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 L.A. Convention Center's Largest Event! |
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Namm Show 1998 PAGE 2 Back to the giant L.A. convention center, if we could just get there, traffic was bad and parking was worse. Finally we found a spot about 8 blocks away and hoofed it back to the Gibson Casino for more gambling fun and celebrity gazing! Ace Frehley was coming in for autographs today and ever one was buzzing with excitement. The craps table had high rollers across the board and the beautiful Phantom Blue girls were dealing the blackjack, including Josephine, who won the Gibson best female guitarist award last year at the Rock City Awards. It took awhile for Ace to show up, so we checked out the action in the Epiphone booth next door. Their they had a great comedy rock show every half hour that was hilarious. Taking the words from hit songs and changing them into pitches for Epiphone musical equipment, the crowd continuously roared with laughter as these execs turned comedians showed how Epiphones were the best possible at the lowest prices. They even had a song for their new patented anti-feedback switch! Anyway, Ace finally showed up and the crowd lined up round the corner to get an autograph. He was a little stiff at first, but soon relaxed and joined the party, even spinning the wheel and drawing raffle ticket winners from the Slingerland drum. Meanwhile in the Slingerland booth next door, Mario from the Wallflowers stopped by to checkout the drums, and actually sat down and drummed a few sessions. A real nice guy if I do say. Celebrities were abound, and such locals as Mark Dawson and John Zutaut of DRZ Entertainment and Ollie Brown of Rolling Stones fame were high rollers at the black jack and craps table. 9:00 pm Whisky Zakk Wylde already had the place packed and the convention rockers were now truly ready to rock. Zakk, now back in Ozzy, was in prime form leading his band through a blistering attack of fierce guitar licks and powerful vocals. A true metal guitarist, it was only right he was playing a Gibson. 9:30 pm Roxy The Vents opened the show with some great songs ala Counting Crows style, and really had the grunge pop radio sound down. Local rocker Gilby Clark was rocking the house, returning to his hometown to play a little of his hometown blues, and Eric Sardinas, the newest blues great was next, rolling out in his classic blues he tore up the stage like a runaway train. What a show! Mr. Sardinas can perform, sing, and play, all the while getting the crowd into the feel good mood and partying like the blues were meant to do. The crowd was fully into the show too and it felt like the good ol days as the Roxy once again became the party you always wanted it to be at. 10:30 Whisky Wide Mouth Mason was smoking at the Whisky with his unbelievable guitar playing. Carrying a lot of feeling in his solos and really bringing the house down with his well crafted songs, this guy was the toast of the guitar industry! An unbelievable guitar player, and heŐs only a kid! 11:00 Roxy Slash's Blues Ball hit the stage with a true performance, tophat, cigarette, and of course, the Les Paul! And what a show he put on proving that the Blues Ball was indeed what this night was all about. He had some special guests who rocked the Roxy hard, making sure not a stone remained unturned or fan disappointed. Thanks Slash, for bringing the blues ball back. 11:30 Whisky Government Mule was on at the Whisky by the time I got there, and they were putting their 3 piece muscle into the show. Strong and solid, they pulled the crowd into their brand of rock and rounded out a great classic blues ball, Gibson style. 12:00 Roxy Back up the hill, Slash was still going strong, rocking till the cows come home, as they say in Kentucky, and Ace Frehley got up and did a few numbers with him as the crowd drank and partied to oblivion. Upstairs On The Rox, the Gibson entourage was toasting to a great time and successful event. Rich Bartle was still going strong (does this guy ever slow down?) and after the show the Rainbow Bar and Grill was the place to be with everyone getting even more toasty. What a night! Sunday Afternoon L.A. convention Center Still packed, though not like yesterday, and the casino was still going strong as many gamblers cashed in their chips for a chance to win prizes at the Big Spin Wheel. I finally got through the rest of the convention center, discovering a backyard with a stage and 1000Ős of people I didnŐt even know was happening. What a Convention! Thanks to all the great staff at Gibson for making the Namm party such a fun filled time, and to Rich Bartle for keeping everything running like clockwork! CanŐt wait till next year. Page 1 - Page 2 |
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