Return to the Hollywood Bowl: Cynthia Erivo in Concert

Emmy nominee Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”) wowed the audience on Friday as she took to the stage for the first time ever at the Hollywood Bowl. Maria and I attended via Nat Geo, which is hoping to spread the word about Erivo as Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin in the limited series.

My colleague Jazz Tangcay was there as well, and filed this report:

Titled “Legendary Voices,” the night included covers of Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Nina Simone and Roberta Flack, as well as selections from Erivo’s upcoming debut release, “Ch.1 Vs.1.”

Erivo took to the stage shortly after 8 p.m. in a breathtaking white gown with puff sleeves that looked liked roses. It was the talk of the night — after her dazzling performance, of course.

What better way to kick off a Hollywood Bowl debut than with a dynamic rendition of Barbara Streisand’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” backed by the orchestra giving the song a full philharmonic treatment? It was the only Broadway number Erivo would sing.

The empowering night of jazz, soul, classics and a sprinkle of Broadway ended on a fabulous high note – Aretha Franklin.

Erivo starred in National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha,” which scored her first Emmy nomination for lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie. There were voting members in the audience, and Erivo may have just secured a few votes after her remarkable setlist, whether they’ve seen the series or not. Her belting ability was on full display.

She sent the crowd home on a high note with a successful adaptation of Franklin’s “Freeway of Love.” The audience didn’t want to leave, but with the Bowl’s strict curfew of 11 p.m. not too far off, they had no choice. She offered an encore and a cartwheel to end the night.

Read Jazz’s full report here.

Just Can't Get Enough: A Scoop of Depeche Mode at the Hollywood Bowl

There's perhaps no bigger Depeche Mode fanbase than right here in Southern California, where the band could have probably kept selling out even more shows at the Hollywood Bowl. We were there on Wednesday, Oct. 18 for the final night of four concerts, and the place was electric. Dave Gahan (looking a bit like Bill Murray circa "Rushmore") strutted and swaggered as DM played some of its crowd favorites.

It was a 1990s-heavy night, with the majority of the songs performed from Depeche Mode's three 90s albums, "Violator," "Songs of Faith and Devotion" and "Ultra." The current tour is promoting the release of their latest release, "Spirit," but only three songs were performed from that album.

Here's the setlist from the night:
Going Backwards
It's No Good
Barrel of a Gun
A Pain That I'm Used To
Useless
In Your Room
World in My Eyes
Cover Me
Sister of Night
Home
Precious
Where's the Revolution
Wrong
Everything Counts
Stripped
Enjoy the Silence
Never Let Me Down Again
[Encores:]
But Not Tonight
Walking in My Shoes
Policy of Truth
I Feel You
Personal Jesus

More pics below!

A Retro Night with Duran Duran and Chic at the Hollywood Bowl

Nostalgia ruled Thursday night at the Hollywood Bowl, as children of the 1980s crowded into the ampitheater in order to hear classic tunes from both iconic groups. It was the first Hollywood Bowl concert for Duran Duran, which still features original members singer Simon Le Bon, bassist John Taylor, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, and drummer Roger Taylor.



Solid-out crowd at the Bowl.



It's a little bit disconcerting to realize that yes, you're now attending concerts sponsored by an oldies station. And that "oldies" means 1980s music. And that 1980s music is 30 years ago. Just as in the 1980s, music from the 1950s was from 30 years ago. Sigh.



Chic feat. Nile Rodgers setlist:
Dance, Dance, Dance
Everybody Dance
I Want Your Love
I'm Coming Out / Upside Down / He's The Greatest Dancer / We Are Family
Get Lucky
Let's Dance
Le Freak
Good Times



It's truly impressive the number of hits that Nile Rodgers has been involved with through the decades. "He is RICH," Maria proclaimed.



Chic's set ended with a dance party on stage, as several people -- including Craig Robinson -- were brought out to groove behind the group during "Good Times." (Nile also did a solid first verse of "Rapper's Delight," which, of course, used "Good Times" as a back beat.)



