So what is the Sunset Strip like today?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TrueTone500
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Ugh, the last time I ate at the rainbow I got such bad food poisoning that not only did I remain sick for 9 days but I had to fly out a day early, the night before I would have been hanging backstage at AIC, Mastodon, Deftones.

I will never forgive the rainbow.
 
How did Long Beach and Venice Beach compare to the Sunset Strip? I don't mean just the clubs and bars but the scene in general?

The only thing I know about those places is the roller skating and disco.
 
VESmedic":i9kx2lhd said:
Never heard of it??? Lucky you. It is the new bull shit trend, and is huge here in Central Florida, and has become the "well that is just the way it is"...total BS
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New? It started in the mid to late 80's in LA and Orange County.
 
petejt":24mfl9ts said:
How did Long Beach and Venice Beach compare to the Sunset Strip? I don't mean just the clubs and bars but the scene in general?

The only thing I know about those places is the roller skating and disco.
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Oh sweet fancy necrobump! Didn't even realize the age of this thread when I replied.
 
The Strip is dead. Very few national acts, its mostly local socal unsigned bands that pay to play. Its a tourist trap now. High prices for drinks and parking, and really no exposure benefit to industry. Its just there, if you feel like playing there and dealing with a headache, including putting any of your fans coming to see you through an expensive night out
 
I was drummer in a 3 piece band back in the early 80's. We use to ride around on Sundays with our gear in my Pinto wagon looking for an electrical outlet anywhere we could find one. Banks, car lots, city parks, industrial parks... It caught-on with other bands, and even got mentioned on WDIZ radio. :lol: :LOL:

This eventually led to the opening of a place called 'Rock and Roll Playground'. It was basically a former bar that the owner converted into a place where bands could play during the day for no charge - no profit. It was alcohol-free, and you could bring your own (non-alchohol) drinks and food. Maybe something like this in the LA area could rekindle some interest?
 
long beach was more known for it's punk scene from which metal emerged from so the vibe was darker and more for the hard core hessian. but the waters club was in san pedro and zach and i saw racer x there.
we also saw bigger concerts at long beach arena like the maiden powerslave tour on one of the nights where they recorded their double live album and the guy next to me drank so much wine, and screamed "boooo!" at opening band twisted sister so hard while standing on his armrests, he vomited on the couple in front of him and collapsed into the isle. but his plan worked as twisted sister got booed off the stage.

also saw yngwie open for ACDC there, and ratt

venice is more a cultural petrie dish
 
TrueTone500":2af3fh0c said:
This eventually led to the opening of a place called 'Rock and Roll Playground'. It was basically a former bar that the owner converted into a place where bands could play during the day for no charge - no profit. It was alcohol-free, and you could bring your own (non-alchohol) drinks and food. Maybe something like this in the LA area could rekindle some interest?
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That would be a great idea.
 
If you want to make it you need to move to Youtube, not L.A :lol: :LOL:
 
Sounds like CBGB's near its' end. Never heard how L'Amours (Brooklyn) died, or Toad's in New Haven...Agora ballroom (and its' successors in New Britain), so long ago seems like another life
 
CBGB's came to mind while reading through this thread. I was beyond excited when my band got to play there in the early 90's...until we got there. A complete dive with a pretentious crowd and over-priced everything. You couldn't leave your gear unattended for even a minute or it was gone...there were thieves just waiting for stupid out-of-towners to walk away from their van/truck/trailer/car and go inside.
It may have been the birthplace of some great music, but by then it had lost all of its coolness and was essentially a poser hang out and tourist trap.
 
VESmedic":14ybywwv said:
TrueTone500":14ybywwv said:
I've never heard of 'pay to play', but it doesn't sound like a good thing to me. Do these places not make enough on drink sales?
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Never heard of it??? Lucky you. It is the new bull shit trend, and is huge here in Central Florida, and has become the "well that is just the way it is"...total BS

Example: Soulfly is coming to town in March, and at a very small, but extremely well known venue about 10 to 15 minutes from Downtown Orlando (The Haven). I honestly can't believe these guys are playing such a small "local" venue, quite funny to me. Of course, a band like this will only play if there guarantee is met. There are so many local bands that think they are going to become the next Metallica by opening up for a band like this, that they will do anything to get on stage with them. All the bands on the bill are all local bands,and all probably paid ATLEAST 500 bucks to get on the bill. This money is for the guarentee of the band, and for all the promoters "hard work" (What a load of SHIT). On top of that, the promoter gives out tickets to the bands for a pre sale. Say they get 50 tickets, but only sell 20, the other 30 is the bands responsibility to come up with out of their pocket if they don't sell.....Sounds awesome right?
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You must be young. Its not new by any stretch...
 
Charging bands this sort of money to play out seems like a great way to accelerate the demise of your local music scene.
 
Sydney, in Australia used to have a thriving live music scene that was killed by gambling machines. Bar owners were getting such an amazing return without having to worry about booking bands etc, stages get torn out and pokies went in. Melbourne still hangs on I think but I've been gone for over 20 years now and don't know how it is now.

If I was to try and start a legitimate, original music band with the goal of it to generate some form of career or supplement one, I have absolutely no idea how you would go about it. Trying to bang away in your local scene doesn't seem like it's necessary or cost effective anymore. Getting a presence on-line almost seems to be everything but everyone wants everything instantly and free or dirt cheap even that seems like a dead end to where you might pay bills and actually thrive. Actually kind of glad those years are behind me because I don't envy a 20's something trying to get anywhere playing original rock n roll.




……GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!!!! :doh:
 
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