Nobody in their right mind passes up a chance to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers live in concert. Last time they came to Houston, my mother and I happily lost our voices after belting out every word to every song they performed. Whether you grew up listening to their music or know a few of their hits, RHCP has proven time and again that they are a force to be reckoned with. With nearly 40 years of making hits under their belts, the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame members hit the road again for The Getaway Tour, promoting their highly acclaimed, recently released album “The Getaway”.

Sprinkling a bit of nostalgia into their opening refrain, founding Red Hot Chili Peppers percussionist Jack Irons opened the night with a solo drum set that was a tad confusing but nonetheless interesting. After Irons’ set, New Orleans’ own Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue took the stage for what turned out to be an amazing show of energy and talent. Shorty, a former member of Lenny Kravitz’s touring horn section wowed the crowd with both vocals and out of this world horn playing.

Once legendary bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer hit the stage, everyone in the sold-out Toyota Center got on their feet and cheered; lead singer Anthony Kiedis joined them as they went straight into “Around the World”, the second single from the band’s top selling album “Californication”. Flea thanked Houston for their continuing support in a very Flea-esq way by saying "after 10 years of touring we came to Houston and it was f--- awesome. After 20 years we came to Houston and it was f--- awesome. Now, after 35 years we come to Houston and it's f---- awesome.” After over 30 years of RHCP shows, Saturday night’s concert solidified that we think they are just as awesome.

The band wasted no time getting into their hits following up “Around the World” with “Snow (Hey Oh)” and “Scar Tissue”. One of the stand-out tracks from “The Getaway” is a slow, haunting track called “Dark Necessities” which came next and flowed perfectly in the set-list. It was as if all the songs were created at the same time. Ironically, every record RCHP touched from “The Getaway” whether it be “Go Robot”, “Sick Love” or “Dreams of a Samurai”, fell seamlessly in the groove of RHCP’s more well known songs.

Sometime right before the band played “Californication”, Kiedis took his shirt off and we all knew it was business time. Covers of both “What is Soul” and “Higher Ground” followed and found Flea singing lead vocals, both men exerting more energy at 54 than I probably have in my entire life. After “Soul to Squeeze”, Flea took a moment to speak to what seemed like an unusually large amount of kids in attendance. To sum up his sentiments, he compelled the kids to pick up an instrument, paint a picture, write a book and a whole host of other creative outlets. Just before the band broke into “By the Way” he ended his inspiring segue with “shine a light on the world, it’s your job.” The coolest part about it was how passionate it felt and how every face in the venue lit up, especially the parents whose children were there to hear it.

As RHCP left the stage, nobody moved a muscle. Screams for an encore were soon met with performances of “Galveston”, “Goodbye Angels” and as always “Give It Away”. Fans tried to regain their hearing and spoke with broken voices as they left the Toyota Center, completely satisfied. I couldn’t help but wish my mom made it to this show as well but with the success of “The Getaway” released nearly 35 years after their debut album, I am sure we will be able to catch the Red Hot Chili Peppers in fine form again soon.