January 2011

Last Monday, Jan. 24, Sunset Strip impressario Mario Maglieri presented a night of music benefitting breast cancer. The lineup included Camp Freddy, The Head Cat and Darling Stilettos and featured a crowd of who’s who of  musicians, rappers and rockers, including B-Real (Cypress Hill), Phil Campbell (guitarist, Motorhead), Steve Stevens (guitarist, Billy Idol), Josie Stevens (VH1’s "Married To Rock") and Sebastian Bach (Skid Row). Check out the scene both inside and outside the club.
Photo 1: B-Real
Photo 2: Phil Campbell
Photo 3: Steve and Josie Stevens
-Photos: Brent X Mendoza

A look back at the Whisky A Go-Go, described by the narrator as "a favorite dancing spot for both the mods and movie stars who want to get it on." Learn some new dance moves.
 
YouTube video: tunenito

Mikeal Maglieri on the Whisky, SSMF and the Sunset Strip [Weho News]
Book Soup is Alive and Well Two Years After Iconic Owner’s Death [Weho Patch]
Rock Of Ages Launches Gowalla Challenge [Broadway World]
 

Funny man and longtime Comedy Store resident Nick Youssef will take the stage this Sunday, Jan. 30 as part of The Conan O’Brien Stand-Up Guest Showcase. Store regulars, Comedy Central comics and virtual unknowns will match wits to see who has the comic chops worthy of a coveted spot on the best late night show on TV. 

Before his big “audition,” Youssef spoke with TheSunsetStrip.com about his “first time,” heckler etiquette and the Ricky Gervais controversy. 
 
Can you recall your first time on stage performing stand-up?  How’d it go?
Unfortunately, yes. It was in the Annex Room at the Pasadena Ice House. I did about seven minutes and bombed miserably. Just as I was thinking that maybe it wasn’t so bad, a woman approached me with a big smile on her face. I got a little excited. She extended her hand, smiled and said, “You were terrible.”
 

Prog/art rockers Into The Presence took the stage at The Viper Room on Jan. 14, emerging from a long hiatus to test the waters with brand new material. Originally a sort of collective of longtime industry pros whose recorded lineup consisted of Luis Maldonado (UFO, Train), Ana Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle, NIN, Gnarls Barkley) and Tim Alexander (Primus), the band is back with new songs, new members and a new label. After their energetic performance at The Viper, core members, frontman Maldonado and cellist Lenchantin, spoke with TheSunsetStrip.com about what’s to come for this dynamic duo. 
 

Despite it being another warm winter night, we spent last Wednesday inside the Cactus Lounge at The Standard, Hollywood for a curated evening featuring some of L.A.’s best emerging artists. This free Wednesday night series has taken a refreshing approach as local artists showcase their music in live, acoustic sets.

The vibe was warm and intimate, with a jam-in-a-musician’s-living-room vibe, topped off with the ability to order food from The Standard’s 24/7 Restaurant as you sat and listened. And it’s no surprise that with past participants like Mia Doi Todd, Neal Casal and Daniel Brummel, a healthy group of music fans showed up to sip cocktails and chow down on Southern comfort food as they watched the super-intimate concert.

The spirit of Led Zeppelin was alive and well on Jan. 13 as the Key Club hosted a special encore show paying homage to the band’s legendary drummer, John Bohnam. The night, produced by Brian Tichy and Club Vodka promoter Joe Sutton, featured a house band with a rotating cast of rock’s most prestigious drummers banging out their favorite Led Zep tunes.

In the company of notables such as Chris Slade (AC/DC), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Ozzy Osbourne), Abe Laboriel (Paul McCartney, Sting) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), drummer extraordinaire Samantha Maloney (Hole, Mötley Crüe, Chelsea Girls) was the sole female to take the stage, picking up the sticks for the classic “All My Love.” Her hard hitting, dynamic performance was one of the definitive high points of the evening, as Maloney proved more impressive than some of her better known contemporaries.

Sunset Strip Music Festival Plans No. 4 [Pollstar]
Dates Announces for Sunset Strip Music Festival 2011 [LP33.tv]
Speaking of… Social Venues with Nic Adler of The Roxy [Tech Crunch]
Where To Eat During Restaurant Week: RH at Andaz, Night + Market [Grubstreet]
Lemmy: Rock ‘n’ roll’s ace of spades [LA Times]