Hard Rock and Little Steven’s Underground Garage continue their two-decade-plus partnership with The Wicked Cool Records Revue!, a traveling Rock ‘n’ Roll roadshow showcasing some of the stars from Wicked Cool Records, the groundbreaking label founded in 2007 by the legendary Stevie Van Zandt – a.k.a. Little Steven.
Like Van Zandt’s hugely influential “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” radio show, The Wicked Cool Records Revue! will showcase iconic rock ‘n’ rollers and some of the world’s most exciting new artists with performances from Slim Jim Phantom & The Wildcats, Soraia, Cocktail Slippers, and playing their first live shows in over 15 years, fabled garage rockers The Chesterfield Kings. The multi-artist package tour will kick off in Austin, TX during a full day of Rock ‘n’ Roll at the historic Continental Club, beginning with “Mojo’s Final Mayhem!” a send-off show to legendary artist and SiriusXM Outlaw Country (Channel 62) DJ the late Mojo Nixon in the afternoon and then followed later in the evening by “The Wicked Cool Records Revue!” showcase. The tour will then make stops across the West Coast through the month, including eagerly awaited shows in Phoenix (March 19), Los Angeles (March 20), Las Vegas (March 21), and San Francisco (March 22.).
“The Wicked Cool Records Revue will give people a taste of the 20 fabulous acts on our record label,” says Stevie Van Zandt. “People know Slim Jim Phantom from the Stray Cats, but they may not have had an opportunity to see Slim Jim Phantom & The Wildcats. We’ve also got Soraia, one of our most popular bands from Philadelphia, and the fabulous Cocktail Slippers are coming all the way from Norway. I’m particularly excited about the return of the legendary Chesterfield Kings, the garage band that set the standards for all others back in the 80s. It’s their first show in 15 years and we couldn’t be more thrilled.”
HARD ROCK AND LITTLE STEVEN’S UNDERGROUND GARAGE PRESENT
THE WICKED COOL RECORDS REVUE!
STARRING
SLIM JIM PHANTOM & THE WILDCATS
THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS
SORAIA
COCKTAIL SLIPPERS
MARCH
16 – Austin, TX – Continental Club (SXSW) *
* w/ The Jellybricks and Bobby Mahoney
19 – Phoenix, AZ – The Crescent
20 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room Highland Park
21 – Las Vegas, NV – The Shag Room at Virgin
22 – San Francisco, CA – Brick & Mortar Music Hall
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Founded by Stevie Van Zandt (Little Steven) in 2007, Wicked Cool Records evolved out of Van Zandt’s internationally syndicated 2-hour weekly radio show and 24/7 SiriusXM music channel, “Little Steven’s Underground Garage,” as a way to further support the past, present, and future of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Over the past 22 years, Little Steven’s Underground Garage and Hard Rock (which was the show’s very first sponsor) have joined forces to present hundreds of live events across Hard Rock Cafes, Casinos, Hotels, and more around the world, including “Underground Garage A Go-Go” live concerts; “Underground Garage Dance Parties” (hosted by Little Steven); pre-game concerts at Yankee Stadium; “The 500th Show” radio special featuring Green Day, Debbie Harry, and more; “The Underground Garage Stage” at the UK’s Hard Rock Calling; “Teen Vogue’s Rock Meets the Runway” Battle of the Bands featuring teenage female-fronted bands; VH1’s “Cheap Trick or Treat Halloween Ball” from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa; and ESPN’s first-ever New Year’s Eve Concert Special, co-hosted by Little Steven and Stuart Scott live from the Hard Rock Cafe in New York.
ABOUT STEVIE VAN ZANDT:
Recently profiled in an exclusive interview on CBS’s esteemed newsmagazine, 60 Minutes, Stevie Van Zandt is a musician, performer, songwriter, arranger, music producer, music supervisor, TV producer, actor, director, Broadway producer, TV and film composer, live event producer, international DJ, activist, historian, teacher, New York Times best-selling author, New Jersey Hall of Famer, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, and is recognized internationally as one of the world’s foremost authorities on both contemporary and classic Rock and Soul.
