Los Angeles Gig Terminated By Police (8/8/09). [Archive]

In The Year Of The Snake

08-09-2009, 03:22 AM

http://www.hardfest.com/index.html

Well, if I would've simply wanted to wait around in line all day and then wait some more inside a huge building, I suppose I could have done that for free and not paid $80 for it. As it is, however, I *did* pay $80 to do just that, and very unfortunately our boys were pre-empted by the Inglewood Police Department.

Rick & Karl -- I realize we die-hard (and older) Dirts were only a very small fraction of the kids (literally) out at the L.A. Forum tonight, but we really, really missed you. Any chance you might take the handful of us out to lunch for some veggie burgers and tofu before you head back? Or, perhaps, persuade your next L.A. venue to honor the tickets we paid for with our blood, sweat & tears?

SappysCurry

08-09-2009, 04:06 AM

Quite possibly the most incredible clusterfuck I've ever witnessed. The crowd was an embarrassment and the informed rumor is that the promoters oversold the venue by 3,000 tickets.

One of the most poorly run and unprofessional events I think I've ever attended. An utter fucking disgrace. Gary Richards should be put out of business for this catastrophe.

In The Year Of The Snake

08-09-2009, 04:11 AM

lacer17

08-09-2009, 04:16 AM

Please at least play another LA gig so those of us that were there for you can see you before you leave America. Pls don't let us all of us suffer for those too stupid to listen to directions. Los Angeles loves Underworld and need you to reschedule! For some of us, you are the small amount of freedom we need to keep going! Pls consider adding another LA date. I will pay to have that time to dance, to be in the moment with you. Please!!!!:)

//\/\/

08-09-2009, 04:21 AM

(surprising silence on uwlive...)

Bargo

08-09-2009, 04:32 AM

(surprising silence on uwlive...)

Karl's been twittering about it a little @ http://twitter.com/underworldlive

TheBang

08-09-2009, 04:40 AM

Hard Fest? More like Suck Fest. (http://www.bluecomet.tv/?p=760)

LAPD Shuts Down Hard Summer 2009 (http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/news/lapd-and-swat-shut-down-hard-s/)

Hardfest LA + The Forum + Riot Police = FAIL (http://trentlapinski.com/?p=871)

(Photo/Video) Hard Summer Shut Down By LAPD (http://news.limauais.com/photovideo-hard-summer-shut-down-by-lapd/): Only Busy P and Crystal Castles got a chance to perform while the confused crowd waited for Chromeo to come on. The safety concerns started when impatient atendees were breaking into the entrance to get into the venue due to long waits by the security check and inside the Forum from people not wanting to wait to get in line to get into the floor and jumping over the seats down into the floor hurting themselves or others in the process.

The Fire Marshall got together with law enforcement backstage at the event and decided that the crowd would be to hard to control once the music started again. The Hard Festival organizers mentioned on Twitter that they will be making it up to Los Angeles and more info will come soon concerning any reschedule or refunds. The Scenestar will update you concerning news regarding Hard Summer 2009 or if Underworld reschedules as we get it

Dirty0900

08-09-2009, 04:41 AM

At least it wasn't as violent as the Athens gig. God knows how you can oversell a gig by bloody 3000 people.

TheBang

08-09-2009, 05:12 AM

(surprising silence on uwlive...)Karl's been twittering about it a little @ http://twitter.com/underworldlive
Diary is up on underworldlive.com now too.

irishboy

08-09-2009, 05:37 AM

what a shame for all you LA fans :( such a pity, but it really sounds like this one is down to poor organisation and nothing to do with the band whatsoever. I'm sure R&K will be itching to put things right at the earliest chance.

Dunwho

08-09-2009, 08:14 AM

Like i said in the moments thread, its a real pity and a let down for all you dirts who have been waiting for so long. Thank god nobody seems to have been seriously injured.

Maybe you'll be lucky enough to get a make up gig of some sort!

darktrain

08-09-2009, 10:38 AM

Or, perhaps, persuade your next L.A. venue to honor the tickets we paid for with our blood, sweat & tears?

And then THAT gig would be oversold, too!:p

I want the complete opposite: Do it NIN-style and ONLY sell tickets through underworldlive. Keeps the riff-raff out.

