July 2011

The Sunset Strip is notorious for its fashion choices just as much as it is for musical taste. From mini-skirts to guy-liner, snakeskin boots and big hair, The Strip ain’t just a stage, it’s a runway. This was more than true at the fashion line launch from one of The Strips familiar faces, Anyshka. Her line, AnyshkaA – By House of Anjou, is a collection of haute rock couture and one-of-kind clothing for the bohemian chic rocker sold exclusively at LIVE! On Sunset. 

The collection is influenced by summertime with materials that are mainly silks, chiffons, cottons and other natural fabrics mixed and trimmed with antique and vintage borders, real gold thread and semi-precious beading sequins. The line also features other baubles and trinkets to make each piece an original work of art, finished by hand with the precision of old world couture houses.

Tonight, The world famous Viper Room welcomes L.A.’s own hard rock heartthrobs The Dreaming. Comprised of former members of Stabbing Westward, Deadsy and the Murderdolls, the band has been relentlessly touring and releasing material since 2002 earning themselves a fanbase that stretches across the country and overseas.  

The Sunset Strip was buzzing on Saturday as record fans and craft beer aficionados converged on the boulevard for a day of vinyl shopping, beer tasting and summer fun. Starting at 12 p.m., a record swap featuring more than 100,000 records, opened at LIVE! On Sunset, the former home of Tower Records. The event drew hundreds of diehard collectors as well as more casual fans as they purused the goods and struck up conversations and discussions about album art and the behind-the-scenes stories on some of the most notorious recording sessions.

Just three blocks away, the ColLAboration Craft Beer garden was pouring samples of locally produced beers from 24 ever-changing taps. Guests at this 21-and-older summer party also partnered to compete in bocce, washers, bean bags and badminton games. The beer garden also featured custom menus from local restaurants with direct-to-table delivery.

The Sunset Strip’s newest record store, Soundcheck Hollywood, was rocking with pens on June 24 as Finnish heavy metalers Children of Bodom treated fans to an in-store autograph session and meet and greet.

Black T-shirts lined the block as the youthful legion of fans waited with vinyl records and posters in one hand and the devil horns raised on the other.

The autograph session kicked off Children of Bodom’s day-long adventure on The Strip, which concluded with a performance at the House of Blues.

Soundcheck Hollywood opened in the spring of 2011 and hosts weekly in-store signings and meet and greets with local and touring bands. For a schedule of events, visit facebook.com/SoundCheckHollywood or follow on Twitter @soundcheckstore.
 
–Photos courtesy of Brent X Mendoza