This past weekend, The Sunset Strip transformed into a world where Vince Neil belted out lyrics in between bursts of pyrotechnics all the while sporting an American flag on the crotch of his pants, Tommy Lee strapped himself to his drum kit and looped around a roller coaster, and Bush’s Gavin Rossdale leapt from the stage to get up close and personal with a sea of thousands. Thanks to The 4th Annual Sunset Strip Music Festival, the streets of West Hollywood may never be the same…
It turns out that not everything in the desert is dead, dying, or on its way there. (Shocker, I know.) Based out of the Vegas desert, up-and-coming band, Imagine Dragons, rehydrates the indie pop-rock genre with its synth-driven pop-rock sound.
Its members pulled from all over the states, Imagine Dragons’ lineup now includes Ben McKee (bass), Wayne Sermon (guitar), Theresa Flaminio (keys), Dan Reynolds (vocals), and Daniel Platzman (drums). Some of them have been classically trained (McKee dropped out of Berklee College of Music less than one semester shy of graduation), while others have honed skills on their own. In the end, each element (and member) offers something solid to their sound as a group. There is nothing lacking or overflowing.
ChinaShop was able to steal the band for a bit (no gags or rope required) before they went on to play another show during the Sunset Strip Music Festival.
When we joined Nico Vega backstage prior to their Sunset Strip Music Festival performance, Dan Epand was attempting a conversation with his girlfriend on the phone, Rich Koehler was relaxing on the couch, and Aja Volkman was mulling over whether or not to steam her ruffled stage attire prior to show time. Several minutes later when steam irons were abandoned and cell phones disengaged, (Dan’s patient girlfriend did at one point stay on hold during a portion of our post interview photo shoot) we dove into the inner workings of the gifted rock trio.
Important topics were discussed such as the inspiration for Aja’s vivacious stage energy, the band being serenaded at a tiny airport in small town Laredo Texas, and Vince Neil tucking a Nico Vega newspaper article under his armpit while boarding an airplane.
When it came time for photos, Rich drew a Sharpie portrait of one of his “signature” coffee mugs on the couch while Aja engaged in some photo worthy high kicks — after we got the green light on her wearing bloomers underneath her outfit, of course.
She Wants Revenge played a sold out show at The Roxy on Monday night to celebrate the release of their new album, “Valleyheart.” The band’s family, friends, and avid supporters, such as Danny Masterson (That 70’s Show), swarmed the front of the stage, while the ticketless perched outside the venue offering those that passed by up to $100 for their tickets. After an opening set by the energetic Nico Vega, She Wants Revenge took the stage and celebrated the May 23rd release of “Valleyheart” in their hometown.
Prior to the show, ChinaShop headed to the preparty at Talesai to chat with Adam Bravin and Justin Warfield, who popped in sporadically at the end of the conversation as he was trying to preserve his voice for the evening ahead of him. The band discussed touring with Depeche Mode, the process behind creating “Valleyheart,” and why they consider their latest release to be their greatest musical accomplishment to date.
Night One of The Noise Pop Festival, cont’d: After jumping back into Glenn’s hatchback, we sped off to The Independent to catch the next act. It was packed. Rib-crushingly, lung collapsingly, I-Didn’t-Know-Armpits-Could-Smell-That-Badly packed. Which proved, in its own masochistic way, to be quite awesome, as tight and intimate quarters often force you to get to know your neighbor before you violate (maybe purposely) their personal space. Like most of The Soundtrack of Our Lives‘ shows, the audience tonight is of the fanatical, saber-rattling twentysomething sort, and chances are if you asked anyone, they’d have said they were indeed here for TSOOL (DUH). Dig a little deeper with others, and they’ll argue that Nico Vega completely owned the show and will soon be the toast of the California indie rock scene, or at least a band with a frontwoman who deserves every accolade hurled her way.
