Oh The Music Box at Henry Fonda Theater, my how you’ve changed. I used to look forward to shows at the Fonda but that time has passed. I had my first run in with the new Fonda last week when instead of an encore and an after party on the roof at the cut copy show I was escorted out by men with helmets and axes who didn’t have a fire to fight.
Full report and picture after the jump.
Last night I expected different and assumed they learned from their prior mistakes. I’m pretty sure they thought they did, when really they just ruined the night of many a paying customer. Upon entry to the Fonda at 9.45 I was denied entry to the main ballroom, being a regular ass concert goer this is where I wanted to be. The sweat and the bodies bouncing to the bass, I can’t remember the last time I decided to see a show from the balcony. When the VIP is up there, fuck it, I’m on the floor. But I got a text from friends who couldn’t get into the ballroom, said the balcony wasn’t half bad, I joined them and they weren’t half wrong.
Anyway, for as much of the show as I saw Simian Mobile Disco fucking killed it, I don’t know if I’m the first person to compare them to Daft Punk but I’m pretty sure I won’t be the last. From the light show to their massive rig the Jameses certainly have their shit together. They care about the music they play and they know how to create a concert, the only problem was I didn’t get to see all of it.
After the back to back amazing of It’s the Beat into I Believe, I went to meet up with friends on the friendly smoking patio. After a few minutes enjoying the fresh air where the show was being projected on a big screen I tried to get back to my seat on the balcony, I was told no the balcony is full, impossible I said, my friend is saving my seat, still I was turned away. Another attempt to get into the ballroom was just as futile as the last, no matter how many people come pouring out, nobody is being let in. So I can’t go back to the balcony and I can’t go in the ballroom? So with a ticket to this show you want me to watch on a screen from the smoking patio? You can’t tell me there’s not something wrong with that. I understand the Fonda oversold, something airlines do all the time, but they don’t expect their passengers to travel on the wings of the plane. I apologize that this post isn’t really about Simian Mobile Disco but thanks to the venue the show wasn’t really about them either. I’m sure the kids who came early had a great time and more power to you guys, but the marginalization of paying customers just won’t fly for long.
I’ve heard from some chosen few who actually made it into the ballroom it really wasn’t that packed and there was a good eight feet between the crowd and the steps. Heresay but whatever. We gave up and went outside with the flyer kids in the calm before their storm and dipped to Temporary Spaces. The after party that never really turned into a party, don’t really know how else to describe it. It felt like there were more cameras than people. Franki Chan tried but it just wasn’t ment to be. I had high hopes after the let down, tweet said SMD was on the way. I thought that meant a dj set but nah, just a little bit of hanging out. Half drunk and kind of confused I left wondering about the state of The Fonda and live electronic music in Los Angeles.
