Without their trademark gags--like wearing light-bulb suits or strategically placed socks--The Red Hot Chili Peppers [ tickets ] let the music speak for itself on Thursday (9/18) at the Detroit area's Palace of Auburn Hills.

And the music, with a set list heavy on songs from the recent albums "By the Way" and "Californication," spoke volumes.

The two-hour show kicked off with a musical jam between bassist Flea and guitarist John Frusciante that led into "By the Way." Singer Anthony Kiedis sped through the vocals like a machine gun, giving fans an album-worthy version of the song.

The opening one-two punch of "By the Way" and "Scar Tissue" ignited the crowd, which filled three-quarters of the arena. Kiedis' slow rap was met by Frusciante's willowy guitar, which he played on his knees at the base of the stage. "Throw Away Your Television" was greeted by psychedelic images on four vertical video screens fashioned to look like windows covered by blinds.

Fans didn't need prompting to sing along with Kiedis during "Blood Sugar Sex Magik's" "Suck My Kiss" and "Give It Away." Later, the mop-topped singer dedicated "Right on Time" to the "Detroit City Ballet," allowing Flea and Frusciante time to insert a few measures of the Clash's "London Calling" to the intro.

"Can't Stop" oozed the sexuality for which the Chili Peppers are known. Frusciante, on his knees, played a guitar solo slowly and quietly, just about to build into a frenzy, before dropping the beat again. He did this repeatedly before the Chili Peppers broke back into the song.

Kiedis sang with his body turned to the right, facing bassist Flea for most of the show. He occasionally turned to the crowd, but spent the majority of his time maniacally dancing across the stage as the overhead lights did the same.

Frusciante's wailing, deft guitar playing provided some drama that was missing from the Chili Peppers' music when Dave Navarro was in the band. While Navarro is a strong player in his own right, Frusciante seems better suited for this band.

Frusciante, drummer Chad Smith and Flea imbibed in the rock standby of playing solos. (Flea's ended with him shaking his arms like a boxer who had just finished a bout.) The best received was that by Smith, a native of nearby Bloomfield Hills, MI. He ended his round with Frusciante singing a guitar-drums rendition of "Detroit Rock City."

Thus kicked off the encore that included "Under the Bridge" and closed with a frenetic cover of Iggy Pop & The Stooges' "Search and Destroy."

Led by former Michiganders Kiedis and Smith, the Chili Peppers didn't ignore their past.

"We got a lot of history with you and your town," Kiedis told the crowd early on.

Later, the western Michigan native poked fun of his heritage. "We're Michiganians [sic]. We come from the land of the mitten."

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