic dance music in Korea in recent years.
The Jisan festival is a storied one -- it has been relocated and renamed numerous times during its six editions, partly for legal reasons. In 2014, the event was cancelled to mourn the victims of the Sewol Ferry sinking.
The festival’s lineup this year included a variety of genres, from Canadian indie pop duo Tegan & Sara to Korean modern rock-balladeer Lee So-ra on Friday.
Saturday saw South African-born Australian act Troye Sivan performing dream-electro-pop songs; Korean alternative bands The Monotones and Kiha & the Faces; Korean rapper Zico and R&B singer-songwriter Dean; and the Grammy-winning DJ and electro-dance producer Zedd.
Sunday included Korean indie acts Kim Sawol X Kim Haewon and Jang Beom-june; psychedelic band Kula Shaker; Scottish rock bands Travis and Biffy Clyro; and electronic duo Disclosure.
By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)