Whisky A Go Go

Parking: Street
People Watching, Live Music, DJ, Live Performances High Energy, Celeb-Spotting, Bar Scene, Edgy, Tourist Spot Bustling All Ages

Ask any musician in town and they'll tell you it's an honor to play at the world famous Whisky a Go-Go. Opened in 1964 and known as the place where the Doors' Jim Morrison romped on stage with reckless abandon and where the Byrds became legends, the Whisky is a historical music landmark. The club has seen music trends come and go, from hippie-love folk to big-haired glam to grunge. This stage was a nexus of the L.A. punk scene in the late 1970s/early 1980s, hosting The Germs (who recorded its first album there), X and even early Van Halen.

These days the Whisky features a variety of local rock and alternative bands with only the occasional big-name concert on its stage. Though the Sunset Strip is considerably more tame than it used to be and the Whisky operates as an all-ages club, the bar still hosts a younger crowd of kids trying to be the next Missing Persons or (perhaps more likely) Panic at the Disco. And yes, musicians still hang around the club's sidewalk handing out band promotion flyers to young girls, hoping they will show the kind of groupie enthusiasm seen in the past. Some things never change. 

Performances: Live music, including rock, blues, country and original bands. Special features: A full bar and snack foods. The club is open to all ages. Hours: Nightly shows end between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Fees: $7.50 to $20 daily. Parking, $5-$10.

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