Ultimate Jam Night 101 – Southern Style at the Whisky a Go Go 3/21/17
Review and Pictures: Roy Braatz Jr
Yes indeed, it was another stellar night last Tuesday at the World Famous Whisky A Go-Go, Hollywood, as The Ultimate Jam Night family celebrated some good ol’ classic, southern-born Rock & Roll. Try as it might, the all-day monsoons couldn’t stop the die-hards from strapping on their spurs and daisy dukes and comin’ on down to the Sunset Strip to kick up some cow dust, Hazzard County style. And a helluva night, it was.
Getting the night started right was the winner of this week’s Break at the Beach competition. Just in case you haven’t heard, Break at the Beach, hosted by Forrest McKinnon, is the Ultimate Jam Night’s most recent musical project. Every week at Venice Beach Bar, three up and coming L.A. bands are auditioned by The Jam producers in front of a live audience. After the Venice show, one of the three bands is selected to open the award winning Ultimate Jam Night at the Whisky the following Tuesday, which is live-streamed internationally via Zinna.TV. This week, it was We’re No Gentlemen who got to showcase their talent for the house. They hit the famous Whisky stage hard with just the right amount of energy to get the crowd into the proper state of mind for their mid-week escape. We’re No Gentlemen’s somewhat short set was non-stop intensity from start to finish and included a little audience participation when its singer jumped down onto the floor to stir up the crowd.
Next up was the band FIRE, with special guest Koi Anunta. Certainly no strangers to The Ultimate Jam Night stage or Erik Himel’s Sunset Jam at The Viper Room, FIRE did what they always do, namely, blow minds. I don’t think there was one set of eyes or ears in the room that weren’t glued to the risers as the band gave us a first taste of their powerful new EP due out May 2nd. Mark my words, FIRE will be the band to watch out for this year as they get closer to the cusp of breaking through. These guys are the real deal and it’s only a matter of time before they break it wide open.
Following FIRE, The Ultimate Jam Night’s famous house band hit the stage, starring CHUCK WRIGHT (Quiet Riot), MATT STARR (Mr. Big, Ace Frehley), MITCH PERRY (MSG, Edgar Winter Group), and WALTER INO (Survivor). Better known on this night as the good ol’ boys, the house band got things started with some classic CCR and, just like the Duke Boys, never looked back from there.
The revolving stage tonight included such heavy hitters as KEITH ENGLAND (The Allman Brothers, Montrose); ROBY DURON (Bostyx); CHEROKEE FORTUNE (Absinthe); JOE TRAVERS (Duran Duran, Billy Idol); Johnny Griparic (Slash’s Snakepit); DAN POTRUCH, PAUL ILL, MARK TREMALGIA, RANDY MITCHELL (known collectively as the DISREPUTABLE FEW); DANIEL PEARSON (Iggy Pop); RICK MUSALLAM (Gwen Stefani); CHRIS ROCHA (The Voice); MATT FULLER (Puddle of Mudd); ELIZA JAMES (Paul Anka); Jerry Montano (DANZIG, Death Division); IRA BLACK (Westfield Massacre); JASON MILLER (Godhead); BRYON HOLLEY (Perry Ferrell, Steve Vai); DEBBY HOLIDAY (Rod Stewart); DEREK DAY (The Derek Day Band); TOSHI YANAGI (The Jimmy Kimmel Band); and MANY, MANY MORE!
HOUSE BAND
• CHUCK WRIGHT (QUIET RIOT)
• MATT STARR (MR BIG)
• MITCH PERRY (RATT)
• WALTER INO (SURVIVOR)
Performances By:
• DISREPUTABLE FEW
• STONEBREED/ CARLOS CRUZ
• ELIZA JAMES ON FIDDLE (PAUL ANKA)
• DEBBY HOLIDAY (ROD STEWART)
• JOE TRAVERS (ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA)
• MATT FULLER (PUDDLE OF MUD)
• THE AVIATORS
• BRENDAN BUCKLEY (SHAKIRA)
• JIMMY KEEGAN (ASIA)
• IRA BLACK (WESTFIELD MASSACRE)
• MIKE HANSEN (HURRICANE)
• JASON C. MILLER (GODHEAD)
• JERRY MONTANO (FORMERLY DANZIG)
• THE KING CHRIS BAND
• VOCALIST ADI ARGELAZI
• JASON BOYLESTON (BAD OCMPANY)
• DEREK DAY
• CHEROKEE FORTUNE (ABSYNTHE)
• ROBY DURON
• TOSHI YANAGI (JIMMY KIMMEL)
• MIKE BRAY (TENACIOUS D)
• JOHN SCHREFFLER (SHOOTER JENNINGS)
• STORM RHODES IV
• BEN WHITE (MAGNETICO)
• MICHAEL MARTINSSON (DILANA)
• BRYON HOLLY, JEFF FEDEK
GUEST MC: JESSE BLAZE SNIDER
The Ultimate Jam Night happens every Tuesday night at the World Famous Whisky A Go-Go, 8901 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, California. Admission is always free, but ask at the door about how you can tip your favorite performers. Doors at 8:30PM.
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