Rabbitwork

08-09-2009, 11:11 AM

Like I posted in the moments thread; this was just a travesty. I left (thankfully minutes before the police entered) feeling more sad than angry. I genuinely felt bad that UW didn't get to take the stage, and I felt bad about all the other musical acts that were left in the dust. The whole arena just had a very negative vibe going about it, and I'm just glad that so far there haven't been any reports of serious or fatal injuries. I just hope that the opportunity presents itself for the guys to come back to LA or somewhere in the southwestern US soon. Was all psyched up for my first UW show.

the mongoose

08-09-2009, 12:57 PM

The only thing that will make this right is for UW to immediately announce a completely free US tour with at least 4 dates in Atlanta.:D

In The Year Of The Snake

08-09-2009, 01:06 PM

To sum up some of the vibes of this thread, if this was to be your first UW gig, well that just sucks *mindblowingly*. But I do feel you, and I feel totally safe in saying that you will definitely get your chance again.

About doing another show in L.A. soon, just a guess, but I'm going to go with "not going to happen". As frustrated as I am, UW had absolutely nothing to do with what happened, as has *always* been the case. Rick & Karl are the furthest from irresponsible as you can almost get.

Though I wasn't there, I saw the SF gig via stream and it was bloody brilliant! I'd say that gig more than makes up for this travesty. Also, though I dearly, dearly want to see UW more than anything like, right now. To abandon selfishness is a good thing, so I think if anything (trying to be the shepherd, not the tyranny, here), the east coast deserves a shot before UW goes back. I'm in San Diego, and I no longer have any truly great friends on the east coast, but there's a lot of fellow Dirts over there just waiting to say "hullo" to UW for the first time.

In The Year Of The Snake

08-09-2009, 01:08 PM

Or Atlanta. ;)

I love that city sooo much. Only been there once, walked all through it's streets one lovely night, though. And the Masquerade is the best club in the universe.

MissBianca

08-09-2009, 01:11 PM

As I waited for an hour in line, I saw a mass amount of "kids" jump the chain linked fence, running towards the entrance doors. They looked like ants marching towards a picnic snack in a hot afternoon. The security closed the entrance. As my friend and I patiently waited for people to leave a small asian kid od's on acid next to us. We walk up to the security and explain "were too old for this" and wanted to only see Underworld. As they could clearly tell that we were not violent, they let us in without taking our ticket. Happily we awaited to see Underworld who rocked our minds back in 1996 at Organic in the LA mountains. As we walked into the Forum however, the dream became a nightmare of uncontrollable mayhem. Kids flopping over like fat over a tight belt, unorganized security with no authority or crowd control...yet we still didnt care. We want Skyskraper I Love You! We want Dirty Epic!

As we sat for those 2 hours, everyone under 30 seemed to wonder who this "underworld" was on the flyer...me and my bestfriend snickered and hoped that they could see for themselves. So we sat and waited and watched for 2 hours as the LA Marshalls and SWAT team in full gear closed down the event.

I feel bad for the lack of crowd control of this event and can only wish and hope that Underworld will hold a show for those of us "veterans" down for the Dirty before leaving L.A. (America) or come back. You can stay at my house and I'll cook you tofu burgers and take you to Dim Sum! CIAO!

In The Year Of The Snake

08-09-2009, 01:18 PM

MissBianca (http://www.darktrain.org/dirty/forums/member.php?u=10983) -- Another brilliant post. :)

crazysugarboy

08-09-2009, 01:23 PM

This sounds dreadfull! I just hope no one was hurt - unlike poor Rick at Athens

cured

08-09-2009, 01:23 PM

I wasn't the only one complaining before the fact about the HARD promoters or the people they attract but I didn't expect this to happen. I got there around 9:30 and was hanging outside with a buddy when we heard a girl start screaming "STOP THEM!" and watched as two guys, maybe 18 years old, running off with someone's purse. A minute later, this huge crowd of ~300 or so marched passed us in full-on angry mob mode.

I had a VIP ticket so I just walked into my area and discovered that a large group of people had over-run security at one of the areas and stampeded through the kitchen of the Forum Club, through the bar, and were trying to force their way into the arena. A bunch of security evidently put the hammer down and a bunch of people were either arrested or thrown out.

I didn't hear any music and around 11 the bartender told me the fire marshall told him not to serve any more alcohol or he'd be fired.

It isn't so much the Inglewood PD (a lot of LAPD were hired for this) but the fire marshalls who have more authority than President Obama who controlled this party. I'm not surprised in the least they shut this down but am surprised it took them that long. Kids these days, especially in the LA area, are an utter disgrace. Gary Richards, the promoter will hopefully be bankrupt.

