NEVER ENOUGH
L.A. Guns plays a torrid set at the Whisky at the annual Sunset Strip Music Festival, and Puddle of Mudd and Graham Bonnet kick some ass, too
By Gerry Gittelson
Metal Sludge Editor at Large

HOLLYWOOD — With Jane’s Addiction the outdoor headliner Saturday in addition to a bunch of avant garde-style bands, the annual Sunset Strip Music Festival had an alternative feel this year, though the celebration was as big as always with all the venues filled to capacity and the bars and businesses all keeping very busy.

In the past, such acts as Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crue have headlined the event.

At the Whisky, we found some Sludge-esque bands, so that was our focus, as Graham Bonnet, Puddle of Mudd and L.A. Guns took the stage one after the other, and there were a lot of spell-binding moments.

Bonnet, the former Rainbow singer, is just finding his way back into form, as the big-voiced Brit came forward with a half-hour set mostly consisting of old Rainbow songs – not sure if he threw in an Alcatrazz song or not – and it also was fun seeing ex-Hardly Dangerous bassist Beth-ami Heavenstone up there with him.

By the time Bonnet got around to his biggest hit, “Since You’ve Been Gone,” former Hardly Dangerous singer Tomirae Brown got so caught up in the moment that she jumped on stage to sing along, and that got the crowd all juiced up.

Too bad Bonnet called it a night so early. He’s got a lot to offer, and among the intriguing storylines of
2014 and ’15 figures to be how substantial his comeback turns out to be.

Then it was Puddle of Mudd’s turn, and the Whisky got really packed. Singer Wes Scanlin is the key member, and he is kind of the Generation-X version of Axl Rose because you never know what Scanlin is going to do next, as he always seems to make the news for an arrest or some other nefarious deed.

Puddle of Wes

Beth-ami and Tomie Rae Brown looking dangerous and sexy

Chad Stewart of Faster Pussycat counts to four

But on this go, Scanlin was well-behaved, and he kicked ass, too. Puddle of Mudd saved their best songs for last, including a torrid version of “She Hates Me” that went over extraordinary well. There were so many spectators in the Whisky at this point that the place was hot and smoldering with all the warm bodies.

Time flew by, and it was about 1 a.m. by the time L.A. Guns hit the boards, but the place was still filled to the brim. Phil Lewis found his best moment during “Never Enough,” and everyone in the band impressed, particularly hard-hitting drummer Steve Riley and bassist Scott Griffin, whose chiseled features makes him magnet for all the girls up front clamoring to get as close as possible.

L.A. Griffs and friend Margott Hinostroza

Puddle of Mudd live blurry, not their song Blurry, but this photo

Tan boobs at the Rainbow Bar & Grill

Graham Bonnet

The backstage action was wild, too, with lots of rock stars and beautiful girls. Of course the night ended at the Rainbow for last call, but this was only day one. The Sunset Strip Music Festival is a two-day event that continues today (Sunday, Sept. 21), and if you’ve never been, it’s quite an experience.

Special thanks to promoter Jake Perry and publicist Vanessa Kromer. Both did a great job of setting us up.

Gerry Gittelson can be reached at gspot@metalsludge.tv

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