TaiDyed: All You Need Is Now!

Duran Duran "Unstaged"
When: Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Venue: Mayan Theater, Los Angeles
Directed by: David Lynch
Accompanied by: The beautiful Kathryn Knox
Genre: New Wave/80s Deliciousness that stands the test of time

I need to set aside time after each show I go to so I can write about it when it's fresh in my mind. I told myself that I am not allowed to write about last Saturday's Record Store Day with Foo Fighters until I at least pay tribute to THIS amazing show that happened last month. Damn, where does the time go?

The day these tickets went on sale, I had a feeling that they would go fast. I had never been to the Mayan Theater, but with a capacity to hold a little over 1000 bodies, this would be the smallest venue I'd have the opportunity to see one of my favorite bands from the 80s. And for sure there were going to be 1000+ LA residents thinking the very same thing!! Within the first 30 seconds on getting online, I managed to secure two tickets and when I tried for more, was quickly denied.

So, here's the beautiful thing about this show...it was going to stream live which meant an early start time. How old am I when a gig starting at 7pm is a good thing? But being able to get my groove on for 2 hours AND still be home in bed before 11pm on a weeknight is something I could do on a regular basis. More bands should do this.... especially those bands that have members who are as old as me!!

The Mayan Theater was the perfect location for the Lynchesque atmosphere. Cameras were set up from all around the theater and stage. Those tuning in via the online streaming connection could choose what view they wanted to enjoy - from the stage or from within the audience. Complete with effects that combined all the goodness of what one would expect from David Lynch.

During the show, there was a screen in the background reflecting images from the Duran Duran Unstaged photo project - painted faces and hands of the most artistic kind. They had a professional body painter available in the lobby who would create colorful designs for those who wanted to feel like they were a part of the show. I opted for a lovely purple and green design on my hand. Free of charge...but tips appreciated.

Duran Duran sounded amazing. Simon's voice was everything I remembered it to be and while truthfully, I drifted off from Durannie fandom in the early 90s, the newer stuff sounded exactly as one would expect from this band. Deliciously pop and ready to make your hips wiggle.

The evening was fantastic. I couldn't have asked for a better date than my friend, Kathryn who was rocking for two that night. When we got home that night to review the repeated streaming video, it turns out one of the cameras was located in our corner of the floor - capturing us getting our groove on in between texting and facebooking. Hey, gotta be able to share the love as it happens, right?

To read a real "review" of the evening, check out this one via Hit Fix by Melinda Newman http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/the-beat-goes-on/posts/concert-review-what-do-you-get-when-you-cross-duran-duran-with-david-lynch