For one special night singer/songwriter Stephin Merritt, the central troubadour of The Magnetic Fields, will revisit his iconic 1999 record 69 Love Songs at the Ford on Wednesday, July 24th. A commemoration of the album’s 25th anniversary, the evening will include not only a solo performance by Merritt but also a deep dive by Song Exploder’s Hrishikesh Hirway into its most memorable songs. Tickets for the concert currently start at $35, but you can score a free pair during our upcoming giveaway. Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know all the details about the ticket giveaway.

This feature was produced by Sandra Burciaga Olinger, and written by David Sosa

Revel and wallow along to The Magnetic Fields’ magnum opus

The idea for a sprawling sixty-nine-song concept album was first conceived by Merritt rather fittingly inside a piano bar. Spurred by the existence of 114 Songs by Charles Ives and the artistic challenge that presented itself in compiling a similarly ambitious collection of original songs, The Magnetic Fields’ sixth studio record arrived in 1999 as the final word in 20th-century pop music.

Across its three movements (each comprised of 23 tracks) you’re treated to a versatile and inventive melding of meandering country-folk, pop balladry, free-wheeling jazz instrumentals, exuberant electronica, and good-old-fashioned heartstring tuggers. Merritt’s solo set promises to afford fans the chance to hear the album’s incredibly eclectic sound and cheekily visceral songwriting in a manner few fans of The Magnetic Fields will ever get to experience again.

Pull back the curtain on 69 Love Songs with Song Exploder

Song Exploder is also celebrating something of a milestone, as it was ten years ago this past January that Hrishikesh Hirway launched his podcast, which invites musicians to break down the story behind the creation of their songs. From the writing of lyrics to tales from recording sessions and post-production, the show gives the artist full reign to share anything and everything about particular songs from their catalog.

Having discussed over two hundred songs by The National, Death Cab For Cutie, Natalia Lafourcade, Courtney Barnett, Mitski, Solange, and so many more, Hirway’s podcast centers the conversation around the artist, often editing out his contributions to allow a seamless immersion into the processes that birthed it. Live, fans will get to experience more of a dialogue between Hirway and Merritt that will find the latter elaborating on several seminal favorites from 69 Love Songs.

If you’ve always been curious about the inception of meaning behind specific songs or curious about how The Magnetic Fields concocted the disparate but cohesive sound that courses throughout its 172-minute run time—you won’t want to miss out!

Wine and dine yourself before the show

Gates open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 8pm—giving you plenty of time for a picnic—or to share a meal of delicious Venezuelan street food or Taiwanese comfort meals from Bodega at The Ford. If you do opt for a picnic remember that one of the benefits of going to a show at The Ford is being able to bring in your own food and drinks. Pack a romantic meal and a bottle of wine if you’re arriving with a special someone—and maybe your favorite dessert and some bears if you’re riding solo or with friends—and grab a seat at The Zev Terrace for a beautiful sunset dining experience!

Set the mood with a pre-show stroll around The Ford

Whether you plan on having a picnic or not The Ford shares a similarity with the Hollywood Bowl across the street in that both venues are best experienced without a sense of urgency. Apart from the picnic area at The Zev Terrace, there are also a few secluded spots scattered along the pathway that leads up to the amphitheater. Hidden within the trees you’ll find plenty of atmosphere to set the mood for a performance of 69 Love Songs.

Plan ahead to avoid traffic delay headaches!

Since this a weekday show we can’t recommend enough that you make your travel plans ahead of time so you’re not scrambling to get to the concert on time. After all, angrily sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic is the opposite of what you want to be doing during a night out, so here are some tips to abide by:

Always try to aim to get there ninety minutes before the concert starts, you might have to deal with some rush hour slowdowns, but at least you’ll be prepared for it. If you’re driving don’t decide until the day-of to figure out your parking plans as prices and logistics do vary. between options. The Ford offers both off-site parking (includes a free shuttle service that runs every 20 minutes) and on-site parking (keep in mind this stacked, so if you are the type to leave the show a little early to beat the chaos that follows, this isn’t for you).

Should you decide to leave the car at home, you can take the Metro B Line (Red) to the Universal City/Studio City Metro Station or Ovation Hollywood shopping center. From there, a free shuttle service will drop you at The Ford. Rideshare options are also ideal especially after the show (when the fatigue really starts to hit you) as pick-up areas are located relatively near the exit!

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