6:24 p.m. You recognize, it says one thing very encouraging about pop’s freshman class that the normie of the group — Teddy Swims — is a face-tatted grunge-soul singer sporting Doc Ock shades and a flower-adorned duster. Maintain pop bizarre! — M.W.
Shaboozey’s bought a giant hill to climb right here for brand spanking new artist however man, I’m rooting for him. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is only a good music, and he’s bought extra of them within the wings. It’s only a diabolically well-crafted single. He’s bought even higher tunes to come back. — A.B.
Will admit I’m extraordinarily bored with listening to “A Bar Song,” however I’m with you on Shaboozey’s appeal and magnetism. Hope he finds a option to break the Lil Nas X curse. — M.W.
Raye has been an trade best-kept secret for a bit as a author, hope this can be a large breakout for her within the Adele-power-bloc of voters. — A.B.
Enormous search for Raye, although she’s most likely the act that will’ve been greatest served by one of many Grammys’ little biographical movies. Typically I feel the key of Adele’s success isn’t her voice — it’s her persona. — M.W.
6:21 p.m. Doechii is legit the primary rapper I feel might have seen “All That Jazz” extra occasions than I’ve. — M.W.
Doechii is so, so good, and good in a selected virtuoso-lyricist/rap-craft approach that most likely reminds Grammy voters of the ‘90s golden era that keeps winning trophies today. — A.B.
Benson Boone.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
6:15 p.m. Benson Boone at a bistro table with Jennifer Lopez. Inspiring. — M.W.
J. Lo moves on QUICK. — A.B.
Who could resist? I’ve seen Benson Boone carry out three of 4 occasions at this level and have by no means NOT seen him in a stunning jumpsuit. Not the identical jumpsuit. Completely different jumpsuits! — M.W.
Tearaway powder blue disco singlets are gonna be flying off the cabinets after this Benson Boone set. What a backflip! — A.B.
“THE GRAMMYS, BABY!” says Boone. I’ve seen sufficient. Greatest new dreamboat. — M.W.
6:03 p.m. Taylor Swift presenting the nation album award says to me that Beyoncé gained. — M.W.
Did somebody simply watch “Conclave,” Mikael? — A.B.
LOL the Grammys are very Vatican! — M.W.
Beyoncé for nation album. Enormous achievement on the deserves in a tough style to cross into, and a large flashing neon bar signal this may be her yr for album. — A.B.
“Genre is sometimes a code word to keep us in our place,” says Beyoncé, who’s now the primary Black lady to win the nation album Grammy. — M.W.
And I agree, August, that Beyoncé’s win augurs extra awards. Was texting with a Nashville supply the opposite evening who’s satisfied she’s taking all of it tonight. — M.W.
Yep, if she broke via the famously Beyoncé-skeptical Nashville institution voting bloc to win this, she’s bought an enormous, enormous wind at her again. — A.B.
Chappell Roan.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Instances)
5:58 p.m. In a pre-taped piece earlier than her efficiency of “Pink Pony Club,” Chappell Roan says L.A. was “ultimately where I feel the most free,” and that’s an L.A. worth price protecting in thoughts the subsequent few years. And I actually hope “Pink Pony Club” results in the good L.A. sleazy underdog pop canon. It’s Randy Newman worthy. — A.B.
I ponder if Chappell determined after the fires to do “Pink Pony Club” as an alternative of her Massive Grammy File, which is “Good Luck, Babe!” — M.W.
Yeah, nice event to shout out neighborhoods affected by all this. — A.B.
5:43 p.m. Everybody knew this was a giant yr for the Pop Girlies, however St. Vincent and Doechii and Charli XCX and Sierra Ferrell cleansing up within the subgenres suggests that is going to be a deep-category story too. — A.B.
Really feel like I’ve nonetheless by no means gotten a great rationalization of the Chad Smith/Will Ferrell factor. — M.W.
Anthony Kiedis has regrettably modified from his outfit at FireAid, the place he was a goth Tapatio man. — A.B.
Goth. Tapatio. Man. — M.W.
Sabrina for pop vocal album. Barry Koeghan have to be in shambles. May really develop into The Joker now. — A.B.
