Sunset Strip Music Festival 2014: Faces in the crowd

We're in love with SSMF. A much-improved lineup doesn't hurt, but it's the hard-rocking heart of this fest that makes it one of our favorites. The music comes first here—no one shows up just to see and be seen, or to get wasted (seriously, we saw nary a stumbler) or to snap selfies in front of giant "art" installations. Which is not to say that this crowd doesn't party hard in some pretty spectacular getups. It makes the storied Sunset Strip feel almost like it must have 30 years ago, when leather-and-stud-clad studs ruled the scene instead of clubbing housewives. It's a special honor to see bands like Jane's Addiction take the stage here, alongside newer local acts playing in some of the most historic and intimate venues in the city. Oh, and the cherry on top? No dust.

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