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July 11, 2007
Retrohump Day - Hollywood Bowl turns 85
Exactly 85 years ago today the Hollywood Bowl opened its doors to the people settled in the idyllic Southern regions of California. Today, the unnerving city of Los Angeles dominates the region and the Hollywood Bowl remains on the VIP A-list of outdoor American venues in a city where influence and power is determined by hierarchal letter grade listings. Happy Birthday Hollywood Bowl, may our paths cross again soon.
From the Hollywood Bowl website:
In July 11, 1922, with the audience seated on simple wooden benches placed on the natural hillsides of Bolton Canyon, conductor Alfred Hertz and the Los Angeles Philharmonic inaugurated the first season of music under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl. While much has changed in the ensuing years, the tradition of presenting the world's greatest musicians and striving for musical excellence has remained a constant goal of this famed Los Angeles cultural landmark. One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a current seating capacity of just under 18,000, the Hollywood Bowl has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922, and, in 1991 gave its name to a resident ensemble that has filled a special niche in the musical life of Southern California, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In spite of wars, depression on a national scale, financial stress, and internal dissension, the Bowl's summer music festivals have gone on, becoming as much a part of a Southern California summer as beaches and barbecues, the Dodgers and Disneyland. Thanks to the area's magnificent climate, only a handful of concerts during the Bowl's history have had to be postponed due to rain. The Bowl grounds themselves -- one of Los Angeles County's most renowned parks -- are open year-round for visitors to enjoy free of charge. (link)
After the jump: A list of notable upcoming events at the Bowl, but first a smattering of selections from the disappointingly slim YouTube archives.
Pink Floyd - "Careful with That Axe Eugene"
The original goal of our classic video feature, serving craphouse quality programming for the long running Retrohump marches on. Unwavering commitments that will hopefully continue providing the nauseating abuse of camera zoom and complete disregard for image stability. Excellent prerequisites for a camera operator to shoot a challenging nighttime fireworks display. On the flipside you might be into it if you just clambaked your buddies beater in the driveway. Remember to hurry back to this anniversary YouTube culling and do not attempt to drive impaired. Seriously.
Doors - "Five to One" & "Back Door Man"
Am I alone in thinking Val Kilmer reminds me more of Jim Morrison than Jim Morrison himself? Must be one of those generational things. Regardless, he did a pretty good job in that movie. Wherever your feelings with Morrison lie, while he was alive the world was undoubtedly for him and his awful poetry. Everyone else just lived in it. Had its perks for sure, but the downside – stiffly underground by age 27.
Elton John - "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
Having long been overtaken by the caricature of his own former self it is easy to forget what a dynamic performer Elton John was in the pop music sphere. Here he hams it up during the final climax of “Saturday…” atop a pink piano (of course) while comparing his performance style to the coital act of “saving the best for the end.” When asked where he would be in twenty-five years the answer turns out partly true.
Beatles - "You Can't Do that"
Here is a video with great shots of the Fab Four gracing the Bowl’s luscious cream colored innards. Considering the omnipresent high decibel screaming that accompanies all live Beatles recordings, the sound quality is surprisingly good here. Crowd noise smartly toned low to a just barely listenable level in the mix. Beatles performances like this one are so much a part of the collective consciousness that each is practically indistinguishable from the next, like they all form part of one long show of changing backdrops (Ed Sullivan, Shea Stadium, etc.) I always wonder how the kids in the audience turned out. Are these your parents? If so, awesome.
-- -- --
Notable Hollywood Bowl shows this summer
07.11 - Queen Latifah
07.15 - Cafe Tacuba w/ Groove Armada
07.23 - Rush
07.27 - 07.28 - Gladys Knight w/Los Angeles Philharmonic
08.10 - 08.11 - Sgt Pepper's at 40... w/ Cheap Trick, Aimee Mann, Joan Osborne, Ian Bail, Rob Laufer
08.26 - Macy Gray w/ Brazilian Girls
09.7 - 09.8 - Hall & Oates w/ The Spinners
09.9 - Underworld w/ Paul Oakenfold
09.20 - Arcade FIre w/ LCD Soundsystem
09.23 - Rufus Wainwright Plays Judy Garland
09.27 - Pet Shop Boys
09.29 - Bright Eyes with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
10.12 - 10.13 - Genesis
10.14 - The Cure
Posted by Merry Swankster at July 11, 2007 12:56 PM
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Comments
If you're excited about seeing Joan Osborne sing Sgt. Pepper, no venue in the world can help you
Posted by: Jeff K at July 11, 2007 01:21 PM
H&O with the Spinners? Can somebody convince them to exclusively play "Rich Girl" and "Rubberband Man"?
Posted by: Randall Monty at July 11, 2007 01:26 PM
Good point, Jeff. but Joan Osborne sings "Mr. Kite." The dude from Spin Doctors sings "Sgt. Pepper"
Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 02:00 PM
I hadn't checked the tracklist for that monstrosity, and was just talking in general terms, but your fact checking certainly cemented my point
Posted by: Jeff K at July 11, 2007 02:17 PM
I thought for sure you guys would pick on Geddy Lee before the Sgt. Peppers tribute show. Which is two nights, mind you.
Posted by: Sebastian at July 11, 2007 02:50 PM
