Red Hot Chilli Pipers at Admiral Theatre, Bremerton, WA

Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Admiral Theatre, Bremerton, WA, 2014-03-07

What can I say?

It's quite a show.  I was surprised by the audience demographics, which skewed older than I expected, but when you consider that RHCP riffs off classic rock, maybe I was misexpecting.

They're in Federal Way, WA tonight, but I suspect the show is sold out.  I haven't been able to find a list of their tour venues, so check your local listings if you're interested.

Bagrock On!

OK, that's not quite fair.  If I'm going to drop this on you, I should at least provide a reasonable review...

The venue wasn't terribly large, but it was full.  The crowd ranged from kids to (I'd guess) late 60s, skewed older than I expected (as noted above) and required a little encouragement to get rocking at the beginning of the show but were pretty into it by the end.  I'm not even going to try for a setlist, but I'd guess it was about 25% classic rock pieces (which are intermixed with bagpipe pieces in short sets), 25% newer rock ("Clocks" by Coldplay, for example), and about half bagpipe or solo vehicles.  I will call out "Amazing Grace", "Don't Stop Believing", "Smoke on the Water", and "We Will Rock You".

The band has a pleasant and friendly stage presence, with several members taking the mike to work the crowd.  Their guitarist is having too much fun out there -- perhaps the pipers are more limited in their movement repertoire?  Drummers are fantastic, with Stephen Graham the snaresman absolutely amazing.

Good tour swag, although I'd love to get my hands on one of those flaming red sporrans.  And a hint -- you should change the red tassels into chili peppers, maybe taken from a chili ristra string of christmas lights?

If you get a chance, you should check these guys out.  Their music is in the iTunes Music Store, available on Amazon, and videos are on YouTube.  You have no excuse.