Under Construction LA Filled Hollywood Blvd. to the Brim

Chris Lake and FISHER’s fervent fanbase flocked to Hollywood Blvd. for the wild and wonderful debut edition of Under Construction LA.

There’s no doubt that Chris Lake and FISHER have won over the hearts and minds of house music lovers worldwide, but few cities have shown their support for these two behemoths in the scene quite like Los Angeles. From dominating the decks solo to taking over The Shrine and even seeing thousands of fans make their way to Coachella just a few hours East to see them play, a deep love has been ever-present. Yet when Chris Lake and FISHER launched Under Construction, the City of Angels was sadly one place that had been left out of the fun—but that all changed with an announcement this past summer.

In August, Chris Lake and FISHER stirred excitement from those who had just basked in the glory of their b2b set at Coachella with the news that they had teamed up with Goldenvoice and Framework to bring Under Construction LA to life. Limited information led to many die-hard fans examining every minute detail they could, eventually discovering that this show would take place on Hollywood Blvd. itself. This one-of-a-kind event had never been done officially, as when Kaskade did it over a decade ago, it was a spontaneous pop-up that turned into a riot.

Beyond being a fan of the two artists, there wasn’t a chance I would miss Under Construction LA on the historic basis of it alone. After all, who else could say they danced their heart out in the middle of Hollywood Blvd. between Cahuenga Blvd. and Vine St. with the ominous Church of Scientology building looming nearby? So, with a ticket acquired, I made my way up to the show on October 21, excited for the experience ahead.

Parking was a breeze when arriving in Hollywood, more than likely because we headed straight to the Cinerama Dome, which had plenty of spots at just after 4pm. A quick meet-up with friends at a nearby bar was in order, but we wanted to get in early for the show and beat the rush, so the walk to the main entrance began. Security took no time at all, and within seconds, I was passing through the entry area filled with Reach Forklifts for the added “Under Construction” effect.

Photo Credit: Ivan Meneses and Restless Media

The venue felt expansive when there weren’t thousands upon thousands packed into the space.

Food and beverage vendors on the left side by the merch tent had little to no wait, while the snaking merch line did seem to take a bit longer than many desired. But something that I noticed immediately and felt was super cool was that many of the restaurants and bars stayed open while the show was going on, allowing attendees to grab a slice or doner throughout the night. Supporting local businesses and making the show feel like a block party was a nice touch.

On the opposite end of the venue from the entrance was the art car that had been converted into a full-on stage, and the crowd was pretty light early on. Our group situated ourselves just behind the ADA deck on the left, giving us a great view and optimal space to dance until it got deeper into the night. Once things were rolling forward, it did feel like we were sardined into the space we were in as everyone pushed forward into the crowd. The pictures and videos at peak hour show off just how packed it was.

Photo Credit: Ivan Meneses and Restless Media

The lineup for Under Construction LA showed off the curation that Chris Lake and FISHER strive for.

One thing that’s stood out at past curated shows hosted by Chris Lake and FISHER is the pure talent that they bring along with them. Sure, you’ll find some established artists in the mix, but they’ve looked to some soon-to-be household names with upcoming releases on Black Book Records or Catch & Release for shows like this. Cole Knight, the b2b featuring Chloé Robinson and DJ ADHD, and Little Fritter all threw down pure heat, energized the crowd, and kept everyone engaged. Seeing so many people shuffling, dancing, and laughing with their friends throughout those sets was a breath of fresh air as the night continued to build.

When Chris Lake and FISHER finally took the stage, they did so with a bang by leaning into the Hollywood feel with an intro from Chris Hemsworth, aka Thor.

Adding this intro was a surprise but so fitting for Under Construction LA, and the moment it ended, the two artists whisked the crowd away for a dreamy extended set. The first three tracks that boomed through the speakers came from FISHER as he ran through “Just Feels Tight,” “Take It Off,” and “Atmosphere,” a relentless onslaught that immediately had the crowd exploding with energy on each drop. And that was all just in the first 20 minutes.

Chris Lake and FISHER wouldn’t hold back throughout the rest of their performance as everything from IDs to rave classics that had new life breathed into them found their way into the set. Some of the standout moments were when they layered in ACRAZE’s edit of ATB’s “9pm (Till I Come),” Wuki’s “Sunshine (My Girl),” and FISHER’s rework of the Bob Sinclar classic “World Hold On.” And, of course, everyone went crazy when some of their biggest hits surfaced, like “Turn Off The Lights,” “Losing It,” and “Deceiver.”

Photo Credit: Ivan Meneses and Restless Media

Everyone in the packed street craved just a few more minutes of madness as Prozak’s “Pump It” played, but the end had drawn near.

The only downside to Under Construction LA is that Chris Lake and FISHER had a hard stop to abide by with their already extended set. I could’ve kept dancing deeper into the night, but at 11pm it was officially over, even if everyone kept calling out for one more song. Soon enough, the wave of people who had packed Hollywood Blvd. from sidewalk to sidewalk began to disperse into the night, and with that came the end of a truly memorable experience.

If Under Construction LA sets the tone for future shows like this from Goldenvoice and Framework or other LA-based promoters, then I hope to see more surface in the future. Far too often, we find ourselves in the confines of a run-of-the-mill venue, nightclub, or arena, and the more we can break free from that, the more unique the scene will become.

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