Duran Duran setlist:
Paper Gods
Hungry Like the Wolf
A View to a Kill
The Reflex
Come Undone
Last Night in the City
What Are the Chances?
Notorious
Pressure Off
Planet Earth
Ordinary World
White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)
(Reach Up for the) Sunrise
Danceophobia
Too Much Information
Girls on Film
Encore: Rio



Simon Le Bon turns 57 later this month, and still had ladies swooning in the audience.



Some interesting choices for their Hollywood Bowl set, including their 1995 cover of Grandmaster Melle Mel's "White Lines."

The show ended with "Rio"; unfortunately, things had to end there, as the Hollywood Bowl has a strict 11 p.m. curfew. Which meant planned performances of "Save a Prayer" and "Wild Boys," reportedly planned to be a part of the encore, had to be scrapped.

Highlights from "The Simpsons" at the Hollywood Bowl

I've attended many events at the Hollywood Bowl over the years, but none have been more consistently entertaining, or have meant more to me personally, than "The Simpsons Take the Bowl." Maria and I attended the event on Sunday -- the last of three consecutive nights of shows -- and had a blast. In honor of the show's 25th anniversary (it's actually heading into its 26th season this fall), the Bowl show was a fantastic celebration of all things "Simpsons," geared especially to the show's early, groundbreaking years. Hank Azaria (Moe, Prof. Frink, Apu) hosted the evening, which also included guest spots from Conan O'Brien, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Beverly D'Angelo, Jon Lovitz, the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, and others. Fellow voice stars Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith also participated, while creator Matt Groening kicked things off. Several animated moments were also especially created for the show, which ended with a fireworks display. Some highlights:





The Simpsons try to find their seat at the Hollywood Bowl


By the power of Homer Simpson, the Hollywood sign is reimagined as his signature "D'oh" grunt.



Hollywood Bowl Orchestra principal conductor Thomas Wilkins takes to the stage, wearing a Homer helmet.


Matt Groening -- dubbed "the world's richest underground cartoonist" by evening host Hank Azaria, opens the show. He kicks things off by reading a few network notes from long ago, when the show first started. (In one, an exec suggests that Homer shouldn't say "Help me, Jeebus," but instead, "Help me, Jesus.")




Host Hank Azaria won the crowd over by voicing some of his classic characters, including Chief Wiggum. He also performed the song and dance number "Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart" as Apu. (His favorite voice, however, is Prof. Frink.)



Voice of Lisa, Yeardley Smith, was there, and also introduced Kipp Lennon -- the voiceover artist who mimicked Michael Jackson's singing voice in "Stark Raving Dad." Jackson voiced the character, but Lennon sang "Happy Birthday Lisa," which he did on stage on Sunday night.


"Weird Al" Yankovic ("He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life") performs the new parody "Homer and Marge," to "Jack and Diane," as well as "The Simpsons" theme on accordion.


Nancy Cartwright's Bart engages Hank Azaria's Moe in a signature "Simpsons" phone bit.


Conan O'Brien pays tribute to Phil Hartman and performs "Monorail," from the classic episode he wrote.



Composer Hans Zimmer leads the orchestra as the perform the score to the Oscar-winning short "The Longest Daycare." Later, he also conducted the orchestra and the LA Gay Men's Choir in the "Stonecutters Song."


Beverly D'Angelo, as country singer Lurleen Lumpkin, sings "Bagged Me A Homer."


Jon Lovitz performs "Chimpan A to Chimpan Z"


A tribute of all the Fox entertainment presidents who have held the job during "The Simpsons" run, predicts that Gary Newman and Dana Walden will keep the job through 2021.






Fireworks!



For the big finish, Nancy Cartwright (voice of Bart) leads us in a rendition of "Do The Bartman."

Earlier in the evening, outside the Bowl:


Marge!


Fan with Lisa and Bart


The three-eyed radioactive fish!


"Why are you stack parking yourself? Why are you stack parking yourself?"


Kent Brockman with some disturbing news.

"The Simpsons" returns on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 8/7c on Fox with "Clown in the Dumps," in which a Springfield resident dies.