L.A. has an extended, storied historical past of motels with deep musical connections. From the Hyatt Home (now the Andaz) on Sundown Boulevard, generally known as the notorious “Riot Home” as remembered in Cameron Crowe’s Oscar-winning “Nearly Well-known,” to Chateau Marmont and the enduring Sundown Marquis, each famed properties to touring rock stars for many years. However few, if any, have ever been as formidable musically as West Hollywood’s Solar Rose Resort.
Opening because the Pendry Resort in 2021 on the situation of the previous Home of Blues, the Sundown Boulevard property established its music credentials instantly by together with Dwell on the Solar Rose, a state-of-the-art music venue contained in the lodge. 4 years later, final August, the Pendry was rebranded because the Solar Rose Resort and all the lodge grew to become a kind of musical vacation spot in keeping with Grammy-winning musician/artistic director Adam Blackstone.
Contained in the foyer on the Solar Rose West Hollywood
(The Solar Rose West Hollywood)
“We have now the atrium, the downstairs lobby, we’ve a bowling alley. There are such a lot of issues we will provide to the music house that different venues can’t. We’re going to make use of all the rooftop, typically perhaps play on prime of the pool. Issues like which might be going to be an attraction to those that permit us to do some very unimaginable issues,” Blackstone says. As Grammy season approaches, Blackstone says the lodge/venue can be providing full reveals and occasions that you just don’t have to depart the property for and can embrace extra one-of-a-kind performances. “Individuals can come play a 90-minute set that’s not what they did the evening earlier than. Whoever is in that room will get a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.”
Blackstone, who has performed with everybody from Rihanna, Janet Jackson and Demi Lovato to Eminem, Dr. Dre and Al Inexperienced, prides himself on bringing the identical variety and shock to the Solar Rose. “That’s how my legacy reveals have been going — you by no means know who’s going to pop up, however you don’t need to miss it.”
To again up his declare, he cites bringing in shock friends like John Legend, a number of instances, Stevie Marvel, Justin Timberlake and extra, in addition to Dre for a reside Q&A. That’s solely the start of his formidable plans to make the Solar Rose a treasure trove of sudden musical moments. “I’m so enthusiastic about this partnership with Solar Rose. I feel we’ve the ability to be expansive in a means greater function than something in L.A. It’s not a jazz spot, a rustic spot or a gospel spot — we will do no matter there. We might have a DJ with a salsa band; I’ve had a Q&A with Dr. Dre and Marsha Ambrosius. That’s one of many highlights, and points of interest the Solar Rose brings to L.A. for me, any time you stroll in there, if you happen to don’t know what you’re going for, you’re going to be in for an expertise,” he says.
As for what a few of these experiences is perhaps, Blackstone references his big selection of gigs, like a current one working with Andrea Bocelli on the Vatican, for example of how artistic he can get. “All of this stuff which might be in my thoughts I’m going to do for different individuals, I’m going to have the ability to do at my spot,” he says. “And it received’t be bizarre coming from me as a result of that’s who I’m, that’s who I embody in music, that’s who I’ve been in a position to work with. I’m grateful the Solar Rose is welcoming that with the mindset I’ve to be as artistic and expansive as attainable.”
Bowie’s Piano Man, Mike Garson, at Dwell at The Solar Rose
(Michelle Shiers/The Solar Rose West Hollywood)
To their credit score, the Solar Rose is embracing that form of inventive expression. It begins with Sharyn Goldyn, who books the music on the venue. She set the tone early by making pianist Mike Garson, greatest recognized for his work with David Bowie, however effectively versed in jazz and classical, the primary artist she spoke to. She says he’s precisely the kind of artist she wished to construct the venue on.
“I knew I wished to have a spine of the very best musicians on this planet, and of legacy artists. So, Mike was the primary particular person I met with, and he was simply so open to concepts and constructing one thing,” she says.
Garson, the venue’s artist in residence, loves the core of him, Blackstone and Goldyn, in addition to not being on the highway all yr.
