General

When Joan Jett belted out the lyrics to "I Love Rock N' Roll," it wasn't just a pop culture phenomenon. It was also a message to the world that women rockers could be just as loud, stylish and brash as their male counterparts. It's been more than 30 years since her version of the song hit the airwaves and the Billboard charts, yet its power and influence remains today.

Like a host of other powerful Sunset Strip women — Stevie Nicks, Exene Cervenka (X), Michelle Philips, Cher, The Runaways — the current generation continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a woman in the world of rock.

Grab your walking shoes and join the Well West Hollywood Heart Walk this Sunday, Feb. 26 in celebration of American Heart Month.
The City will host a 3K-5K walk from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Kings Road Park (located at 1000 N. Kings Rd, West Hollywood, CA 90069). Come check out the walking paths at your own pace! Free pedometers for the first 100 walkers and other giveaways. There will also be a Heart Health Raffle featuring great prizes at the beginning and end of the event.
Free parking with validation will be provided at Kings Road Parking Structure (located at 8383 N. Kings Rd.) The event is free and open to the public. All ages are encouraged to participate.

So, get moving! Register online for the heart walk. For more information, email wehohearthealth@gmail.com or call 323-848-6435.
 

The Sunset Strip has always attracted people who are passionate about music – from musicians and club promoters to writers and super fans. Brent X Mendoza is one of those people whose passion for music has translated into a career that includes working as a promoter, band manager and more recently Viper Room marketing director and contributing writer for TheSunsetStrip.com.

Preparing to celebrate his upcoming milestone birthday with a benefit show at the Viper Room this Friday, “Mr. Sunset Strip” reveals what he’s learned from this legendary boulevard, who he would pick to headline this year’s Sunset Strip Music Festival and which up-and-coming artist you should have on your “must hear” list. 

Get to know more about the O.C. native and the man behind those weekly “Picks of the Week.”
 

Saturday morning cartoons were recently replaced with Saturday morning rock ’n' roll on The Sunset Strip as part of the RockSTAR Winter Fest. The daylong festival was presented by Star Education, a program that enriches schools and educates kids with the power of music. That pure electric power was showcased when more than 50 bands created by students in grades kindergarten to 6th invaded a few of the most legendary venues on The Strip this past weekend.
 
The students took over the Key Club, The Roxy Theatre and Whisky A Go-Go to showcase their talents and were transformed into major rock stars right before the eyes of their parents, teachers, siblings, friends and even celebrities like Travis Barker!

Chart-topping Canadian band Silverstein took over The Sunset Strip on Saturday, keeping fans engaged with two epic events on the boulevard.

Before their headlining show at the House of Blues, the band attracted a large group of fans who stopped by SoundCheck record store to meet band members Neil Boshart and Josh Bradford (guitarists), bassist Bill Hamilton, drummer Paul Koehler and vocalist Shane Told.

Eager fans lined up around the block for the chance to talk about the band’s music, their most memorable experiences at shows as well as pose for photos with the band and snag a few autographs. In addition to receiving advanced copies of the band’s new album, Short Songs, attendees also received free posters. SoundCheck Hollywood hosts monthly meet and greet events with bands and artists, providing a unique opportunity for fans to meet some of their favorite bands.

Comedian, author and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star Jeff Garlin visited The Sunset Strip’s prestigious literary boutique, Book Soup, earlier this month to discuss the re-release of his weight loss/“going green” chronicle, Curbing It.  A longtime fan of Book Soup, Garlin hosts and moderates a monthly-ish book club dedicated to supporting the local landmark he so frequently patronizes. 

Before diving into a lengthy Q&A session with fans and book club “enthusiasts,” The Comedy Store regular and Book Soup mascot spoke to TheSunsetStrip.com about his journey to a life of sustainable health and eco responsibility. 
 

Last Friday, The Strip’s one-stop music shop, SoundCheck Hollywood, hosted a free pizza party all in the name of music! The shop was packed to the walls all night long as members of the bands Vampires Everywhere!, Breathe Carolina, Winds of Plague, Of Mice & Men, Suicide Silence and even Limp Bizkit came to party and hang out with Asking Alexandria’s Danny Worsnop.

We Are The Apocalypse kicked out the jams and kept the party going strong for all the fans lined up around the corner waiting to get in and hang with their favorite bands. Watch out Sunset Strip, it’s the next generation of music and these kids are party animals (some dude even brought his bunny rabbit to join the fun)!

Support your community during this year’s Martin Luther King Jr., Day of Service, which celebrates the life of the late Martin Luther King, Jr. through community projects throughout the country. The City of West Hollywood is participating by hosting a beautification and maintenance project for West Hollywood Elementary School on Saturday, Jan. 14. Participating volunteers will join hundreds of communities across the country in commemorating the 26th anniversary of the MLK federal holiday.

Volunteers are needed in West Hollywood to help with landscaping, walkway repairs and painting at West Hollywood Elementary (located at 970 N. Hammond Street). Volunteers will assist during a four hour shift from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

On Dec. 14, the Key Club hosted one of the biggest "must attend" shows of the year: the 2011 Dimebash, a tribute to that big pink beard in the sky that is Dimebag Darrel of Pantera. One of heavy metal’s favorite sons, Dimebag’s life was celebrated once again with an homage to the metal god who passed in 2004. This shred for the dead party was chock full of of metal heads and a who’s-who list of big name metal performances.