Rockin' the Starlite Lounge: A Tale of Friday the 13th

View from behind the board at the Starlite LoungePhoto bySuzy Jacobson Cherry

Some people in western society believe that Friday the 13^th is an inauspicious – read that “unlucky” – day. Tales of terror and superstition abound as to why that may be, but for some rock and roll fans this past Friday was anything but unlucky.

The Facebook page for Starlite Lounge, located at 4346 West Olive Avenue in Glendale identifies it as a “dive bar,” which is not a bad thing. The introduction on the page tells it more honestly, though: “We are a[n] amazing neighborhood bar that has a great happy hour seven days a week, live music, food.”

Certainly this past Friday night the food was abundant and the music enormously satisfying. Customer service was excellent, with Kassie Browning and Chelsea Skinner behind the bar as Freddie Kruger and Jason Voorhees. In addition to the behind-the-bar horror characters, a slightly more frightening Jason Voorhees, Piggy Piggy, and Pogo the Killer Clown infiltrated the crowd.

The four-band line up included Lords of Van Buren, RedRumed, SHOWMEGOD, and Serious Play, all local bands comprised of talented and enthusiastic musicians who love to put on a good show.

The Lords of Van BurenPhoto bySuzy Jacobson Cherry

Lords of Van Buren started the show with playlist of punk and rock songs that showcased their talents. Bassist Randy Bush, guitarist Harry McCaleb, and drummer Rich Contadino have a stage interaction which reveals their long-term musical relationship. Frontman and guitarist Louis Lashes provided a colorful energy to this band of Phoenix music veterans.

RedrumedPhoto bySuzy Jacobson Cherry

Redrumed rocked the stage with a vengeance. Vocalist Scott Rowe of Scott Rowe’s Alice Cooper Tribute fame, accompanied by Matthew A Taylor on drums, Doc Tarantino on lead guitar, and Rob Erwin on bass guitar provided the headbanging kind of music rockers expect. Guest guitarist Ken Howey of Empire of Desire and Scott Rowe's Alice Cooper Tribute helped bring it all together. Their rendition of Amon Amarth’s Pursuit Of Vikings was fantastic.

SHOWMEGODPhoto bySuzy Jacobson Cherry

SHOWMEGOD was the centerpiece of this rock/horror show. The “Greatest Industrial Heavy Metal Horror Show in the World,” as they bill themselves, not only provided a great show, but also proved they are musicians of the first order.

Serious PlayPhoto bySuzy Jacobson Cherry

The show wrapped up with a solid performance by Serious Play, an original rock band featuring Tana Dobbins LaFollette and Don Biscoe on vocals, Scott Gamze on guitar, Jon Duff on bass, and Mike Burch on drums. Singer Tana had what one patron called a “Stevie Nicks vibe.” They put on a good show, finishing up with their song “Wizard,” to which they invited the visiting Stepford Wife to “cast a spell.”

I was happy to comply, sending love and happiness to all.

The writer attended the show as one of the terrifying "perfect" robot-wives from the town of Stepford, 1975.Photo bySuzy Jacobson Cherry

Connect with the Bands on Facebook

Lords of Van Buren

Redrumed

SHOWMEGOD

Serious Play

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