In 1999, Van Zandt founded Renegade Nation to oversee content creation, production, management, live events, and distribution. Three years later saw the launch of their flagship brand, Little Steven’s Underground Garage. The internationally syndicated radio show airs every week and has introduced over 1000 new bands to the world over more than 1100 weekly episodes. In 2004, SiriusXM recruited Van Zandt to create its first original content, beginning with the hugely popular Little Steven’s Underground Garage channel, and the equally successful Outlaw Country. Van Zandt founded his garage rock label, Wicked Cool Records, the following year.
Among his many philanthropic actions, Van Zandt is the founder of TeachRock.org, a standards-aligned, arts integration curriculum that uses the history of popular music and culture to help teachers engage students. This online educational resource is offered at NO COST to educators and individuals everywhere. With over 200 lesson plans it is now used by more than 65,000 teachers in all 50 states, with 21 official partner schools, and has reached over 1,000,000 students.
ABOUT HARD ROCK:
Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in over 70 countries spanning 309 locations that include owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. HRI also launched a joint venture named Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 88,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe.
ABOUT SLIM JIM PHANTOM & THE WILDCATS:
As the legendary drummer for Stray Cats, Slim Jim Phantom, alongside bandmates Brian Setzer and Lee Rocker, spearheaded the neo-rockabilly movement of the early 80s. Over four decades later, Slim Jim Phantom continues to inspire and excite audiences worldwide. With a sound, style, and image that remain as fresh today as they ever were, Phantom has cemented his place among rock royalty. Considered by many as the coolest drummer in rock ‘n’ roll, Phantom’s influence is still clearly felt on today’s music scene with countless rockabilly drummers imitating his pioneering stand-up style. Slim Jim’s new band, Slim Jim Phantom & The Wildcats, will see him joined by his wife, musician and songwriter Jennie Vee (Courtney Love, Eagles of Death Metal) on bass.
ABOUT THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS:
Hailing from Rochester, NY, garage rock legends The Chesterfield Kings formed in the late 70’s, heavily mining the sounds of 1960s music from The Rolling Stones to acoustic blues and more. Instrumental in sparking the 1980s garage band revival that launched such like-minded bands as The Fuzztones, The Pandoras, The Cynics, and more, The Chesterfield Kings disbanded in 2009 but are back with new music and their first live performances in over 15 years.
ABOUT COCKTAIL SLIPPERS:
Known for their energetic live performances, Cocktail Slippers are an all-girl rock band from Oslo, Norway, and have been a staple in “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” since the show began. One of the first bands Stevie Van Zandt signed to Wicked Cool Records, Cocktail Slippers have earned acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone, which raved, “In full hosanna, Cocktail Slippers sound a lot like the Go-Go´s but with gats instead of L.A. cheer, and a mule kick in their high heels. It´s all retro action but written and detonated with the study and delight of modern rock & roll women in constant touch with their inner filly.”
ABOUT SORAIA:
Praised by Joan Jett as “an extraordinary, exciting, and sure-to-make-waves band who I love and admire,” lead singer Zou Zou’s Philadelphia-based Soraia is the spiritual descendent of iconic women in rock such as Patti Smith while also embodying elements of kindred spirits of the ‘90s like PJ Harvey and The Kills, with more than a sprinkling of high-octane ‘60s garage rock and soul. Known for their wild live shows, Soraia’s primal sonic attack spreads a message of perseverance through trials of love, loss and letting go.
ABOUT THE JELLYBRICKS:
The Jellybricks are known for their catchy, harmony-driven, melodic rock ‘n’ roll, drawing inspiration from the ‘60s British Invasion to ‘90s Alternative. Forming in the late 90’s, the Harrisburg, PA-based crew have opened for bands like Live, Goo Goo Dolls, Fuel, and Better than Ezra. In 2019, they were nominated for “Best Video” at the Independent Music Awards and received the Central PA Music Hall of Fame “Best Rock Band” award.
ABOUT BOBBY MAHONEY:
In his young career New Jersey’s Bobby Mahoney and his high-energy Rock ‘n’ Roll band have already shared the stage with the likes of Bon Jovi, Against Me!, Frank Turner, and Steve Earle. They will be releasing an album on Wicked Cool Records later this year, their first with the label.
