In the time that I was in LA in the late nineties, we never really went out so to go to the Roxy was a big deal for me. Even a bigger deal with F and to see Big Audio Dynamite - pre Coachella. I was really really excited.
We walked in after a very nice wait in the queue. There were two guys behind us who were a little annoyed the show started at 11 and they were already tired, so they sold their tickets to a guy behind them who was waiting in line to see if he could get tickets from someone. What was really actually most impressive... they sold them for face value. That was so nice to see and be witness to I have to say.
We walked in and went to this elevated area to the side... just walked up, no biggie. We were standing there talking to this guy whose friend got him a ticket, he is a skateboard pro with a skateboard line, I can honestly say I have no clue who he was and it was embarrassing because I know nothing about the skate culture at all... but they were super cool. Quite a few actor and musician sightings at this point. This was a big deal of a show, it was turning out. Got some Italian beer that I had never heard of... I mean only in LA do they have Italian beer on tap right? Very amusing to me. It tasted like PBR. Could have been for all I know.
I go to the bathroom and wouldn't you know... we are in the VIP section. So the bouncer guy is really nice, I mean seriously he was really nice. We weren't trying to crash VIP at all, it isn't our style and I honestly think he understood that. I tried to find the waitress to tell her we needed to move so I would close out my tab. She was super busy. So we waited, another waitress came up and was kinda less diplomatic until I said that I honestly just was looking for a good vantage point to see since I am not exactly tall and made an honest mistake, threw in we hadn't ever been in The Roxy, were from out of town, and totally was apologetic. She calmed down when she realized we weren't trying to do anything but see. The bouncer guy came over again and said we could wait until the begining of the show but we would have to move, which I totally "got" and said it's not a big deal at all and could he flag the waitress over to us since we didn't see her, he said she was really busy and he would, and then let us cruise to the front of the stage. He said if anyone hassles us over there to let him know. It actually was so very very nice.
The guy who was watching the stage entrance was intense but I smiled at him when we moved to the stage area and he gave me a knowing nod and could have been an ass to us, but was really great.
The only issue I had was I went to the bathroom again, one to get some fresh air (which was impossible... but I did see one really sad and drunk drunk drunk girl trying to put lipstick on... so I said can I help and put her lipstick on for her) and two to get out away from the lady in front of us and her fur coat (she has cats too, my eyes itched something fierce), the only way back for those without a wrist band, which was actually kind of a bullshit move for a bar that crowded) was through the crowd in the bar with three landing steps down. It was packed, the crowd was kind of dicky, and didn't want to let me through, so I had to be pushie to which one guy called me a whore... so I pushed him hard. I didn't care.... he was mean. I wanted to punch him but that wouldnt have solved anything. I got back to our spot and almost stepped on a very famous actor, whose bedraggled looks actually were kind of scarey... guess you don't have to give a hoot when you aren't working, but that is his "thing" I guess. Creepy I have to say. F had pointed him out to me earlier in the night too... so to be almost in his lap was odd, I think he was working his way back to VIP.
The show was really pretty great. There was this lady in a weird fur vest in front of me and some guy who had some weird glowie color app on his IPhone he kept waving in her face and in my way but the show? Amazing. Don Letts was amazing. I can not say this enough... he is so cool. He had on this very cool leopard print shirt on that I just wanted to ask him where he got it... Mick Jones... ? Well Mick Jones is the man so how could he do wrong? Ok so there was a monitor up front with lyrics... who fucking cares? Never once saw him look down... I can't remember squat from 20 years ago.... let him play.... the fur coat lady's IPhone friend made a snappy comment that it sucks getting old... yeah buddy... it does and you look stupid waving an IPhone with fractals around like you are tripping.... get over yourself.
They played all their big hits, the horses were on the track.... for sure.
I have two pictures.... took about 400 more but my camera was janked so you will just have to know...
that this was a once in a lifetime chance to them them play in this environment and I thank F for taking me.
It was a pretty amazing show and the only thing I wish they had played was frm BAD II and that being the Globe but understood that they were playing from BAD... all the samples were tight, all the musicianship was right on and couldn't have been anything but great to be honest.
Kudos to the Roxy... your staff... very very nice in light of LA being notorious for VIP and pretentious behaviour.... it was a great experience and you did good booking that show. Odd though their lighting is so mediocre. You would think in a town known for lights, camera and action, they would have something better set up than lighting cans with red, orange and blue gels.... but that's just me assuming....And in a non business related nod... the weird 80is mix before the show was like being in a time machine for sure.... ironic on a couple of levels for sure. See the other blog for that.
Thanks Mick, Don and company... seriously. You made me so happy, I danced and had a great time. I only wish we had a chance to say hello to Mick Jones again and chat with him like we did when he was in Denver, but again, we weren't VIP so that sadly wasn't able to happen. I would have liked to have told him how great it's been the last three years since we saw him last personally but it wasnt in the cards this time.
We went out front of the Club and talked with the guy who got the tickets that was behind us in line. He was super nice and told us about another show next week, but that obviously wasn't going to happen.
We walked over to the side of the club to see if maybe the band would come out and say hello, but after waiting a while it didn't appear they would and their transpo van came in so we moved on.
There are some great videos on the You Tube and some fun pictures out there that other people took so worth checking out if you have the time. Almost the entire show video wise is up too which is cool.
A great fun show, great to see from the nice vantage point we were moved to, maybe even better than VIP since that got super super crowded from what it looked like... I would have been even more over stimulated I think. So better we were where we were. Sad I only have a couple pictures and iphone videos, I certainly shot some great pictures I think... F did too.... we have our memories though.
An aside though... should by any weird freak chance... someone out there finds the disk or the camera or my purse in a dumpster somewhere... I will pay for the card... keep everything else... contact me and I will reward ya... I know not going to happen but it's worth a little try!
Thanks for the memories though Big Audio Dynamite... maybe we will see you back in Denver sometime!
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