Rock Stop #8: Amoeba Music - Hollywood, CA

I have previously written a post extolling the virtues of New England's Newbury Comics. I'm here now sharing a West Coast version, albeit more independently run - Amoeba Music.

I finally visited this huge record store while hanging out on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood and loved it. This store is the largest store in the "chain" - it takes up a whole block! - though the original location is in Berkeley and you can also get your fix in San Francisco. I was amazed at the size and layout upon walking in. There is just so much to look at...it is definitely a music lovers dream.

Rows upon rows of CDs occupy the large downstairs floor, housing lots of rock and pop, among other genres. There is also a whole separate room full of jazz and classical music! What I'm getting at is that Amoeba truly does have a great variety of music, including many new and used CDs, imports and compilations, and hard-to-find live recordings. In the market for some vinyl? Amoeba's got ya covered. Really jonesin' for some cassettes? Believe it or not, there's a large wall display full! I bet if you dug around hard enough, you might even turn up some 8-tracks. ;)

Want to take a more literary approach to music? A side bookshelf holds many different titles for the musically inclined. There are biographies and "learn to plays" and older, out of print books. I even found a 1980s era Def Leppard photo book while browsing!

Upstairs, you can find boatloads of more fun stuff. [Truthfully, not entirely sure what's up there because we didn't have time to investigate as the downstairs took long enough to explore!] In a corner there, you can find reproductions of old concert flyers and posters. Right over here, a small live venue holds regular live bands, DJs, release parties, and who knows what else. Up front, the store is staffed by musically smart associates and you can sell your collections here and make a few bucks. There is truly something for everyone...definitely make this musical institution a stop on your rock adventures!

Amoeba Records is located at 6400 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028.

Rock Stop #7: Worcester Palladium

One of the best venues in Massachusetts to check out rock and metal acts has got to be the Worcester Palladium. Located in Worcester, they boast a continuous schedule of rockage (yeah, it’s a word!) from lesser known / local acts to mainstream radio rockers to death metalers. Whatever your poison, they are sure to have an antidote.

The venue itself is a decent size and it’s hard to find a terrible spot (unless you’re short and behind a tall dude). There’s a large floor area for all you head bangers and moshers while graduated “levels” work their way up to the back of the club. Additionally, there is upstairs balcony seating for those who want to sit, though it depends on the show. Sound wise, The Palladium is damn near deafening if you are bouncing around the floor. Even from the back, you’ll get a great sound experience. Only once, a couple years ago at a Sevendust show, was the sound quality subpar. Pretty good for a venue that has at least one show a week.

Another great thing about the Palladium is their dedication to all that rocks by hosting The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival every year! This past April marked the 12th year of the show! It is a fabulous event for any rocker with so many different bands to check out.

Drinker? They gotcha covered with a bar upstairs and several in the main downstairs area. Beers are fairly reasonable with most priced at about $5 and mixed drinks and shots are just a few dollars more. (Think the pricing is outrageous? HAH! This is damn near giving them away compared to other venues in the area.) For those of you with munchies, a small concession stand is typically available. In my experience, the hot dogs are pretty decent and they also offer pizza, chips, and various kinds of candy as well.

The Palladium is also a stone’s throw away from the DCU Center. Only negative of this arrangement? Parking will be far more scarce if there are shows going on at both locations. Speaking of parking, there are large lots located in the front and behind the venue so finding a space isn’t much of a hassle and neither is leaving after a show. Typically, the cost seems to vary from event to event but you count on around 10 to 20 bucks. But this is standard for most people by now, am I right?

This is one of my absolute favorite venues to see shows at. The location, the set-up, the events schedule – these can be hard to find elsewhere. And, best of all, this is the place where The Arbz reconnected at a Rob Zombie show after losing touch after graduation. The Palladium is a must stop and rock!

The Palladium is located at 261 Main St Worcester, MA 01608.

Rock Stop #6 - Cabo Wabo Cantina - Las Vegas, NV

Mas tequila! That's what Sammy Hagar says, so you better take his advice at his Mexican influenced Cabo Wabo Cantina located in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort. With a patio facing all the action on the Vegas Strip and ample seating inside, the Cantina is a great place to grab a margarita (or two...or three!).



