Anarchy on the Sunset Strip

After coming this far, it had to happen. I’d long resigned myself to the idea that I wouldn’t get into the super-exclusive Sex Pistols show at the Roxy last night. So when Jessie told me that Indie 103 had put her on the list and that I could be her +1, I jumped at the opportunity.

It’s not everyday that you get to see the seminal UK punk band crank up the classics in such a small space. Which is why when they launched into “Anarchy in the UK” to wind up their chaotic set, I had to dive into the pit swirling in front of the stage. Mostly comprised of drunken contest winners flailing about aimlessly, it wasn’t nearly as treacherous as I’d imagine it was in some punk club like the Paradiso that the Pistols used to play back in the day, but it was a rush nonetheless. Granted, it was original bassist Glen Matlock and not Sid Vicious up there, but you can't have it all. Taking shots at Paris Hilton, the Ramones, fat girls and pretty much everyone in attendance, singer Johnny Lydon (AKA “Rotten”) was happily caustic as ever. Ending the show by dropping the microphone and proclaiming “Elvis has left the building,” it was easy to see why Lydon and the Pistols shocked the world thirty years ago with the release of their legendary “Never Mind the Bullocks” album. Indie 103 has earned major kudos for pulling off such a historical event. The station has definitively proven that they’ve graduated from the new kid in town to a major force to be reckoned with here in Los Angeles. With DJs like Henry Rollins, Sex Pistol guitarist Steve Jones and hipster-baiting celeb Danny Masterson playing pretty much whatever the hell they want, Indie is the closest most of us will ever come to the glory days of freeform FM radio that ruled the early 70s. God bless Indie 103...

There are ample opportunities to have your own sonic epiphany this weekend. Tonight finds James Lavelle bringing his epic post-trip-hop dance-rock outfit UNKLE to the Echoplex, or dig into the experimental electronics of Canadian trippers Caribou.

Tomorrow night, throw your devil horns in the sky for L.A. bad girls the Donnas, rocking the Roxy with ex-L7 member Donita Sparks. For a softer touch, brave the Irvine Meadows down south for the first-ever Girlfrenzy fest, featuring Sheryl Crow, Avril Lavigne and Fiona Apple’s only scheduled American date for the rest of the year. There’s also punky power-pop trio 1990s revving it up at the Troubadour.

Sunday night brings sensory overload with our favorite Canadian dance-punks Hot Hot Heat at the Fonda, San Diego acoustic-pop heroes Pinback do it at the Wiltern and yet another cool Canadian, Owen Pallett, better known as Final Fantasy, headlining the Troubadour with his violin-powered antics.

Choose wisely, young Jedi. Time is of the essence. Now go forth and party. Good day!

— Scott T. Sterling