Pershing Square the Summer Guest of The Motels
Ed Fuentes
Martha Davis plays Pershing Square.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Fans of Martha Davis and The Motels filled the lawn of Pershing Square Saturday night, and Davis instantly connected the evening as an embrace of Downtown, not just a 80s flashback.
"Madame Wongs . . . 1979." Said Davis after the opening song. The Motels once held unofficial status as the house band for Ester Wong's landmark music club in Chinatown, and offered support to the concert series by waiving a bulk of the fee.
In fact, with the audience shouting out to Davis, Pershing Square became more of a dark intimate downtown night club than outdoor arena.
"Martha! Martha, Martha, Martha!" says a fan at the beginning of the set.
"No fair, I don't know your name," teased Davis.
Pause.
"It's Gino!" was the answer from the lawn.
"Gino...Gino...Gino," Davis softly chanted into the dark.
"Suddenly" the one hour set of new music book ending her new wave hits was Davis' way of welcoming back Downtown.
Upcoming Pershing Square shows — August 19: Great Northern Music; August 20: Curt Smith and Honey Honey; August 21: August 22: Toad The Wet Sprocket with The Janks
Marqui on August 19, 2009, at 11:11AM – #1
I'v been to about 8 of the concerts at Pershing Square this summer and it's been great. This is the first summer the audience was not forced to watch the homeless community get up in front of the audience and try and upsatgae the musicians. The Pershing security was quick to ask agaitators to sit down or leave. Anyone drunk was escorted off the park. Homeless folks who were obviously sick or in a confused state of mind were brought to a non populated area of the park where security could work with them with out duisturbing the audience. Thanks to the Pershing Security for making this summer about the listening audience.
Naked Jezebel Loves Motels on August 22, 2009, at 09:12AM – #2
I like the Motels and am sorry I missed this show. But not a mention has been made here of the first show by Gene Loves Jezebel and Naked Eyes. I attended that one and could not help but feel that those guys were way too good for the downtown crowd. They found some love in the audience, but not as much as they deserve.
And God bless Peter Byrne, he gave all could with a sketchy set up. (By the way; did anyone notice American Psycho himself; Patrick Bateman on keyboards? I couldn't take my eyes off the stunning resemblance, all the way down to the sweaty dripping hair flip.)