The Dead Boys Stoke Moshers at The Viper Room for 40th Anniversary

Dead Boys 40th at The Viper Room - Photo © 2017 Donna Balancia

Streetwalkin Cheetahs Warm Up with Angelo Moore

By DONNA BALANCIA

The Dead Boys celebrated the 40th anniversary of their landmark album, Young, Loud and Snotty, with a raucous party for the ages at The Viper Room Friday night.

The gig at The Viper Room represented the Los Angeles leg of a nationwide tour that has been packing houses across the U.S. But what makes the LA part of the tour different is it’s like a second home to the resuscitated Dead Boys and there are too many great local musicians here.

Insanity at The Dead Boys 40th anniversary show at The Viper Room - Photo © 2017 Donna Balancia
Insanity at The Dead Boys 40th anniversary show at The Viper Room – Photo © 2017 Donna Balancia

Cheetahs Open for Dead Boys

The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs, who double as Cheetah Chrome’s band when he’s doing his solo thing, were on the bill and the guys brought in special guest Angelo Moore on sax.  The Fishbone frontman fit right in with the punk professionals and they played a rousing rendition of “Fun House,” as openers  for the Dead Boys, and they got the crowd going until the main event got under way.

Cheetah’s Cheetahs

With frontman Frank Meyer, Dino Everett on bass, Bruce Duff on guitar and Mike Sessa on drums these local Cheetahs have gotten very tight since reviving their band in 2014.  The Streetwalkin Cheetahs took it up a notch, and their prime performance at The Viper Room shows that practice does make perfect.

Frank Meyer and Bruce Duff play to the audience at The Viper Room - Photo © 2017 Donna Balancia
Frank Meyer and Bruce Duff play to the audience at The Viper Room – Photo © 2017 Donna Balancia

Dead Boys Come To Life

The Dead Boys reformed around original members Cheetah Chrome and Johnny Blitz, and added new members Ricky Rat, Ginchy and frontman Jake Hout.  Hout is a whirlwind of energy and he stoked up the crowd at The Viper Room which was ready to tear the place down, moshing and energetically shoving each other.

The Dead Boys party for the 40th anniversary at The Viper Room - Photo © 2017 Donna Balancia
The Dead Boys party for the 40th anniversary at The Viper Room – Photo © 2017 Donna Balancia

CHECK OUT OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CHEETAH CHROME

“It was a great crowd,” said Robert Casias who came from Riverside to see his favorite band. “It was very crazy in the pit and that’s because I was the pit. You know, you gotta blow off steam.”

READ: PUNK ROCK WEEKEND IN SAN FRANCISCO

Tickets were “more than sold out” according to people who tried to get a ticket on Friday.  Apparently the gig was sold out earlier in the day.  And it’s no wonder why as fans who were lucky enough to get a ticket got their money’s worth in a hot room for a special anniversary.

Dead Boys 40th at The Viper Room - Photo © 2017 Donna Balancia
Dead Boys 40th at The Viper Room – Photo © 2017 Donna Balancia

 

The Dead Boys 40th at The Viper Room