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The Red Hot Chili Peppers, old? Not at Dallas arena show 

Anthony Kiedis, Flea and Chad Smith, who were joined by guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, showed why "Can't Stop," a massive hit from 2003, encapsulates the Red Hot Chili Peppers' signature blend of rock, rap and funk rolled into one pop-tastic package.

It doesn't seem that long ago when the Red Hot Chili Peppers were the weirdos of the rock 'n' roll world.

Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers performs at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Jan. 8,...
Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers performs at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Jan. 8, 2017. (Jason Janik / Special Contributor)

But judging from Sunday night's packed concert at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the trailblazing band that served once as an alternative to alternative rock has settled in as elder statesman and strong survivors.

It's not that Anthony Kiedis, Flea and Chad Smith, who were joined by guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, looked or sounded tired. In fact, the Grammy-winning band was nothing short of energetically combustible. Over the course of the set, which at 90 minutes felt short, the veteran group packed the show with good vibes, crystal clear sound and imaginative visuals.

Kicking off the set after an extended jam between Flea and Klinghoffer, Kiedis bounded on stage with "Can't Stop," a massive hit from 2003 that, as well as any other song, encapsulates the Red Hot Chili Peppers' signature blend of rock, rap and funk rolled into one pop-tastic package.

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Having been on tour four months already, the performances couldn't have been tighter.

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From the jump, the band seemed like a well-coached hockey team moving about the ice with efficiency and a creative touch of unpredictable flair.

After rattling off pristine takes on the Tom Petty-esque "Dani California," and the soaring, melodic "Zephyr Song," which Flea, a noted basketball fan, dedicated to the late, troubled Dallas Mavericks player Roy Tarpley, it seemed as though the night would be one lengthy greatest hits sing-along.

Rawk.
Rawk.(Jason Janik / Special Contributor)

But with The Getaway, a more-than-solid album only recently released, the band took a sizable middle chunk of the set to hammer home the point they still can bring the noise in the here and now. The newer songs were spot-on, especially the recent hit single "Dark Necessities."

About halfway through, Kiedis, who bounced and stalked the stage like a nimble boxer with laser focus, lost his shirt but kept the pedal to the metal. Aside from a jovial, bawdy exchange between him and Flea regarding some of Texas' musical talents, Willie Nelson, ZZ Top and Geto Boys, Kiedis let his moves do the talking.

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Flea expressed his love for Dallas, then bounced and sprinted around in a way maybe only AC/DC's Angus Young can top, while Klinghoffer thrashed around, gloriously uncontrolled.

Take away the iconic songs and the rock star posing and this night looked like a massive event. Multiple video boards displayed colorful designs, distorted live footage and twisted cartoons, while a sea of colorfully lit cylindrical fixtures from above the crowd were employed to stunning effect.

As arresting as "Californication" was with an extended intro jam, it was "Under the Bridge," the most beloved of all the band's songs, that really brought home a special feeling of time and place.

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The quietest song of the night by far received the loudest cheers of the night.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers managed to mention Willie Nelson, ZZ Top, Geto Boys and Matthew...
The Red Hot Chili Peppers managed to mention Willie Nelson, ZZ Top, Geto Boys and Matthew McConaughey in their Dallas set.(Jason Janik / Special Contributor)

Even after 25 years and surely thousands of performances of the song many call one of the greatest songs of the 1990s, the Chili Peppers gave the song a straight-forward treatment. (Few would blame them for tricking that song up to keep themselves entertained.) But not only was it a faithful rendition, it was a gorgeous one, thanks in large part to Klinghoffer's ability to harness his energy.

Bummer: Certified jewels "Other Side" and "Scar Tissue" were left off set list, though the night never lacked for recognizable tunes.

After all, what would a Chili Peppers show be without "Give it Away?" As had been the case all show long, the grooves were thick, the vocals were crisp and the beats were primal.

If nothing else, Sunday night's show proved that a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame plaque doesn't mean this band is going quietly into the oldies-loving night.

Take a look at highlights of this jam-packed Red Hot Chili Peppers concert: