Vibe and Atmosphere at the House of Blues Sunset Strip
It's hard to believe that the House of Blues Sunset Strip is now a historic rock venue in Hollywood. It only opened its doors here in 1994, and wasn't even a local venture.
But such is the path to legend in young LA. And today, the multi-purpose venue--which could be no more as of 2012 due to a possible development deal and neighbor complaints--is one of the iconic structures of the Strip.
The mood inside the main concert area is dark and rock n' roll but somehow feels a bit clean, at least compared to other down and dirty, smelly concert spots in town.
It's nevertheless exciting to watch a show here as it has one of those perfect capacities--somewhere between rivetingly big ('concert' versus 'show') and fairly intimate (at least when you're seeing larger than life rock n' roll acts like Ozzy Osbourne).
My favorite part of this venue is its semi-private Foundation Room upstairs. All decked out Middle Eastern style with plenty of cozy, romantic and sexy nooks, it's my favorite spot at which to attend an event. And that's basically how you can sample the members club (as a non-member, on occasion).
History:
The House of Blues Sunset Strip is actually not indigenous to LA. Isaac Tigrett founded the first venue in 1992 in Cambridge, Mass. as a home for live R&B, gospel, jazz and roots rock.
House of Blues Sunset Strip first opened its doors in 1994.
Bands and Performers That Have Played at the House of Blues Sunset Strip
- UB40
- Slash (of Guns n' Roses)
- Miley Cyrus
- Los Lonely Boys
- Cheap Trick
- Stone Temple Pilots
- ZZ Top
- Ozzy Osbourne
- Sugar Ray
- Billy Idol
Capacity: 1000 (+ three stories)
Venues Within the House of Blues
- The Music Hall
- The Porch Restaurant
- The Foundation Room - a club for personal and professional entertaining that includes dining areas and lounge (usually private but sometimes accessible to the public for special events)
Getting to the House of Blues Sunset Strip
HOB Sunset Strip is best accessible using surface streets, namely the main LA artery of Sunset, as it's not incredibly close to many freeways. If you do take the 101 from the Valley or East Side for instance, get off at Highland (Hollywood Bowl exit), turn left on Franklin and right on Sunset past La Brea and La Cienega to the venue.
Another idea, if you're going in a group, is to take the Metro Rail red line to the Highland stop and then share a cab together. This is also the safe way to go if you anticipate drinking, however be aware that the metro stops running at midnight.
Parking
Valet parking is available but pricey at about $15. There are nearby pay lots that are slightly cheaper so it's worth looking around. Metered parking right on Sunset is hard--but not impossible--to find, depending on the night and how long you plan to say at the venue. Make sure to keep track of time, and curb your tires if you're parking on a hill, as they ticket heavily in the area.
Reference: map of West Hollywood North
House of Blues Sunset Strip
8430 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(between Olive Dr. and Kings Rd.)
323-848-5100
