Click here for a slide show of performers and fans getting high off the, er, vibes in Irvine!
The Blazed and Confused Tour lived up to its name Saturday night, drawing out the stoner crowd en masse to Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine.
Mickey Avalon opened, with the unfortunate time slot of 5:50 p.m. Still, his party-and-hookup songs, including the dance-along hit “Jane Fonda,” set the perfect tone for the evening, as did Stephen Marley (pictured, left), who got the (albeit slightly drunken) audience moving to his reggae beat.
Marley’s set seemed to build as it went, with the audience responding the most to covers of his father’s staples, like “Buffalo Soldier.” “Three Little Birds” sounded beautiful, and with the sun still shining on a typically mild Southern California evening, one could almost believe that “every little thing is gonna be all right.”
Songs like “Mind Control” showed Marley’s political and philosophical side, messages not missed by a crowd wearing T-shirts covered with Bob Marley quotes. Damian and Julian Marley also came out for a couple songs at the end of the set, adding hip-hop flavor and energy to a strong finish.
The crowd started to fill in as Marley played, but it still came as a shock to realize how packed the place was once Snoop Dogg took the stage. The venue felt like an outdoor nightclub circa 1994 throughout much of the Long Beach natives set, with fans on their feet, jumping, bouncing and waving their hands in the air.
Tha Doggfather was in fine form, breezing through songs and lyrics with a deceptively laid-back flow in a set heavy on the old-school, hardcore gangsta rap that defined the West Coast scene in the early ’90s, thanks in part to Snoop and Dr. Dre. And still it seemed at times like such flashbacks lacked meaning for the youngest (and most numerous) members of the crowd.
Snoop did mix in some his newer stuff, however, in particular serving up “Sexual Seduction” to the ladies, while his DJ spun some jams from other artists, like Kanye West’s “Alcohol.” “I like that song,” Snoop said, before asking: “Anyone know what my favorite drink is?” The answer, of course, is “Gin and Juice,” still fresh today, 15 years after he first started pouring it.
Keeping with that early ’90s vibe, Snoop paid tribute to Tupac Shakur, leading a singalong (and occasionally rapping over) a couple of ‘Pac’s hits, including “Hail Mary.” Snoop also tossed in a cover of House of Pain’s 1992 hit “Jump Around,” then transitioned to the more recent “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” in a blending of old and new that was a constant theme of his performance.
As with so much hip-hop, there was nothing subtle about Snoop’s show, which featured a giant banner onstage with Snoop staring ahead, stone cold and surrounded by the words “Tales from the Crip” and a veritable garden of (apparently plastic) marijuana plants.
Headliner Slightly Stoopid was — and this may be a minority opinion — the third best act of the night, albeit a pleasing third, behind Snoop and Marley.
Before you Stoopid fans get upset, let me be clear: the band put up a solid performance that certainly pleased its base. The whole point of the Blazed and Confused Tour is to chill and have fun, and Slighty Stoopid delivered on that account. But its mix of reggae, hip-hop and punk finds the group doing each style well but none great.
And yet that set was a nice bridge between different genres on this outing, packed with plenty of energy, complete with stage diving and a few hits of seemingly ubiquitous weed. Their hip-hop version of “Leaving on a Jet Plane” was a crowd favorite and one of their freshest selections; “This Joint” was also strong, and not just because of the drug reference.
But given Snoop’s talent and catalog of smashes, it seems odd to have him opening for Slightly Stoopid. Then again, Slightly Stoopid, a band that has found its niche and knows how to keep fans happy, was clearly the big draw of the night.
Photos by Drew A. Kelley, for the Register. Click here to see more!
Also:
- Beyoncé’s new show dazzles without saying much in Anaheim
- Duran Duran struggles to be seen and heard at Pacific
- Nostalgia carries New Kids on the Block at final SoCal stop
- Pete Yorn produces powerful pop at the Mouse House
- Which Pacific Amphitheatre shows are worth the money?
- Heart sticks to the classics to rock Pacific’s season kickoff
Remember Kids… Puff, Puff, Pass.
What a sad world we live in. We promote drugs, gang rap, and variables which create a negative living environment. Sadly, most if not almost all of the fans will end up in jail, unemployed, and uneducated.
Seriously..are you kidding? There are plenty of other negative variables in this world that makes it a sad reality. (Politics and our economy is just the tip of the iceberg) A concert that promotes free speech, an open mind, and a brief break from the true essence of what makes this world ugly is hardly sad. By the way, I seriously doubt that any of these fans will end up in jail, unemployed, or uneducated. If even the slightest percent happen to, blame it on the mass media, corporate pigs, our educational system, and this entire monetary-based economy which strives to keep everyone in a distracted, naive bubble. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and proving my point.
I went to the 311 show last night with Ziggy Marley and was completely irritated with the Verizon parking lot full of Irvine PD going to every single car and making them pour out all their alcohol onto the ground.. even if it was in the trunk!! Yet not one officer came in to the concert to regulate on the masses smoking weed and doing all other types of drugs. Ludicrous.
I will be going to the ZZ top concert in August and if I see one person smoking pot on my $170.00 ticket I will definitely be telling those cops they better be doing their job and if they don’t handle the problem I will be asking for names and I will be making a huge complaint.
Let’s see…going to a ZZ top concert and asking for names of pot smokers. That’s like going to a Pat Boone concert and complaining about the ubiquitous bible thumpers present. Please let us know how that works out for you.
Oh, wait. You’ll be asking for the names of the cops that don’t arrest pot smokers. That’s even better!
It’s unbelievable how close minded, clueless and blind so many people in this county still are when it comes to marijuana.
Simple and plain…it’s better than booze…that legal thing they advertise down your throats each day. I don’t have the time to list the many positive attributes the sweet herb gives or to discuss the pro’s and cons of each substance. But try this on for size MIKE and IN GOD WE TRUST. I Am a CHRISTAIN, I smoke weed every day, I do about 6-8 triathlons each year and many other endurance races, never been in trouble with the law, had the same job for 12 years and prospered in it. I wake up each day with a smile on my face thanking the Lord for all the good in my life….oh yeah, was sitting 3rd row at the show puffin with everyone around me having a fantastic night making new friends and just groovin. There were no fights, no one was angry, and the cops sure didn’t care…in fact, I may know a few police that partake in just this sort of thing….but hey, what do i know…I’m a stoner. ~G
Gspot..you are more aware than most in this forum! I never mentioned anything about religion…but since so many of you are interested in relating religion with this concert and all that is negative in the world..here’s something to think about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9JjgRi7BFw For your sake of time..skip the first minute if you wish.
awesome show and proud to say i was smoking a shitload of weed backstage
Mike clearly has no idea who he is talking about given the show consisted of mostly south orange county high school and early 20 aged fans, please ignore him. As for Ingodwetrust, well i have poured beer at the venue the last 7 season and pot smoking is pretty much completely tolerated. The only exceptions i have personally seen are in the parking lot, and if any person is caugh selling. So stop complaining and enjoy the show