“Adam is a superb musical director, and we carry what we carry. I used to be flattered that I used to be the unique particular person Sharyn got here to. However I had performed a lot touring with Bowie alumni after he handed, I considerably obtained burnt out on it. I’m 80, so it’s good to be residence in 20 minutes. I do 30 or 40 reveals a yr and I do 10 on the Solar Rose and there’s nothing being compromised about my music,” he says. “I do no matter I would like on the Solar Rose as a result of I open up many of the units with a jazz piece as a result of that’s my roots, then we transfer into the vocals. The vocals grow to be duets like I did with David and never simply me accompanying some tune. I search for, ‘What can I add to “Area Oddity’” immediately?’ I stretch the boundaries, which is what David would have wished me to do. He by no means believed within the consolation zone.”
Bowie can be celebrated in a particular three-night residency this Thursday, which is his birthday, Friday and Saturday, the 10-year anniversary of his passing. Simply as Blackstone does, Garson can be bringing in various pals. “This membership’s actually particular as a result of we work it with nice singers. I’ve had Judith Hill there, I’ve had Luke Spiller, Evan Rachel Wooden and now in fact for David’s birthday and the 10-year celebration, we’ve plenty of nice individuals,” he says. “We’ll have Billy Corgan [on] Saturday evening and Andra Day on Friday and Judith Hill and Luke Spiller’s coming once more, and a beautiful singer named Debby Vacation. I’ll have Chad Smith cease in on Saturday evening to play some drums from the Crimson Scorching Chili Peppers. And I’m going to do plenty of the Bowie hits and some obscure ones.”
Garson can be touring to Dublin in February and celebrating his close to 50-year friendship and musical relationship with Bowie. However he’s selecting to spend Bowie’s birthday on the Solar Rose. It isn’t solely the proximity to his residence that appeals to Garson. “I’ve been the resident artist there for 3 years and I’ve performed 46 reveals there. I just like the intimacy, I just like the piano within the heart stage of the room and I like working with Sharyn. After taking part in the Hollywood Bowl and Madison Sq. Backyard with Bowie and Duran Duran, no matter, 9 Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, I just like the small golf equipment now,” he says.
Just like Vegas motels that ebook the most important music superstars, like Adele or Rod Stewart, for prolonged residencies, the Solar Rose will make the Bowie expertise a weekend retreat in the entire lodge.
“We’re in a position to carry the Bowie expertise to different issues, similar to Bowie cocktails named after totally different songs and perhaps altering our menu and perhaps altering the suite names of the motels. This celebration, notably, we’re doing a lodge package deal. As a result of Mike solely performs these explicit reveals on the Solar Rose, lots of people fly in for it,” Goldyn says.
Rooftop pool on the Solar Rose in West Hollywood
(The Solar Rose West Hollywood)
Followers can anticipate that extra because the lodge takes on the id of the membership. “Now that the lodge has taken on the title of the music venue, they really need the music venue to be a spotlight and one thing that the lodge is admittedly happy with and highlighting. We’re going to essentially attempt to push a full property expertise so you may get tickets to the present, keep on the lodge and by no means actually go away the property,” she says.
Blackstone believes the success of the music membership, below his inventive steerage, is what finally impressed the lodge’s title change. “I feel what prompted the title change of the lodge was simply seeing how the music house has impacted the lodge house in a good way. So, if we will proceed the music expertise going all through the entire lodge, what higher means to do this than have me curate not simply the music room, however curate all the lodge house?” he says.
After so a few years on the highway with different artists, Blackstone is thrilled to have what he calls his “playground.” “It feels so unimaginable; I’m in a position to check out some new concepts. One of many first issues I need to do is to make use of the rooftop or bowling alley to do an all-day showcase of latest music, new types and new genres in numerous areas of the lodge. We’re going to begin that, I’m going to curate that, get some unimaginable artists that all the time find yourself being your new favourite artist when you hear them,” he says. “I feel that’s the opposite element I failed to say: My attain has been in a position to permeate all the globe. Now I can carry that attain on to the Solar Rose.”
