Tag Archives: sunset strip

LIVE SHOWS, MUSIC FESTIVALS, ROCK NEWS

Sunset Strip Music Fest Returns as ‘Live on Sunset’

Sheryl Crow headlines Nov. 14 event, reviving WeHo’s beloved Sunset Strip Music Festival & bringing major live music back to the boulevard.

Admittedly, it can be disheartening to watch California and Los Angeles get dissed daily in the international media. And no, I don’t have my head in the sand. L.A. and West Hollywood have changed considerably over the past few years, and the city isn’t quite the carefree, anything-can-happen party destination it was a decade ago.

But here’s the thing: L.A. is still an extraordinary place to live.

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL: Sheryl Crow has performed at WeHo clubs like the Troubadour over the course of her career, including for live recordings like “Halfway There.”

Where else can you enjoy spectacular weather all year, meet fascinating people from around the world, and stumble upon an unforgettable concert or street festival without leaving the city or even your own neighborhood?

Case in point: the return of the Sunset Strip Music Festival (SSMF), now reimagined as Live on Sunset.

SAINTS OF LOS ANGELES: Motley Crue’s Vince Neil and Tommy Lee face the cameras at the Sunset Strip’s House of Blues during an event for the 2011 Sunset Strip Music Festival.

On Saturday, November 14, the new concert experience will bring major musical performances back to Sunset Boulevard, reviving the event that once transformed West Hollywood’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll corridor into an enormous outdoor party.

Live on Sunset: November 14

Sheryl Crow may know a thing or two about having fun until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard, but on November 14, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter is heading north to Sunset Boulevard to headline Live on Sunset, a new iteration of the beloved Sunset Strip Music Festival.

The event will take place between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard, 4-11 p.m. and include an all-day lineup of musical acts, including Local Natives, Empress Of, Grace Bowers, Doug Locke, and DJ Mia Moretti.

Admission is free, but you must register at LiveOnSunsetWeHo.com.

Longtime West Hollywood residents will remember when the original festival brought major artists—including Ozzy Osbourne , Mötley Crüe, and Linkin Park—to the Strip for a celebration of the neighborhood’s remarkable musical history. The event became a signature West Hollywood attraction before its run ended in 2017.

SOMEWHERE THEY BELONG: SoCal arena rockers Linkin Park rocking WeHo at SSMF in 2013.

Now, Live on Sunset brings that festival back in a new format, giving music fans another opportunity to experience live performances on one of the world’s most famous boulevards. Plus, this time around the event is free to the public!

“The Sunset Strip is one of the most legendary music destinations in the world, and Live On Sunset is an opportunity to celebrate that extraordinary legacy while creating an exciting new chapter,” says West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman.

“For generations, artists, musicians, and fans have come to the Sunset Strip to experience something they couldn’t find anywhere else,” he adds. “We’re thrilled to bring live music out onto Sunset Boulevard and invite everyone to experience the energy, creativity, and unmistakable spirit that continue to make the Sunset Strip such an important part of culture.”

And what better way to launch this next chapter than with Sheryl Crow? Her catalog, spanning the sun-soaked sing-alongs “All I Wanna Do” and “Soak Up the Sun” to the blistering blues-rock of “My Favorite Mistake,” is practically tailor-made for a SoCal afternoon.

The event will take place from 4 to 11 p.m. along Sunset Boulevard, between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard. Admission is free with registration, and additional performers and attractions make this a compelling reason to get out and enjoy West Hollywood this fall.

The Party Never Really Stops in L.A.

‘ULTIMATE’ RUSH: A random shot from the Whisy A Go-Go’s monthly “Ultimate Jam Night.”

Let’s be honest: November is a pretty good time to be in Los Angeles.

While much of the country is bundling up for winter, we can be standing on Sunset Boulevard, singing along to Sheryl Crow and wondering why anyone would willingly live somewhere that requires scraping ice off a windshield.

SUNSET STRIP SALUTE: Roxy on Sunset pays respect to Eddie Van Halen in 2020.

