This event has passed.

More Flavor: Party July 4th Spectacular feat. Randy Newman and the LA Dodgers

While Randy Newman's recent end-of-empire parable "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country" took a pretty dark turn, the husky-throated piano man remains the quintessential patriot — an ardent, active defender of democracy and freedom in America. After all, there's nothing more red, white, and blue than nearly 40 years of wry, tongue-in-cheek dissidence. Tonight, the undisputed king of the political story-songs rings in America's b-day (and the Dodgers' 50th anniverary) with classic baseball tunes at the Hollywood Bowl. Adding even more grandeur to an already epic evening, the LA Philharmonic help Newman clear the air for the Bowl's annual fireworks spectacular.

– Andrew Phillips