NEWS

For one night only, The Strip moves east as Club Overdose presents a birthday celebration for yours truly. Monday, Feb. 15 you’re invited to Crazy Girls for an evening of bands, beers and bikinis, featuring performances by some Sunset Strip favorites: Lady Sinatra, Sink To See and Jacuzzis. Doors open at 9 p.m.  Cover is $10 at the door. 

PICK OF THE WEEK: Attention hipsters! Tuesday, Feb. 16 the Viper Room presents critically-acclaimed buzz band The Swayback. This truly genre defying quartet draws from the best of a broad range of influences to bring you their unique big beat sound. Catch this heat-seeking band on the rise while they’re still playing the club level. Also sharing the stage: Echorobot, Petree, White Apple Tree and Pianotarium. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 at the door. [YouTube video from DragonDeer] www.viperroom.com

House of Blues Sunset Strip presents a night of indie punk bliss with Alkaline Trio, Cursive and The Dear & Departed on Wednesday, Feb. 17. This jam packed bill of Warped Tour veterans gives you three headliners for the price of one. Doors open early at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for this all-ages show are $18.50 in advance and $20.50 day of show.  www.hob.com

Thursday, Feb. 18 the Key Club hosts Matt Sorum’s Rock N’ Roll A Go-Go with the Darling Stilettos. Join the former G N’ R/Velvet Revolver drummer as he hosts a night of heart stopping burlesque entertainment. Drawing from a mix of classic rock covers and their own material, the Darling Stilettos hold their own vocally while burning up the stage with their sexy dance moves (think Pussycat Dolls with an edge). Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets are $12. This show is 18+. www.keyclub.com

Kick off your weekend with two of the most formative bands of the ’80s. Friday, Feb. 19 the House of Blues Sunset Strip features The Damned and Jay Ashton’s Gene Loves Jezebel. These two groups helped pioneer their respective punk and goth/new wave genre’s when they exploded on the scene in the early 1980s. Don’t miss your chance to catch them both on the same bill! Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $25.50 in advance and $27.50 day of show. This is an all-ages event. www.hob.com

Saturday, Feb. 20 The Roxy Theatre showcases some of L.A.’s best and brightest, featuring The Briggs, Left Alone, Harmful If Swallowed, Majority Lost and Plexikill. Lace up your steel toes as this punk rock bill is not to be missed. Doors open early at 7 p.m. and tickets are $12 in advance and $15 day of show. www.theroxyonsunset.com

Head to The Comedy Store on Sunday, Feb. 21 to check out an international-inspired night of comedy with “Exotic Imports.” Max Amini headlines this all-star night with Esau McGraw, Felipe Esparza and Eliot Chang. General admission tickets are $20, with proceeds benefiting YouthActionNet, which invests in young entrepreneurs around the world. Sample Amini’s repertoire [YouTube clip from MaxAmani]. www.thecomedystore.com 

--Brent X. Mendoza