Tag Archives: l.a.

ROCKIN' NEWS

MAKING ROCK HISTORY

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WeHo prepares to give the Roxy and Rainbow Bar & Grill the iconic status these rock institutions deserve.

The City of West Hollywood’s Historic Preservation Commission will recommend that the City Council approve a Mills Act Contract for two of the city’s most rockin’ cultural icons: the Roxy Theatre and the Rainbow Bar & Grill, both located on the world-famous Sunset Strip’s “Rock Row,” at 9009 and 9015 Sunset Boulevard, respectively.

The Historic Preservation Commission is dedicated to preserving historic structures that represent WeHo’s unique cultural and social heritage. “Protecting these landmarks helps deepen public understanding of the city’s past and ensures that future generations can appreciate its rich history,” says the Commission on its website.

Rock Venues Land a Mills Act Contract

A Mills Act Contract is a legal agreement between the owner of a historic property and the municipality. It allows for lower property tax rates in exchange for the owner’s commitment to undertake specific rehabilitation, restoration, and maintenance work. To qualify, a property must be listed in a historic national, state, county, or city register, be privately owned, and not be tax-exempt.

The Roxy Theatre and the Rainbow Bar & Grill meet these criteria, being listed in West Hollywood’s Register of Cultural Resources and privately owned.

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ROCKIN’ EVENTS

ROCKET MAN

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Ace Frehley is bringing his KISS and solo hits to the Whisky, Feb. 27.

Get set to rock and roll all night when iconic former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley gets back in the West Hollywood groove with a headlining gig at the Whisky A Go-Go on February 27.

As we said back in 2017 when he headlined the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, the founding KISS member is really in his element when he’s commanding the stage as a frontman. He puts on an exciting two-hour set of non-stop rockers that include his own classic KISS, Frehley’s Comet, and solo hits.

During his set, Frehley covers many KISS classics, like “Rocket Ride,” “Cold Gin” and “Shock Me” as well as solo hits like “Rock Soldiers” and his cover of “New York Groove” from his 1978 KISS solo album.

Frehley’s equally famous smokin’ Gibson guitar will also make a guest appearance along with a few guest artists to be announced soon.

The Whisky A Go-Go is located 8901 Sunset Boulevard at Clark Street. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $65.

STREET ART

AMERICAN GRAFFITI

Artists turn L.A. streets into an urban art gallery any music fan would love.

In 2020, the Sunset Boulevard scene–from Rock Row to Dodger Stadium–has dramatically changed as a result of the pandemic and the nation’s turbulent political climate. And the changes extend beyond just the physical sense of seeing the famous, once-glamorous and vibrant landscape covered in bland blonde plywood and political graffiti.

The biggest impact is the deafening silencing of the world-class live rock and roll music that always seemed to be a ubiquitous part of the Sunset Strip. Regardless of when you visited Sunset’s Rock Row, there was always an exciting rock and roll energy and spontaneous soundtrack permeating the legendary thoroughfare and creating an intrinsic connection with visitors.

Until this year, there was always music in the night air, whether it was the power chords of superstars like Lita Ford or local faves like Budderside emanating from the Whisky A Go Go, or the rockin’ retro sounds of Missing Persons or L.A. rockers Warner Drive (pictured below) shaking the foundation of the Viper Room.

Warner Drive band

However, while the temporary closure of the Whisky, Viper Room and Roxy is tough on everyone, there is some good news.

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LIVE SHOWS, ROCKIN' NEWS

READY TO ‘ROAR’

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Robert Plant

LED ZEPPELIN LEGEND ROBERT PLANT TO ROCK HOLLYWOOD HILLS, JUNE 2

Robert Plant and the Sensational Space ShiftersBeen a long time since you rock and rolled?

Robert Plant is returning to L.A. to grace the gorgeous Hollywood Hills summer skyline with his golden pipes when he headlines the Greek Theatre on June 2.

This time around, the Led Zeppelin legend is bringing along his new band, the Sensational Space Shifters, pictured right at L.A.’s Shrine Theatre in 2013.  The iconic singer-songwriter and his band will be focusing on music from their 2014 album, Lullaby and… the Ceaseless Roar.

Get ticket information and more details on the Greek show here.

Check out and the Sensational Space Shifters in the short film Returning to the Borders, below.

STREET ART

SCENE ON SUNSET

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SUNSET STREET ART - 1000pxl
WHEAT PASTE WISDOM: WRDSMTH

We spotted this rockin’ and random stencil art confession by prolific L.A. street artist Wrdsmth just off the Sunset Strip, outside Viper Room‘s Larrabee entrance. We imagine that, like us, most Angelenos totally empathize with half of this statement–and occasionally, the other half!

ROCKIN' NEWS

SUNSET DRIVE

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WARNER DRIVE TAKES OVER VIPER ROOM

Sunset Strip rock refugees Warner Drive are returning to the Viper Room in February and March with four shows that are sure to officially rock the roof off the joint.

Awhile back, when Sunset and Clark first stumbled — and we do mean stumbled, following drinks at Rainbow — upon Warner Drive at Viper Room and witnessed, through bloodshot eyes, the band crank up its signature jam, “All by Myself,” it took us all of 10 seconds into the addictive rocker to proclaim them the best Sunset Strip band since Guns N’ Roses.

Now, as Warner Drive —  JonnyLaw, Candice Levinson, Ryan Harris, Jonny Udell and Elvis James — are steering their way back to the comfy confines of the band’s unofficial Sunset Strip home base, it’s hard to believe that these arena-worthy mofos haven’t yet headlined Staples considering that the VR shows are celebrating these local legends’ 10-year anniversary.

Warner Drive, however, is working on its follow-up to the band’s fantastic full-length sophomore release of original songs, 2011’sK-Go!, and considering that the band debuted a dynamite new tune, “King of Swing,” at a recentHouse of Blues show (right), you can likely expect to hear some more cool new tunes!

The band’s Jan. 30 warm up show at the Viper Room in anticipation of WD’s month-long Wednesday night residency sold out quickly. Get tickets and more deets about WD’s Feb. 6 to March 1 takeover of Viper Room here. Plus, advance tickets are only $10, but a still-cheap $12 at the door. (But trust us, there likely won’t be any left!)

Rock out to “Viper Room'” Warner Drive’s sonic salute to the iconic Sunset Strip club, from the band’s debut, Loaded, below. See you at the shows!

ROCKIN' NEWS

HOT WHEELS

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FAST TIMES ON SUNSET BOULEVARD

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Spotted this freshly posted “Super Street Art” by mysterious art ninja EmSixFive while stumbling home from the Rainbow this evening. The nostalgic ode to hot rods and model car kits covers part of a utility box near the front of the Roxy.

The rockin’ monochromatic graphic captures the essence of an era so vividly that it got us reminiscing about those old model car kits that took all afternoon to build. Then as soon as you proudly placed it on a shelf, its wheels fell off, leaving you with nothing but a mess and fingers you couldn’t separate.

But the residual high from the glue usually made it all better.