Some of the biggest names in the music industry were in town over the July 4 holiday weekend. Here's a recap of some of the action.
What an action-packed July 4 holiday weekend in the Atlantic City area. (View July 4 Weekend photo gallery here)
With some of the biggest names in the music industry in Atlantic City — Lady Gaga, Sean "Diddy" Combs, and the Flaming Lips among them — it certainly wasn't your typical July 4 weekend at the Jersey Shore.
Fireworks may have lit up the skies around the region, but Lady Gaga and the Flaming Lips lit up the stages at Boardwalk Hall and the House of Blues' Music Hall respectively on Sunday night, July 4.
While the Flaming Lips dazzled the crowd at the House of Blues with giant balloons, lots of confetti shooting and an incredible performance — which featured Lips frontman Wayne Coyne first appearing on stage in a giant balloon in front of an X-rated, psychedelic video backdrop, before he rolled out into the audience for some big-balloon bodysurfing — Lady Gaga finally made her Atlantic City debut, performing to a sold-out crowd at Boardwalk Hall. The concert was sponsored by the Borgata, where Lady G was scheduled to perform earlier this year before a cancellation was made.
According to reports, at the July 4 show, Lady Gaga played her hits, including "Poker Face," and did a lot of interacting with the audience.
“You know I didn’t have a lot of friends in high school," Gaga said. "They made fun of me. I just felt like a freak. You know what I told them? That I was going to be a star. A huge star." (Below: Lady Gaga at Boardwalk Hall / Courtesy of the Borgata)
She also asked the crowd: “Do you think I am sexy? I’m severely unconfident in myself so I kind of abuse this part of the show. So do you think I’m sexy?”
From backstage, prior to the concert, she sent the following message out to her followers on Twitter: "Happy 4th of July little monsters! I can smell you from backstage. Lipstick, whiskey, and the rat pack. Fuck I love AC. X Mother Monster."
She also tweeted, "Ahhhhhhhhh smell the fireworks!! AC here we come!!"
Lady Gaga's insecurities were further expressed later in the show when she said: “I’m kind of like Tinkerbell from Peter Pan. If you don’t scream and clap for me I’ll die.”
Even with a record amount of Facebook fans, it seems the biggest pop star in the world right now still battles her share of self-doubts.
The officials at Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City may have some doubts of their own pertaining to having hip-hop superstar Sean "Diddy" Combs return.
Although Diddy played the House of Blues at Showboat on Saturday night, July 3, — the Showboat is one of the four Harrah's Entertainment properties in Atlantic City‚— according to reports, police were forced to close clubs at Harrah's over the weekend as an unruly crowd of about 500 people tried to force their way into the venue early Monday morning hyped up to catch Diddy's scheduled July 4 Pool After Dark appearance with Busta Rhymes.
According to reports, police had to get nearly 2,000 people to leave the Pool at Harrah's before closing it down. One arrest was made.
Like Gaga, Diddy used his Twitter account to contact fans, saying: "The party was so crazy I couldn't even get in! 10 thousand people showed up. Damn I was ready to party!"
Aside from the trouble that ensued at Harrah's Resort, which led to the cancellation of the Diddy show, it appeared as though the weekend went off without too many hitches. The beaches were packed, the sun was hot and the Boardwalk merchants in shore towns such as Ocean City must have been happy about their weekend business.
Even before his scheduled Pool at Harrah's concert, Diddy was seen at the Tropicana's IMAX theater on July 4 with 11 friends for the 5pm showing of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Meanwhile, Lady Gaga spent the July 4 day at the Borgata where she "relaxed in her suite and had a little fun with family and
friends, even trying her hand at the blackjack tables in the casino," according to a spokesperson for the Borgata.
The Lady Gaga after the show party-goers hit SUNBAR at The Water Club as well as MIXX, where Steve Aoki put on "a sizzling spinning display." Popular blogger Perez Hilton hosted the party.
Headlining the countdown to midnight is famed electro house artist and DJ, Steve Aoki, who will be joined by Tommy Trash, Adventure Club, and David Solano.
Interview with Chris Funk of the Decemberists: "I don't really look where we're going until I'm on the road these days."
'For the Dave Matthews Band Caravan, we’re doing Pink Floyd’s album The Dark Side of the Moon. It should be pretty absurd.'
Hours before the show, fans lined the Atlantic City Boardwalk donning bow-tie wigs, tutus, capes, nine-inch pumps and hair-curlers made from soda cans, creating an atmosphere of pomp and eccentricity, which is standard of any Gaga appearance.
Several specials related to Lady Gaga's Feb. 19 appearance are going on around town, including one at Trump Plaza (adjoining Boardwalk Hall), where their “Gaga for Gaga” signature drink specials include such concoctions as the “Little Monster’s Mix” (gin, Apple Pucker and pineapple juice), the “Paparazzi Potion” (Absolut vodka, Chambord, club soda and a lemon twist) and “A Shot of Bad Romance” (Cointreau, grape vodka and Sprite), “Telephone Treat.”
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1. party gurl said... on Jul 6, 2010 at 11:00AM
“What's so amazing about this article and all of your pre and post July 4th event coverage is the failure to make any mention of one of the most unique and unexpectedly successful events of the weekend. Nervous Beach Party by Art of Electronica was a smashing success for 600 partyers @ The Hilton Beach Club on Sunday afternoon. Is it because Hilton isn't an advertiser ? Or because there were no riots to report on ? Just a perfect show on the beach by two of the biggest house DJ's on the planet -- Oscar G and Pablo Ceballos.”
2. jenga said... on Jul 6, 2010 at 02:32PM
“for being called 'party gurl' you sure are a 'party pooper'.... quit whining and if you werent retarded youd see hilton ads litter their paper...”
3. Anonymous said... on Jul 6, 2010 at 02:59PM
“The nervous beach party was AMAZING - Monday at Harras would of been amazing if it didnt get cancelled because some people dont know how to act. Diddy shouldnt even be asked to perform there.”
4. FoReal said... on Jul 9, 2010 at 10:22PM
“hey negative deushbag - if your hating on this paper why dont you go somewhere else you fing moron”