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Hollywood In-Seider |
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I got an email a few weeks ago from a reader suggesting that I check out the scene at the Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. It was my first suggestion for a Hollywood In-Seider, so I took it seriously. I'm a bit surprised that this particular reader has never been to the Viper Room; didn't they have the "Charles in Charge" after-party there? Or at least "Blown Away."
At any rate... Date: July 26, 2002 Location: Viper Room, Sunset Strip Background: Hollywood's legendary Viper Room has been a hotbed for up-and-coming rock bands for the last ten years. Originally part-owned by Johnny Depp (before he lost his mind and moved to France), it's also the place to be for surprise gigs from big-name acts like Counting Crows, Weezer, and Scandal. When you walk out the front door, you'll be standing right where River Phoenix died of a drug overdose in 1993. Back then the Viper Room was the talk of the town, but has since lost a bit of its luster. That said, along with Whisky a Go-Go, Roxy, and the Troubadour, it's one of the premier rock clubs in Los Angeles. The Scene: The crowd at the Viper Room depends on the band playing. We were there on Friday to see three bands: two sucky ones, and my friend Greg with The Slowtime Mondays. The Mondays are a good rock/pop outfit in the vein of Weezer, Wilco, and old-school REM, so the crowd was pretty laid back and cool. The band who opened for them, the Skinny Wanks, were awful. The lead singer weighed about six pounds, took his shirt off, and kept yelling "It's time to fucking GET DOWN!" You may as well sing "We Will Rock You" and get it over with. The Players: Preston Seider: World-reknowned internet columnist and rock music enthusiast Karly: Hails from San Marcos, Texas which is near San Antonio, or possibly Dallas Coleen: Karly's sister, so I surmise that she is also from San Marcos John: Friend of Coleen and is from the Brandon-Iron-hotbed of Richmond, VA. Décor: The Viper Room is a lot smaller than one would think. It's basically ten feet by twelve feet, or possibly 100x100 --- I'm awful at this. I hate when people ask me how big my apartment is...how in the hell should I know? An acre? Six units? Anyway, it's pretty dark, with the bar in back, a few booths, and the stage up front. It's a cool vibe. There are no live snakes, which is good. Drinks: Drinks are pretty reasonable. A Miller Lite was four bucks, and a scotch and soda (albeit Johnny Walker Red, not exactly your premier blend, but after a few beers, who cares?) was six dollars. My PBR pension fund has been getting hammered recently by the market (thanks to allegations against C. Alexander and J. Paul concering improper bookeeping. Those guys can't microwave pasta, let alone cook the books), so I didn't run up the bar tab on this particular night with my usual verve. Karly drank Bud Light, but then again, she's from Texas. Service: The service was very good. The waitresses were nice (they're always nice to be, but I observed pleasantries to non-celebrity customers) and the bartenders were very attentive. A lot of times you walk into a bar in Hollywood and the bartender assumes that his association with said happening bar means that he's the shit, and all it really means is that he works at the bar, and is a fucking wank. Celebrities: Because I'm "on the scene" and "in the in" in (I can't even tell what kind of grammar that was) Hollywood, I've met my share of celebrities, but none struck me with the awe of Friday's night's interview with Dr. Dre, aka Andre Young, aka The Premier Producer in History. We were in the parking lot getting ready to leave when Dre walked with an associate to his grey Ferrari convertible. I stopped the associate and asked if I could sit down briefly with Mr. Young for a quick interview for the Paper Bag Review. He obliged. Suburban White Columnist: Um, Dre! Dr. Dre: Hey, how you doin? SWC: Dude, I have your CD in my car RIGHT NOW. Dr. Dre: That's great man. SWC: I mean, it's "Straight Outta Compton" but I like your new stuff too. Dr. Dre: That's great, thanks a lot. SWC: You've been a huge influence on me. Dr. Dre: Oh, do you rhyme? SWC: Sometimes...hey wait, that was funny. Dr. Dre: I gotta go, man. SWC: This has been Preston Seider reporting live from Dr. Dre's studio Ferrari: SCREECH (dust settles...it's a calm night in Hollywood...a lonely PBR columnist wonders why everything he says is stupid...curtain falls) Overall: The Viper Room is top notch for seeing a band. The sound system is great and the vibe is always good. It's fifteen bucks to get in on the weekend unless you're on the guest list, but it's normally worth it. You never know when you could be seeing the next Motley Crue or Escape Club. Did they ever play in Hollywood? I also recommend you taking people from Texas. Their accent is really cool. Also, they have seen armadillos, most likely. Email me at pseider@paperbagreview.com if you'd like to suggest a venue for me to check out in a coming Hollywood In-Seider. I am merely here to serve you. Preston Seider |
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