The Sunset Strip Music Festival kicked off last night at the House of Blues with an intimate ceremony honoring rock ‘n’ roll royals Lou Adler, Elmer Valentine and Mario Maglieri. 

For the vision of their venues and collective contributions to club culture, each of the three wisemen were given historic photographs of their legendary establishments and heartfelt testimonials by the likes of Slash, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong and Michelle Phillips (emceed by Mark McGrath who was charming and looked awesomely Love Boat in a white suit).

Slash recalled sneaking into the Rainbow Bar & Grill as an underage crossdresser (when it’s ladies’ night and your fake ID has been rejected sometimes these things happen).  He spoke genuinely about Mario Maglieri’s friendship and praised him as somewhat of a rock prophet. 

Cheech & Chong charged the podium together in adulation of Lou Adler.  Adler discovered the duo at the Troubadour and signed them for a whopping $2000 (after an initial $1000 offer was laughably renegotiated by the pair).  Under Adler’s watch, they sold millions of records and saw box office success with Up In Smoke, all of which was used against Tommy Chong during his stint in federal court for selling a bong.  “Thanks a lot, motherfucker,” Chong roasted.

After ingesting what I can only imagine was a handful of barbiturates, Michelle Phillips gave a slooooooooow and choked up tribute to Elmer Valentine.  She praised his as a smart and compassionate dreamer who took care of her when literally she did not have a single friend in the world.  Phillips remembered the days when Sunset Blvd was nothing and Hollywood Blvd was the place for kids to find trouble.  She credited Valentine and all the honorees for making the Strip legendary for more than 40 years.

The gentlemen gave short, gracious thank yous and then beelined it to bed.

The clappy crowd turned their attention to the evening’s bands starting with the Lowry-licious Camper Van Beethoven, who seemed peeved by the limitations of the short set.  One day I will hear Eye of Fatima live.  I just know it.

Soul Asylum took second on the stage and the most notable thing about the 90’s heritage act is that Dave Pirner has traded in his hair mats for shiny flat iron.  Really, it was totally smooth.  The crowd obliged with bobbing and swaying and although they sounded quite right, there was a missing alt-grungeness that was confusing.

No one seemed more surprised by the outpouring of love for Everclear, than Everclear.  “How many of you were here the first time around” or something like that Art Alexakis called to the crowd.  He played the 120 Minutes throwback, Heroin Girl as a test of audience integrity and then let them sing along loudly to big hits like Santa Monica, Father of Mine, I Will Buy You A New Life.

The rocking is not stopping.  Tonight, Friday 6/27:  Dilated Peoples, HelloGoodbye, Hot Hot Heat, Juliette & The Licks, B Real w/Slash, more.  Tomorrow , Saturday 6/28: Mickey Avalon, The 88, Louis XIV, Camp Freddy, Derby, more.

Photos by Farrah Karen Oswald