No indie music lover’s visit to Los Angeles is complete without a night at Hollywood’s The Viper Room on the Sunset Strip, famously known to most as the club once owned by Johnny Depp and for seeing the passing of River Phoenix outside its doors. But there is so much more to this awesome venue. It provides a space for local rock, indie and alternative bands to play to a diverse audience in a cracking location. Seriously, I saw record guys here, looking to wheel and deal, the night I visited .
The Viper Room holds music events in aid of charities as well as the usual band nights for punters. The venue to me is reminiscent of a ‘done up’ Revolver but a lot smaller (which surprised me) and in a cosy, intimate way. As far as a live venue goes, the love of music in that place is apparent and no doubt it will be a live venue for plenty more years to come. Just let the councils even try and pull a ‘Tote Hotel’ on The Viper Room…I can imagine the retaliation of the locals! It really is an awesome venue that gives a toss about live music in Los Angeles and is doing its bit to keep the live music scene well and truly alive in the City of Angels.
I got to watch some amazing local talent just recently at The Viper Room in the form of Beta Wolf, a five-piece from Los Angeles who play and belt out some amazing rock, and have been for the last couple of years. They were the support act for the night ahead of Jackyl, but I can seriously see these guys being the headliner at any live music venue.
Their sound is fun, good solid rock (at times dark) which they play with so much energy. Its obvious that they absolutely love doing what they do. Chatting to them briefly after the gig, once the chicky babes surrounding them had dispersed, showed me that they genuinely do love making and sharing their music.
Beta Wolf released their EP Just Before Morning in July, and more recently their Live in Danbury EP and, in time for the silly season, The Slaybell Sessions Vol. 1, which includes a pretty sweet version of good ol’ White Christmas.
Watch: Domino by Beta Wolf
You can sample the tracks on Beta Wolf’s ‘Just Before Morning EP’ here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/just-before-morning-ep/id544141509
