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This past Sunday I ventured on over to the Hollywood Bowl for my first show of the season. And, man, was it amazing! Summer Nights at the Hollywood Bowl are cultured, relaxing, festive ways to spend time enjoying the summer weather here in Los Angeles. Every summer my favorite radio station, KCRW, hosts a series of world music concerts that I wouldn’t miss for anything.

My best friend Angelica and I showed up early to make sure we snagged a good parking spot. Parking can turn into a nightmare if you arrive late (which has happened). Needless to say, you usually only make that mistake once, and never try to repeat it again. We jaunted down to Subway and picked up two sandwiches, then headed back up the hill to hop into our seats. The weather was perfect by the time we settled in — sunny, cool and calm. As the sun began to fall, the Bowl started to fill quickly. Nick Harcourt took the stage and at that point, it was on! I pulled out the bottle of Pinot Noir that I had stashed away in my BCBG handbag and got my pour on.

Groove Armada was the first to take the stage. I was surprised, since I had the feeling they’d be headlining. Oh well. They rocked it anyway. I was able to stop bouncing around long enough to shoot some video from my Canon SD600 camera. Watch out for the bass that hits you upside the head at 0:18 in this first clip…It’s a doozie!

I thought they were outstanding — I mean, how can you not love live disco, house and electronic grooves?! The audience’s energy electrified the entire Bowl until all the little bouncing bodies looked like a mass of hot molecules. Admittedly, I was disappointed that they didn’t perform “At the River,” but in all honesty it probably would’ve put everyone to sleep, considering the amount of wine being consumed all over the place. Angelica and I alone killed two bottles! We would’ve been in snoozeville for sure.

The evening closed out with Cafe Tacuba. While I do like some of their tracks, I secretly wished they were opening instead of Groove Armada. Actually, it’s not that much of a secret — I heard a ton of other people saying the same thing. However, they put on a great show! And although my Spanish is limited, I was intoxicated during their entire performance, so I was able to understand almost all of it! [See 8 facts]

How to Make Your Summer Nights at the Bowl a Success

If you plan on attending one of the summer night events this year, make sure you’re prepared for the event. Here’s a list of my recommendations:

• Get there early. Most shows start at 7:00 and traffic is a mess after 5:30.
• Don’t forget your cash. You’ll need to pay for parking and it’s always good to have it on-hand anyway.
• Wear comfortable shoes. If you don’t park immediately near the Bowl, you’ll be doing some serious walking — up a hill.
• Bring food and lots of wine. There are picnic tables set up outside the Bowl, as well as inside. And as long as it’s not a “lease event,” you can bring everything inside with you to your seats. Also, if you forget to bring a cork screw, there will most likely be someone friendly on either side of you willing to let you borrow theirs. For food, I’d suggest turkey wraps, cheese and fruit, or anything “finger foody.”
• Hydrate. Don’t forget to bring water with you. You’ll need to combat the dehydration from all the alcohol.
• Have fun! These summer events are all about having fun. Don’t worry about being the only one in your section to stand up and sing along and shake your booty. I didn’t!

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