Red Hot Chili Peppers kicked off the U.S. leg of their Global Stadium tour at Empower Field at High Mile in Denver, CO (home of the Denver Broncos) on Saturday night July 23rd, in support of their 12th studio album, Unlimited Love [Warner Records]. It’s the band’s first album with guitarist John Frusciante since Stadium Arcadium, nearly 16 years ago. RHCP has had different openers on their massive tour, including Beck, King Princess, St. Vincent, and the Strokes. For Denver it was bass giant Thundercat and sibling rockers HAIM.

Thundercat performed in a trio with keyboardist Dennis Hamm and drummer Justin Brown. His 30-minute set included “Overseas” and “Funny Thing.” HAIM, featuring sisters Este on bass and vocals, Danielle on guitar, vocals, and drums, and Alana—who starred in the Oscar-nominated film, Licorice Pizza—on guitar, vocals, and drums, began their set with “Now I’m In It.” They also performed “Want You Back,” “The Wire,” and “The Steps,” rotating instruments throughout.

RHCP’s set consisted of songs from albums featuring Frusciante, starting with Mother’s Milk and including five tunes from Unlimited Love. After their intro jam, RHCP began a string of hits, including “Can’t Stop,” “Dani California,” “Soul to Squeeze,” “Californication,” and “Give It Away, and an encore of “Under the Bridge” and “By the Way.”

Early on, Flea gave a shout out to his bass tech of 30 years, Tracy Robar. Following “Snow (Hey Oh),” frontman Anthony Keides announced the quartet’s upcoming Rick Rubin-produced album, Return of the Dream Canteen, due in October. The title also appeared on Chad Smith’s bass drumhead, which previously sported a tribute to the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.

Having seen RHCP a dozen times, this was definitely the most intense show I’ve attended, thanks to the stadium setting, the giant visuals, and the enduring musicality and sheer power of Flea and company!

Red Hot Chili Pepper Setlist:

1. Can’t Stop

2. Dani California

3. Charlie

4. Scar Tissue

5. These Are the Ways

6. Aquatic Mouth Dance

7. Snow ((Hey Oh))

8. Watchu Thinkin’

9. Tell Me Baby

10. The Heavy Wing

11. Nobody Weird Like Me

12. Soul to Squeeze

13. Black Summer

14. Californication

15. Give it Away

Encore

16. Under the Bridge

17. By the Way

Thundercat Setlist

1. Lost in Space / Great Scott / 22-26

2. Overseas

3. Dragonball Durag

4. How Sway

5. Funny Thing

6. Them Changes