Sunset Strip Music Festival 2013 – Hollywood, CA

Sunset Strip Music Festival (SSMF) began early afternoon on Saturday for its 6th year in existence. As with any large musical festival the day was as much about the music as it was about the fans in attendance.

 

 

Tiana Herrera and Raul Martinez (both fans in attendance of SSMF) had this to say about the festival “We are both here for Linkin Park: we have been following them since 2001 and are super surprised to see this many people in both amount and wide age range that are here for the same reason we are.” Both Herrera and Martinez were most looking forward to hearing Linkin Park perform “Breaking the Habit” and “Faint.”

The charity benefitting from the proceeds of SSMF was Music for Relief. The charity was founded in 2005 by Linkin Park as a way to help those affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami that occurred late 2004. Since the charities inception it has used proceeds from musical sales and performances to: fund-raise over $5,000,000 in donations, plant over 1,000 trees and helped those affected by natural disasters/famines all over the world.

Street Drum Corps started off the outdoor festivities on the West Side Stage at 3:30pm. After getting to speak with them at the Joan Jett Tribute show at the House of Blues Sunset Strip location on Thursday they seemed to be thrilled to play SSMF. Entering into a ground shaking bass line they brought the audience to a standstill then followed by the screams and dancing of fans in attendance. Their performance consisted of songs like: “God, Oil and Rock & Roll,” “Knock Me Out” and “Wrecks.” Backed by dancers on stilts and Adrian Young (drummer for No Doubt) who golfed on stage all of their songs were performed with intense zeal and pulse pounding bass. They opened up SSMF in a well-rehearsed and well-percussed fashion.

Asher Roth, a rapper from Morrisville, Pennsylvania played the East Side Stage at 4:00pm. His set was greeted by the heat of the West Hollywood sun; not to be daunted by the heat Asher Roth positive vibes and positive music brought up the energy levels of the audience and even did a His set concluded with a performance of his acclaimed hit “I Love College” before which Roth pretended to leave stage as a way to generate excitement before his hit.

Slick Rick & Doug E Fresh performed next on East Side Stage. DJ Kaos and the rest of the Get Fresh Crew (minus Doug E Fresh) opened up with mixed history lesson of Hip-Hop. Playing hits from Run DMC, Big Daddy Kane, De La Soul and even Vanilla Ice.

Doug E Fresh took the stage about 15 minutes into the entire set. Doug E Fresh Beat Boxed and dances to mixes of: Jackson 5, Fat Albert’s show theme song, and even ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Slick Rick took the stage towards the end of the set with Wayne Brady in tow: who Freestyle-Rapped before Slick Rick & Doug E Fresh, backed by the Get Fresh Crew finished up their nostalgic set with a performance of their hit: “The Show.”

The Dreaming a band from Hollywood, CA played the Whisky at 5:30pm. For those who don’t know about the Dreaming, their band includes members from Orgy and Static X.  During their set many of their older fans were singing along as Christopher Hall (vocalist of the band) included some of his former bands (Stabbing Westward) songs.

Julien-K performed at the Viper Rooms Stage immediately after Slick Rick & Doug E Fresh. Amir Derakh entered on the stage carrying an IPad and Ryan Shuck carrying a megaphone then the rest of the band followed suit. They played a set that was full of energy while they played song that included: “Kick the Bass,” “Cruel Daze of Summer” and “We’re Here With You.”

AWOLNATION played the West Stage at 730. They took the stage, and immediately opened up with “Guilty Filthy Soul.” Their set was performed was focused and compose as well as full of life. AWOLNATION also performed songs: “Sail” and “Kill Your Heroes” as well as many others. Before playing “Not Your Fault” Aaron Bruno (vocalist of the band) had this to say “I had a dream last night that everyone was jumping in unison to this song. I don't know if it was a dream or nightmare, but sometimes dreams do come true.” Ending their set on a positive note Bruno thanked the audience for attending and supporting AWOLNATION in their career.

Linkin Park played the West Side Stage at 9:30pm and was the last outside stage performance of the evening. Their set was a full hour and a half long and included practically all of their songs as well as a mind-blowing Rap from Mike Shinoda. 

Their set ended with Chester Bennington taking a bow thanking the audience multiple times for supporting his band and their charity.

The end of the night brought a few shows at the Roxy. And for those who could not get into the Roxy Power 106s tent featured a party mix by their DJ and a crowd of people dancing around a Jesus impersonator.

This type of spontaneous event was something that seems to frequently occur in Hollywood, CA serving as a fitting hilarious as well as entertaining way to end the evening and day at Sunset Strip Music Festival.

 

       

    More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-Ryan R.-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

 

 

 

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