Ennio Morricone can match a riff to a twitching cheek or imbue a drifting tumbleweed with a sense of doom. He has just canceled his only U.S. show this year and his first-ever performance in Los Angeles, but he surprised L.A. RECORD recently with a last-minute phone interview after we spent days compiling questions from our staff. This interview by Daiana Feuer.

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A highlight came during the obligatory encore, during which a Jimmy Kimmel (in Kanye West sunglasses) rushed onto the stage and grabbed the microphone from Flowers, saying, “I’m going to let you finish, but I just wanted to say that the Psychedelic Furs had one of the best songs of all time.”

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A docile crowd can send tens of thousands of watts scattering in the Bolton Canyon like so much piss in the wind and leave you feeling like you’re looking at a snow globe through a pinhole with headphones on. Last night’s crowd, fortunately, was anything but. Depeche Mode’s first night at the Bowl drew the faithful—on their feet and dancing jerkily in the allotted 2’x3’ box of personal space for almost the entirety of the 2-hour show.

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Toots and the Maytals are one of reggae’s fundamental bands and their songs have been loved if not covered by musicians from all over the planet. L.A. RECORD wakes a gracious Toots up from a nap he politely hopes to resume soon. This interview by Daiana Feuer.

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The Duke Spirit are now and will forever be the only band both to cover Alex Chilton and open for Incubus at the Hollywood Bowl. They have the sort of overcranked British sense of humor that generations of misfit high school freshman dream nightly of developing and they meet over hummus the day after Sky Saxon passed away. This interview by Dan Collins.

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photography by carlton beener

Death Cab for Cutie performing at the Hollywood Bowl on July 5, 2009 alongside the Los Angeles Philharmonic (and fireworks). Opening the show was Tegan & Sara.

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Sérgio Mendes swept into America with “Mas Que Nada” in 1966 and went on to establish immortality among connoisseurs of both classy cocktails and bossa nova rhythms. He is working on his new album and still claims to be nervous before shows—especially if he’s playing at the Hollywood Bowl. He will play the Hollywood Bowl this Wednesday. This interview by Ayse Arf.

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polly borland

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