For all its challenges, L.A. continues to offer experiences that are difficult to replicate anywhere else. Our music history, our neighborhoods, our diverse mix of people and our outdoor lifestyle remain reasons to celebrate.

And when it comes to keeping the history and spirit of rock and roll alive, we have to give to give props to people who continue to welcome this energy–from the City of West Hollywood to the owners of the Whisky A Go-Go, Roxy, and legendary Rainbow. Whether it’s giving props to a late rock legend on a marquee, or hosting a tribute night to a music icon, these venues have always unshakably supported live rock-and-roll music.

So, here’s to Live on Sunset, the return of a major music event that West Hollywood has been missing. The world can keep complaining about Los Angeles. We’ll be busy enjoying it.

See you on Sunset.

EXCLUSIVE FEATURE, ROCKIN’ EVENTS

NEON ANGEL

In September, the Sunset Strip welcomes back music icon Cherie Currie to rock the Rainbow.

If you were lucky enough to catch Cherie Currie‘s electrifying performance during “Ultimate Jam Night” at the Whisky a Go-Go back in 2023, you already know the woman doesn’t simply perform Runaways songs—she detonates them.

For a couple glorious hours, the Sunset Strip wasn’t in 2023 anymore. It was 1977. The air felt smoky. The guitars sounded louder. The ghosts of platform boots, leather jackets, satin corsets, and teenage rebellion seemed to be hanging around the Whisky like they never left. And honestly, where else could this happen?

Cherie Currie

CHERRY BOMBS AWAY: Cherie Curry at the Whisky, 2023. 🍒

One minute you’re dodging tourists taking selfies outside the Whisky, and the next you’re watching the original voice of one of rock’s most influential all-female bands tear into songs that helped change music history.

Now, Currie is returning to her old Sunset Strip stomping grounds when she co-headlines the Rainbow Bar & Grill’s annual parking lot party on September 6 alongside Stephen Pearcy of Ratt. That’s right—the voice of The Runaways and the voice of “Round and Round” sharing a stage on the Sunset Strip. Somewhere, every cassette tape from 1984 is smiling.

Continue reading NEON ANGEL →
COOL STUFF, LIVE SHOWS

SLAUGHTER ‘HOUSE’

Rock and roll over laughing with this retro ‘Full House‘ clip from the MTV glory days of Slaughter, which headlines the Whisky in August.

While wandering down one of those glorious YouTube rabbit holes where productivity goes to die, we stumbled across this forgotten gem: an early-’90s episode of Full House built around none other than hard-rock heroes Slaughter.

Now, if you’re under 40, there’s a decent chance you’re asking, “Slaughter? Wasn’t that a horror movie?” But in 1990, Slaughter wasn’t just a band. They were everywhere. Mark Slaughter and company exploded onto the charts with their debut album, Stick It to Ya, which sold over 2 million copies and was one of the biggest rock records of the year.

“Up All Night” was the kind of song that made you want to drive too fast with the windows down. “Fly to the Angels” was mandatory listening for every teenager experiencing heartbreak for the first time. And “Spend My Life” was one of those arena-ready sing-alongs that could turn 15,000 people into one giant karaoke machine.

Their videos lived in heavy rotation on MTV—back when MTV’s radical programming strategy involved occasionally showing music videos.

Watching this clip today is like opening a time capsule from an era when big hair ruled, guitar solos were featured in every pop song, and every TV show somehow found a way to shoehorn a rock band into the plot.

Continue reading SLAUGHTER ‘HOUSE’ →
LIVE SHOWS

CANT STOP ROCK N’ ROLL

Leave a comment

A wild night of L.A. rock anthems proves the City of Angels’ music legacy is alive and louder than ever.

The Whisky A Go-Go once again turned back the clock for its long-running Ultimate Jam Night, delivering a high-voltage tribute to the music of L.A. bands on March 18. The night was a celebration of the city’s hard rock royalty—Van Halen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Buckcherry, Guns N’ Roses—blasting through a two-hour setlist that turned the iconic venue into a time machine straight to the Sunset Strip’s golden era.

