Anthony Kiedis: The Pursuit of Happiness

Luckily, there are other artists, other bands. And in fact, one of Kiedis’s new faves happens to have a gig the very next day. It’s an up-and-coming local act called the Jack Bambis. At Kiedis’s urging, Blender agrees to catch their show.

The gig is on a beautiful, clear-skied Sunday at a farmer’s market, held in a Los Feliz parking lot. Food stands sell gourmet tamales. Near the entrance, amps, monitors and a carpet-bound drum set have been hastily arranged. And as two pint-size, shaggy-haired, Kurt Cobain–looking kids pick up guitar and bass, it’s clear the Jack Bambis have a good four decades before they’re eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Guitarist Indio (son of Robert Downey Jr.), bassist Jasper and lead singer Lia are all 13. Drummer Cash, a sprout in a backward navy baseball hat, is 9, son of a longtime Kiedis friend. As the quartet bashes out a raw but intimidatingly accomplished swamp-metal boogie, the ambience is something between a Minutemen show and a PTA meeting, with grizzled rock vets and Beverly Hills soccer moms cheering on the kids.

Standing to the side, arm in arm with Heather, Kiedis looks down next to him to see a tyke of 3 in a tiny hoodie that says NORTH SHORE SURF. Exposed to the raucous bashing, the kid is simply losing it: bouncing uncontrollably, stomping either foot, flailing his stubby arms, banging his downy head. He looks happily possessed.

Kiedis leans over and starts an impromptu pas de deux: squaring off with the tot, throwing his arms out like a boxer, aiding and abetting the wee toddler rock.

“This little guy here is their biggest fan,” the boy’s mom yells over the din. The little guy looks up at Kiedis and beams. Kiedis, deadpan behind his shades, continues his loose-limbed boogie — then rises to get back to his girl.

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