11/12/11: Pantages Theater, Hollywood, CA

[mykrlz182]

Hey guys I just wanted to know if anyone wanted two tickets to the Pantages show, I w! ill not be able to attend....The tickets are for MEZZLC Row M seats 301 and 302. Just make me an offer, I figured I'd come on her and offer it to some real fans. Thanks guys!

[TMBJon]

See you tonight.

[Cheerios Applejacks Cheerios]

It was awesome.

[Orthography Enthusiast]

Awesome indeed. I was up in the mezzanine for this one, got a great look at the beautiful gilt Art Deco plasterwork. Stunningly lovely theater. The sound up there was totally clear and strong, Al's vocals were crisp. He seemed to put more grit and growl into a few songs, and at first I wondered if his voice was going out, but the higher & more lyrical bits sounded fine, so I think he was just maybe pushing it a little, cutting loose & being a little more risk-taking because he doesn't have to worry about singing again for a while.

Because I was up there, and in the middle, I got to appreciate the whole stagecraft of it in a way you can't when you're up closer, noticing ways that the lighting, for example, was supporting the lyrics. "Papparazzi poppin' out of nowhere" and you get the flashing white lights. And I really got the full effect of the peacock suit in all its ridiculousness during Born This Way. Is it too much to hope that somebody in an audience somewhere will call out a request for "Freebird" when he's wearing that suit?

Tonight I was sitting near a couple in their 70's. They had a great time. He said, "He's really good!" She said, "He's a genius!" It really is an all-ages show.

We have finally come full-circle, and ended back with the snotty barista from the Coffee Bean on San Vicente Boulevard.

I don't think I mentioned it, but there were no troopers last night in Anaheim. Tonight, though there was a nice assortment, including R2D2 and a Tusken Raider. First time we've seen one of those.

Al asked the transvestites to sing during Yoda, and judging by the response, a goodly number of them must have been present.

A bunch of us met up for dinner before the show at The Waffle (much thanks to UHJeff for the suggestion), and after the show we managed to find each other again and kind of mosey around to the side, where the backstage gate was. We (all pretty much veteran tour-chasers except for one) weren't expecting to get to do more than wave at people as they left, considering it was the last show and all, but there were also some relative newbies with much higher hopes, and I think we were all hoping they wouldn't be too disappointed if all we wound up doing was sidewalk-superintending the load-out. But Steve came out and mingled, signed, posed, chatted and was generally his gracious and gregarious self... and then finally Al came out, to my great surprise. By that time the crowd had thinned out a bit, it wasn't too huge a group... but it was a very happy group. And I was one of those happy people. I didn't ask for an autograph or a photo, but I got what I really wanted: the chance to thank Al in person for the tour. I get so much happiness & enjoyment from these shows, it means a lot when I can actually say so to Al himself.

[fred27]

i didnt have a actual seat so i wandered, i was in back til 1st video, then ran upstairs for a few songs, i was asked if i was videoing i said no she left, i saw a few empty isle seats so i sat there for a few songs, Al went the row behind me for lovr, then i went back upstairs, got a really good one of Jon when i do continus shooting, that makes me go from 248 fri night to 500+ sat, usually Jon puts the pix on his laptop but didnt bring it so he took my memory card home since i already put them on mine, so glad im digital

[TMBJon]

Having attended only the first and last shows of this tour, it was remarkable to see how it has grown. I agree with Helen that Al seemed to be going all out since it was the last show. Really phenomenal performances from all of the band members as well. It was cool now that I've become familiar with the setlist I was able to look around at the entire stage during the show and really take it in. I found myself watching Jim and Rubén the most. Polka Face used the real music videos sped up, rather than the new video. You Make Me has really evolved since I first saw Al play it last summer. Smells Like Nirvana: I have no idea if there was anyone else on stage besides the cheerleaders. At one point someone in a Kurt Cobain costume, I assume it was Al but I can't be sure, got in the way of my view. These were definitely the hottest cheerleaders I've seen. I wish they had stayed on stage to cheer for the rest of the show. It was fun watching the medley this time now that I knew what was coming. Wanna B Ur Lovr seemed especially lapdancey at this show. A lot of crotch in face, which I guess may have been enjoyable to some. We were sitting on the wrong side of the theater, unfortunately. The intro to Spam felt especially poignant since REM's breakup. I think it's time for Ode to a Superhero and eBay to be retired. I'd rather see Confessions or even Couch Potato than either of those two. During The Saga Begins, there were three Stormtroopers, R2D2, plus several other characters I don't know enough about Star Wars to identify. One was a black Stormtrooper looking thing, one was a white Stormtrooper with a different shaped helmet, and the others that were mentioned above. The Yoda Chant was a highlight tonight, especially well performed and choreographed. During the 5 second break before they jumped back into Yoda, the couple behind me said "What... was that?" "No idea."

After the show, we without passes were led out of the building. We found the stage door and waited for about an hour and twenty minutes while the crew loaded out. Eventually Bermuda came out and quickly said hi before taking off. A bit later, Steve and Miles Jay exited. Steve came through the crowd and posed for pictures and chatted with people. Rubén came out to take his equipment home but didn't stop by the crowd. Eventually the tour manager had us all line up for a quick meet and greet. I found myself third in line with Kristine and when I got to see Al, I was so glad to see him I kind of pulled a Rick Perry and didn't have anything too clever lined up to say to him. I wish I had the chance to tell him how much I enjoyed the Blu Ray and ask about the editing process, but instead I asked him a typical "so what's next" question. He said he was reading When I Grow Up today at Nina's school's book fair. He signed my ticket stub too, and I got a picture which Kristine has, so hopefully I will be able to post that soon.

Oh yeah, and right before the show started I met up with our good friend Jeremy, AKA Alinite27!

The woman we asked to take the picture put her finger in front of the lens, but I didn't feel like doing a reshoot.




Great night! Thank you, Al, band, and crew, for an amazing show! Already looking forward to show number ten next year some time.

[Yankomaniac]

Nice!

[Orthography Enthusiast]

I have to disagree about eBay & Ode TASH. eBay sold quite well as a single download, I believe-- it's a popular song-- and both of them are a nice ballad-y respite for people who don't care for harder rock or rap/hip hop. I think it's a good thing for Al to keep a full range of "genders" of music in the show, considering how diverse the audience is.

[Yankomaniac]

"Genre's"

[NH Weird Al Fan]

I think it's a good thing for Al to keep a full range of "genders" of music in the show, considering how diverse the audience is.

"Genre's"

I believe the misuse of "genders" was an intentional reference to Al's mock interview with Eminem.

As long as we're correcting things, however, I think you meant to say genres.