Metal Sludge The Power and the Glory
RISING ACT LET IT RAWK PEFORMS SUCCESSFUL CONCERT AT WHISKY, AS CROWD GOES WILD
By Gerry Gittelson
Metal Sludge Editor at Large
HOLLYWOOD — An up-n-coming all-star jam band called Let It Rawk made its Los Angeles debut, and the five-man group is led by ex-L.A. Guns guitarist Stacey Blades and they’re red hot.
Let It Rawk performed before a near-capacity crowd on Thursday, June 26 at the Whisky, and the place was going crazy. Part of Let It Rawk’s appeal is a steady influx of interchangeable members with the exception of Blades, and on this night the group featured singer Jaime St. James (Black N’ Blue, ex-Warrant), co-guitarist Jeff Duncan (Armored Saint), bassist Robbie Crane (ex-Ratt, Black Star Riders) and drummer Jimmy D’Anda (ex-BulletBoys).
The focus is on hits from the 1980s from Sunset Strip-style bands, and the Whisky performance saw Let It Rawk rip through versions of Dokken’s “Into The Fire,” Guns N’ Roses’ “Mr. Brownstone,” L.A Guns’ “Never Enough,” Ratt’s “Round and Round,” Warrant’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” Motley Crue’s “Wildside” and Twister Sister’s “I Wanna Rock.”
Sludge caught up with the band backstage, as the Let It Rawk was hosting a little pre-party with beer and other drinks, as various groupies and hangers-on were floating about, along with a potpourri of fellow rockers like Love/Hate’s Jon. E Love and London’s Alan Krigger.
“This is our fourth show, and we’re having an awesome time,” Blades said.
Added St. James: “It’s a blast doing this, and the plan is to keep on rotating members based on who is on tour and who is available. We’ve got some good players, and it’s amazing how easy it is for things to come together because everyone is so fuckin’ good.”
Crane was in an especially happy mood, and he had a good laugh explaining how he had to re-learn “Round and Round” despite having played it hundreds of times in Ratt.
“I guess it’s been a long time, so I honestly forgot it,” Crane said.
Jaime St. James & Stacey Blades hold onto 18
Jeff Duncan representing the hey day with a Gazzarri’s tee
On “Never Enough,” the band was really hitting its groove, as St. James and Blades were sharing a microphone during the choruses, and Duncan was shredding away for all he was worth.
On “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” St. James made a special point to give tribute to the late Jani Lane, pointing to the sky as the group broke into the intro.
Let It Rawk = Duncan, Crane, Blades, St. James & D’Anda
The one and only Whisky-A-Go-Go marquee
St. James & Blades
Eric Jeffreys and The Hard Way dancer Coco
The Hard Way opened, and group led by singer Eric Jeffreys and noted drummer Bobby Rock put on quite a show themselves. In no small way, The Hard Way was helped along by a couple of super-sexy backup dancers who found themselves getting nearly as much attention as the band itself.
Special thanks to promoter Jake Perry, who set us up. The youngster is rapidly earning a name for himself as one of the Strip’s rising stars behind the scenes.
Let it Rawk @ WebSite – Facebook
Let It Rawk summer shows
June 25th “The End” Las Vegas, NV
June 26th “Whisky-A-Go-Go” Hollywood, CA
June 28th “Vamp’D” Las Vegas, NV
July 3rd “Vega Vegas” Lombard, IL >TIX<
Gerry Gittelson can be reached at gspot@metalsludge.tv
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