Hollywood Palladium

Hollywood Palladium, 2013

On Friday night, Larry and I were invited by Maggie and Bill Lynch to the Dwight Yoakam concert at the Hollywood Palladium.  We were excited to attend a concert at this historic Hollywood location.   The Palladium was brought back to its original elegance a few years ago.  I'm so glad that this theater (1940, Gordon Kaufman, architect) has been preserved and restored.  It's beautiful!  While standing in line, waiting to enter, we reminisced about past shows we'd attended at the Palladium.  The Teen Fair of 1969 comes to mind, as well as the Ink Slingers Ball in 1989!

Bill, Maggie and Larry, Sunset Blvd., Hollywood

Dwight Yoakam used to show up at Ronnie Mack's Barndance almost every Tuesday night during the late 1980's and early 1990's.  He was a regular on the American Roots Music scene, while holding down a delivery job during the day.  Even back then, I knew he'd make it to the big time.

Dwight Yoakam and his Band

The show on Friday was great.  We were lucky to score some chairs on the first mezzanine.  The Palladium is a standing-only venue.  They can pack almost 4,000 people into the place.  Dwight ran through some of his classic oldies as well as a few Buck Owens tunes. "The Streets of Bakersfield," a song that Dwight recorded with his idol, Buck Owens in 1988, was a major crowd pleaser.  Dwight's band is excellent.  He spoke quite a bit about being happy to be in his adopted home town of Hollywood.  His show was professional and beautifully paced and he must have sung at least 5 encore songs! 

Thanks, Maggie and Bill, for a great evening!

1978. Hollywood Palladium.  Photo by Mike Sergieff