Sunset Strip hot spots relieve campus boredom

By Kenny Chang
Daily Bruin Contributor It has dazzled the city and surrounding
area for ages, and it’s right up the street from UCLA. On any
given night it can be packed with loads of traffic. Go on the
weekends, and it’s a madhouse. There have been mobsters,
politicians and countless celebrities adorning the street. Yes,
ladies and gentlemen, it is Hollywood’s playground: the
famous Sunset Strip. If a Bruin ever tires of Westwood nightlife
and wants to hit up some real entertainment, Sunset Boulevard has
several locations guaranteed to have the hottest bands, performing
artists and clubs.

The Key Club 9039 Sunset Blvd. For more
information on the Key Club call (310)786-1712

The Key
Club Closest to UCLA and first on the list is the Key
Club. Located on 9039 Sunset Blvd., the Key Club is a bumping
three-level club that provides entertainment galore. There’s
a VIP lounge, a full service restaurant, a regular club level,
three bars and even a martini bar. For a trendier atmosphere, the
Key Club houses “Club Wicked,” the upscale dance club
(no casual wear) for the 18-and-over crowd, every Wednesday. For
the drinking-age club-hoppers, the Key Club hosts 21-and-over
nights on Fridays and Saturdays. The Key Club also hosts a wide
range of shows. “We pretty much have anything here that can
fit any kind of mood that you can ever have,” said Amy
Bellas, the Key’s public relations coordinator. Confirming
this statement is the plethora of performers the Key Club has
hosted. KRS-1 performed there recently, as well as bands such as
the Circle Jerks, Face-to-Face and jazz guitarist Al Di Meola. Even
the Cirque du Soleil has graced their stage.

The Roxy Theater 9009 Sunset Blvd. For
information on the Roxy Theater call (310)276-2222 The
Roxy Theater

The next venue is the Roxy Theater, located on 9009 Sunset Blvd.
Since its founding in 1973, the all-ages venue has served as the
springboard for a lot of bands. It has great music and a casual
dress code (no weapons or chains allowed, of course). Every night
has a live rock show, with bands generally playing alternative
music, with an occasional dose of hardcore flavor. The Roxy has
valet parking, a restaurant and a VIP area. Great bands have played
at the Roxy. Recent shows include Depeche Mode, Average White Band,
the Ambulance, Action Figure Party, Anti-Flag and Phantom Planet.
Also, Korn, Jimmie’s Chicken Shack and The Donnas are loyal
supporters of the Roxy and are known to stop by frequently.
“The Roxy has been around forever, there’s a great
sound and everybody always has fun when they’re here,”
stated Shelly Favarl, personal assistant to the Talent Buyer.

The Whiskey A- Go-Go 8901 Sunset Blvd. For more
information on the The Whiskey A- Go-Go call (310)652-4202

The Whisky A
Go-Go The Whisky A Go-Go, the “Birthplace of the
go-go girl,” was founded in 1964, where girls in cages danced
to the burgeoning rock ‘n’ roll scene. Located on 8901
Sunset Blvd., it is a bar and a rock club that plays alternative
and sometimes pop music. The Whisky also serves as a dance club on
some nights. The Whisky was one of the biggest venues in the
’60s and ’70s, with legends like the Doors, Buffalo
Springfield and Led Zeppelin, regularly performing on the small
stage. There are two levels, with two bars and a dance floor, which
is used as a moshing area. Though there is no VIP section at the
Whisky, “Everyone is a VIP here,” said general manager
Tisa Mylar. Recent shows have included the Mighty Mighty Bosstones,
Simon Says and Sick of it All. The Whisky has also seen
performances from the likes of Buckcherry, Limp Bizkit and Korn.
The Whisky has a long history of presenting local bands and
national bands that rock the intimate stage.

House of Blues, Hollywood 8430 Sunset Blvd. For
more information on the House of Blues call (323)848-5100

The
House Of Blues The House of Blues, Hollywood, famous for
its multitude of famous names and great shows is located on 8430
Sunset Blvd. It is a casual dress, multi-faceted venue that
presents reggae, blues, hip hop, rockin’ Español, punk,
rock or just about any other music genre depending on the given
night. The House of Blues has a members only room, called
“The Foundation Room,” and also a restaurant, known as
“The Porch.” There are several different club nights
and all-night events, such as “Sin Nights,” that take
place at the House of Blues. The venues are either 18 and over or
21 and over, depending on the show. The House of Blues’ music
hall has been blessed with the presence of many great artists over
the years. Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, KC and the Sunshine Band
and Reverend Al Green have all performed on the prestigious stage.
Recent shows have included the likes of Cappadonna, the Doobie
Brothers, Buju Banton, Social Distortion and even Mandy Moore with
Evan & Jaron. “(The House of Blues) is where the heart
meets the soul,” said Jennifer Kahn, marketing manager of the
House of Blues.

The Hollywood Palladium 6215 Sunset Blvd. For
more information on Hollywood Palladium call (323)962-7600

Hollywood Palladium Last, but certainly not
least, is the Hollywood Palladium, located on 6215 Sunset Blvd.
First opened in 1940, the Palladium is a site that has contained
countless numbers of celebrities, politicians, music groups and has
housed several award ceremonies. With a rich history that includes
everyone from former Presidents Truman and Eisenhower to rock
‘n’ roll bands to British royalty, the Palladium offers
world-class entertainment. The Palladium has a giant dance floor
and state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. Glen Miller and
Frank Sinatra held concerts there during the ’40s. During the
’60s and ’70s, the Rolling Stones and the Who also
played in the Palladium. Recent shows include bands ranging from
Blink 182 to Latin jazz performances. The Sunset Strip is a
definite relief from the tensions of UCLA and has a great history
surrounding it. It is one of the few places on earth that has seen
such famous names in the past and still continues to bring in the
famous names of the present. Other college campuses have nothing
even remotely as significant as the Strip. Being so close to
school, it is a definite perk that contributes to the extraordinary
community of UCLA.