A Brisbane band have undoubtedly just had the experience of a lifetime, teaming up with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith for a jam session overnight.
Ask any musician out there and they’ll likely tell you about their wild dreams of success. Maybe it’s the dream of a record label scout walking past the band rocking out in their garage, or maybe it’s getting their debut single to go straight to #1.
Others though might tell of their desire to rub shoulders with the greats, maybe meeting their idols, or – dare we say – rocking out with them. However, for one Brisbane band, that dream managed to become a reality last night.
With iconic funk-rockers the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the country for their first headline tour in 12 years, fans could be wondering where the band’s members might turn up during their nights off.
Having rocked out at the Hunter Valley on Saturday night, it appears that drummer Chad Smith was keen to take in some local flavour, hitting up Brisbane’s Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall to listen to some local music.
As it turns out, it looks as though Chad Smith’s new favourite band might just be the Golden Age Of Ballooning, joining the local rockers for an impromptu jam session after the show.
In an interview with the ABC, Guitarist Jack Bratt explained that Chad Smith watched the group’s whole set from a table near the stage.
“After the set I went over to say hello after, thanked him for coming to the show and how it’s an honour to meet him,” Bratt explained.
“One of the guys sitting with him said we should get Chad to jam with us … I thought, ‘that’s ridiculous, he’d never want to do that’ and Chad said ‘I’d love to, but I don’t want it to be too much trouble.”
“We just did the one jam, it was a bit of a blur but I say it was between five to 10 minutes,” Bratt continued. “It was an improvised jam.”
“You can’t even make it up. I literally have not dreamed of that scenario, and it happened. It’s just so out of this world.”
“I was probably a lot calmer than I should’ve been … it felt quite normal and comfortable to chat to him as an equal as opposed to a fan. He was super nice, humble, loves music and having a beer, and so do I.”
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are set to to continue their tour of Australia at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Monday night.
Having seen the band perform in Sydney last week, and checking them out again tonight, Jack Bratt revealed that Chad Smith also hooked him up with a door spot for Tuesday’s gig, too.
Who knows, maybe the next time the Red Hot Chili Peppers hit up Australia the Golden Age Of Ballooning might just score a support slot?
Check out Chad Smith jamming with Golden Age Of Ballooning:
Red Hot Chili Peppers Australian Tour 2019
With very special guests George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
Monday, February 25th
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, QLD
Tuesday, February 26th
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, QLD
Thursday, February 28th
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tuesday, March 5th
nib Stadium, Perth, WA
Tickets on sale through Live Nation
Also appearing at A Day On The Green and the Superloop Adelaide 500 After-Race Concert
Saturday, March 2nd
Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong, VIC
More info: A Day On The Green
Sunday, March 3rd
Superloop Adelaide 500, Adelaide, SA
Tickets: Live Nation
