We're not particularly great Kylie fans although I don’t mind her music and my hubby quite likes her bum. The main reason for going was because we wanted to visit the Hollywood Bowl. There are regular classical concerts at the Bowl throughout the year but not being classical music buffs we thought we would wait for something a bit more contemporary to come along and Kylie fitted the bill.
Rather surprisingly for America, the Hollywood Bowl is one of the few places we’ve visited where you are advised not to take your car but use public transport. This worked out very well for us because there was a park and ride based within walking distance of our apartment in Pasadena. For once we could leave the car at home and set out on the bus.
Back in the UK Australian born Kylie is a household name having transformed herself from a gawky teenage soap star into a succesful singer. She has even been awarded an OBE for services to music. In America Kylie isn't quite so mainstream - here she's an absolute icon on the gay scene.
As we boarded our bus with two other Brits, a couple of Ozzies and twenty well groomed good looking guys in check shirts, my husband did feel slightly anxious that maybe he was just going to be a tad out of place. That was just a taster of what was to come.
The Hollywood Bowl is an amazing venue set in a natural bowl shaped dip in the Hollywood Hills. It can take a maximum capacity of nearly 17,000 and rather cleverly each section of seating is bordered by a neat line of shrubs. As each section of seats is sold out, the shrubs are pruned back but the empty sections are kept hidden behind the uncut tree-line . You can judge your popularity based on the amount of topiary you’ve been awarded! I'd say the Hollywood Bowl was about a half to two thirds trimmed for Kylie.
We settled into our surprisingly comfortable wooden seats with a view of that famous HOLLYWOOD sign in the distance and watched the sun set. This being America you are obviously expected to buy something to eat whilst you wait, and I was rather envious of those Kylie fans who had forked out their dollars for the stall-like boxes in front of the stage where you can sit up to table and indulge in a four course meal. Instead we chomped on a couple of burgers and indulged in a glass or two of wine which, although purchased inside the Bowl in a bottle, then had to be decanted in a large plastic cup before we could take it to our seats (at an extra cost of course). Still, it’s probably something we’re only going to do once.
The actual show was quite spectacular; lavishly produced, very theatrical and great fun. Kylie was on stage for nearly two hours and about eight extravagant costume changes. She sang most of her hits; had a good rapport with the crowd and was surrounded by a enough scantily clad muscular dancers to keep most of her audience happy.
It’s the first time I’ve ever been to a concert where there has been no wait for the ladies’ restroom which made a very pleasant change! Definitely a good time was had by all.
And of course, I can’t get that song out of my head either.
No comments:
Post a Comment