Camp Freddy is not promoted as your average, full-time rock band. Rather, it is sold as an "occasional happening" that pops up at small clubs in big cities, birthday parties of the rich and famous, benefit events and the like. They don't charge an outrageous amount for tickets—though they could and people would be more than happy to pay.
The five-piece nonband took to the Palm's Rain Nightclub stage December 4, and put on one of the most mind-blowing performances imaginable. When you consider the line-up is guitarists Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Billy Morrison (The Cult), drummer Matt Sorum (The Cult, Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver), bass player Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction) and frontman Donovan Leitch (Nancy Boy), how could it be anything but fantastic?
And talk about a set list: the boys dished up the hardest-thrashing versions of "Ballroom Blitz," "Whole Lotta Love," "20th Century Boy," "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Ziggy Stardust" ever played. And those are just a few of the hits that came tearing out of those awesome guitars—the songs kept flowing and the boys got louder and stronger with each one. Leitch had complete control over the crowd and Navarro's shirtlessness was truly a thing of beauty.
The group, which got its start in 2002, is known for having special guests join in on the action, and this show was no different. The evening was hosted by the lovely Carmen Electra, and drop-in performers included the Beastie Boys' Mix Master Mike, who opened the show; Susie McNeil and Ty Taylor from TV's Rock Star: INXS, which Navarro hosted; Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver) and Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains). But the showstopper was Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath, who was an absolute beast on the mic, which, whenever he wasn't singing, was stuck snuggly down his pants.
By the end of the night, the stage was packed full of sweaty, hyper rock stars and it was an incredible sight. A Camp Freddy CD is in the works, and though it's bound to be amazing, there's no way a recording can capture the charisma exuded when these guys hit the stage. They are old-school rock with passion, power and serious chops, and a must-see for any connoisseur of fine rock 'n' roll.