Let the Holidays begin, after the break!
Mariah Carey @ The Hollywood Bowl
11/17/23
I WAS BLOWN AWAY...
...by the fact, many of the old parking lots down Highland Blvd. were charging around $100 per spot this November night! Never in my decade of covering concerts, especially at the Hollywood Bowl, have I ever seen that kind of price rate before. Such harsh realities felt like a smack in the face. Reminding me that the times had changed. 2023 isn't like 2013 nor any adventure of my 2010s. The world continues to revolve & this somewhat-retired concertholic is aging by the season.
Or it was just the expected huge demand of Ms. Mariah Carey and her buzzworthy touring Holiday concert? A show that was spreading early Christmas cheer and joy all across the country, one city at the time. She is a blockbuster performer after all. Hundred dollars sounds like a deal actually. Happily, Mariah Carey remains timeless. She put on an amazing musical showcase for her LA fans on this chilly November evening that even trended the day after for her humbling antics. It was all the city could talk about before ramping up into Thanksgiving plans. Mariah, her team, and even her children were all spectacular to say the least. Couldn't recommend this kind of Christmas showcase enough because it really only comes around once a year.
Seeing how this was my first ever Mariah Carey concert, I really hoped we got even more than her Holiday anthems cause I've been a fan ever since I was a child & wanted to hear the hits too. Mostly because she is, after all, one of my sister's favorite artists. Heard 'Emotions' all the time growing up. (Funny enough my big sister nearly went full groupie mode in 2023 following Mariah to Las Vegas, WeHo, to now The Bowl. Experiencing a different showcase each time. Love how much my former tag team partner continues to go to concerts as I remain sheltered at home.) Anyway!
Mariah did play most of her iconic hits towards the end of the Holiday show. Concluding her Throwback Third Act with a gorgeous rendition of "Hero" as the entire Bowl waved their lights in the air. Making for a quieting moment which my Sis & I weren't expecting at all. Then she sent us all home happy singing "All I Want For Christmas Is You" as snow fell onto the pit section. Exactly as it should've been, you know? The rest of her holiday classics really got me into the seasonal mood too. And I loved the rearranged gospel rendition of "My All". Took me to Saturday Night Christmas Mass instantly.
I usually don't like to think about all that until after Thanksgiving, but these are special times. Any added joy is definitely welcomed. Have been jolly & cheery ever since.
Oh! We paid less than fifty bucks cause my sister taught me all about the special Hollywood Bowl buses that takes you to venue from the back part of the Hollywood & Highland complex now known as "Ovation Hollywood". Such a nice feature. Got down there a little bit late, traffic was a mess, but we didn't miss the show at all. Saved us money... you still have to pay twenty bucks for Ovation's Parking mind you but the bus is like 6 bucks per person... and stress on a Friday night. Totally recommend that feature in you are planning on seeing a show at the Bowl in the future. Made this special Holiday show even more wonderful in hindsight.
Photo Slideshow
(Photography wise, my camera didn't charge the hours before so I used my low level Samsung Galaxy. It did the job, I guess? =)
