Scott Russo, lead singer of Unwritten Law sits in his dressing room backstage at the Roxy in Hollywood, shirtless, jagerbomb in hand. Its been a minute since UL has played out in Hollywood, and a minute longer since they were on an all out tour. This show was a bit of a one off, while they are ramping up to finish their new album and take over the world.

Unwritten Law – Shoulda Known Better

We are sitting on decaying couches, stained with a good time had by all, surrounded by pre-show chaos. There are the giggly girls, the flowing streams of alcohol, the hangers-on, the star-struck, the blushing new bride. The room is a 10ft box and hot like Satin’s exhaust pipe. Scott looks entirely at ease amidst the madness. After all, UL has been making music for 20 years. They have toured extensively around the world. “I’ve seen it all” Scott says when I ask him what was the craziest moment he can think of. “I’ve been arrested like 5 times, OD’d twice, seen girls f@#k themselves with Jack Daniels bottles, I can’t tell you about just one thing”. Fair enough.

“I write pop songs”, Scott says dead serious. “I usually start with an acoustic guitar and just write. Then I bring it to the band and they do what they do to it.” This is the formula, and it works. They kind of do make pop songs…but with a little of that OC/beach/reggae/punk flavor that keeps the home town venues packed end to end. When they take to the stage the crowd is amped and I’m reminded of the turn of the century when they had their largest commercial success with Elva. Songs like “Mean Girl” and “Seein’ Red” still stir the fans into a hot bed of head banging while singing along.

And then there’s always a thrill seeing a band like UL play a club as legendary as the Roxy on the Sunset Strip. The bar has been open since 1973, that’s a mighty long time when modern day clubs have a shelf life of 2 to 3 years tops. You can almost hear the legends echo from the walls, Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana, Tori Amos, Foo Fighters, Meat Loaf, Guns N’ Roses,  Van Morrison, Linkin Park, Jane’s Addiction, David Bowie, and Jay-Z, have all graced this very stage.

And then just like that, the curtains close and once again its the desperation hour. Last call and a quick drink upstairs at the little club they call On the Rox and everyone is headed back to the OC with chaos in their pockets and whiskey on their breath. Thanks to Scott, and Ivory and the team at the Roxy for making the night one of those classic rock n roll nights on the Sunset Strip.

Words by Barbie Brady, photos by Sidney McMullen