Chevy Metal Conejo Valley Days May 13th 2017 Thousand Oaks

Chevy Metal Conejo Valley Days May 13th 2017 Thousand Oaks Ca.

Review by Staci Amend Pictures by Alex Kluft

Supergroup Chevy Metal, led by Foo Fighters Drummer Taylor Hawkins, Wiley Hodgen (Bass), Brent Woods (guitar) and special guest Dave Grohl have been a regular on the rock stage for over the past five years at the family friendly carnival. The band started their hour and fifteen minute 12 song set of classic rock deep cuts from Billy Squier’s “Everybody Wants You” to personal favorite Faces cover “Stay With Me” with the band trading riffs and licks such as Woods with a nod to Zeppelins “Heartbreaker”, Hodgen smooth bass line from Jane’s Addiction “Three Days” and Dave throwing in the “Stairway” riff along with Hawkins pounding drum fills had the crowd rocking!

The event attracts locals as well as some who travel from all over the world including The U.K. and Poland for a chance to see their heroes up close and personal. Some waited in line for over six hours for a spot on the rail (or should I say ‘Hay bail!’) The band did not disappoint on a beautiful sunny southern California day. They tore through dirty rock cover deep cuts.

Taylor Hawkins has vocal chops as well and came from behind the kit to sing while another special guest, drummer Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr’s All-Stars, David Lee Roth) ripped a smoking version of Van Halen’s ‘Ain’t Talkin Bout Love’ with Woods’ killer guitar leads. The fun was had by all including the band that one wonders is playing these songs and small gigs rather than stadiums and arenas to blow off steam or simply because it’s fun to play the songs of their heroes and now they have better equipment to do it with!

Either way, it was defiantly special to witness. Chevy Metal has had guest players for years from Mick Jagger to Rick Neilson of Cheap Trick, and Dave joked to the crowd that he’s been trying to join Chevy Metal as permanent member for years, but isn’t good enough.