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Warner-Drive
WARNER DRIVE TO HEADLINE CITY OF ANGELS RECORD RELEASE SHOW AT SUNSET STRIP’S VIPER ROOM NOV. 8

Warner DriveAs far as Hollywood buzz bands go, they don’t get much better than Warner Drive. The hard rocking fivesome has been tirelessly shaking up the Sunset Strip for a couple years now before recently taking some time off the club scene to record new material.

Local fans will get a live taste of the new stuff when Warner Drive hits up the Viper Room on November 8 for a headlining gig at the iconic rock club. The band’s return to the Sunset Strip is to celebrate the long awaited release of WD’s new album, City of Angels.

As expected, the band does not disappoint with City of Angels, which includes 10 solid tracks featuring WD’s newer club staples and brand spankin’ new material.

City of AngelsCity of Angels, which officially dropped September 9, kicks off with “Rising From the Fallen,” a full-throttle, Sabbathy hard rock anthem that Disturbed would have killed to have recorded. We think the late, great Dio would give this track two devil’s horns up.

The album starts off very strong and never lets up, seguing to the title track, “City of Angels,” which is the coolest L.A. anthem to surface from a Sunset Strip-launched band since Motley Crue‘s “Saints of Los Angeles.”

“Radio Love Song” echoes with ’80s-metal-style harmonies and is the most radio-ready and badass sing-along track since WD’s signature jam “The Scarecrow.” Likewise, the band’s new single “Boys N’ Girls” is another killer original rock song that would have fit comfortably on any early Skidrow or Dokken album.

SAMSUNGAlso on the new release, frontman Jonny Law and crew — guitarists Candice Levinson and Ryan Harris, bassist Elvis James and drummer Jonny U — switch gears from party rock to get political and bust some strings on the catchy, hard-rocking “West Memphis Three.”

“King of Swing” is standard Warner Drive: mercilessly melodic chorus, scorching guitars and a solid rhythm section that kicks this tune into overdrive and should blow the roof off of the Viper Room on November 8.

Also, considering that WD has already immortalized Viper Room in one of its best songs, expect Warner Drive to deliver a particularly scorching version of “Viper Room.”

Viper Room is located in the heart of the Strip at 8852 West Sunset Boulevard. The show starts at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, or $15 with a copy of City of Angels. Lose Control and Kicking Harold are also on the bill. Get ticket details here.

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CLASSIC METAL

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BULLET BOYS, L.A. GUNS TO ROCK SUNSET

We were walking down Sunset this evening sulking from neglecting to get tickets to see metal gods Metallica play L.A. in May when we spotted the Whisky‘s marquee and two words made us feel better right away: Hollywood Roses, the best GN’R tribute band around will be rocking the Whisky ion February 9.

Then two more words smacked us upside the head: Bullet Boys – on February 15! That, naturally, was followed by another two words: Hell yeah!

The best of late ’80s/early ’90s metal is slicing its way right back to the Sunset Strip and to that we raise our Bic lighters high!

Fellow L.A. rock refugees James Hetfield and Metallica will also be playing L.A. soon, when the iconic band rightfully receives the Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award at rock mag Revolver‘s Golden Gods Awards Show at Downtown L.A.’s intimate-sized Club Nokia on May 2.

Also set to perform is Five Finger Death Punch, Dillinger Escape Plan and a bunch of other awesome bands. Tickets to this rockin’ once-in-a-lifetime event, unfortunately, are astronomical — plus, they’re general admission!

Catching Hollywood Roses and Bullet Boys at Whisky is definitely an awesome backup plan. Plus, with all the ca$h we’re saving by skipping the Golden Gods event, here’s all the other Sunset Strip shows we’ll be checkin’ out in the next couple of months:

Warner Drive @ Viper Room • Feb. 6 (and 13, 20 and March 1)

Fall Out Boy @ Roxy • Feb. 7

Lonely Drunks Club Band @ Viper Room • Feb. 8

Fan Halen (authentic down to the spandex Van Halen tribute band) @ Viper Room • Feb. 9

Buckcherry @ Viper Room • March 7-9

L.A. Guns @ Whisky • March 23  

Lizzie Borden @ Whisky • April 13 (Celebrating 30 years of metal!)

Dizzy Reed @ Hookers &a Blow @ Whisky • May 7, 14, 21 & 28

We’re also lookin’ forward to checking out Buckcherry’s support act Cherri Bomb again at Viper Room. OK, we admit we initially cast them off as a Runaways knock off awhile back…but that was when we were drunk and before catching them live and seeing the ladies rock the hell outta the Strip at last summer’s SSMF. Check out some rockin’ anthems below from the band’s that will keep alive the Sunset Strip’s enviable rep as the global anchor of authentic kick-ass rock and roll.

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SUNSET DRIVE

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WARNER DRIVE TAKES OVER VIPER ROOM

Sunset Strip rock refugees Warner Drive are returning to the Viper Room in February and March with four shows that are sure to officially rock the roof off the joint.

Awhile back, when Sunset and Clark first stumbled — and we do mean stumbled, following drinks at Rainbow — upon Warner Drive at Viper Room and witnessed, through bloodshot eyes, the band crank up its signature jam, “All by Myself,” it took us all of 10 seconds into the addictive rocker to proclaim them the best Sunset Strip band since Guns N’ Roses.

Now, as Warner Drive —  JonnyLaw, Candice Levinson, Ryan Harris, Jonny Udell and Elvis James — are steering their way back to the comfy confines of the band’s unofficial Sunset Strip home base, it’s hard to believe that these arena-worthy mofos haven’t yet headlined Staples considering that the VR shows are celebrating these local legends’ 10-year anniversary.

