Listen here: Event & Venue Review: Fatboy Slim Shrine Expo Hall Septemeber 2014
Wow. “Wow” is 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 starting to build 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 (not literal). We head over, get our passes, and we were on our way.
Everyone (who has attended any one-night-show or festival) knows the jitters and adrenaline that rushes through your body. Well imagine that time 1,000,000 because you are there, and you have a job to do, and you’re in the front, and everybody is looking at you, and the artists are five feet away from you, and on, and on, and on… (Eat, Sleep, Rave Repeat reference) *INSERT “I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE” MEME HERE*
We get there right when Oliver Heldens is coming on. The Shrine is starting to get packed. You could barely see the back of the room. Let’s just say, Oliver killed it. The crowd was up-beat and movin’ from the second he got on stage, to the second he stepped off. The guy in the front with the Gecko costume (SHOUTOUT) really added a whole new level to the Oliver Heldens experience.
Oliver’s done, and there is a short intermission.
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. They open up with *insert song title here*. 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, and DID I MENTION HOW FRIGGEN BEAUTIFUL THEY WERE?!? All in all, NERVO was breathtaking. I really enjoyed their set.
NERVO leaves the stage (taking my heart with them) and there is another short intermission.
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.
I don’t have much to say about The Shrine Expo Hall, but not in a bad way. It is a beautiful venue, simple as that. I was super open, and from what I could see, and 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 hesitance is needed, when purchasing your ticket for the next event they have.
Alright folks, it’s time for the goods. Bellow are some amazing photos that I got of the show. Hopefully you are able to have as much of a fun time checking them out, as I did shooting them. 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 what the almighty Fatboy Slim experience.
Until next time Fatboy, I will DEFINITELY see you there.
*Photo of the crowd and “closer” up of Oliver Heldens were shot by Griffen Dietrich*
*All photos were taken by Nick Ponticelli (NIXPIX) and Griffen Dietrich and all photos were edited by Nick Ponticelli (NIXPIX)*