It doesn't matter how old you are. Music can surprise you at any time.
When I drove out to Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre to see 30 Seconds to Mars, my expectations were low. I knew Jared Leto headlined the group and they sold out shows at The Pageant on a few occasions in the past. A popularity bolstered by a cult like pulp instead of easy to attach marketability. Their albums were psychedelic rockers that shared a room with alternative music, which gave them a wide tree to swing from when they wrote and released their albums.
Let's just say by the time I left soaked in sweat and Leto singing along with a hundred fans on stage, I was impressed with these guys. They played for just over 90 minutes and were consistent. Since I wasn't familiar with their catalog of tunes, a lot of the songs were hitting me for the first time, or at least cleaning off a spot on my musical couch to sit on. This was the best way for me to approach this band. Instead of burning through all of their music trying to fake a relationship, I went in cold-and I was blown away.
The band was promoting their latest album, America, which was released in April. The band's fourth album had twelve songs, but the hits that people surely know are "Walk on Water", "Dangerous Night", and the new single, "Rescue Me". If you came there just for the hits, you weren't disappointed. The group didn't merely stretch them out to meet a standard stage running time; there was some instrumental experimentation that can make a live show unique. Whether it was a singalong with the crowd (something Leto really got into at times) or just giving the drummer-Leto's brother Shannon-a chance to have a moment, the band found new ways to give a popular song a slightly different riff.
It helps that Leto is a master showman on stage. Being an Oscar-winning actor who has shared the screen with the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt, and Ryan Gosling-Leto knows how to hold his own and stand out. From the moment he got on stage around 9:30 at night, Leto was all over the place, singing and talking. He didn't preach about politics or bore people either. Leto was there to entertain. He did mention the impressive heat in the region, noting that Texas had nothing on St. Louis for summer sweats. He also brought random people up on stage to sing and let a local guitarist have a solo rock moment at center stage. Leto was lifted up on a platform off the stage, frequently walked out to the middle of the crowd, and just had a good time. It didn't seem like another gig for him, and that was refreshing. The man is supremely talented and can sing.
It's also nice when the band can actually play and not be propped up by a recording studio. Leto's voice held tune for the entire show and never wavered. The one and only way you can determine if a band is truly great is knowing they can perform live. 30 Seconds to Mars most certainly can. They've been around for 20 years and I feel like we were on a first date. I want another go-around with this group. They were very impressive and had me humming their tunes days later. If you are humming 7-10 days later, a concert was successful.
Walk on the Moon, a young rock band with hits like "Shut Up and Dance" and "One Foot", got the crowd moving before the main act got on stage, and also impressed with their energy and versatility. An Ohio group with some ties to the area (the lead singer was born in St. Louis) made the most of their 45 minutes on stage, teasing you with what they could do with a full show.
With Hollywood Casino taking over the concert venue with their nearby hotel, it's become extremely convenient to park and get to the venue. You can park at the casino, which is five minutes away, and get a shuttle ride for just ten dollars. Instead of being trapped in the parking lot after a show, you can hop on an air-conditioned bus right after. My wife and I didn't wait at all to get going. By the time Leto sang his last tune, we were at the hotel within 30 minutes. That was a highlight.
The concert was part of a series with the tag, "Eat.Sleep.Play.Rock" that has included other groups over the past month. I like what they are doing with the place and making it more accessible for people who love music and don't have to sit in a parking lot for an hour afterwards.
I drove out last week not knowing what to expect from 30 Seconds to Mars or the new Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. I left wanting to come back soon.
