Will Travel for Music: Beck and Phoenix Crush It in Southern California

“Get Out There” is a column for itchy footed humans written by long-time Paste contributor Blake Snow. Although different now, travel is better than ever. Today we travel to Southern California to see Beck and Phoenix in concert.

At last count, I’ve attended more than 100 rock concerts. Usually I wait for my favorite artists to roll into town to see them. But sometimes I’ll cross state lines (or even oceans on one occasion) if the conditions are right. This summer, the conditions coalesced into a colorful concert (and killer LED stage) to see Beck and Phoenix “al fresco” in Southern California as part of their co-headlining Summer Odyssey tour.

Upon learning that the tour was skipping Utah, I checked nearby shows to see what was available. The one that most stuck out was an August show at the OC Fair in California. Since my regional airport offers $100 round-trip flights there, Orange County seemed like a prime candidate. “Yeah, but I bet rising concert prices and California surcharges will make this hard to stomach,” I muttered. 

Nope. $57 per ticket (fees included) for two bands my family has enjoyed for decades, ones we had never seen live before. I checked recent reviews to confirm that both acts still put on a good show. (Spoiler alert: they do!) Then I asked my music-loving kids if they were game. “Let’s do it!” 

We flew in the day of the show and walked across the street to overnight at the Hilton Orange County Airport, which was surprisingly affordable at $166 a night. Although the rate was budget friendly, we got more than we paid for in four-star rooms, ridiculously helpful staff, and a palm-lined resort pool. After soaking in the sun that afternoon, we grabbed some food at the hotel bar, then hailed an Uber to the famous Pacific Amphitheater just down the road. 

Right away, we were greeted by good vibes. Located on the Orange County fairgrounds, the outdoor amphitheater sits in a natural bowl surrounded by palms. Phoenix went on first, and it was immediately apparent that the three level deep LED stage, live performance, and sound system would deliver a memorable night. Starting with “Lisztomania,” the band played a selection of their greatest hits, with a couple of live renditions besting their recorded counterparts. After closing with “1901,” singer Thomas Mars jumped into the audience and squeezed through them for five minutes straight while the band played out. 

By the time Beck went on, the Gen-X crowd had swelled to its zenith. The animated light and sound took on a whole new level of crazy, resulting in a genre- and career-bending mix of psychedelic, sample-filled, and break-beat inspired rock n’ roll that still relied heavily on loud guitars.  He played the hits—”Devil’s Haircut,” “Sexx Laws,” “Loser”—before finishing with an encore that featured Phoenix on “Odyssey.” The whole night wrapped up with “Where It’s At,” the best (and perhaps only) way to end such a great show. The multimedia show beautifully embodied a uniquely underrated and long-lasting artist. It wasn’t the greatest show I’ve ever seen, but it was definitely one of the funnest, if not most unique. 

On the way home, my kids thanked me for taking them. As an aging father, I’m never sure if my older tastes will appeal to them. But by the way they danced and sang that night to the many songs I’ve exposed them to over the years, it’s clear they did. In terms of getaways, music, and even parenting, the night was smashing success.

Moral of the story: traveling for music is often a worthwhile pursuit. If you’ve never done it, I highly recommend you do with the artists and people that matter most in your life. If the stars align, magic might soak your spine. 

Blake Snow contributes to fancy publications and Fortune 500 companies as a bodacious writer-for-hire and frequent travel columnist. He lives in Provo, Utah with his adolescent family and two dogs.