Wow.
The only word that I can really come up with right now to describe this show.
Me and my other photographer, Griffen arrive at the beautiful Shrine Expo Hall right smack dab in the middle of USC's campus. The line is building up, security is getting into position, and there we stand, totally clueless (being that this is our first time doing press for a show) shaking in our little raver boots with anticipation. Everyone who has attended any one-night-show or festival knows the jitters and adrenaline that rushes through your body at getting to see your favorite artists up close. Well imagine that multiplied by 1,000,000 because you are there, you have a Job to do, you're in the front on stage, and everybody is looking at you. Fatboy Slim is five feet away from you. Nervo is smiling directly at you.
Opening set from Oliver Heldens was epic. The Shrine was so packed that you could barely see the back of the room. Oliver killed it. The crowd was upbeat and movin' from the second he got on stage, to the second he stepped off. The guy in the front with the Gecko costume (seriously, shoutout to the Geico man) really added a whole new level to the Oliver Heldens experience. The lights are dim, and all that is seen on stage is the silhouette of Miriam Nervo's spastic hair, and Olivia Nervo's stylish, yet edgy, black hat. I was to busy drooling over these gorgeous producers to even catch what their first track was. If you haven't seen the NERVO sisters live, you have not lived, let me tell you. They were high energy the entire time, not one moment of rest. They were super interactive with the crowd, on the Microphone just enough. Fantastic energy and great music from these two ladies.
The lights are moving. The crowd's cheers are growing. “So there was this DJ who was like, kickin' off…” and Fatboy Slim appears form the darkness. He has decided to start his set off with Calvin Harris's widely popular remix of “Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat”. Right off the bat, the crowd is going crazy, and so is Fatboy. His quirky antics on stage, matched with his bitchin' Hawaiian shirt, connected him personally with every single person in that room. At one point, he even came down and sat on the edge of the stage, about five feet from the crowd, and about fifteen inches from my face, as he lip syncs along with the crowd. He's not the youngest guy out there, but this guy can bring it. Jumping, screaming, shaking, pelvic thrusting, (possibly even twerking) non-stop. There was not a dull moment in Fatboy Slim's performance. If he is ever coming through your area, please, do yourself a favor and gift yourself with the experience that is Fatboy Slim.
The Shrine Expo Hall is a beautiful venue, simple as that. It was super open, and from what I could see the vibe in the whole place was pleasant for the entire night. I've been to a lot of venues, from an abandoned bull fighting rink, to a practically torn down building, with no air conditioning. The Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles is venue where no hesitation is needed when purchasing your ticket for the next event they have. Hopefully you are able to have fun checking out our photos and video of the show, but it won't be nearly as awesome as the fun I had shooting these. Go ahead to click on any image that tickles your fancy, and feel free to save it and make it your desktop background, or to print it out and hang it above your bed, so that you can have sweet, sweet dreams about The Shrine Expo Hall and the almighty Fatboy Slim experience. Until next time Fatboy, I will definitely see you again.
Check out the upcoming events at Shrine Expo Hall:
Chromeo with Mapei & Wave Racer: 10/9/14
Beats Antique with Shpongle (Simon Posford DJ Set), Emancipator & Lafa Taylor: 11/8/14
The Sound of Q-dance LA 3: 11/15/14
Dillon Francis: 12/21/14
Flosstradamus and special guests Curtis Williams w/ Two-9: 12/29/14
*All photos were taken by Nick Ponticelli (NIXPIX) and Griffen Dietrich.*
