No Room for Rock at the Viper Room

Ah, the Sunset Strip--liquor stores, body shops and rock ‘n’ roll for sale. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Everything’s got a price, right? But lemme just tell you, the scene at the Viper Room on Saturday night was ugly. Put it this way: the Cult played an unannounced show as part of an expensive PR wingding orchestrated for Guinness Beer. Well, they orchestrated rock ‘n’ roll right out of the picture, with publicists working overtime to make sure their celebrity clients showed up. Whoop-dee-do. Nothing like watching one of the raddest rock bands of the last two decades work a room full of ‘droids. It’s funny, though. Turned away at the door were rock stars from Blondie, Urge Overkill, the Romantics, the Pretenders and Motochrist. Thank God, they let in TV celebs from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” because that’s just what the Viper Room needs right now: a stake through its greedy heart.

There is good news, though: The Cult is scheduled to play Scream at the Playroom when the band gets back from a South Africa gig. Praise Allah. We’re looking forward to some real unbridled passion--oh, I mean, rock ‘n’ roll.

Speaking of Scream, sobriety suits Dayle Gloria, who is so focused on her comeback she’s giving the L.A. rock scene a well-needed shot of adrenaline. Who better to do it than the legendary rock promoter? At Monday’s Scream, Motochrist and Love Hate kicked some holy booty, and may we add the band members’ tiny posteriors truly represent rock ‘n’ roll. According to Motochrist, staying thin is purely a matter of rock-onomics. Works for me. . . . Another true music love fest was going off Saturday at Bang! (held each weekly at the Ruby in Hollywood). While Rodney Bingenheimer was kicking it with the young mod set, Save Ferris’ Monique Powell--who goes there each week--was kicking it with her boyfriend. Hepcat singer Greg Lee was kicking it in the smoking section, and the deejays--spinning an amazing concoction of ‘60s soul, Brit pop and modern electronica--were kicking out the jams all night. Soldier on, rock ‘n’ rollers.