Rick and Karl, don't play any more massives out here!

I feel bad for people who came all the way to LA to have this happen to them. It was a very weird weekend starting with the crowd of about 300 (?!?!) who showed up at the Hard Rock. Bizarro weekend, indeed.

SappysCurry

08-09-2009, 02:02 PM

I wonder if there's any shot at getting a look at last night's prepared setlist. Maybe then I can imagine in my head what we would have gotten to see and hear...

In The Year Of The Snake

08-09-2009, 02:25 PM

I wonder if there's any shot at getting a look at last night's prepared setlist. Maybe then I can imagine in my head what we would have gotten to see and hear...
Now *that* is an idea! It holds maximum appeal, but still, I both do and do not want to know... you know?

cured

08-09-2009, 02:25 PM

Better to leave that to the imagination. If that setlist had Juanita on it, you'd probably punch out your monitor :)

In The Year Of The Snake

08-09-2009, 02:26 PM

I wonder if there's any shot at getting a look at last night's prepared setlist. Maybe then I can imagine in my head what we would have gotten to see and hear...
Ok, I've decided. I definitely want to know.

Karl -- posty posty?

In The Year Of The Snake

08-09-2009, 02:27 PM

Better to leave that to the imagination. If that setlist had Juanita on it, you'd probably punch out your monitor :)
Oh god. If the list had Juanita on it, I'll probably end up crying the rest of the day away. No joke.

galama

08-09-2009, 02:28 PM

I wonder if there's any shot at getting a look at last night's prepared setlist. Maybe then I can imagine in my head what we would have gotten to see and hear...

With that you'll shove a dagger to many people here. I am the pond and a continent away from LA but i feel the disappointment and anger around here. I am sorry it happened. The picture with the bottle of water maybe was a prequel to all of what happened. In some many countries people don't even pay for water at parties...but never mind that considering the corner of earth and circumstances.

I am sorry for Rick, Karl and the closer crew. I could imagine how they build excitement about any given show and this show as well...and then the feeling in the air that Karl has the gift to feel. sorry :/

sorry UW fans. i hope you get justice in some form...a secret venue maybe :)

keep positive.

thfcsteff

08-09-2009, 03:05 PM

So sad...those 'big raves' are always shit in the US...IF there's a show of that size and scale, it has to be METICULOUSLY planned, and usually, when at places like the Forum or the Cow Palace in SF, it's just a magnet for idiots who want to deal drugs to under-age kids/get wasted/take advantage of situations...always gets messy.

Tremendous disclosure from Karl and Rick (as always - honest, decent human beings who care) but I hope for their sake that they never, ever allow themselves to get booked into 'events' like this. Which comes down to their booking agent. Let's hope the sad lesson on this particular type of US 'rave event' has been learnt...BTW, glad nobody was hurt, and most probably a small miracle they weren't...

ganzo

08-09-2009, 03:27 PM

I felt the weird vibe when we entered even though the VIP way in was cool. No line, free drinks at an almost empty bar. But the biggest mistake was to have an all ages show at an indoor venue like the forum, with really poor security (even if they were very nice people) and a lack of information anywhere. No one knew where the other stages were or how to get anywhere. The VIP section was open to the regular section and kids (14-17 yr olds, plowed out of their minds on whatever) were pushing their way in and staying in the aisles. The announcements from the stage were very clear- get out of the aisles and don't sit in the front 5 rows in the balcony- then the show could go on. It wasn't even overcrowded- there were plenty of seats around and the floor wasn't too clogged- people were even sitting down with lots of room. But the bozos who were too selfish or too stoned to move ruined it for all. I also wouldn't be surprised if the promoters didn't make a payment they should have to the FD. It happens....
I saw UW at the Wiltern in L.A. (phenomemal show), at the Hollywood Bowl and the London Roundhouse (incredible). But last night had a bad vibe from the start- the rave type show just doesn't work in L.A. anymore. Times have changed, drugs have changed, the world has changed. The Fox in Oakland looked incredible, and only 300 people at the Hard Rock in LV??
Let's hope that we get a chance to see UW again soon in the L.A. area, but on their own, a show for the UW fans, not the underage candy ravers....

jOHN rODRIGUEZ

08-09-2009, 03:31 PM

I questioned the Las Vegas show from the start.

