“How’s everybody doing down at LaBrea?” Niall Horan asked, which may have been a bit optimistic in estimating his reach. Facing west as he stood on a stage set up near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, Horan was addressing a crowd that in reality extended only to Sycamore.
But you took his point: Here were several thousand fans of Horan’s boy band, One Direction, filling a sizable stretch of Hollywood’s busiest thoroughfare on Thursday night.
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The occasion was an outdoor concert organized by “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” which is making a semi-regular habit of shutting down the street in front of its studio next door to the El Capitan Theatre. In recent months the talk show has put on gigs by Paul McCartney and Van Halen, among others.
One Direction was there, of course, to call attention to its new album, “Made in the A.M.,” on late-night television, part of a promotional push that also included an appearance Wednesday on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and a scheduled performance on Sunday’s American Music Awards.
Given that the group has said it won’t support the record on the road, though (it’s taking a break next year that may well turn out to be permanent), Thursday’s concert also served as a kind of de facto Los Angeles tour stop.
As such, it was brief: just six songs, including four from “Made in the A.M.” and two oldies. But it still had a good bit of what makes 1D’s shows so delightful.
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Madonna performs at the Forum in Inglewood on Oct. 27, 2015. Read the review.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 2/82
Don Henley performs at the Forum in Inglewood on Oct. 9, 2015. Read the review.
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Los Lobos perform at El Gallo Plaza in East Los Angeles on Sept. 29, 2015. Read the review.
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Silversun Pickups perform at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery Masonic Lodge on Sept. 28, 2015. Read the review.
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R. Kelly, cigar and mike in hand, performs at the Forum in Inglewood on Oct. 10. Read the Times review.
(Axel Koester / For the Los Angeles Times) 6/82
Grace Jones in concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Sep. 27.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 7/82
Lauryn Hill performs at the Greek Theatre on Sept. 14, 2015. Read the review.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 8/82
Little Big Town band member Phillip Sweet performs at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Sept. 10.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 9/82
Miguel performs at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Sept. 4, 2015. Read the review.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 10/82
D’Angelo and the Vanguard performs at FYF Fest at Exposition Park on Aug. 23, 2015. Read the review.
(Christina House / For The Times) 11/82
Morrissey takes the stage at FYF Fest on Aug. 23, 2015. Read the review.
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Solange onstage at FYF Fest on Aug. 23, 2015.
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FKA Twigs performs at FYF Fest at Exposition Park on Aug. 23, 2015.
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Kanye West performs during FYF Fest on Aug. 22.
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Jehnny Beth performs with Savages at FYF Fest on Aug. 22, 2015.
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Taylor Swift performs at Staples Center in August.
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Shania Twain at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 20.
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Aretha Franklin at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 2.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 19/82
The Weeknd performs during Hard Summer at the Fairplex in Pomona on Aug. 1, 2015. Read the review.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 20/82
Mötley Crüe celebrates the end of another concert, at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., on July 22.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 21/82
John Famiglietti, left, front man Jake Duzsik, and Jupiter Keyes of the L.A. experimental band Health performing at the Echo in Los Angeles on July 22, 2015.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 22/82
Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie performing at the Hollywood Bowl on July 12.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 23/82
Kendrick Lamar performing at the BET Experience at Staples Center on June 27.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 24/82
Underworld performs at the Hollywood Bowl on June 21. Read the review.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 25/82
Brian Wilson at the Greek Theater on Saturday, June 20. It was also his 73rd birthday.
(Michael Robinson Chávez / Los Angeles Times) 26/82
D’Angelo performs at Club Nokia on June 8, 2015. Read the review.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 29/82
Ciara performs at Club Nokia on May 30, 2015.
(Michael Robinson Chávez / Los Angeles Times) 30/82
U2 guitarist The Edge, left, and lead singer Bono perform at the Forum on Tuesday, May 26. It was the first night of five at the venue.
(Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times) 31/82
Guitarist Ron Wood, singer Mick Jagger, drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones play Petco Park in San Diego on May 24, on the opening night of their 2015 American tour.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 32/82
Neil Diamond performs at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, May 23, 2015.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 33/82
Steve Aoki, EDM DJ, producer and recording artist, performs on Broadway between 4th and 6th streets in downtown Los Angeles, May 16, 2015.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 34/82
Rapper Big Sean performs at Rock in Rio in Las Vegas on May 16.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 36/82
Sia performs during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105, in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 37/82
Justin Bieber performs during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105, in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 38/82
Kanye West performs in shadowy lights during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105, in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 39/82
Ne-Yo performs in front of a full house during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105, in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 40/82
Nick Jonas performs during the Wango Tango concert at the StubHub Center on May 9, 2105 in Carson.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 41/82
James Hatfield fronts Metallica at the Rock in Rio Festival in Las Vegas on May 9.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 42/82
Chester Bennington and Linkin Park play the Rock in Rio fest in Las Vegas on May 9.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 43/82
Tim McIlrath, lead singer for the Chicago-based, melodic hardcore band Rise Against, wades into the crowd at Rock in Rio on May 9.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 44/82
Gwen Stefani fronts No Doubt at Rock in Rio in Las Vegas on May 8.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 45/82
Janet Weiss, left, and Corin Tucker perform during the
Sleater-Kinney concert at the Palladium in Hollywood on April 30.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 46/82
Carrie Brownstein performs during the
Sleater-Kinney concert at the Palladium in Hollywood on April 30.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 47/82
Swedish-born soft-indie-rock artist
Jose Gonzalez performs at the Regent on April 30.
