[Ed. note: This story first appeared on Two Rivers Tribune here.]
If this year’s pepper harvest isn’t as big as you thought it would be, don’t worry. A bountiful harvest is imminent, and the peppers are bright red!
Rumors that rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers will be hosting a surprise free concert at Hoopa were confirmed last Friday as the band’s stage crew began gearing up at Hoopa Valley High School.
Longtime tour manager Gage Freeman said the band was interested in playing with Native American communities. . “You don’t get a lot of big rock bands around here, do you? It’s a unique place in California and I have Humboldt ties. I thought Hoopa was the place to do this, and we’re doing it.”
Freeman, an LA native who attended Humboldt State University in the 1980s and promoted punk shows here throughout the 1990s, reached out to school administrators last spring to begin planning. His love for the area eventually led to Humboldt buying a villa.
On Monday, Hoopa High School Principal Maggie Peters announced a private concert for students at an Indigenous Peoples Day rally. Permits were taken home with each student and ground rules were discussed. If you want to taste Red Hot Chili Peppers, you have to go to school, return your slips on time, and refrain from suspensions.
“We have a very high-profile, multi-platinum rock band whose lead singer also happens to be Native American who wants to come and play for our schools and communities. The crowd cheered and thanked all past and present school administrators for making the event possible.
The permit expressed exclusivity of the event. “There will be no additional wristbands for friends and family to attend the event. Due to the private nature of the event, TRT will not publish the exact date and time here until the event is in progress. Just under half of the wristbands were reserved for students and faculty.
The permit also stated that attending teachers and other school personnel were not responsible for escorting students. Event security and law enforcement will be present to carry out these duties. Students should also arrange to go home immediately after the event.
The concert at Hoopa is sandwiched between two larger concerts by the Red Hot Chili Peppers as they complete their global stadium tour in 2022. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were gearing up for a concert in Austin, Texas at the same time the band’s crew was gearing up for a concert at Hoopa. After playing Hoopa, they head back to Texas to headline the Austin City Limits on October 16th. After taking a break from the tour, he will play in Auckland, New Zealand on January 21, 2023.
A film crew traveling with the band told the Two Rivers Tribune that they will shoot short documentary footage, conduct interviews with various people in Hoopa Valley over the next few days, and participate in cultural exchanges. .
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have played small surprise concerts like this at other schools in the past, including their 2018 Halloween performance at a school in Calabasas, California. Band member Flea grabbed national media attention in 2021 when he attended a wedding and powwow at the Fort Belthold Reservation, home of Mandan, Hidatsa and Arika Nation in Newtown, North Dakota. .
When it comes to gigging at Humboldt, they’ve come a long way since playing their early punky funk sound in socks. 1980s Redway Matir Community CenterFans have seen the group struggle with addiction in their early years. Many of their songs were inspired by that struggle and subsequent redemption. Freeman said they are bringing their message of resilience and overcoming addiction to Hoopa, as they do wherever they go.
“It’s exciting just to think about it,” Freeman said.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been recording for more than twice as long as Hoopa High’s audience has been alive (almost 39 years). They are the most successful band in the history of alternative rock and worldwide he has sold over 120 million records. They inducted him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 and have won him six Grammy Awards.The band released his #1 album in April as well. unlimited love The second studio album will be released on October 14th this year. Return of the Yume ShokudoFor the handful of students who may not know who the Red Hot Chili Peppers are, a deep dive into the band’s history is likely sprinkled into Wednesday’s class curriculum.
“Start learning lyrics on Google,” said Peters. “[The day of the concert] It will be Red Hot Chili Peppers Knowledge Day. Start learning some songs! ”
Do you post about Red Hot Chili Peppers on social media? Be sure to use the hashtags #RedHotChiliPeppersHoopa and #RHCPHoopa
It’s like playing in Redway’s Matir in the 80’s wearing nothing but socks.
The Chili Peppers are currently touring in support of their upcoming album. Return of the Yume Shokudo, the second new release this year alone. The album includes the first single “Tippa My Tongue”, the video for which can be seen below.