Tuesday’s lineup was stacked, featuring go-go dancers, rock trivia, giveaways, guest appearances from Sunset Strip legends Femme Fatale, and fresh blood like arena rockers Classless Act, who surprised the crowd with new material that fit seamlessly alongside the night’s legendary setlist.

Adding to the night’s epic moments were two unexpected Ozzy Osbourne covers—an unofficial nod to the late, great Randy Rhoads, who was born in Santa Monica. With the 43rd anniversary of Rhoads’ passing the next day, the tribute hit extra hard and was one of the most memorable moments of the evening, with BulletBoys guitarist Ira Black effortlessly delivering faithful renditions of Rhoads’ legendary solos. 

The show kicked off with Quiet Riot’s “Metal Health,” a fist-pumping, headbanging classic that immediately had the crowd pumping their fists. The Ultimate Jam Night house band delivered a razor-sharp rendition of the metal anthem, setting the tone for a night that felt like a rowdy reunion of rock’s wildest anthems. Host Hal Sparks respectfully gave proper dues to Quiet Riot for igniting the ’80s metal explosion with their genre-defining album, Metal Health.

Continue reading CANT STOP ROCK N’ ROLL →
PIX FROM THE STRIP

SCENES FROM SUNSET

Leave a comment

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

ROCKIN’ EVENTS

OUT IN L.A.

Leave a comment

Ultimate Jam Night celebrates L.A.’s greatest music exports at the Whisky, March 18.

There are few things in life as badass, life-affirming, and—let’s be real—completely free as Ultimate Jam Night at the Whisky A Go-Go. This monthly rock ‘n’ roll blowout is a full-throttle celebration of music, bringing together L.A.’s best musicians (plus a few legends) for a night of epic covers, surprises, and pure Sunset Strip energy.

On March 18, the jam gets even wilder with a tribute to “Bands of L.A.,” meaning anything from the Beach Boys and the Bangles to Mötley Crüe, Metallica, and Slayer is fair game. The setlist is top secret until showtime, but expect a rollercoaster of rock anthems delivered by world-class talent.

KICK OUT THE JAMS: Hal Sparks & guitarist Miles Schon at a recent “Ultimate Jam” event.

For over five years, Ultimate Jam Night has been the city’s premier live-music spectacle, blending rock trivia, giveaways, and jaw-dropping performances. Past guests have included rock royalty like Don Dokken, Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward, Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes, and Metallica’s Robert Trujillo—so don’t be surprised if a few icons crash the stage.

Actor, comedian, and all-around rock aficionado Hal Sparks returns as host, dropping music history anecdotes between songs and maybe even jumping onstage himself—no surprise for the multitalented frontman of Nerd Halen.

ERUPTION: Nerd Halen frontman and “Jam Night” host Hal Sparks covering the classics.

And because one insane set isn’t enough, the night kicks off with Mr. Crowley’s Ozzy Experience, delivering face-melting covers of the Prince of F***ing Darkness himself. Plus, free tarot card readings before the show? That’s some rock ‘n’ roll mysticism right there.

HELLRAISER: Mr. Cowley paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at a past “Ultimate Jam” show.

This is pure L.A.—a legendary venue, top-tier musicians, a party-ready crowd, and an unforgettable show. And did we mention it’s free?

Details:
📍 Whisky A Go-Go (8901 Sunset Blvd.). Doors open at 6 p.m.
⏳ Free tarot readings at 8 p.m.
🎸 Mr. Crowley’s Ozzy Experience at 9 p.m.
🔥 Ultimate Jam Night at 10 p.m.

Sunset & Clark says: Don’t miss this show!

ROCKIN’ EVENTS

SUNSET SALUTES ROCK HISTORY

Leave a comment

Faster Pussycat, Michael Monroe to help welcome in spring at Rainbow’s 53rd annual ‘Parking Lot’ party.

