BAM IN THE CLUBS

VENICE
January 21, The Roxy, West Hollywood

All right, so I may be biased.  I mean, the first time I saw these guys, I thought they were the best new band around.  Now they have a large following (including Jackson Browne and Don Henley) and a new album completed.  With this in mind, I knew it would more than just your average night at the Roxy.  Venice headlined and, sure enough, delivered an electrifying show.  They started off with "All My Life" (their first single) and charged full speed ahead.  Imparting high energy vibes to an action-hungry audience, they cranked out songs like "Ball and Chain" and "Hard Life."  Harmony-filled songs like "Hideaway Hill" and "Pushed Her Too Far" were sung to CSN-like perfection.  Known for their social consciousness, Venice also performed "People Laugh" (which draws attention to the subject of AIDS) and "Ocean" (written about the polluted Santa Monica Bay).  Then lead singer Kipp Lennon announced that a few "friends" would join the band for a couple of songs.  Out walked guitarist Danny Kortchmar (producer of Henley's "End of the Innocence" and Venice's debut LP).  He proceeded to jam along on originals "Kaylee" and "Mr. Lonely."  The show climaxed when Stevie Nicks appeared and she and Mark Lennon harmonized on her "Landslide."  Stevie, Danny and the band closed the show with covers of "Get Ready" and "Got A Line On You" (the latter sung by guitarist Michael Lennon).  This was definitely a show that rocked the Roxy and left no survivors.
--Roxanne Youssef