No one has any money there, esp. those of the underworld class.

khouri

08-09-2009, 03:55 PM

300 people at in Vegas? I was there and that seems really low. Is there any confirmation of this anywhere?

ganzo

08-09-2009, 04:15 PM

I read the 300 number in another post. I have no real information. BTW, how was that show? I haven't read anything about it anywhere. Was it a good crowd? How was the venue? Why didn't I go there instead of waiting for the Forum show?

jOHN rODRIGUEZ

08-09-2009, 04:18 PM

Ticket prices, if the ones I check on were correct, might have had something to do with it.

Vegas shows are always crazy priced.

cured

08-09-2009, 04:34 PM

It's just my estimate. There were no more than 50 people there when Damian Lazarus was on. I was actually at the front railing talking to people for awhile and it was really eerie. 300 may be low but it wasn't much higher.

cured

08-09-2009, 04:36 PM

Vegas is horrible for electronic music. Especially on a Thursday night ;)

The crowd was very good, though. A lot of smiling faces. It didn't matter there weren't too many, the people who were there had a lot of fun.

They played half of Beacoup Fish it seemed, which I had no problem with. :)

TheBang

08-09-2009, 04:41 PM

I think 300 is too low. The floor was about half filled, plus the people hanging out at the bar in the back, but the balconies were closed. The Joint is a 4000 person capacity venue. I'd say there were probably about 800-1000 people there.

khouri

08-09-2009, 05:34 PM

Maybe no more than 1,000 but still way more than 300. And the crowd was pretty cool. A little weak on the dancing but you could tell from reactions there were loads of hardcore fans in Vegas.

Setlist was incredible:

Dirty Epic
Bamboo
Rez
Cowgirl
Kittens
King of Snake
Small Conker with a Twix
You Do Scribble
Between Stars
Nuxx
Monkey Wink
Two Months Off
Diamond Jigsaw
Spikee
Cups
Push
Jumbo
Moaner.

TheBang

08-09-2009, 05:48 PM

Some more stories on the shut down.

Fan reactions:
HARD Summer Shut Down (Video)
http://www.urb.com/permalink/6873/HARD-Summer-Shut-Down-%28Video%29.html

Backstage account:
HardFest? More Like DifficultFest
http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=61&title=hardfest_more_like_difficultfest&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

galama

08-09-2009, 06:01 PM

jOHN rODRIGUEZ

08-09-2009, 06:09 PM

PHEEEEW is right.

They should know by now, you need to be an elected official, professor, sports star, or with the far-out-right-crowd for that kind of going on to be legal and unwatched to get away with it.

Sheeesh, what dumbasses.

TheBang

08-10-2009, 01:43 AM

Eyewitness accounts of the shutdown. Confirms that it was way oversold and understaffed.
http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/last-night/hard-summer-shut-down-gary-ric/

switchbladesusie

08-10-2009, 02:51 AM

//\/\/

08-10-2009, 03:41 AM

Some more stories on the shut down.

Fan reactions:
HARD Summer Shut Down (Video)
http://www.urb.com/permalink/6873/HARD-Summer-Shut-Down-%28Video%29.html

jesus - the guy at 4:50 in! :eek: oakenfold's really lost it, hasn't he? :D

King of Snake

08-10-2009, 04:08 AM

I didn't realise Jabba The Hutt was there too (at 3.50). ;)
No offence but american ravers look weird! Or did they just pick out the weird ones for the interviews? Or maybe it's an LA thing?

starfox203

08-10-2009, 10:45 AM

This setlist is not getting nearly enough love...

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/underworld/2009/joint--hard-rock-hotel-las-vegas-nv-6bd7baba.html

This is a great setlist, though I'd swap out one Beaucoup songs, which this list weighs heavy on, for Beautiful Burnout.

Juanita would make it perfect.

Sean

08-10-2009, 12:29 PM

I didn't realise Jabba The Hutt was there too (at 3.50). ;)Dude. That's my wife.

Mike

08-10-2009, 01:22 PM

Hmm if it was overcrowded, perhaps they should have just got her out.

@4.50 looks more like Timmy Mallet :)

jOHN rODRIGUEZ

08-10-2009, 03:43 PM

O.K. I had no idea who Timmy Mallet is, so I goggled the shit.

& this is what I got. I don't get it.

cdave2

08-10-2009, 04:46 PM

Could someone post the text of Underworld's statement please? I've tried the links but they seem to be invalid now.

