Written By: Colette WeintraubHenry Fonda Theater
October 7, 2009
The last time I was at the Henry Fonda Theater it was to see Nine Inch Nails's second-to-last concert (theoretically) ever. NIN absolutely destroyed the place! Not cosmetically, but existentially. It was one of the best shows I've ever experienced. They took all my previously fond memories of past concerts at that venue, crumpled them up, and made them seem like insignificant moments in time. A reader posted the following comment on my review of the Nine Inch Nails show at Henry Fonda Theater:
September 11, 2009 at 6:37pm
They should just burn down the Fonda, because there will never be a better show there again.
If they leave it standing they should no longer be allowed to have any more concerts there.
b-ill-one
I'm not condoning arson, but I couldn't have agreed more. Something so outstanding took place that night that the Henry Fonda could have closed its doors forever and nobody would question it.
Well, it's a good thing they stayed open because, tonight, Fever Ray resurrected the Fonda ghosts and turned that venue upside-down. . . again. Does that make it right-side up now? If so, then the Henry Fonda is back in business.
I will admit that between opening acts I looked up at the stage and nostalgically felt that Nine Inch Nails show all over again.
But the instant Fever Ray hit the stage, all thoughts dissipated as the characters (aka the band) - led by Karin Elisabeth Dreijer Andersson (formerly, The Knife) - transformed the Henry Fonda Theater once again. Fever Ray's full, layered sound filled the room, complemented by the pulsing laser show. There were costumes and face paint, and fans swayed in reverence.
I don't believe a word was spoken on stage between songs and if so, I was too entranced to notice. You didn't just hear the music, watch the lights, see the smoke - you felt the music, felt the lights, felt the smoke (some more than others).
This has been one of the most anticipated shows in LA since the tour was announced on May 12, 2009. It may remain among the most talked-about until May 12, 2010. . . or whenever Fever Ray returns.
By the way, speaking of Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor was at the show tonight, but nobody seemed to care. Every now and then somebody returning from the bar or restroom would say, "Hey - Trent Reznor's here!" And without turning their head, without shifting their eyes, the friend would respond, "yeah. . . "
So this is what it's like to go to a Fever Ray show: your friend can tell you that your hero just walked in the room, and as if you were talking about the color of the carpet, you'd say, "yeah. . . cool."
That's when you know you're at a good show.
