Legendary drummer Chad Smith took to the kit last night in Queensland, but it wasn’t to fill out the Brisbane Entertainment Centre with Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was at Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall in Petrie Terrace, where he absolutely cut sick with local act Golden Age Of Ballooning.
[jwplayer GfoHcP6v]
Guitarist Jack Bratt told PEDESTRIAN that Smith, who has occupied percussion duties for Red Hot Chili Peppers for thirty years, spent his night at the venue before tonight’s massive show.
“It was totally by chance,” Bratt said.
“Chad was just looking for a place to have a quiet drink and check out some local live music and he happened to stumble into our gig!”
Bratt, who describes himself as a massive Chilis fan, said he didn’t quite register Smith’s presence at first. Smith registered their presence, though, and Bratt says a member of Smith’s entourage said he’d be keen to jam then and there.
“I kind of laughed it off thinking that would be the last thing he would want to do, but Chad said ‘I’d love to if it’s not too much trouble’,” Bratt said.
Footage of the event, shared by @jackbratt and others, shows that’s exactly what happened:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuQ7m5fga2W/
“It was amazing but also in a strange way it felt quite normal once we started playing,” Bratt said.
“It felt like I was just playing with two awesome musicians, luckily I wasn’t freaking out the entire time hah.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuR-xORg26M/
Smith himself shared footage of the jam on his own Instagram account, further sharing the admirable shredding skills from the Golden Age Of Ballooning crew.
Red Hot Chili Peppers are slated to play tonight and tomorrow at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, before seeing off their Australian tour with a show at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Thursday, February 28.
Golden Age Of Ballooning are set to hit the studio soon, with an eye to release new music by the middle of the year. Judging by that impromptu jam, there’s likely at least one drummer who’d want a guest spot on that record.
