I think I was around eight or nine when I first saw four guys dancing across a row of treadmills in perfect unison. It was strange, captivating, and the perfect formula for going viral in the early days of YouTube. Since then, OK GO has turned spectacle into an art form, releasing a string of meticulously choreographed videos involving everything from zero gravity flights to massive Rube Goldberg machines. Watching their videos feels like stepping into a creative fever dream. Naturally, I had to find out how that translated to a live performance.
Walking into night two of their Los Angeles tour stop, I stepped on a stray piece of confetti. It felt like a breadcrumb for the night ahead, a tiny hint at the kind of chaotic joy I was about to be part of. Even knowing OK Go’s reputation, I still wasn’t prepared for just how immersive the show would be.
The band opened with “This Too Shall Pass,” and an exploding stage. Two massive confetti cannons fired with the first few notes, and the air filled with thousands of paper pieces, catching the light as they floated down. It felt like watching a kid’s first snowfall: heads tilted back, arms outstretched, marveling at the simple beauty floating through the air.
Determined to build a connection with the audience, Damian Kulash, the band’s frontman, made a point of talking to the crowd often. And not just with generic stage banter. He asked and listened, always responding with warmth and curiosity. At one point, a young kid near the front raised their hand and nervously asked a question. Damian kneeled down and took his time answering, creating an authentic and core memory for that child. Also, it was a gentle reminder that OK GO genuinely cares about their audience.
The setlist itself was a playful mix of fan favorites and unexpected arrangements. Songs like “Obsession,” “Do What You Want,” and “Here It Goes Again” sparked huge reactions from the crowd. During “This is How It Ends,” Damian left the stage and walked into the crowd, stopping under the disco ball to perform from a tiny platform surrounded by fans. Later, the entire band gathered at the front of the stage to perform “Shooting the Moon” using only handbells. It was delicate, a total contrast to the confetti storm.
Looking around the venue, I was struck by how diverse the crowd was. Gen Alpha kids were dancing next to Gen Xers. A dad held his daughter up on his shoulders. Couples swayed. Millennials shouted along to lyrics they probably first heard on YouTube. OK Go built a space where everyone was required to have a good time.
At the end of the evening, even if you know about the confetti, nothing really prepares you to swim through it on your way out the door. With that experience, I got a sense that OK Go were curators. Curators of moments, both colorful and emotional. Seen not only in their viral music videos, but also in how they craft their performances.
Words and photography by David Saxum
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