By Audrey McKenzie
Entertainment Editor
Pittsburgh native Gregg Gillis, better known by his stage name Girl Talk, has established himself as one of the most creative, energetic and original artists of the past decade.
On March 21, hours before his show was scheduled to begin, hundreds of fans were lined up outside the Hollywood Palladium anxiously waiting for the doors to open.
Less than 20 minutes after fans were let in, the spacious standing room area was jam-packed. This venue was the perfect setting for the performance; it was youthful, open, and inviting. The general atmosphere of the venue contributed greatly to the mood of the audience, establishing the pre-concert energy as one of excitement and enthusiasm.
The mood was dampened slightly by opening acts Junk Culture and Max Tundra. The Mississippi-born group Junk Culture is a mismatched fusion of electronic and R&B music that fails miserably due to a grossly sloppy style and incredibly poor execution.
Their performance was excruciatingly painful, despite the minimal time the band was onstage. Their performance of “West Coast” was the the only time during their set in which they received a positve reaction from the crowd. Toward the latter half of their set, the crowd began shouting “Goodbye,” which eventually turned into a chant for Girl Talk.
The second opening act, Max Tundra, was less painful because the artist’s humorous nature. It seemed as if the audience was almost laughing at Tundra, rather than with him. His musical style seemed to be somewhat of a non-lyrical and less appealing attempt at mastering Girl Talk’s original and delicately perfected style.
Tundra’s eccentricity, comical stature and humorously obnoxious movements were the only aspects of his awkward performance that kept the crowd minimally engaged.
After a long three hours, the crowd began to lose its enthusiasm. Chants periodically began as a plea to bring Girl Talk to the stage. Nearly half an hour after Tundra’s performance came to a close, lights began to flash and Girl Talk’s music began.
He opened with the punchy fan favorite “Oh No,” immediately turning around the somewhat worn-out condition of the crowd. No less than five minutes after Girl Talk entered the stage, concertgoers could feel the disappointment and frustration of the earlier part of the evening slipping away.
As the show commenced, a group of wild fans ran onto the stage and began dancing alongside Gillis, reaffirming the show’s friendly vibe.
As Gillis’ eyes closed and sweat dripped steadily down his face, the audience could feel his commitment to what he was producing for his fans. He stood on top of his table onstage with his hands outstretched to the audience, seeming to embrace the audience just as they did him.
As a result, his stage presence and interaction with his fans quickly established a connection between him and the crowd, making him seem like one with the audience.
As balloons and confetti fell from the ceiling, Girl Talk played hit tracks “That’s Right,” “Get It Get It,” and “Down for the Count.” Huge bouncy-balls traveled throughout the crowd, keeping fans excited and engaged on multiple levels.
He then continued with the wildly energetic tracks “Jump on Stage” and “Triple Double,” and rolls of toilet paper began to be shot into the crowd. The Palladium was smoky and hot by this stage of Girl Talk’s performance, and the audience was squirted with water from the stage.
To close the show, Gillis played the anthemic crowd-pleaser “Every Day.” Girl Talk’s hour- and-a-half performance completely wiped away memories of the painful opening acts and delayed start-time from the earlier part of the night.
Girl Talk will continue to tour throughout the U.S. this year. Anyone who has the opportunity to see Girl Talk live should not miss this chance. This unique artist is an act to remember, especially for the steal of $25 a ticket.
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