Category Archives: PIX FROM THE STRIP

SCENES FROM SUNSET

Rainbow keeps the rock a-rollin’.

Looking west along the legendary Sunset Strip, the road stretches out like a journey into infinite possibilities, passing the storied sites where landmarks like Tower Records Sunset, SST Records, and Duke’s Diner once shaped the boulevard’s iconic legacy. Today, the Rainbow Bar and Grill and the iconic Whisky A Go-Go, thankfully, keep the heavy metal flame burning bright.

Three quick facts about the Rainbow…

  • Iconic bands Dokken and Guns N’ Roses both prominently featured the Rainbow in their iconic music videos.

  • The Sunset Strip haunt is so legendary that Richie Blackmore named his band Rainbow after the restaurant, which opened in 1972.

  • Joe DiMaggio took Marilyn Monroe out for their first date to Villa Nova, which stood where the Rainbow does today.

Photo: Mack Fleetwood, Sunset and Clark

TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB

All-star rock-and-roll lineup at ’Ultimate Jam Night’ had fans braving L.A.’s rain to get rocked!

We’re all about supporting the local arts community, and wow, it certainly paid off for us earlier this week at the Whisky A Go-Go’s “Ultimate Jam Night Hollywood.” Tuesday’s torrential rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the dedicated fans who braved the storm to get their faces rocked—including by a stellar Jon Bon Jovi impersonator! 

“Ultimate Jam Night Hollywood” is a free live music showcase happening every other Tuesday and featuring a themed night of non-stop rock hits performed by world-class musicians.

Continue reading TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB

LET’S DANCE

Ultimate Jam Night Hollywood’s David Bowie tribute was the next best thing to seeing the Thin White Duke live.

If you were lucky enough to catch Ultimate Jam Night Hollywood’s David Bowie tribute last week at the legendary Whisky A Go-Go, then you know what it was like to experience a supersonic, surreall evening of Bowie mania that felt like having your soul nourished with flawless artistry from the music industry’s most talented rockers.

The evening’s lineup featured mega-talents like Derek Day (Classless Act), Chris Freeman (Pansy Division, GayC/DC), Sean McNabb (formerly of Dokken), Debby Holiday, Savannah Pope, and other world-class musicians.

Each artist who graced the stage delivered a stellar performance, with Freeman’s renditions of “Rebel Rebel” and “Jazzin’ for Blue Jean” standing out as particularly captivating. During “Rebel Rebel,” his brilliant performance had him seamlessly tearing off his silver, sequined sport coat to unveil a sparkling silver dress during the iconic line, “You’ve got your mother in a whirl. She’s not sure if you’re a boy or a girl.”

Not to be outdone, Holliday and Day tore the roof off with their show-stealing cover of “Under Pressure.”

Continue reading LET’S DANCE

SIGN O’ THE TIMES

The Sunset Strip scene is becoming unrecognizable. But it’s nothing a shot of Whisky can’t cure.

Lately, the ever-evolving Sunset Strip scene seems to be changing as rapidly as Machine Gun Kelly shifts musical genres. The iconic Tower Records Sunset building, though closed since 2006, recently underwent a controversial exterior alteration that affected the look of the structure, but at least Tower’s famous front facade was preserved as a testament to the magical musical palace it once housed.

Across the street, the Tower Records Video and Classical Music Annex was the go-to spot for concert tickets, where fans lined up on Sunset and Larrabee, sometimes stretching east all the way past Book Soup for events like Ozzfest. Those were the golden days, spanning from the ’80s through the 2000s. The space eventually housed a longstanding Chase Bank, which recently closed its doors, leaving the building vacant.

Continue reading SIGN O’ THE TIMES

SCENE ON SUNSET

Whisky N’ Water: Rockin’ in the Rain

About two dozen music devotees braved the torrential downpour of L.A. rain on Tuesday night to hear some cool cover tunes by the Ultimate Jam Night Hollywood band of revolving musicians. The rockin’ two-hour show at the Whisky A Go-Go featured timeless hits from every iconic band from The Beatles to Blondie.

PAVED OVER PARADISE…

Sun sets on Tower Records Sunset.

A big bright yellow part of L.A.’s music history has been whitewashed. The location of the former Tower Records Sunset is now a Supreme store, which opened last week. Sure, it’s cool to see a halfpipe skate ramp inside of what was formerly the famous record shop, but we already miss seeing the L.A. music landmark.