👋 LA Musician Newsletter
Los Angeles is known for its vibrant music scene. There’s music playing somewhere every night of the week!
If you’re visiting Los Angeles, where should you go to get in touch with the city’s music culture?
For decades, the world’s best new bands cut their teeth in LA clubs. See where rock and roll’s biggest stars got their start and catch a new artist bringing down the house.
Or stand in the footsteps of rock music’s giants on Hollywood Blvd as the sun is going down.
Check out these most iconic places around LA that make up its deep music history:
Whisky-A-Go-Go
The Whisky A Go Go on Sunset Boulevard is a legendary rock venue on the Sunset Strip. The Doors were the house band, Metallica met legendary bassist Cliff Burton there, and "The Whisky" launched many famous hard rock and hair metal bands in the decadent 1980s.
Where: West Hollywood
Address: 8901 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
What to Do: Check out the show calendar. Check out LA’s best local bands almost every night of the week.
Rainbow Bar and Grill
West Hollywood's Rainbow Bar and Grill is between the Roxy Theatre and the Key Club. The bar and restaurant attracts a diverse crowd, including several 1980s rock stars who still try to party like they used to.
Where: West Hollywood
Address: 9015 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
What to Do: Get a pizza and Italian dinner at this old-school restaurant. Big booths and low ceilings make this Rainbow feel like it’s straight out of a movie.
Troubadour
The 1957-founded West Hollywood Troubadour has hosted bands since. The Troubadour is known for discovering Elton John, Joni Mitchell, and Van Morrison, among other famous singer-songwriters.
Where: West Hollywood
Address: 9081 N Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
What to Do: Eclectic pop, rock, hip-hop, and songwriter artists perform every night of the week. Tickets range from about $20-$50 depending on the artist.
Roxy Theatre
Los Angeles has always been a punk mecca. Local punk bands Black Flag, The Descendents, Bad Religion, and Pennywise went on to international fame, and Social Distortion recorded an eponymous LP at The Roxy.
Where: West Hollywood
Address: 9009 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
What to Do: These days, The Roxy Theatre hosts many up and coming indie and pop artists from Los Angeles and around the country. Tickets range from about $20-$50 depending on the artist.
Roosevelt Hotel and Pool
Axl Rose, Guns N' Roses' erratic frontman, partied at The Roosevelt Hotel. After a mid-2000s renovation, this old-school hotel hosts celebrity-filled parties around its rock-star-frequented pool.
Where: Hollywood
Address: 7000 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028
What to Do: Hang out by the iconic Hotel Roosevelt pool on a hot summer day. Getting in won’t cost you anything, but drinks and food are expensive. Poolside beds are reserved for hotel guests.
Amoeba Music Store
In 2001, Amoeba's sprawling Los Angeles location became a Hollywood landmark. It has one of the largest music selections in the world and some of the best in-store appearances, so you can see your favorite bands while shopping.
The store recently moved from its original location after real estate developers sold the land. Luckily, the new location isn’t very far.
Where: Hollywood
Address: 6200 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
What to Do: Visit this music store and browse through CDs, vinyls, cassettes, and all sorts of other music memorabilia. America’s largest independent record store has something for every music taste. Check out their website for live shows in the store.
The Hollywood Palladium
The Hollywood Palladium is a Sunset Boulevard Art Deco theater. It holds over 70 years of rock and roll history and boasts one of the largest dance floors you’ve ever seen.
Where: Hollywood
Address: 6215 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
What to Do: Catch shows from up-and-coming artists and national bands. There’s a good chance an artist you know is playing in the next week or two. The venue is right near the Hollywood Walk of Fame, so you can easily go to a show after you finish dinner.
Greek Theatre
You might already be familiar with the Greek Theatre from the movie, "Get Him To The Greek." Greek Theatre in Los Feliz is a legendary music venue. Neil Diamond's live album, "Hot August Nights," was recorded at this outdoor venue in Griffith Park.
Where: Los Feliz
Address: 2700 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA
What to Do: Check the calendar to see if tickets are available for a show. Expect to see national touring artists perform here of all genres.
Shows sound great as they echo through the mountains. Often, there are tickets available on the same day for most shows. Parking can be expensive, so try to take a taxi or ride-share.
Hotel Cafe
Hotel Cafe is an indie songwriter haven. They have live acoustic music every night of the week. Intimate rooms with songwriters and up-and-coming bands. On Tuesdays, they host “Writer’s Block,” a songwriter showcase of LA’s best new talent.
Where: Hollywood
Address: 1623 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
What to Do: Attend a show in the evening. There are 2 rooms at Hotel Cafe, often with music happening in both at the same time. There’s seating near the stage if you get there early.