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Inside Bruno Mars’ opening-night gig at Inglewood’s new Intuit Dome

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Inside Bruno Mars' opening-night gig at Inglewood's new Intuit Dome

As a seasoned concertgoer with decades of music events under my belt, I must say that Bruno Mars’ performance at the Intuit Dome was nothing short of extraordinary. The man is a true showman, seamlessly blending genres and eras to create a sound that is uniquely his own. His charm and charisma were on full display throughout the night, and it was clear that he had the entire audience in the palm of his hand.

On more than one occasion, it’s possible that Bruno Mars performed his hit track “Billionaire” before a real-life billionaire.

However, as the pop-soul artist expressed his desire for acquiring all the things he lacked during his concert at the recently opened Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Thursday, it was hard not to notice Steve Ballmer, who turned his fortune into reality by constructing a much-anticipated arena for his cherished Clippers basketball team.

From a slightly distant section near the stage, Ballmer, wearing his distinctive light-blue buttoned shirt, joined in the rhythm of Mars’ lively melody and exchanged warm pats on the back with friends sitting nearby.

Last Thursday marked the highly anticipated kickoff concert at the recently constructed Intuit Dome, a cutting-edge arena worth over $2 billion that will start welcoming the Clippers in October after sharing facilities with the Lakers for several years. This inaugural event was none other than Mars’ sold-out performance, which was the first of two shows scheduled at the venue.

In a gathering filled with stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance, Ashton Kutcher, and Simu Liu, to name a few, Mars expressed that we’re making California history in the present moment.

Initially, there were some rough starts: The anticipation was high due to its advanced features, but the smartphone entry system and facial recognition opt-in had issues on Thursday, causing a massive congestion at the main entrance as the staff manually checked digital tickets. As a result, the show, originally set for 8 p.m., started at 9:40 p.m. Fans shared their frustration online about the long lines, poor signage, and unreliable Wi-Fi on social media. While not catastrophic, these issues were slightly humiliating for a tech mogul like Ballmer, who amassed his estimated $120-billion fortune as the CEO of Microsoft.

Yet if there’s one entertainer who can smooth out a wrinkle, it’s Bruno Mars.

38-year-old singer made his return to the Los Angeles stage since 2018 with a two-hour performance showcasing the charm and musical expertise that have resulted in eight No. 1 singles, 15 Grammy Awards, and performances at not just one but two Super Bowl halftime shows. Dressed in a sleek red bowling shirt and sporting a well-groomed mustache with strong ’70s playboy vibes, he led his eight-piece band, the Hooligans, like a blend of James Brown, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. (While watching Mars, it’s hard not to remember that he began his career in entertainment as a young Elvis impersonator from Hawaii.)

Mars’ music spans a variety of long-lasting genres such as rock, pop, R&B, funk, reggae, and he incorporates elements from each in songs like the energetic “Calling All My Lovelies,” which includes a humorous skit where he mimics phone conversations with his partner. The song “Treasure” brings to mind the golden era of Earth, Wind & Fire. In contrast, “That’s What I Like” showcases a confident swagger and even includes a touch of salsa music to demonstrate his musical versatility.

Towards the closing moments of the performance, he introduced Lady Gaga, whom he referred to as “pop royalty.” This dynamic duo then unveiled their fresh collaboration, titled “Die With a Smile.” Mars donned a cowboy hat while strumming a guitar, and Gaga sported an oversized beehive wig as she played an electric piano.

For Mars, who has been entertaining audiences in Las Vegas over the last couple of years, both individually and with Anderson .Paak as their retro-soul duo Silk Sonic, Thursday’s performance demonstrated that despite how rapidly pop music changes, Mars’ classic talents continue to be relevant. During one instance, when a fan on the floor required immediate medical attention, Mars held the show momentarily while security personnel located and escorted him out, allowing his band to keep playing in the meantime.

“This is what professionals do,” he said with a grin as he steered the players back into the show.

Speaking of Intuit, Los Angeles already hosts numerous venues similar to its size, such as Crypto, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Kia Forum, which Ballmer also owns. Interestingly, these venues are located within a mile from the new building. However, on Thursday, the room sounded fantastic – clear and detailed without the usual boominess associated with arenas.

Mars signaled towards where Intuit was situated while presenting one of his initial successes, “Nothin’ on You,” a song he claimed featured the “four chords that revolutionized my music.”

As I recall, this place wasn’t much further from where I once resided, navigating these roads in my trusted Honda Accord. A certain day still lingers vividly in my mind; a day when I cruised these very streets, the radio filling the car with sound.

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2024-08-16 20:31

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