Following a disappointing trend started by the Emmys, there was no alcohol at the actual Grammys ceremony at the Staples center. But after CBS signed off on Sunday night, the party was on.
While Universal Music Group took over the newly opened Ace Hotel downtown, the late heat was at Warner Music Group’s party at the Sunset Tower in West Hollywood.
Two Lens and two stars: Len Wiseman and Kate Beckinsale, and Forbes lister Len Blavatnik with Chris Martin at Warner Music Group’s bash.
By the time the West Hollywood Sheriff showed up to enforce the noise curfew around 11:20 p.m., the funk disco band Chic had already gotten the seen-it-all crowd dancing to Diana Ross’ “Upside Down” and their own sing-along anthem “Le Freak.”
Hunter Hayes and Ed Sheeran.
Bowing to their roadie’s warnings that the police were on site and they would get in trouble for continuing to play over the covered pool as some dramatically-timed rain drops started to fall, Lead man Nile Rodgers (below left, a big winner with Pharrell Williams and Daft Punk for “Get Lucky”) told the crowd he was bummed that he couldn’t finish with their classic “Good Times.”
On the spot, DJ D-Nice picked up and drew the crowd into the Sunset Tower’s terrace with a pre-recorded version of “Good Times,” keeping the party going past midnight on the entire first floor of the hotel, including the cleared-for-the-night restaurant.
This crowd did not fight the law. The law won. They made a 180 and headed inside for DJ time.
A week before his global Super Bowl performance, Bruno Mars hit the room, as well as Chris Martin and Ed Sheeran in the musician category. Mars wasn’t the only one looking towards this week’s festivities in New York, so was New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch.
He told TheWrap he has 28 guests in his suite at Met Life stadium for the big game, but that he may be adding two more. (“Jay Z called.”)
Anjelica Huston with Mitch Glazer, and Tery Songz at Warner Music Group’s party.
Tisch wasn’t alone from the film community, as fellow producer buddy Lawrence Bender was at the Warner bash, as was Anjelica Huston, who was buddied up with my initialed namesake with the cooler hair, Mitch Glazer.
Hey (Film) Awards Season, don’t forget about us. Oscar nominee Julia Roberts hugs Paul McCartney backstage at Staples. Meanwhile, the man who has a foot in both worlds, fellow Oscar nominee Jared Leto, knows he is having an “up” year.
Warner artists were plastered on the mirrors, and a common refrain was “Where’s Macklemore celebrating?” noting the big out-of-nowhere-from-a-year-ago winner on the night.
Wedding etiquette: Do you invite the wedding officiant(s) to the party or not? The thrift shopper was with Mary Lambert, Madonna and Queen Latifah on the floor at Staples hours earlier for the mass wedding.
More visible on the scene and spotted in Warners’ simmering room: Bolthouse Productions chief Jen Rosero, the A List’s Ashlee Margolis, and NYC visitors Roger Friedman and PR string-puller Norah Lawlor.
Meanwhile, Republic Records was the next to break in the leather on the booths at the newly opened 1OAK, a mile west down Sunset in the former Key Club space.
Red Light Management (who now reps Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw, Ben Harper, Alabama Shakes, and EDM prodigy “Pretty Lights”) had a bulging party at the Mondrian. What they lacked in star power on-hand, they made up for in aesthetics.
One benefit of the Grammys getting pushed up into January, away from Valentines’ demand in February, is no shortage of red fabric available to drape over the pool in the prettiest party of the night.
Kudos to Gina Wade and her Gina Wade Creative team for making the covered pool set up at the Mondrian look even better than it did the night the Weinsteins celebrated their Oscar wins for “The Artist,” Meryl Streep, and documentary “Undefeated” there in the same configuration two years ago on Oscar night 2012.
Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Pharrell Williams backstage. Newsflash: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis beat the two guys on the left in three categories. Truth.
Back downtown, Ciara and Boys II Men performed at the Grammys’ official post celebration at the convention center, where industry favorite Michelle Pesce got the nod to spin between the sets for an unprecedented third year in a row. They usually never repeat talent.
It’s not a golden gramophone, but it’s something to hang your headphones on at the end of a long Grammys week.
Up next in awards season: the NFL’s Award (period), a.k.a., the New York City Super Bowl.
All photos except Red Light Management by Getty Images.
