Red Hot Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters Dust Off Rarities at Silverlake Benefit Gig

On Saturday night, the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles hosted a benefit concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. Co-founded by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and former touring member Keith "Tree" Barry in 2001, the nonprofit music school serves over 900 students weekly, with more than 200 receiving scholarships. The event featured a lineup of musical acts, including Red Hot Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters.

Red Hot Chili Peppers opened their set with an instrumental jam, before diving into their classic hit “Can’t Stop.” The real surprises came when they performed two rarities from their early career. They played “Organic Anti-Beat Box Band” from 1987's The Uplift Mofo Party Plan, and "Blackeyed Blonde" from their 1985 album Freaky Styley for the first time since 2000.

Guitarist John Frusciante also played "Nevermind," which he hadn't performed live with the band since 1992. Dave Frusciante delivered a powerful solo rendition of Carole King's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?"

Meanwhile, Foo Fighters headlined with Dave Grohl, who performed a mix of their own material and covers. He played several Foo Fighters staples, such as "Times Like These" and "My Hero," as well as covers of Mose Allison's "Young Man Blues" and X's "Nausea." Grohl's daughter Violet joined him for a few songs. A highlight of Grohl's set was when the rest of Foo Fighters took the stage to perform their cover of Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" for the first time since 2007, a song that was originally a B-side during the band's early years.

The concert marked a milestone for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, which continues to provide music education and scholarship opportunities to aspiring musicians in Los Angeles.