I’ve seen a lot of concerts lately and I’m developing an interesting opinion about the places that I’ve enjoyed and not enjoyed. Although to fairly make ANY serious judgments I’d have to see another concert at each venue. (oh darn!)
The Honda Center was wonderful. Of course, we saw Muse there and OMG.. that band is just amazing in concert. I’d seen them at Coachella (okay.. “seen” is the wrong word, we were so far back on a flat grass area all we could “see” was the light show!) but the music was wonderful and the show was impressive. So I knew MUSE would be wonderful and was just as pleased with The Honda Center. We had nosebleed seats.. I mean, SCARY nosebleed seats! I got a bit of vertigo just walking up to them. I thought, “Wow, this will be the first concert where EVERYONE stays in their seats just out of fear of tumbling!”
Oh I was sooo wrong! lol. Because once everyone was standing, it felt as safe as when you were seated. Brilliantly designed. We could see everything, even when all were standing, even though the band was tiny! And, of course, the big screens helped, the light show was real fun, and Muse was.. well MUSE!
Then I saw Vampire Weekend at the Hollywood Bowl. A lot less comfortable but we were closer to the band. BUT they were mostly lit up in blue light, the opening bands were horrid and played music that did NOT compliment Vamp Wknd and the big screens never managed a very good shot. Not to mention the fact the seats were benches. We knew this and brought a blanket for our ass or if it got cold.
Now the plus of Hollywood Bowl is you can bring in WHATEVER you want as long as it’s not a cooler that will block the aisle! Alcohol, food, it didn’t matter. You could bring in as much as you wanted, any size. THAT was nice. Although you had to trudge it in and out! So you don’t have to spend $10 on a beer, you can bring your own.
Last venue I recently went to was at The Wiltern. I saw Jimmy Eat World there. It’s a nice little place, kind of like a small club on steroids! Haha. It’s an old, large theater with amazing architecture, no seats so its scrunch as close as you can get to the front. There’s a reasonably priced small bar, nice bathrooms and a shitty sound system! Ha! Although that could have just been that night, but I noticed it through the opening band and through Jimmy Eat World. I also noticed a grip kept going up to this one speaker.. it must have blown or something, because the sound was a bit slurry (?) muffley (?). Which can suck for a band if you’ve got possible new fans in the audience!
I may have to give The Wiltern another try. I’ll skip The Hollywood Bowl. And I’ll definitely see anything at the Honda Center.
Although tip for the Honda Center. DO NOT park in their lot… getting out is insane! Go early, have dinner at Hooters and pay to park there for the concert. It’s one third the price, no hassle and an easy walk to the concert.
Too bad the girls at Hooters didn’t live up too well to the rep of the place. They should eat more of their fatty food! No matter how skimpy the outfit.. if you’re skin and bones you don’t look sexy, you just look like a child!