On April 13, the Sunset Strip will reverberate with an intensity unmatched by any other night when the iconic Rainbow Bar and Grill kicks off its 53rd Annual Party in the Parking Lot. A mainstay of Southern California’s rock ‘n’ roll culture, this legendary event is a haven for diehard metal enthusiasts who crave their music blistering and their beers ice-cold.

The party will once again feature an all-star roster of Sunset Strip stalwarts, with the notorious Faster Pussycat leading the charge. Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe will also take the stage after kicking off his first tour in nine years on April 2. The glam-rock icon shares the bill at the 53rd Annual Party in the Parking Lot with powerhouse support acts such as enduring Hollywood hard rockers Odin, legendary Southern rock band Black Oak Arkansas, which is on a special West Coast mini-tour, and red-hot L.A. rockers Blaze Francisco.

The excitement begins early, as throngs of metalheads, clad in vintage band tees and studded leather, begin to gather before the first note is struck. Expect a line stretching down the Sunset Strip, from the Rainbow all the way to the Whisky A Go-Go, long before the event officially kicks off at 1 p.m. But trust us, it’s worth the wait. Inside the event, which spills into the Rainbow and Roxy’s back parking lots, you’ll be transported back to 1985, when big hair and denim ruled the day. Amid the haze of ever-present smoke, expect to see rockers rocking their tightest Poison t-shirts, looking as if they’d just walked off the set of The Decline of Western Civilization, and others whose leather-clad looks scream Shout at the Devil-era Motley Crue.

The event is a veritable who’s who of both local rockers and rock legends, alongside the ever-present faces you’ve seen at Ultimate Jam Night Hollywood or packed into the Whisky’s raucous crowds. It’s a celebration not only of music but of community, a gathering of like-minded souls united by a love for the loud, the fast, and the unapologetically rebellious.

The atmosphere at Rainbow’s Party in the Parking Lot is always electric — yet remarkably welcoming. It’s a chance to revel in the camaraderie of the metal community, to relive the glory days of ’80s rock, even if just for a single afternoon. No need for a hot tub time machine to experience it; all you need is the right attitude and a thirst for chaos.

Admission to the event is free, but guests must prepay for two drinks upon entry. Trust us, the party’s about to get LOUD!

ROCKIN' NEWS

MAKING ROCK HISTORY

Leave a comment

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.

Continue reading MAKING ROCK HISTORY →
LIVE SHOWS, MUSIC FESTIVALS

SOCAL SUMMER CONCERT GUIDE

Leave a comment

We’ve got your go-to list for the hottest spring and summer shows – it’s time to rock, L.A.!

Get ready for a scorching summer of rock and roll with our “Hot Groove Summer” 2024 concert guide for the Greater Los Angeles area. From No Doubt to Cinderella, L.A. Guns to Pat Benatar, the world’s greatest rock and heavy metal legends are taking over L.A. County’s hottest venues in the coming months. So, shake off the recent rains and get ready to pump your fists all summer long. We’ve got your go-to list for the hottest spring and summer shows – it’s time to rock, Southern California! 

Cinderella & L.A. Guns @ Saban Theatre (Beverly Hills) – April 6

Experience an electrifying night of hard rock hits when Tom Keifer, the powerhouse behind Cinderella, brings his gritty bluesy sound and solo hits to the 90210, showcasing his diverse talent from acoustic tracks to hard rock. Joining the bill are the legendary L.A. Guns, veterans of the Sunset Strip. From “Ballad Of Jayne” to “Never Enough” and “Sex Action,” L.A. Guns always deliver a high-octane performance.

No Doubt @ Coachella (Indio) – April 12-21

The O.C.’s favorite sons (and daughter), No Doubt, will no doubt captivate the SoCal audience at the band’s reunion shows in Indio. Groove to the beats of “Don’t Speak” and “Just a Girl” as you relish in the hit-making band’s pop-ska classics .

