featuring LMFAO

Klipsch Amphitheater at Bayfront Park
Downtown Miami, FL
August 7, 2011

Review by Jackeline Avila
Photos by Joseph Martinez

Costumes and glitter enveloped the lines near the front and side of Bayfront Park. Complemented with knee-high boots, crazy hair colors, and ridiculous make-up. The tickets were a hassle to get, as was expected from the unorganized management team at Bayfront Park, but eventually it was resolved. We finally entered after the slew of fans stampeded in to get to their seats, or “spots,” I suppose.

LMFAO Party Rock

First up was a small, two-man band called Spank Rock. They didn’t impress at all, almost nobody was paying any attention to them, but I can say ONE song stood out, though mostly just the beat. Vocals were inaudible and it felt as though they didn’t care to gain control of the audience. I heard a couple “Hallelujah’s” and “Jesus’” thrown around, but it just didn’t seem to fit with what was yet to come.

Now I’ll be honest, I didn’t even know that LMFAO was at this show. Naturally I was surprised when I heard their “Party Rock Anthem” as the lights shut off and some break-dancers took the stage. I almost fell over trying to give them the attention they deserved! Now that “Party Rock was in the house tonight,” everybody was definitely having a great time! I caught myself jamming to songs I didn’t even know because of how catchy they were. Of course they performed “I’m In Miami, B*tch” and another song that I immediately fell in love with called “Put That @$$ To Work,” which looked like a gym workout on the stage when a very sexy girl in skimpy gym clothes came out working out with a Shake Weight, then danced in step with the song.

The huge metallic device glittered in different colors in sync with the music, fans yelled and jumped during songs like “Tik Tok,” “Take It Off” and "Blow.”

Ke$ha

       Dancing ensued, break-dancing mostly, throughout most of the songs. They finished their set with “Shots,” which surprised me since the song features Lil Wayne, but they made do without him that night, and performed incredibly.

       Their set ended, and within 10-15 minutes, all the lights dimmed and this strange two-story, metallic contraption in the shape of a gigantic diamond filled the stage. A blonde lady was assisted to the “second floor” which bore a keyboard, guitar stand, and turntables, then the lights flashed on to reveal the one and only Ke$ha at center stage!

       I must note, I didn't think this was Ke$ha, at least not the Ke$ha I've seen on TV or in music videos, and my theory extends beyond her looks. Her voice did not sound like hers at all. I know I’ve heard lots of “auto-tune” jokes at her expense, and even I can tell she enhances her voice a bit during her recordings, but this was just absurd. It sounded NOTHING like her. Her voice was annoyingly high-pitched and had no real sense of tone or rhythm.

Ke$ha

Aside from her production team maybe having picked a look-alike from the crowd to perform in her place, the show was visually striking. The huge metallic device glittered in different colors in sync with the music, fans yelled and jumped during songs like “Tik Tok,” “Take It Off” and "Blow.” I’ve never been a big fan of her music, and much less so post-concert. But I put myself in her fans' shoes and appreciated her as a musician, and hope that in the future she uses auto-tune on stage just a little less.

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