Major Lazer - The Observatory, Santa Ana, CA, 10/18/12

9.3

It's 1:30 on a Friday morning and I'm trudging out of the Observatory, covered in sweat. Question is, does more of the sweat belong to me or the half-naked girls bouncing along side me? Such is the nature of a Major Lazer show. The venue itself achieves near perfection, just as long as you get there early enough to snag a spot on the tiny dance floor. I was fortunate to do so and watched as the Observatory filled up with underage girls, drug-addled teens and plenty of PBR-touting hipsters. The majority of whom didn't think twice to blow their dance nut on the first 3 hours-worth of shitty DJs.

Even the near-sighted half of the crowd whipped into shape once the dynamic duo and their posse of scantily-clad hype women blasted onto stage. With all due props to Girl Talk's hall of fame house party, Major Lazer 's show is a tour of duty. Both acts feed off of and match the crowd's energy but the Major demands you move for 90 minutes straight. For the price of admission you are enlisting in his army of excess. The dynamic duo work their assess off to make each night unique and unforgettable. Girl Talk's pounds of confetti and toilet paper is traded off for charisma, showmanship and sheer force.

The stage show is also not without its gimmicks. The aforementioned hype girls perform sexual gymnastics and show the audience in champagne and Major Lazer dollars. When the audience adjusts to the sex thrown in their face, they up the ante, demand every audience member loose their clothes. When everyone is friendly with each other, every attractive female is brought on stage to strut their stuff. Not to be outdone, the Jamaican beauties return to summon a lucky guy in the audience, strip him down and give him the lap dance of his life.

The Major monicker fits all too well. Each song trumps the last and both members urge you to kick it up a notch every other minute. The concert eventually becomes an all out war against yourself and fellow soldiers to never stop moving. Its absolutely bonkers and over in a flash. Not only are these guys two of the hardest working performers out there, they have successfully crafted a show that one of the seven wonders of the modern music scene. I will gladly follow Major Lazer into battle any chance I can get.