Very sorry to hear about this, particularly for those who traveled to the show. Hope everyone will have another chance to catch the boys soon.

*ahem* Maybe a Chicago stop with the rescheduled LA date? Would have done Toronto but finances don't allow me to travel. One can dream!

Cathy

Rabbitwork

08-10-2009, 06:15 PM

TheBang

08-10-2009, 07:06 PM

Could someone post the text of Underworld's statement please? I've tried the links but they seem to be invalid now.
Because it's a new week, it's moved into the Last Week section:

http://www.underworldlive.com/archives/last-week/090809.html

The link will change again as it moves into the Archive next week.

jOHN rODRIGUEZ

08-10-2009, 07:10 PM

Because it's a new week, it's moved into the Last Week section:

http://www.underworldlive.com/archives/last-week/090809.html

The link will change again as it moves into the Archive next week.

"You're just a parent and you're screaming and you're shouting, "What happened pleeease? What happened pleeeease?"

All locking everything up and everything.

Jason Roth

08-10-2009, 09:29 PM

I didn't realise Jabba The Hutt was there too (at 3.50). ;)
No offence but american ravers look weird! Or did they just pick out the weird ones for the interviews? Or maybe it's an LA thing?

Must be an LA thing.

;)

cdave2

08-11-2009, 12:19 PM

[QUOTE=TheBang;114665]Because it's a new week, it's moved into the Last Week section:

http://www.underworldlive.com/archives/last-week/090809.html

Thank you!

Glad everyone made it out safely.

froopy seal

08-11-2009, 02:30 PM

O.K. I had no idea who Timmy Mallet is, so I goggled the shit.

& this is what I got. I don't get it.First Google hit is Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timmy_Mallett):
"Timothy "Timmy" Mallett (born on 18 October 1955, Marple (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marple,_Greater_Manchester)) is a TV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV) presenter and broadcaster who achieved cult (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_following) status in the UK on Manchester's Piccadilly Radio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccadilly_Radio) and then later on TV-am (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV-am). He lives in Cookham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cookham), in Berkshire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkshire). Mallett is most notable for his striking visual style, involving loud shirts, colourful glasses and the giant pink foam mallet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallet), labelled Mallett's Mallet that he carries with him, sometimes hitting children on the head, as well as his 'utterly brilliant!' and 'bleurgh!' catchphrases (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catchphrase)."

I believe the connection to the video is Mr. Mallett's looks, as described above and portrayed pittoresquement here:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Timmymallettcropped.jpg

mentos

08-12-2009, 03:52 PM

My wife and I were up front, in front of karl, for the Vegas show.
How many people were there? who cares! They played for 2 hours and I danced for most of it.

We were also in the VIP section for the LA fiasco.
So glad I saw them in Vegas, and in NJ last year, and at the Hollywood bowl the year before, and at Coachella.

sucks for the people who flew from Australia, and from Texas and my friend from San Fran and my other friend who has never seen them.

but, it had to have been the best non-concert I've ever seen. free drinks and VIP seats to view the mayhem. And we even had a DJ spinning in the forum club.

BTW, the white bar continued serving well after the other two bars closed.

jOHN rODRIGUEZ

08-12-2009, 03:56 PM

Oh yeah, you've just made a lot of friends rubbing it in like that.

I, on the other hand, envy you. That would have rocked, esp. getting to mix drinks while watching! AND BACKGROUND ELEVATOR MUSIC TO TOP IT ALL OFF!!!

Did you take pictures?

mentos

08-12-2009, 04:11 PM

No pics of the mayhem. For some stupid reason, i did not bring a camera to Vegas.
I did get contact info from the guy with a cam standing next to me in Vegas. I'll email him now.
My original plan was to go to all three west coast shows, but I figured two shows was good enough.
Darn it, shoulda gone to Oakland.

jOHN rODRIGUEZ

08-12-2009, 04:25 PM

NaaaawwwO! I mean the mayhem in L.A. Not that there's anything funny about it, or anything. :rolleyes:

:D

mentos

08-12-2009, 09:15 PM

There are plenty of pics of the mahem in LA.
There's some youtube video of the kids, that broke into the VIP area, jumping off the second level onto the floor. Those crazy kids just jumped. That is more like a hang down and let yourself height, not a jump over the balcony and go. Anyhow, that's wher ei planted myself.

Here's pics that the guy in front of me took at the Vegas show.

they're pretty cool.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41324600@N08/sets/72157621976878114/