Over the Weekend: Flashing Back with Slash, Smashing Pumpkins, Headbangers and Felines at the Sunset Strip Music Festival

Lina Lecaro

Fergie gets skankalicious performing with Slash at SSMF

[See also Timothy Norris' slideshow "Sunset Strip Music Festival 2010"]

Whether you're 20, 40 or 60 years old, grew up in Los Angeles or hopped right off the bus ala Axl Rose in "Welcome to the Jungle," if you're a music fan, the Sunset Strip's legacy and continuing eminence as a rock n' roll nucleus is and has been an undeniable draw. It may have lost some luster over years, but in the last few, it's definitely come to recapture the old magic, albeit in a new way--sidewalk flier deluges have been replaced by "tweet crawls," and thanks in part to more upscale crowds and destinations, patrons generally seem more concerned with parking than cruising.

The 3rd annual Sunset Strip Music Fest, which took over the Strip this past weekend (with street closures and stages on Saturday), served to punctuate the "Strip is back" message while honoring its past, something we never really felt it pulled off completely in the two years past. Showcasing a band as big as Smashing Pumpkins obviously got more bodies out (Ozzy Osbourne, who played last year, might have a bigger fanbase, but most of them had gone to Ozzfest that Summer already), and other bands who played this year (hip-hoppers Common, Kid Kudi, Travie McCoy, glamsters Semi-Precious Weapons and Steel Panther) attracted a mixed crowd. A tally of baggy vs. skinny jeans, saw skinny win by a few muffin-tops. The stud and grommet quotient was also the highest we've seen anywhere since 1989.

Though the Pumpkins headlining slot had some slow moments, it was for the most part a visceral and compelling presentation with enough post-grunge oldies/goodies to please the streets. Even so, Slash's set just before was the centerpiece offering of the event, and not only because of the obvious significance--Guns n' Roses exploded on these very streets and its famed guitarist practically grew up at The Roxy and The Rainbow.

In a world where rock music -or at least the dirty, sleazy stuff- is less than booming, Slash has managed to parlay his signature bad boy look and playing style into something more than nostalgic noodle god. Being the go-to guy for guest riff-stints, benefit jams, and video games has paid off and somewhere down the line, he became a true icon.

The new material he showcased Saturday with singer Myles Kennedy had some nice bluesy moments, but for the most part it felt pretty dated. Luckily, Kennedy more than held his own on G-n-R's material and the crowds went as wild for "Night Train," "Sweet Child of Mine," and "Rocket Queen" as they might have had raving Mr. Rose himself been crooning.

Lina Lecaro

The rockin' scene on the patio at The Cat Club

There is no denying that Fergie, who joined the band near the middle of the set, also had the pipes to tackle G-n-R ("Paradise City") and her take on Heart's "Barracuda" is always sizzling and robust, but Miss Lady Lumps was more spazzer than swagger on stage, all stripper moves, cartwheels --yes, cartwheels-- and knee-high axe fellatios. To top it off she was wearing a silly studded bustier and up-the-ass jean shorts combo (aka your "rock chick Halloween costume"). Her bootie-shaking with Black Eyed Peas is nuanced and subdued by comparison.

While the street performances have been SSMF's big draw the past three years, the club sets have offered an important component to the event as well.