Steve Ferlazzo’s Soundcheck Live Opens in Hollywood

by Joe Dolan
– Guest Columnist —

The Lucky Strike Lanes Entertainment Center on Hollywood and Highland has become a hot-spot for music fans over the past year with random on stage performances by popular artists in the rock genre. Fans have clamored for a spot in front of the stage to witness one-of-a-kind performances by artists they might otherwise pay inflated ticket prices to see in a venue that seats thousands and thousands of patrons. Steve Ferlazzo’s Soundcheck Live is changing the rules of the game.

The opening night for Steve Ferlazzo’s Soundcheck Live brought out the stars and fans in droves to be part of the action. Lines began to form at five o’clock for a nine o’clock start time. Locals that thrive on Hollywood’s club scene talked about what they’d hope to see along with fans that drove from locations as far away as San Diego and Las Vegas, patiently waiting to see magic happen; and it did.

Opening the show was comedian and former Howard Stern Show cast member Chris Gass. Gass spent five minutes warming the crowd with impressions and stories of his interactions with Gene Simmons and his time spent on the Howard Stern Show. Cameras raised and the curtain drew back to cheers as Ferlazzo and the resident band pulled out classic and fan favorite chart toppers played in a Modern Rock fashion.

Opening the show, the resident band members included:

Steve Ferlazzo – Keys and Vocals (Avril Lavigne, Tribe of Judah)
Glen Sobel – Drums (Alice Cooper, Gary Hoey)
Carl Restivo – Vocals and Guitar (Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party, Rihanna/touring)
Steve Fekete – Guitars(Vertical Horizon, Avril Lavigne)
Derek Frank – Bass (Shania Twain)

The show consisted of three sets of music. The first set brought out former Michael Jackson and Alice Cooper guitarist Orianthi along with the Highland Horns brass section and back-up singers including Lisa Foreman, someone who has been on stage at Lucky Strike over the past year. Set one included the band’s own versions of INXS New Sensation, Tears for Fears Sowing the Seeds of Love, Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag and Orianthi performing Pride and Joy and Voodoo Chile among the set of nearly a dozen songs. Surprising patrons with epic renditions of pop staples, Ferlazzo made good on his promise to bring refreshing covers of songs that have stood the test of time.

When the curtain rolled back for set two, guitar wizard Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) took the front of the stage with a stellar and deeply personal version of Prince’s Sign of the Times. Set two was designed as a feature with Bettencourt as the guest curator, assembling a unique set of songs to highlight the skills and styles of the artists on stage. It also brought out hard rock legend; vocalist Sebastian Bach. Sharing laughs on stage with Bettencourt, Bach interacted with the crowd and performed David Bowie’s top selling single Fame and unique covers of Next To You and Schools Out. The set was rounded out with the inclusion of artists Francesco DiCosmo on bass and vocals, guitarist Doug Aldrich, drummer Brian Tichy, bassist Rudy Sarzo and front-man Chas West trading places to perform songs by Rush, Whitesnake and Led Zeppelin.

As if that wasn’t all a concert could deliver, the resident band returned with more guests for a complete third set, showcasing songs by the Knack, Aerosmith, Kansas, U2 and culminated with Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run. Running well past the midnight hour, Ferlazzo’s Soundcheck Live did more than hand deliver an excess of the expectations attendees had for the show; it proved beyond reasonable doubt that the music scene in Los Angeles continues to bring new and original concert performances to the modern club scene.

Scheduled for regular shows on Wednesday Nights at Lucky Strike, Steve Ferlazzo’s Soundcheck Live will continue to be free to participants and will offer new guests, new and different set-lists and rare opportunities for music fans to get up close and personal with the musicians they love in an atmosphere that embraces the rock and roll community in Southern California.