General

Relocating from the U.K. to Phoenix, Arizona, in 2010, indie rock quartet A Silent Film have felt strangely drawn to the states ever since their inaugural tour: “The first time we drove into New York… and ‘You Will Leave a Mark’ was playing on the radio…  Never in my dreams could I imagine the songs I wrote in my bedroom as someone else's soundtrack to the skyline of New York City."

It was this epiphany, as well as their new desert digs, that provided frontman Robert Stevenson and the rest of the band, the inspiration for their most recent critically acclaimed effort, Sand & Snow, an album that’s come to define the group’s sound and brought them to the brink of stardom here in America and beyond. I recently connected with the band in advance of their House of Blues Sunset Strip show last week to reflect on their move to the States, unrequited love songs and of course, silent films.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and founding member of Guns N’ Roses, Duff McKagan returned to The Sunset Strip for two back to back, sold out shows at The Viper Room this month. For night one of this intimate engagement, McKagan, promoting his memoire It’s So Easy: And Other Lies, played an acoustic “storytellers” style set, reciting passages from his new to paperback read, while his band Loaded played accompanying instrumental renditions of GNR’s most memorable hits.

After a long evening of fan meet and greets and a stellar performance that assuredly was one of the most memorable nights in Viper Room history, McKagan sat down with TheSunsetStrip.com to reflect on the night and his memories of his first sober performance at The Viper almost 20 years ago.
 

Singer/songwriter and former Remy Zero frontman Cinjun Tate returned to The Viper Room last Thursday for an evening of intimate acoustic tunes and “Storytellers” worthy tales before a packed house. No stranger to The Viper, Tate and his former band cut their teeth here on The Sunset Strip before being propelled into mainstream consciousness when their single “Save Me” became the opening theme song for the hit TV series “Smallville.”  

Get the rest of the back-story from Cinjun himself as he reflects on his travels from early childhood traumas to finding success with Superman. (AND flip through the amazing photo gallery from the show, including a special guest appearance from Zach Braff.)
 

In her new book Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of L.A.’s Notorious Mobster, author Tere Tereba finally exposes the complete story behind one of this city’s most infamous underworld figures. Running his base of operations from The Sunset Strip, Cohen was often seen carousing and hobnobbing with A-list celebrities and socialites at the finest restaurants and night clubs of the day, whilst simultaneously maintaining a sprawling criminal empire.

Learn the previously untold story behind Cohen’s dichotomous persona, as author and celebrity in her own right Tereba gives us a riveting preview of her new publication (the culmination of ten years of painstaking research) that pieces together the most comprehensive Mickey Cohen bio to date.
 

One of The Sunset Strip's favorite collaborative music series returns this week when The Roxy and Andaz West Hollywood present "Under The Covers" with SoCal band Moostache this Thursday, September 6.

This monthly music series features acoustic performances by some of the hottest local bands as they perform their catalog as well as covers of their favorite tunes. As a double bonus, not only is the event free to attend, but it also supports a great cause as a portion of the sales from food and the bar will benefit MusiCares Foundation, which provides emergency medical and financial services for musicians in need.

The music starts at 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. at the Andaz West Hollywood. For more information, and to view videos of past shows, visit https://www.facebook.com/AndazWestHollywood/videos.
 

 In what’s now a Sunset Strip Music Festival tradition, the pride and joy of The Sunset Strip recently gathered poolside at The Standard, Hollywood for this year’s 2012 “Class Photo.”  Enjoying some supersized beers, a few rounds of ping pong, and a winner-takes-all chicken fight in the pool, more than a dozen SSMF Week bands—as well as staff and bookers from The Roxy and The Viper Room—donned their finest aquatic attire for an afternoon of carousing and summertime s

The Sunset Strip Music Festival scored an amazing interview with Dead Sara frontwoman Emily Armstrong. The band, who has Sunset Strip roots, has successfully climbed the Billboard charts and this year will perform on the outdoor stage at the August 18 SSMF street festival alongside Marilyn Manson and The Offspring.
Get to know Armstrong! Read the full interview on SSMF.com. 

Brent X Mendoza interviewed The Offpsring's guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman, as he discussed the band's nearly 30-year career, growing up in Southern California, his favorite Sunset Strip shows and who he's excited to see perform at this year's Sunset Strip Music Festival.
Get all the details and read the full interview!

As the weather gets warmer, the days longer and the music louder, you know festival season is upon us. Music festivals, whether they last a day, a weekend or even an evening can make or break not only bands but fans and music lovers alike as well.

I recently met up with avid concertgoer – and familiar Sunset Strip face — Trina Green (aka @dharma69 of High Voltage Magazine, The Owl Magazine and MXDWN.com) at Rock & Reilly’s to discuss the most successful survival techniques for eager fans in a live music setting.
 

It’s summertime and since everyone loves sharing what they’re doing, we thought we’d give you and a friend the chance to attend the Sunset Strip Music Festival street fest on August 18!
The theme of this Instagram contest is “Summer of Music,” and to enter all you have to do is follow @SSMF on Instagram and tag your summer/music related Instagram photos with #SSMF! Don’t skip on the quality of photo, though. Only the best of the best will win this awesome prize pack.
Start taking photos today and the winner will be announced July 20 via @SSMF on Instagram!*
*Contest winner will receive two (2) GA tickets to the Saturday, Aug. 18 street festival. Tickets are nontransferable.