Continue reading SOCAL SUMMER CONCERT GUIDE →
LIVE SHOWS, PIX FROM THE STRIP

TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB

Leave a comment

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 →
ROCKIN' NEWS

EDDIE’S INFLUENCE

Leave a comment

Celebrate the timeless influence of rock’s most revered guitarist on his birthday.

Today is the birthday of the pride of Pasadena, who was born on Jan. 26, 1955 (in Amsterdam), when the world welcomed Edward Lodewijk Van Halen.

After leaving an indelible mark on music history, the iconic 65-year-old Van Halen guitarist died of cancer on Oct. 6, 2020 at Santa Monica’s St. John’s Hospital, which is where fellow guitar legend Randy Rhoads was born (Dec. 6, 1956).

EVH delivering a solo at the Forum, around 2012.

To honor EV’s unparalleled influence, we’re sharing evanescent tributes that popped up across Los Angeles circa 2020. Although most of these memorials have faded away, we’ve captured their essence to share with fellow Van Halen fans.

So, crank up some VH tunes today and relish in the musical legacy!

Artist Robert Vargas’ mural at Guitar Center Sunset
Graffiti art covers a trash bin on the Sunset Strip just outside the Whisky.
EVH graffitied bin outside the Whisky A Go-Go, 2020.
Continue reading EDDIE’S INFLUENCE →
PIX FROM THE STRIP

SIGN O’ THE TIMES

Leave a comment

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 →
PIX FROM THE STRIP

PAVED OVER PARADISE…

Leave a comment

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.

LIVE SHOWS, ROCKIN’ EVENTS

ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE

Leave a comment

Legendary guitarist Ace Frehley’s debut headlining show at Whisky A Go-Go brings out the KISS Army’s rock soldiers to the Sunset Strip.

Legendary KISS guitarist Ace Frehley headline The Whisky A Go-Go for the first time ever on February 27 and he did not leave without tearing the roof off of the joint. The 71-year-old rock icon looked great and was in High spirits as he continually tossed guitar picks to the fans and shared stories about his life in music.

“The Spaceman” may have been unmasked but he definitely brought back the same raw energy and ferocious hard-rockin’ energy that helped make KISS one of the biggest bands in the world. Frehley started the show at around 9:45 p.m. and immediately had the crowd fist-pumping when he opened the show with “Rip it Out,” the killer opening track to his 1978 KISS-related solo album. The second the opening chords of “Rip It Out” started to echo throughout the room, the suddenly ubiquitous devil’s horns salutes let you know the crowd of diehard rock soldiers from the KISS Army were pleased.

Continue reading ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE →
ROCKIN' NEWS

STRAIGHT OUTTA HOLLYWOOD

Leave a comment

Fast Times’ totally tubular weekly party at the Whisky is the greatest thing to hit Sunset since Van Halen.

If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to catch Fast Times‘ totally awesome Monday night shows at the Whisky A Go-Go, then you know what it feels like to be zapped back into the awesome ’80s as if you were sitting in a DeLorean with a flux capacitor pushing it past 88 mph.

The L.A. band is one of the coolest live acts to hit the Whisky in a long time, and their infectious grooves never fail to get the crowd moving whether they’re moshing, pogoing, or doing any incarnation of the timeless Axl Rose serpentine dance, the Belinda Carlisle arm sway shimmy, or the Courtney Cox “Dancing in the Dark” awkward Mambo (which inspired the “Carlton Dance”).

The L.A. always sticks with the theme and rocks their set while donned as various iconic ’80s characters, both real and celluloid, from Jeff Spicoli to Motley Crue‘s Nikki Sixx. But it’s their music that really makes Fast Times stand out as a legitimate band of phenomenal musicians who seem to enjoy rocking their set as much as the audience enjoys hearing it.

And these guys skillfully cover every iconic bit of music from Eddie Van Halen‘s guitar solo on “Jump” to Rick Allen‘s anthemic beats of “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”

Continue reading STRAIGHT OUTTA HOLLYWOOD →