NASHVILLE |DATE: AUGUST 24, 2011
FROM: TODD BRODGINSKI/ALEXANDRA GREENBERG/ANGELA VILLANUEVA
FOURTH ANNUAL SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL
DRAWS 15,000 MUSIC FANS
TO SATURDAY’S STREET FEST ON SUNSET BOULEVARD
MOST SUCCESSFUL SSMF INCLUDED HIGH-ENERGY SETS FROM PUBLIC
ENEMY, BUSH, MATT & KIM AND 2011 HONOREES AND HEADLINER MÖTLEY
CRÜE–COMPLETE WITH FIREWORKS, PYRO AND A 360° DRUM SOLO
WITH SURPRISE GUEST DEADMAU5
Photo Credit: SSMF/Nate Christenson
The fourth annual SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL (SSMF) came to a close on Saturday, August 20 drawing 15,000 music fans to the street fest on the famed Sunset Boulevard. This marks the festival’s most successful year so far. The day began with amazing performances on the outdoor stages from Tribal Seeds, Black Veil Brides, Cobra Starship, She Wants Revenge, The Dirty Heads, Escape The Fate, Matt & Kim, Bush and Public Enemy. 2011 SSMF honorees Mötley Crüe closed out the night with an electric set complete with fireworks, pyro and a 360° drum rollercoaster. Surprise guest deadmau5 rode alongside drummer Tommy Lee during his rotating drum solo.
The three-day festival launched Thursday, August 18 with a special tribute honoring Mötley Crüe hosted by Bob Buchmann of KLOS and Kennedy of 98.7fm. The special night featured appearances from Mötley Crüe friends Ray Manzarek of The Doors, Neil Strauss, co-author of the band’s autobiography The Dirt, comedian Dane Cook and New York Dolls vocalist David Johansen. All shared stories and memories with the band, toasting them for their contributions to the Sunset Strip and praising them for 30 successful years of rocking. Mötley Crüe was then presented with the SSMF 2011 Elmer Valentine Award.
Thursday’s festivities continued up and down the infamous 1.6 mile stretch of street with shows from The Veronicas at The Viper Room, The Faceless at the Whisky A Go-Go, Nico Vega at The Roxy Theatre, Uriah Heep at the Key Club and Crash Kings at the House of Blues, among others.
Friday night offered up even more exciting events and performances. Virgin America presented a star-studded party at Mondrian’s Skybar. Jamie Foxx, Jerry Ferrara, Chad Michael Murray, Shenae Grimes, Amber Lancaster, DJ Ashba of Guns N’ Roses, Edi Gathegi and SSMF performers Matt & Kim and Semi Precious Weapons all partied alongside special guests Mötley Crüe. Further down The Strip, Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors with vocalist David Brock wowed a soldout house at the Whisky A Go-Go while Buckcherry thrilled fans at The Roxy Theatre, Dredg killed it at the Key Club and Motion City Soundtrack kicked off the first of two nights at the House of Blues. The Viper Room offered up non-stop music from Lady Sinatra, Purple Melon and Hillbilly Herald. Festival sponsor Jack Daniel’s presented free entertainment and filled the streets with music from their acoustic outdoor stage as part of the Jack Daniel’s Experience.
Photo Credit: SSMF/James Donnelly
Tommy Lee and deadmau5 ride the 360° rollercoaster.
The 2011 SSMF marked the third year Sunset Boulevard was closed to traffic between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard. 15,000 music fans flocked to Saturday’s street fest marking the most successful SSMF to date. The Sunset Strip was transformed into a premier concert destination with two outdoor stages, beer gardens, artist autograph tent, an outdoor VIP rooftop lounge, silent disco, Virgin America VIP Lounge at On The Rox, food trucks, interactive experiences and live performances within the venues from 1 p.m. until close. (For street festival photos, please visit http://bit.ly/SSMF11photos.)
