The landmarks that most effectively represent major cities in the United States are generally skyscrapers, bridges, or historical monuments. However, Los Angeles stands apart, as nothing embodies its spirit quite like the Hollywood Bowl. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Air chose the iconic venue to launch their North American tour (although they later scheduled a show in Mexico that occurred prior to the Southern California event).
In 2024, the French duo hit the road for their first tour in over six years to mark the 25th anniversary of their debut album. This is an extension of their global tour, which has already traveled through Europe, South America, and Asia, and they just played their initial show in the US this past weekend.
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On Sunday (September 21st), Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel set up a rectangular cuboid elevated about ten feet above the floor inside the recognizable Hollywood Hills bandshell. Following a DJ set by Bonobo, Air took the stage along with touring drummer Louis Delorme (an unsung hero of the night) to perform ‘Moon Safari’ in its entirety as well as a selection of other tracks from their discography. With the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra positioned right beneath them, the trio delivered a total of nineteen songs for the thousands present.
Dressed in their signature whites, the band’s precision in recreating each track from their groundbreaking debut was enhanced by the orchestral richness provided by Roger Neill’s ensemble. ‘Moon Safari’ is considered one of the most influential dream pop albums ever, and there was no better way to pay tribute to it.
While the 1998 album is flawless, a few live renditions stood out above others. Much like ‘Your Woman’ by White Town or ‘Feel Good Inc.’ by Gorillaz, ‘Sexy Boy’ occupies a unique category of its own. The experience of witnessing its creation from the ground up made it feel remarkably real. Humanizing a song that seemed to belong to another realm was nothing short of breathtaking.
Following that, ‘All I Need’ was performed, and although its rendition was just as exquisite as the previous one, it was the raspy wow-wow waves that envelop the second half, combined with the orchestra's fullness, that truly elevated this performance.
Regarding songs like ‘Remember’, much of the work was done in the studio. The vocals convey a sense of defeat, yet it’s one that you want to embrace to experience the full spectrum of human emotions, from joy (which this album offers plenty of) through despair, and ultimately solace — reminding us that our lives are more intricate than we often acknowledge. It’s remarkable how a composition with such limited lyrics can help you feel so at ease in your own skin when those eleven words are delivered by a tangible person.
Similarly, but on a broader scale, the soothing warmth of ‘Ce matin-là’ helps to resolve the myriad emotions that ‘Moon Safari’ provokes throughout its duration. Just like ‘La Femme d’argent’ and ‘Talisman’, this piece gained an entirely new identity with orchestral accompaniment — words fall short of capturing the emotional depth expressed by the muted trombones.
The second half of the show, along with a two-part encore, featured selections from ‘The Virgin Suicides’ score (2000), ‘10 000 Hz Legend’ (2001), and ‘Talkie Walkie’ (2004). Notably, standout tracks included ‘Venus’, ‘Cherry Blossom Girl’, and ‘Don’t Be Light’.
Air’s live performance serves as a stark reminder of what many areas of the live music scene lack today. The issue was never about digitization or technology, but rather the choice many artists make to exclude instruments from their performances. It’s quite straightforward: audiences want to see the origins of the sounds they feel deeply connected to.
The opening show of Air’s current US tour highlighted the significance of not just showcasing music, but also recreating it for those who yearn to believe in it. Thankfully, there are many more opportunities available, as the duo will be performing eleven additional shows over the next month.
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Words + Photography: Karan Singh
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The iconic features that represent most major cities in the United States are usually tall buildings, bridges, or historical landmarks. Los Angeles, for