It was a bit chilly when The Arbz visited, so we chose to sit inside and take in the action of the live cover band (Fridays and Saturdays showcase live bands, while there is karaoke on Sundays. Tequila + Karaoke = good times!). Our waiter was awesome - unfortunately, neither of us can remember his name, but he reminded us of Matthew Lillard, so that's what we decided to call him. Cabo Wabo has a fun, inviting atmosphere - it's casual and comfortable, which is just the way Sammy Hagar would want it. If you prefer to rock out and just chill instead of grab drinks in a sweaty, crowded club, Cabo Wabo is a great option. Now, let's move on to what really matters at Cabo Wabo Cantina - the drinks!


There's a great variety of Cabo Wabo specialty cocktails, including the Waborita and Cactus Pear Margarita. I first tried the Waborita, which is Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila (Sammy's tequila), Cointreau, Grand Marnier and fresh lime juice. It was very tasty, but I have slight allergies to some fruit juices, so the fresh lime juice was not the best addition for me. We also tried the Cactus Pear Margarita (shown below), which was a better fit for me. The mix of Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila, Triple Sec, Fresh Cactus Pear Puree, Monin Desert Pear Syrup and fresh lemon and lime juices made it a super sweet concoction.


Naturally, we got delicious dishes to go with our intense margaritas - the three taco plate for both of us. The menu includes a great variety of  Mexican and Tex-Mex inspired dishes that go well with the several specialty cocktails and beers. Don't feel like you're missing out on the fun if you can't stop by Cabo Wabo at night - there is a great Mariachi Brunch on Sundays from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Nothing says Vegas like a brunch that goes past normal lunch hours!

Cabo Wabo is not just a place for adults who want to have a few drinks and rock out. The daytime atmosphere is friendly enough for families to enjoy a meal and watch the sights on the Strip. Though I would recommend leaving the kiddies at home once the night festivities begin. With that much tequila around, there are bound to be quite a few R rated moments! Don't forget, you can always stop by the Cabo Wabo locations in Cabo San Lucas and Lake Tahoe if you're not Vegas bound. Regardless, it's a definite stop for any rock fan!



Cabo Wabo Cantina is located at 3663 Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV. 89109

Rock Stop #5: Newbury Comics

A favorite amongst music enthusiasts is the record store Newbury Comics! Newbury Comics got its start as a comic book shop in Boston, right on Newbury Street. Gradually, the comics were relegated to a small area of the shop while the music section took over. Say it with me rock fans, “Whew!” The original location is still there and definitely worth a pit stop on your way through Boston. Aside from the original, there are 29 store locations, all located in New England, though most are in Massachusetts.

(Photo courtesy of celebrateboston.com)

Massachusetts also boasts the largest store in the chain on Route 1 in Norwood. This location is much more spacious and filled to the brim with, well, what seems like everything. Occasionally, bands perform acoustic sets and host meet-n-greets here (and at the Newbury Street location too). Steel Panther and Andrew W.K. are just two rock artists to have swung through!

You might be asking yourself, “What’s the big deal? A music store is a music store is a music store.” But…you’re wrong! :) Yes, Newbury Comics has a wide variety of various genres of new and used CDs like any other store but the company is big on supporting independent and local musicians, so you’re bound to find something new and intriguing! And they keep a nice supply of vinyl in for you turn-table devotees. Aside from the tunes themselves, you can score band merchandise in the form of clothing and posters and pick from the numerous music-related magazines, books, and DVDs.

Also, Newbury Comics is one-stop shopping for many quirky goods, from slogan shirts to unusual figurines to hilarious magnets, body jewelry and accessories, all kinds of books, and, yes, comics. If music isn’t your thing, then perhaps you’ll also want to peruse their large selection of movie and television show DVDs. Sports fan? They’ve got ya covered with an assortment of sports paraphernalia. There’s surely something for everyone here and, if not, at least you’ll have a laugh or two at some of the more out-there items. Hamburger phone, anyone?

(Steel Panther in-store appearance photos courtesy of our own You Ain't Blonde, via Mega Metal Photos !)

For a complete list of store locations, please visit the Newbury Comics website.

The original Newbury Comics is located at 332 Newbury Street, Boston, MA.

The largest Newbury Comics is located at 859 Boston/Providence Highway (Route 1), Norwood, MA.

Rock Stop #3: Showcase Live, Foxboro, MA

On the opposite coast from the Rainbow and Feelgoods, there’s a small venue located in the heart of Patriots country – Showcase Live in Foxboro, MA. While a fairly new establishment, it has already endeared itself to many with its varied schedule of events, great location, food and drink menus, and enjoyable environment.

