News

Live Review: Camp Freddy - The Roxy, Los Angeles

Camp Freddy's five-week residency at The Roxy had a Hollywood ending. This is the Sunset Strip we're talking about. What else would you expect? The final, triumphant scene played out with Dave Navarro, Robby Krieger of The Doors and Billy Idol all on the same stage. It was a veritable cavalcade of rock 'n' roll legends celebrating music and their friendship. After four weeks of jaw-dropping performances and one surprise guest after another, Camp Freddy closed out their last Roxy show with a bang. It was the biggest and best Camp Freddy performance of the five-gig residency, and it left the sold out crowd salivating for more.

The show began just like the others. Navarro, Donovan Leitch, Chris Chaney, Billy Morrison and Matt Sorum powered through high-energy renditions of Cheap Trick's "Hello There" and Blur's "Song 2." Instantly, the sweaty crowd started dancing and jumping around. In fact, many of the faces were familiar to Camp Freddy, as the diehard fans all made sure to show up for the last hurrah at Camp. Right after "Song 2," Navarro exclaimed, "Now I'd like to introduce Nick Hexum from 311." However, he and the crowd both got a surprise when Wayne Static, the throaty mainman of cyber-metal maestros Static-X, emerged from stage right. Navarro joked, "That's not Nick! It's Wayne Static!" The crowd cheered, and Wayne sauntered to the microphone. His trademark hair stretched two-feet high, and his goatee dangled about 12-inches off his chin. As always, Wayne proved primed to explode. Navarro kicked off a heavy gain version of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid," and Wayne ripped it. His industrial metal wail brought the song to life with a Terminator-style violence. The sweat poured off the stage and off the audience as everyone kept grooving to Wayne's "Evil Disco" tweaking of the classic metal track. He was all smiles too, keeping it fun.

Finally, Nick Hexum came out for the next track, a fun collaboration on "White Man in Hammersmith Palais" by The Clash. He infused a reggae funk swagger into the song as he got lost in each and every line. The tri fecta of hard rock to follow would ignite the packed Roxy. Juliete Lewis hit the stage for searing renditions of X's "Lost Angeles," Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" and AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap." She gyrated around like a female Mick Jagger, nailing each of the songs with a punky, rock 'n' roll gusto. After belting out "Rock 'N' Roll Star" by Oasis, Billy Morrison asked regular guest Billy Duffy, "What are you wearing?" Duffy smirked and responded, "My Sorum Noce leather jacket, of courseit's perfect for rock shows!" It was a subtle and funny plug for Sorum NoceCamp Freddy drummer Matt Sorum's boutique couture men's clothing line with designer Max Noce. Everyone laughed, and it was another moment that all of the entertainment business elite in the crowd could appreciate. The best part of Camp Freddy is that it marries a feeling of suave L.A. superstar power with pure rock energygiving the camp a sunny location somewhere beautiful between Rodeo Drive and Sunset Blvd.

Jerry Cantrell collaborated on a catchy and groove-driven "Man In the Box" with Leah Duors of McQueen. Her voice brought the song a strange vulnerability. The most amazing moment saw Robby Krieger of The Doors join Camp Freddy on stage. Dave Navarro described him as one of the men "That started the Sunset Strip." He played a rocking version of "Whole Lotta Love" with Pat Monahan from Train doing a faithful and worthy Robert Plant impersonation. The ending then saw Krieger blaze through Doors' classic "L.A. Woman" with Billy Idol on vocals. It was utterly perfect, as Camp Freddy's always packed with those kind of girls Jim Morrison immortalized on tape. Idol finished off "Dancing With Myself" and "Rebel Yell" with the all-star cast, before one more group gathering on "I Wanna Be Your Dog."

In the end, you couldn't script an ending this good, and every performer got his closeup. It was even better than most Hollywood endings. Let's hope there's a sequel soon.

Rick Florino
06.00.08