Beastie Boys at The Wiltern

The show at The Wiltern is going down in my book of favorite Beastie Boys shows. The very cool venue and audience contributed to making the show very special to me. Nothing beats attending a show with people who have the same appreciation for the music and band as I do. The pit at The Wiltern was full of people who came to enjoy some good music, not get drunk and scream for songs that didn't have a chance of being performed.

My friend Paul and I arrived at the venue around 3 p.m. to find only a few people in the general admission line. We joined the line and chatted with other fans over the next few hours. The good humor shared in the line was a positive sign for the show. We met a guy named Josh, whom I would describe as my male counterpart in the fan community. He has traveled the world to see the Beastie Boys perform for many years. We entertained each other with stories of seeing the band in distant locations. It was strange to learn how many of the same shows we have attended (and stood near one another!) but had never met. Josh was a crazy Beastie mofo, and we were happy to welcome him into our posse, which, as the evening progressed, included Jennygirl and YoungRemy from the BBMB.

A funny moment in our wait happened when we noticed Adam Horovitz and Adam Yauch drive by the general admission line in front of The Wiltern. Horovitz was driving a Lexus SUV, with Yauch riding shotgun. We could see that Yauch was saying, "Yo, turn here!" to his friend, who was concentrating on the traffic. We don't think they even saw the line of fans standing under the marquee with their band's name on it.

Closer to doors opening, we learned that the show would be filmed -- or, at least, that's what the sign stated outside the venue. We didn't notice any cameras inside the venue, but only one outside the venue. Someone in a suit filmed some of the exterior of the venue and the general admission line with a Super 8 camera. We're not sure if it was someone "official" or just a fan screwing around.

My friends and I have no quality photos from the show because cameras were not allowed in the venue. It's unlikely that anything but cameraphone pics will surface out of this show, which is unfortunate. The show was very much worth capturing in image.

When the band took the stage, they seemed rather somber -- like they had just left a funeral. Their mood and humor changed a few songs into the set. Throughout the night, they gave multiple shout-outs to their L.A. friends, in particular Max Perlich. [Watch Max play b-ball with the band in a clip from "Rappin with the Rickster."]

Of special interest was the premiere of Mike Diamond's new hairdo. His curls had been flattened and combed over by his "hair dressing team," to whom he gave a special shout-out. Yauch later joked that Mike should take the wig off, to which he replied, "I can't do that, my friend."

Although there was little banter compared to other Gala Events, what the band did say was of more interest and/or funnier than usual. They commented on how pleased they were that people dressed to impress for the show. Mike asked the audience, "How many people got that hair did for the show?"

Diamond and Horovitz reprised their "bong-bong, bing-bing" routine (also heard in Gdynia, Poland) before breaking into "Heart Attack Man."

Yauch's bass was crazy-wild loud at the show. During "Off the Grid," my friends and I had to grab the rail not to be blown away by the boom. It was cartoonish funny how loud the bass was!

I'll have to check my records at Beastiemania.com, but I believe the show at The Wiltern may have had the most The Mix-Up songs performed ever -- six of twelve.

Good people, good music, good times...

Opener: Peanut Butter Wolf [video 1 // video 2]

Setlist
Son of Neckbone [video]
Suco de Tangerina
Live at PJ's
14th St. Break [video]
Futterman's Rule
Remote Control [video]
Time for Living
Pow
Lighten Up
Root Down & Get It
Electric Worm
In 3's
Egg Raid on Mojo
The Gala Event
Jimmy James
B for My Name
Song for the Man
Mark on the Bus
Shambala
Sabrosa
Tough Guy
Off the Grid
Ricky's Theme
Do It
Heart Attack Man
Gratitude
So What'cha Want [video]
Sure Shot
3 MCs and 1 DJ
Sabotage [video]

Watch a video montage of Suco de Tangerina, Live at PJ's, Remote Control, Song for the Man, 3 MCs and 1 DJ, and Sabotage here.



Photos





Audio

Audience recording of the show (via zshare.net)