New Camaro Is Living Up to the Hype

They don’t call me the Babwa Wawa of rock for nothin’. In the past couple nights, I got jiggy with Ice T, Cher, Pennywise, NoFx, No Doubt, Long Beach Dub All-Stars, the Pussycat Dolls, Motochrist, Sugar Ray, Slightly Stoopid, the Gutter Gangsters, Lo-Ball, the Deviates, 98 Mute, and that was before Tuesday! Good thing I’ve been sporting platform Vans this week.

Seriously, I was at the Viper Room on Monday for Camaro--a club that’s evolved into the most important showcase for new L.A. rock--and I was bumping up against so many ballers, shotcallers, I thought I was gonna freak out, man. The night’s opening act was Deadsy, which features Cher-Greg Allman love child Elijah Blue. I assumed my usual position, basking in the glow of Sean G’s positivity and with the Viper cashier as my point man, I gazed upon pretty Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark McGrath, Sharon Osbourne, Tara Reid, director McG (who thought I was a groupie! I’m like, so sher. . . .)

While we’re on the subject of groupies, has anybody seen those Discovey Card TV ads featuring the band Danger Kitty? Well, it’s actually the Camaro’s house band, Metal Shop, getting paid, yo!

Kicked it with Iad Mamikunian from the Burgundy Room, who, come to find out, is the eldest of 12 children. (That would explain his ability to run a nightclub.) But he also tells me the Donnas’ new album cover was shot at his Oakland bar, the Ruby Room. He also owns the brand-new Radio Radio bar in Oakland.

Finally, a heartfelt shout-out to everyone who helped me and the family of Bradley Nowell celebrate the Sublime singer’s birthday at the Key Club last week. Although Nowell died of a heroin overdose five years ago, his fans are very much alive. Big ups, yo . . . Next week, we be clubbin’ in Sin City, and you know me, it’ll be tore up from the floor up by the time I’m outta there. Hasta la Vegas, baby.