I Almost Fought Ladytron

Ladytron at Belasco Theater in Los Angeles, California on September 22, 2023


This was a last minute show that I was asked to cover the day before. I was thrilled to do it. I ended up being a night of highs and lows. 

Highs:
There is a night market a few blocks away that sells Birria Quesatacos. If you haven't ever had those, get them. Now. Just do it.

The music was amazing and I fell in love with Ladytron this night.

Ladytron's performance was absolutely worth stopping eating quesatacos for. Kidding. That's obvious. They are just plain amazing.

Lows:
Okay, there was only one low. As I was making my way to the front to the photo pit that I was authorized to enter, someone got very angry at the thought that I was pushing (I said excuse me as I maneuvered through the crowd, I was polite) my way to the front to being able to see the show. I wasn't, but what if I was? What. If. I. Was????? I am literally 5 feet tall. I am not exaggerating. I am very short. This guy was well over 6 feet. Even if I was just trying to see the show, how does that effect you, sir? You can see over me. You weren't even at the front of the stage. You were in the middle. My presence would have taken absolutely nothing away from you. Nothing. At. All. So, this grown ass man who is over 6 feet tall was so angry that he literally pushed me so hard that I almost fell over. This man, started to pick a verbal and physical fight with me because I was trying to get passed him in a general admission pit. Dude. Calm down. Get some quesatacos and try to figure out why you are so threatened by a hobbit trying to see a show in front of you. Anyway, as he started to yell at me, I showed him my photo pass and pointed to the security guard at the entrance of the pit and simply said "I'm press. I'm going there." He looked where I was pointing and saw the security guard starting to unhook the blockade to come and help me. He responded with yelling at me "WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY SO????" Ok, dude, first of all, it's not like you gave me a chance to say anything. Second of all, I DO NOT HAVE TO JUSTIFY MY EXISTENCE TO YOU." Who the fluff are you? No one. You are no one to me. I just gave him my trademark bitch face death stare and walked away. I couldn't risk getting into an actual fight because it's not just my reputation as a concert photographer on the line, it's also the reputation of the outlet that I was shooting for. They could also be blacklisted because of my behavior and I just hate fighting anyway. I had a job to do. I was in the right. I didn't need to get into it with this Neanderthal just because of pride. 

Well, that dude was not done. A young woman who saw the whole thing because she was standing where I had already passed through, and she had no problem letting me through, found me after my three songs and told me the rest of the story. As I walked away he was still yelling and being profane about me and then he turned to her and tried to pick a fight with her! She was just standing there, minding her own business with her friend and this pathetic little man picked a fight with her accusing her of trying to get in front of him, too. WHY?? I know it was not my fault and I didn't do this to her but I still apologized that she had to experience that because I simply tried to do my job and a guy with anger problems got in her face over it. 

If this is you, or you are at show and the guy you are with picks fights with smaller women and you do nothing, you have no place in these venues. Music is supposed to unite us. It's supposed to be the one thing we all share. Do not ruin the night by being a butthead. Just. Don't. It's not okay on any level.

I didn't let this sad little man ruin my night and neither did that sweet young lady. Ladytron is amazing and I love them.

​You can read my less angry official review here.