STORY BEHIND A PICTURE: the sensory overload

"When we step out on to the stage there's a bit of a sensory overload at first and it's almost like a car crash in slow motion, when your life flashes before your eyes … It kind of takes 20 minutes for things to settle and to feel completely comfortable with that sensory overload."

“It's having to prove yourself again and it's having to prove yourself worthy. But it's very good because it really gets in the way of ever becoming complacent. I'm quite pleased for the insecurity and nerves because if I didn't have it then I would really start to question whether or not there was anything vital left."
(Rolling Stone, Go Behind the Scenes With Placebo, October 21, 2013)

This picture is one of the shots taken by Joseph Llanes at The Wiltern Theatre (see the info down below) in Los Angeles on October 18th, 2013, where Placebo played one of their first shows in the US after not stepping there for six years. Can you imagine how exciting it was both for the fans and the band?! The concerts in New York and Los Angeles were a part of Loud Like Love tour in honor of Placebo then latest release.
The quotes above come from the “behind the scenes” interview while Brian was getting ready for the show in the dressing room downstairs The Wiltern.
To catch some special moments of the night, the Rolling Stone magazine engaged Joseph Llanes, a photographer who also worked with the band on Loud Like Love album shooting (which I told you about last week).

“…LLLA” is read below the picture of The Wiltern shared on @placeboworld IG just a few hours before the show. Were they going to be Loud Like Los Angeles?..
The show was opened with B3 followed by For What It’s Worth and Too Many Friends, but I can’t find them recorded from that day. Let’s listen to Twenty Years instead that seems to be a moment of starting to ‘feel comfortable’ according to Brian.

Placebo - Twenty Years, The Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles CA, October 18, 2013
♫ https://bit.ly/3fQbNfz ♫


🔹VENUE INFO: THE WILTERN THEATER🔹

The Wiltern Theatre received the name from its location: the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue.
The magnificent interior of The Wiltern evokes a period of elegance and style simply not found anywhere in today's modern venues. The entrance is set back among colorful terrazzo paving, and its Art Deco design contains decorative tile work along with colorful murals. The most dramatic element of the overall design is the sunburst on the ceiling of the auditorium, with each ray representing its own Art Deco skyscraper.

Originally built in 1931 in Los Angeles, the Wiltern was designed by the city's oldest architectural firm as a vaudeville and movie theater. After a big renovation started in 1981, while the whole unique vintage style was carefully kept, the venue was converted into a performing arts center that could host live concerts and Broadway-level stage performances.

With 1850 seating or 2300 standing room capacity, the Wiltern remains one of the largest theaters in Los Angeles.
Dear soulmates, I hope you’ve got to know something new from today’s story. Now, back to the quote by Brian I started with… I think those words could only be said by a person whose feelings about everything he shares with the audience are extremely deep and true.
What do you think of this Brian’s reflections?

Photo credits: Joseph Llanes
Post by Olga