A wide range of genres perform at Showcase Live, so there is something to keep everyone happy. But, this is Within Rocking Distance dammit, so we’re here to share that Showcase has been the head banging host to some 80s metal acts recently. Recent rockers to swing through have been W.A.S.P., Adler’s Appetite, and the Triple Threat Tour, which joined the sleazy forces of Faster Pussycat, Tracii Guns’ version of L.A. Guns, and John Corabi. The venue lends itself to these kinds of rock bands well, due to its modest size and top-notch sound. So, to all you rockers, keep your watchful eye on their schedule!

Now that we’ve covered the most important aspect of Showcase, let’s move on to the second most…booze, naturally. (Metal and alcohol just go hand-in-hand, don’t they?) Showcase Live boasts a decent bar, with a tasty menu of signature drinks and top-notch liquors, as well as beer and wine choices. Though a bit pricy, you get what you pay for. In that vein, Showcase offers a dinner menu to those who score a table, though I can’t comment on the grub – too much rock happening to waste time eating. However, it is yet another option for show-goers and is what helps set this venue apart from many others. Additionally, if being seated is your thing, you can call ahead (or log onto Ticketmaster) and reserve a large VIP booth for a party of 4.

Other perks of Showcase Live include free (!) parking, located next to Patriot Place [translation: shopping, more restaurants & bars, blah blah blah], private event bookings, and, oh, how could I forget to mention...most of the bands we’ve seen come through here host a meet-n-greet after the show in the lobby. Yeah, how about that?!

Showcase Live is located at 23 Patriot Place, Foxborough, MA 02035.

Rock Stop #2: Feelgoods Rock Bar & Grill - Las Vegas, NV

Rockstars + bars = good times!


Located about 20 minutes west of the Las Vegas Strip, Feelgoods Rock Bar & Grill is the creation of Motley Crue singer Vince Neil and Custom Chopper Builder, The Count of Count's Kustoms. Most people don't really stray from the Strip or downtown on their Vegas vacations, but this venture is worth it. Unlike The Rainbow, which has been around since the 70's and is seeping with rock history, Feelgoods is essentially brand new. Opened in 2009, the bar offers a full menu, full bar and live entertainment 4 nights a week, including Bike Night on Wednesdays, local bands on Thursday and the occasional national act on weekends.

Feelgoods has ample free parking in their lot (score!), but if you're planning on indulging, take a cab (tip: You can't hail a cab from the street in Vegas; you must call a cab company ahead of time, so be prepared with a list of numbers). The bar layout is pretty cool; the bar part is a bit secluded from the main area/music hall with windows giving a peek out to the stage so you can still see a bit if you're sitting at one of the high top tables in the bar area. The Arbz sat at the same table on each of our trips and had a great view of people watching and the giant TV over the bar that played nonstop rock and metal videos from the 80s, 90s and now.

One of The Arbz's favorite things about Feelgoods is the specialty drink menu. Not only do they have clever, Motley Crue related names, they are delicious.

I enjoyed the Sunset Strip and the Kickstart - absolutely delicious and about half the price of a drink on the Strip. They were sweet, but not too sweet and went great with the cheese pizza we got (yes, we always seem to get pizza).The Sunset Strip (pictured below) combines Absolut Mango, mango puree, a splash of 7-Up and sweet and sour, served over ice. Yes, delicious! The Kickstart is a tasty concoction with Absolut, Peach Schnapps, Midori, Red Bull with a splash of OJ and grenadine served over ice. Also, delicious!

Unlike the Rainbow, Feelgoods is not constantly swarming with rockstars, although Vince does make an appearance at his place every so often. Lucky for the Arbz, we happened to be at Feelgoods for Bike Night with Vince and the Count (and it was our last night in Vegas!). Vince was sneaking off to the VIP area, but The Arbz are a force to be reckoned with! You can't stop us!

Whether you're looking for a low key night, or you're ready to rock out, Feelgoods is a necessary stop on your Vegas itinerary. Leave the Strip for a night, and head out onto West Sahara to rock out with all the pretentiousness and attitude of clubs and bars on the Strip.

Feelgoods Rock Bar & Grill is located at 6750 West Sahara, Las Vegas, NV 89146