Warner Drive, however, is working on its follow-up to the band’s fantastic full-length sophomore release of original songs, 2011’sK-Go!, and considering that the band debuted a dynamite new tune, “King of Swing,” at a recentHouse of Blues show (right), you can likely expect to hear some more cool new tunes!

The band’s Jan. 30 warm up show at the Viper Room in anticipation of WD’s month-long Wednesday night residency sold out quickly. Get tickets and more deets about WD’s Feb. 6 to March 1 takeover of Viper Room here. Plus, advance tickets are only $10, but a still-cheap $12 at the door. (But trust us, there likely won’t be any left!)

Rock out to “Viper Room'” Warner Drive’s sonic salute to the iconic Sunset Strip club, from the band’s debut, Loaded, below. See you at the shows!

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Fully Loaded

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Warner Drive

WARNER DRIVE DEBUTS NEW SONG, ‘KING OF SWING,’ WHILE GIVING HOUSE OF BLUES A CRASH COURSE IN HOW TO ROCK

Never say Monday nights in L.A. are boring because local buzz band Warner Drive proved that it just ain’t so. The five-piece power-rock band shook the amps at the Sunset Strip’s House of Blues on December 3 with a spectacular set from their arsenal of original arena-ready rock songs. The band also premiered an awesome new track from WD’s upcoming third studio album, due out in early 2013.

Jonny LawFrontman Jonny Law, sporting a NOFX T-shirt, set things off with the melodic rocker “Ok K-Go” from WD’s latest release, K-Go!, and immediately had the packed venue moving and grooving with a frenzied fervor of rock and roll ecstasy that would make Fat Mike proud.

Confident that they have the chops to keep the crowd amped for the band’s entire set, Warner Drive choose to crank up its signature song, “The Scarecrow,” early in its set, and judging by the audience’s enthusiastic reaction and sing-along, it was apparent that most of the crowd was here for WD, which was opening for Steel Panther.

kgoWarner Drive rounded out its set with nearly a half-dozen tracks from K-Go! and a few more from the band’s 2005 debut, Fully Loaded, before showcasing a rockin’ new tune, “King of Swing,” which Law penned as a tribute to his dad, who, he mentioned, recently passed away from leukemia.

“But this isn’t a sad song,” Law said before launching into the anthemic rock jam whose chorus promises that “everything is gonna be alright” and proves that Warner Drive – which also includes bassist Elvis James, drummer Jonny U and guitarists Ryan Harris and Candice Levinson —  is only getting more awesome with each gig.

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Warner Drive’s ‘House’ Party

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SUNSET STRIP FAVES WARNER DRIVE TO ROCK H.O.B. WITH SURPRISE SHOW & PRE-PARTY WITH FANS, DEC. 3

Great news for L.A. music fans looking for something a bit more exciting than sitting around listening to stale Christmas carols and re-watching It’s A Wonderful Life for the zillionth time on Monday night. Instead, why not get your face rocked off by some full-throttle, straight-forward original rock and roll by local faves, Sunset Strip refugees Warner Drive?

261178_391071537639587_588980207_nFrontman Jonny Law and the band have just confirmed a last-minute gig filling in as the opener for Steel Panther at West Hollywood’s House of Blues on Monday, December 3. Warner Drive is slated to rock the main stage at around 9:30 p.m.

Fresh off its first European tour, the L.A. band is working on its third studio album and will be showcasing some new tunes from the 2013 release! (Although, we’ll never get tired of hearing “The Scarecrow” or “OK K-Go” from WD’s latest album, K-Go, and the badbass ballad “Broken” and “Viper Room” from their debut, Fully Loaded!)

Plus…it gets better! The House of Blues is hosting a pre-party for Warner Drive in the club’s upstairs VIP lounge, the Foundation Room. Fans can inquire about the pre-party when they show up and will be directed to the WD bash. Doors open around 8 p.m.

Check out Warner Drive’s Facebook page for all the details. See you at the show!

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Livin’ It Up

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L.A.’S WARNER DRIVE IS ON CRUISE CONTROL TO ROCK STARDOM

Sunset and Clark is stoked to see that one of our favorite local bands, Warner Drive, is starting to get the rockin’ recognition they deserve.

The Hollywood band has rocked the Sunset Strip from one end to the other, supporting its debut, Fully Loaded, and 2011’s K-Go with headlining gigs at every hot spot from Viper Room to Key Club, along with last year’s Sunset Strip Music Festival. And frontman Jonny Law (right) and the group have tirelessly toured the country with popular artists like CKY, Hinder and Jet.

Law and bandmates Elvis James on bass, smokin’-hot shredder Candice Levinson, guitarist Ryan Harris and drummer Jonny U and their DIY drive have amassed a loyal L.A. fanbase with awesome Warner Drive originals like “Stand Up,” “All By Myself,” “Livin’ it Up,” and “Radio Love Song.”

The band’s SRO shows have become rockin’ sing-alongs, and as their fanbase continues to grow, their concerts are becoming loud audience participation events. The energy and sonic assault of WD’s club shows, including its recent stop at the Roxy earlier this month, are destined to soon push the band from the Strip into the global spotlight.

Warner Drive is giving locals another shot at catching their live show with a headlining gig at the Sunset Strip’s Viper Room on July 13, with the equally rockin’, Soundgarden-like Lady Sinatra opening the show. (We hope WD invite the stripper from their June 1 Roxy gig back to the stage!) The Viper Room show is among the final local concerts before WD embarks on its first European tour in August.

Check out WD’s rockin’ salute to the Sunset strip in the “Scarecrow” video.