I’m into Sabrina’s win. I feel “Short n’ Sweet” is an extended shot for album of the yr — like, a really lengthy shot — nevertheless it does principally every thing you need from a pop album. You giggle, you cry, you surprise which Letters to Cleo document she advised her guitar participant to review. — M.W.
Yeah, it’s an exemplary pop album within the sense that it’s skilled, accessible and full of selection and true star energy. She’s clearly bought numerous champions right here tonight. — A.B.
5:41 p.m. Whereas we’re on a business break, I’ll point out that I spoke with Dawes and the god Randy Newman yesterday about their opening quantity. Enjoyable reality I couldn’t match into my story: Newman’s favourite new discovery is … Gracie Abrams. —M.W.
Doechii accepts the Grammy for rap album.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Instances)
5:31 p.m. Cardi B, who’s presenting rap album, is considered one of solely two ladies who’ve ever gained this award (together with Lauryn Hill of the Fugees). — M.W.
And it’s Doechii! Add a 3rd identify to that criminally quick checklist, Mikael. — A.B.
Love that Doechii is looking consideration to the historical past right here. — M.W.
Massive shoutout to her sobriety too, hell yeah. — A.B.
It’s loopy, although, that — as a proud hip-hop theater child — Doechii gained a rap album Grammy earlier than Nicki Minaj. — M.W.
Sabrina Carpenter.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Instances)
5:25 p.m. I recognize Sabrina Carpenter’s NOT attempting to inform the world that she was sleeping when Grammy noms got here out and he or she didn’t even know till she woke as much as 1,000,000 texts and wow what a loopy factor. — M.W.
Kinda uncommon to get somebody who’s receiving the breakout-young-superstar therapy on the Grammys who can be this many albums (and years of Disney coaching) deep in preparation to be this good and professional tonight. — A.B.
She’s bought such a head begin that it’s nearly not truthful. — M.W.
5:18 p.m. Very candy gesture to present this advert block to an Altadena flower studio, Orla. — A.B.
Raj Kapoor, one of many present’s government producers, advised me in an interview final week about their plan to make spots with native companies affected by the fires. Sounded bizarre, however that was form of touching. Doja Cat: good pitchwoman. — M.W.
Billie Eilish.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Instances)
5:14 p.m. It’s form of good to see Billie with a very large backing band of stay gamers! — A.B.
And this parched desert panorama — two for 2 on L.A.-centric performances. — M.W.
“Birds of a Feather” looks like a type of songs that’ll be round perpetually. I’ve most likely heard it 150 occasions? Nonetheless dig it. — M.W.
5:12 p.m. Trevor Noah getting in some mild cracks about being deported. Will that simply be a darkish undertone of the evening or will anybody communicate up extra forcefully? — A.B.
Really feel like Noah simply live-blogged the complete final yr of music in six minutes. I’m drained! — M.W.
5:10 p.m. Marvel what palms Sam Altman greased for Trevor Noah to recommend AI could make a brand new Rihanna album occur. — A.B.
Grammys host Trevor Noah.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Instances)
5:05 p.m. Fairly large second for native rock to present stalwarts Dawes (whose singer and drummer misplaced houses and studios within the Eaton Fireplace) such an enormous opener with “I Love L.A.” with John Legend, Brad Paisley, St. Vincent, Sheryl Crow and Brittany Howard. — A.B.
St. Vincent finessing that indelibly ‘80s synth solo — love to see it. — M.W.
5:03 p.m. Best line from Trevor Noah’s opening monologue about our city’s id as the worldwide hub of pop music: “L.A. was the city where Snoop first mixed gin and juice.” — M.W.
5:00 p.m. Effectively, August, right here we discover ourselves but once more. Clearly, the massive awards-centric query is whether or not Beyoncé lastly wins album of the yr — or the Recording Academy simply goes forward and renames the prize after Taylor Swift. Every other tight races you’re watching? — M.W.
Mikael, it’s lastly time for the inimitable excessive drama that solely Music’s Greatest Evening can provide. The fires clearly shall be an enormous theme for the evening, and a giant accountability for the Academy to honor. It’s such an undisputed enormous yr for wonderful pop that I’m holding out for at the very least one insane Basic Grammy Curveball, like an André 3000 win for album. — A.B.