Los Angeles Times’ Steve Appleford was there to witness Saturday’s full octane Mötley Crüe performance and wrote: “Going home is an enduring theme of rock 'n' roll, and it had special resonance for Motley Crue on Saturday, as headliner and honored guests at the fourth annual Sunset Strip Music Festival, three decades after beginning its long journey of loudness and debauchery along the boulevard…the crowd stretched out for blocks as [Tommy Lee] sat behind a mirrored baby grand piano to play ‘Home Sweet Home,’ the kind of heartfelt, manly ballad once required by metal acts hoping to cross over. It was a genuine moment. The band's 90-minute set opened with rapid-fire explosions and singer Vince Neil stood center stage with an American flag sewn onto the crotch of his silver pants, punching the air to 2008's ‘Saints of Los Angeles.’ There were big classic solos from guitarist Mick Mars, bassist Nikki Sixx spit up fake blood on the front rows, and huge blasts of pyro accompanied every ‘shout!’ during ‘Shout at the Devil.’ Lee's drum kit rode a circular roller coaster on stage, taking his entire setup (nine drums and eight cymbals) upside-down and sideways as he pounded beats. ‘You guys look real good upside-down,’ Lee said, then invited surprise guest Deadmau5 to ride the crazy train with him during the Ohio Players' ‘Love Rollercoaster’ while the DJ held tightly onto his bright red mouse head.”
Elsewhere, he noted: “…Public Enemy bounced with as much energy as it had in the '80s, pacing a stage crowded with musicians and crew, and reflecting lifelong commitment to music and message…The band was joined by Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian to recreate their 1987 genre-busting rap-metal hit ‘Bring the Noise,’ as Chuck D, Flavor Flav and Ian shouted instructional rhymes: ‘Soul control, beat is the father of your rock 'n' roll!’ Among the dozens of acts playing the street fest or inside the clubs was the reunited Bush, which had its own local history to note Saturday. From the main stage, frontman Gavin Rossdale talked warmly of playing the Roxy during the grunge act's first trip to the U.S. and performed a song from 1992, ‘Everything Zen’…Matt & Kim faced the late-afternoon sunshine with some giddy minimalist garage-pop. Kim Schifino pounded a tough danceable beat alongside keyboardist Matt Johnson, both frequently rising and standing on their seats. Schifino flashed a tattoo below her beltline and before ‘It's a Fact’ encouraged the crowd: ‘You should go … nuts today. Do it for me — make this day regrettable.’” (8/21/11)
Here are some additional media reactions from SSMF 2011:
OC Register: “Matt & Kim were super bouncy and intense, making sure the crowd was just as into it as they were by throwing out hundreds of balloons for people to blow up and let fly. Public Enemy played an awesome set, proving they're not too old to rock. Mötley Crüe…had a sick pyrotechnic show for 'Shout at the Devil.' You could walk down the Strip and duck in and out of bars, grabbing drinks and watching different bands – a bit like window shopping for live music." – Dan Krauss (8/21/11)
LA Weekly: “Public Enemy came on a bit after seven…They, and I, all lost our shit, then, whenScott Ian came on to perform ’Bring The Noise,’ which is a hundred times better rock/rap mash-up than ‘Walk This Way.’ Guys in cowboy hats…suddenly found themselves moshing, perhaps hypnotized by Ian's flavor saver.” – Ben Westhoff (8/21/11)
PATCH.com: “The Strip itself proved to be as much of an attraction to visitors as the bands themselves.New Jersey’s Sharon Manzoa and her 18-year-old daughter Sara incorporated the festival into aLos Angeles vacation that also included visits to theGrammyMuseum andHollywood’s Walk of Fame. The location also reeled in festival-goers from Scandinavia andSouth America, said volunteer Brian Welch. He talked to people who traveled thousands of miles “just because it’s the Sunset Strip.” … The show held symbolic importance for fans of Mötley Crüe. The band played the Roxy Theatre and Whisky A Go-Go in its early days and was the featured guest Saturday night at the festival for its contributions to the Sunset Strip music scene.” – Devin Kelly (8/21/11)
The 2011 Sunset Strip Music Festival is proudly sponsored by Virgin America, Jack Daniel's, Bud Light, Gibson Guitar, Vitaminwater, Los Angeles Hornburg Land Rover, 98.7fm, Musicians Institute, TicketWeb, Mondrian, West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau and the City of West Hollywood. Street production for the Aug. 20 street festival provided by Swing House. Creative provided by Signature Creative. Special thanks to Clear Channel Outdoor, CBS Outdoor and ACE Outdoor.
www.sunsetstripmusicfestival.com
www.facebook.com/sunsetstripmusicfestival
Twitter: @SSMF / @TheSunsetStrip
For more information about the SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL, contact:
MSO 818-380-0400
Todd Brodginski x239, toddb@msopr.com
Alexandra Greenberg x223, agreenberg@msopr.com
Angela Villanueva x232, avillanueva@msopr.com
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