THE SHOW WITH A BEAT TO A PULP
You walk in, and boom! You’re hit with this electric vibe, like stepping into a Tarantino flick—one minute, you’re feeling cool, the next minute, you’re questioning if you’ve just stepped into a fever dream. It’s sleek, it’s gritty, and it’s dripping with style. The show you’re gonna see? Off the charts. The place? The CineVita. The beauty of this thing! They call it a Spiegeltent—which can be moved to another location easier than hauling a bucket of cement—and it’s the largest of its kind in the world. Friggin’ top that, Barnum and Whoosits.
Now, on to the in-the-round show from the folks at For the Record. Tarantino: Pulp Rock—it ain’t your grandma’s musical. It’s like a cocktail of killer riffs and quippy dialogue and served with a side of whoa. You know that feeling when you’re watching a Tarantino movie and every scene is so good that you’re half-convinced someone is about to get their ear cut off the next second? That’s what you get here, but instead of a bloody ear, it’s pure rock ‘n’ roll mayhem (well, maybe you’ll get a bloody ear).
And then there’s the cast. I’m talking kickass performances that make you wanna bang your head, snap your fingers, and throw up a “peace sign” all at the same time. Let me tell you, these actors—they ain’t just good, they’re freakin’ legendary. Every line drips with the kind of sharp wit that makes you wanna scream “Yeah, baby!” from the rooftops. You know that one actor who can deliver a line so good it’ll make your spine shiver? Yeah, they’ve got six of ‘em. Each actor was born to stand in front of this crowd, and when they hit the stage, they’re not just acting—they’re living those scenes from from Quentin’s flicks. And they got better pipes than Saul’s plumbers (that reminds me, I gotta return those pipes—and the bloody ear). The energy’s so electric, you’re half-expecting them to break into a fist fight or start a dance-off at any moment. It’s that real.
Then we get to the band. Oh my god, the band. These musicians? Pure fury. The brass will melt your face off faster than a revolver shot. You know when you hear a guitar riff that just makes you wanna take a slow drag from a cigarette, look over your shoulder, and say, “Yeah, this is it”? That’s Pulp Rock in a nutshell. Every note is sharp, every beat is tight, and if you don’t leave that place feeling like you just walked out of a rock star’s fever dream, then you weren’t paying attention.
Now, this CineVita thing is right in front of the lake in front of SoFi Stadium. And the closest parking’ll set you back 33 clams. But even parked close by—I mean, you’d think there’d be some signage. My point is, give yourself time. Also, there’s OK food (sliders, fries, basic snacks) and themed cocktails, with some great beers. There’s no minimum.
So yeah, CineVita—Aces. The show? Unbelievable. You gotta see it. Trust me, if you don’t, you’re gonna regret it like the time you didn’t buy that limited-edition vinyl you thought you didn’t need. But here’s the deal: you need it. You need this.
The Cast: Ty Taylor, Loren Lott, Cheyenne Isabel Wells, Tara Lee, Patrick Mulvey, James Byous, Lord KraVen, Derek Richard Thomas, Maeva Feitelson, Anika Braganza, Brian McKnight Jr., LJ Benet, India McGee, Emily Lopez, and Ian Ward.
photos by Wes and Alex Photography
Tarantino: Pulp Rock
On the Record
CineVita at Hollywood Park by SoFi Stadium
PS-3 Parking Garage, 3951 Century Blvd in Inglewood (make advance reservations)
ends on March 9, 2025
followed by tributes to John Hughes and Scorsese
for tickets, visit CineVita/Pulp Rock
CineVita (photo Steve Mazurek)