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Bassist Dusty Hill, left, and guitarist Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top perform on the Palomino Stage at the
Stagecoach Country Music Festival on April 25.
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Rumer performs at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetary in Hollywood on April 23.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 52/82
Kanye West makes a surprise appearance during the Weeknd’s performance at the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 18.
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Marina and the Diamonds perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 18. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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FKA Twigs performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 18. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Barry Manilow performs at the Staples Center on April 14.
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Florence + The Machine perform during the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 12.
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El-P, left, and Killer Mike of
Run The Jewels perform at the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 11.
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Brittany Howard of
Alabama Shakes performs at the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 10.
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Ariana Grande performs at the Forum in Inglewood, April 8, 2015.
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Rivers Cuomo of Weezer performs with his band at Burgerama on March 28. Weezer was one of the headliners for the two-day festival at Santa Ana’s Observatory.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 62/82
Lead singer Zac Carper of FIDLAR performs with his band at Burgerama, the two-day Santa Ana festival thrown by OC DIY impresarios Burger Records.
(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 63/82
Experimental artist Lustmord makes his Los Angeles debut on March 21 at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever.
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R&B singer Chris Brown performs at the Forum in Inglewood. The March 8 show was a stop on his tour with Trey Songz and Tyga.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 65/82
Trey Songz performs at the Forum on March 8.
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Alan Jackson performs at the Nokia Theatre on Feb. 27 as part of his
Keepin’ It Country tour.
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Brandy Clark performs as part of Alan Jackson’s
Keepin’ It Country tour at the Nokia Theatre on Feb. 27.
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Caribou performs at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood on Feb. 26.
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Roots rocker
Bob Seger performs at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on Feb. 25.
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Tegan and Sara perform with the Lonely Island during the 87th
Academy Awards on Feb. 22 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
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Sarah Barthel of Phantogram performs at the
Air + Style concert and snowboarding event at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Feb. 21.
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Kendrick Lamar performs at the Air + Style concert and snowboarding event at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Feb. 21.
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John Legend performs during a rehearsal for “Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Tribute” on Feb. 9 at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
Read the review (Christina House / For The Times) 75/82
Madonna interacts with a dancer during the 57th Grammy Awards on Feb. 8.
Read the review (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 77/82
Patti Smith at the Roxy on Feb. 2.
Read the review (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 78/82
R&B singer Tinashe sings to a packed crowd at the El Rey Theatre on Jan. 22.
Read the review (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 79/82
Eric Church rocks the house while performing at Staples Center on Jan. 23.
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Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue performs at the Grand Plaza during the 2015 NAMM show at the Anaheim Convention Center on Jan. 22. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Sam France of Foxygen performs at the Roxy on Jan. 2.
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Foxygen at the Roxy on Jan. 2. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
“Would anybody mind grabbing some wings from Hooters?” Harry Styles asked at one point as he peered down the street. Dressed in a black collared shirt and silver floral-print trousers, his hair as long and greasy as the Vampire Lestat’s, Styles was in fine form Thursday, a perfect example of the studied nonchalance that will serve as One Direction’s enduring legacy.
In “Perfect,” widely thought to be about Styles’ relationship with Taylor Swift, he slyly lowered his voice for the lyric about “looking for someone to write your breakup songs about.” In “Love You Goodbye,” one of a handful of songs on “Made in the A.M.” that conflate a romantic breakup and the band’s demise, he worked his best lovable-cad expression as he wondered “why you’re wearing that to walk out of my life.”
Liam Payne played it slightly less cool. “This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen,” he said as he took in the crowd, which is either the falsest or the saddest thing that anyone in One Direction has ever uttered.
Yet his enthusiasm helped enliven “Drag Me Down,” the new album’s generally underwhelming lead single, and gave the folky “Story of My Life” a surge of senior-year nostalgia.
The concert ended with “No Control,” a slashing guitar-pop jam from One Direction’s finest album, last year’s “Four.” It’s about a guy happily giving himself over to a woman whose “perfume’s holding me ransom,” and here you could tell how much these guys are looking forward to being trapped in that position rather than stuck on yet another world tour.
After five years of nonstop grinding, they can’t be blamed for wanting to disappear. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be missed.
Twitter: @mikaelwood
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