The Rolling Stones @ The Staples Center

I can’t believe I can check this band off my music bucketlist.   If you have the funds and the chance, go see The Rolling Stones. 
A few things that come to mind about last night:
Staples Center is a wicked (& expensive) venue for a concert
Mick Jagger had about 6 outfit changes
Mick Taylor showed up for a few songs
Median age was around 50.
Saw more half naked adults than any other concert I’ve been to
Older adults still smoke weed
Three song encore: You Can’t Always Get What You Want,
 Jumpin’ Jack Flash, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

Holy Ghost! & Classixx @ The Observatory

Classixx
Holy Ghost!

Last night I made the trek to The Observatory in Santa Ana to catch Classixx opening for Holy Ghost!.  It was the first time I had been to that venue, and it was slightly tricky to find because it was hidden among big businesses.  I suggest getting there early because free parking is very limited, and once it fills up, you have to pay $10 to park in another lot.  There were NO OBSERVATORY PARKING signs posted in nearby lots, so we opted to park across the street and save our $10. The venue itself was pretty nice.  When we walked in, it reminded me of a summer school camp lodge.  A smaller room with a bar was selling merchandise, and the main room is up a flight of stairs.  The actual layout of the performance room reminded me of a mini Wiltern.  Circular in nature, with separate and distinct levels of stadium standing room. Grab a spot on the level right above the floor, closer to the sides.  You end up being pretty close to the stage with an awesome, unobstructed view.

Classixx has come a long way from djing LMU graduation house parties.  They played live last night, and unsurprisingly they played a lot of new songs from their album Hanging Gardens: All You’re Waiting For, Holding On, I’ll Get You, Jozi’s Fire, Borderline.  If people weren’t dancing before, they were dancing by the third song when Classixx dropped their remix of Phoenix’s Lizstomania.  I really really enjoyed their set (and also the Laker’s tee), and look forward to seeing them again on Tuesday at the Avalon.

Classixx was a great opener because they really got the crowd moving and Holy Ghost! kept the momentum going.  I have seen Holy Ghost! a few times, but the only time that comes to mind is when I saw them at Identity Fest in San Diego.  Their setup has improved drastically if my memory serves me right.  They had two sets of drums, a piano, a few synths (a setup that reminded me of Simian Mobile Disco), guitars and bass.  It was interesting because Holy Ghost! is a duo, yet there were 5 members on stage. Although they are not a band that I normally go out of my way to see, they immediately won points because they mentioned that everybody in the audience was missing Game of Thrones to see them that night and seemed genuinely thankful.  Their set was really fun and they had great crowd interaction, and I would definitely see them again once their new album comes out.

Fred Falke @ Lure

Although I dislike Lure as a concert venue because of the poor layout, their summer lineup gets all my love.  Lots of disco dancing on Friday nights.  Fred Falke holds a special spot on my list of favorite artists and I’d be damned if I missed him last night.  Similar to his performances at Pacific Festival & at Avalon in 2011, Fred Falke opened his set with 8:08pm at the Beach while getting funky on bass.  He picked up the bass again for a live version of Golden Cage (my favorite remix of ALL TIME).  If you missed him last night, you’re in luck because he’s playing again later this month at The Observatory, where he plays alongside Bag Raiders (DJ set).   I am severely tempted to see him again.