ACL Music Fest Sunday Reviews

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Josh Klinghoffer. He's the new guy. The one you need to know. The Red Hot Chili Peppers' fifth guitarist is no stranger to Flea and Anthony Kiedis' La La Land, providing backing tracks on much of the band's 2006 Stadium Arcadium tour before John Frusciante left. As a collaborating quarter of Team Psycho Sexy, he's also the best change since drummer Chad Smith joined in 1988. Thus, 10th album I'm With You becomes more about ensembling and less about showcasing. Klinghoffer goes freaky styley on "Even You Brutus?," even though pianos fill out the space. His concise, post-Californication riffs fuel "Ethiopia," but Kiedis still drives. He dances around a thick, soulful, rhythm/lead hybrid on "Meet Me at the Corner," but it's mostly just to complement Flea's poignant double-octave fretting. Throughout, Klinghoffer never takes over like Dave Navarro did with One Hot Minute, but he's not knocking down any doors, either. (8:15pm, Bud Light stage)