Los Angeles Just Had The Wildest Live Music Weekend Of 2026

Thirty-nine years ago this past weekend, U2 climbed to the roof of a downtown Los Angeles liquor store on Seventh Street to film the video for “Where the Streets Have No Name,” the third single off “The Joshua Tree.” Bono wanted cops and chaos and he got both. Fans stormed the street below while the LAPD tried to shut the whole thing down. The band had been inspired by The Beatles’ legendary 1969 rooftop concert at Apple Corps in London but U2 made it feel like an only-in-LA-event.

This past weekend, Los Angeles brought some of that same wild energy to its live music scene, then lapped it a few times for good measure.

Sir Paul, Up Close

Paul McCartney, the original inspiration for that stunt, was here. He played two nights at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, an intimate venue that holds just 1,200 people, meaning most of humanity was not in attendance. Those who made it through the AXS lottery, for a mere $200 a ticket, got 102 minutes of the most absurdly up-close bucket-list experience in live music.

McCartney opened with “Help!”, messed up a lyric on “Blackbird,” played a bunch more Beatles and Wings songs and closed with a “Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End” medley. Even at 83 and a bit iffy on the high notes, Sir Paul somehow remains rock’s most quintessential “I can’t believe I was there” (and for the record, I wasn’t) ticket to ride.

A Surprise Music Moment On The Beach

Across town, Weezer performed their own Beatles-esque show at a burger bar in Venice. Fresh off announcing “The Gathering” tour, Rivers Cuomo and company set up atop the Hinano Café (excellent burgers, by the way) for a five-song acoustic set that included “Undone,” “The Sweater Song,” “Buddy Holly,” “Say It Ain’t So” and “Go Away,” with Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino. Their full tour kicks off in September with the Shins and Silversun Pickups. But it’s hard to imagine any of those shows bringing the surprise and joy the way this one did for a packed crowd at the end of Washington Boulevard.

From The Beach To The Blue Note

PJ Morton, meanwhile, was at the Blue Note. You may know him from his soulful version of “How Deep Is Your Love?” If not, fix that. He’s been one of my most-played artists for half a decade running. The New Orleans multi-talent has a stack of Grammy wins as a self-released, self-produced artist, while also playing keys in Maroon 5. His catalog includes “Gumbo,” “Churches” and “Watch the Sun” but it’s the live shows that are so electric. His midnight show at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood a few years back was one of the most connected, stirring performances I’ve seen. People were crying, audience members were taking the mic. No doubt he brought some of that communal spirit to The Blue Note Hollywood these past few nights. That venue is less than a year old and already the city’s essential room for jazz, blues, and serious R&B.

Everywhere I looked on social media someone was sharing video of their L.A. stage encounters. There was the YouTube funk collective Scary Pockets at the Teragram Ballroom, with Scary Goldings supporting. Pub rock royalty Nick Lowe was at the midsize Bellwether doing his thing. On Sunday, Cory Henry once again brought the church to Inglewood’s Miracle Theater, part of a series I’ve called the most joyful live show in America. Stevie Wonder came out to behold the last one. It is as close to a religious experience as you can come without actually passing the plate.

So take that, Nashville, and New York, too. Los Angeles is too spread out, they say. Too industry, too distracted by everything else it has going on to focus on surprising and authentic music moments. But weekends like this one make those arguments tough to take seriously. As Bono put it all those years ago, I wanna reach out and touch the flame!

Los Angeles Just Had The Wildest Live Music Weekend Of 2026

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