Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Camden Roundhouse, 22 November 2006

Now in their 40s, the Chillis may have calmed down a little since their days of performing wearing nothing but socks to cover their dignity, but they certainly know how to churn out an impressive set list of greatest hits.

The Californian funk rock veterans strutted around stage with impressive vigour as striped mitten wearing singer Anthony Kiedis showed unrelenting charisma, robot dancing to opener Don’t Stop.

The band played a set of varied pace as Kiedis gave a strong vocal performance to anthemic slow numbers Scar Tissue and Californiation.

Their cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s For Emily (Wherever I May Find Her) was a dull choice of interlude but they were soon back on the case with more impressive guitar rhythms.

Semi-naked tattooed bassist Flea pogoed around and wild-eyed drummer Chad Smith played with vitality, as fans in the crowd rocked out for the set’s entirety.

But given the band’s impressive back catalogue, the set was too short at just over an hour and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one disappointed that they shunned their most famous song Under The Bridge .

Kiedis exited the stage prematurely leaving the band jamming before Flea shouted “Live long, live strong," leading the band off the stage.

The fact that the Chillis chose the Roundhouse to play their last European gig of the year, shows how the venue is rapidly recapturing its 70s kudos. But offering one type of beer on draft and charging £4.50 for a plastic cup of wine shows it sure ain’t the Summer of Love any more.