Review: Game goes late at the Observatory
Fans who turned out Sunday night for a lively gig from Compton-based rapper, Game (formerly the Game), at Santa Ana’s Observatory endured an annoyingly long wait -- filled with six or more mediocre openers. But, when the headliner finally took the stage around midnight to deliver his high-energy set of hits, most everyone seemed to quit grumbling and start dancing fairly promptly.
Click here for a photo slideshow of Game's fans and performance at the Observatory.
Game opened with choice cuts, “The City” and “Westside Story,” pacing back and forth pensively – all the while guzzling Coronas like water - and delivering line after raspy line, the rabid audience chanting along to every word.
Then, after briefly apologizing for his tardiness, the former G-Unit member excited the audience further, reaching into his pockets several times during the fitting title, “Money,” to produce enormous wads of (real) one dollar bills, which he tossed into the audience with the all the cocksure swagger of a Wall Street bigwig on payday.
It was unlikely, however, that anyone in attendance (particularly those who weathered the lengthy delay) needed a cash bribe to submit to the music. Game’s show was inherently enhanced by his six-piece band (drummer, guitarist, bassist, two keyboardists and a DJ), who impressed again and again with jazzy yet distinctly gangsta arrangements on fiery tracks such as “Compton,” “How We Do” and the show closer, “Pot of Gold.”
