The Roots Jam Session @ The Key Club - 2/9/08

The Key Club in West Hollywood hosted the The Roots Jam Session, Saturday night

As we mentioned in our interview with Questlove, LAist was on the red carpet for the 5th Annual Roots Jam Session at the Key Club in West Hollywood. While we were hoping that this post would serve as a review of the best live band in the world jamming the night away with a little help from some of their friends, we'll happily settle for the chance to rub elbows with the big names, not-so-big names, and what's their names? that walked the red carpet on Saturday night in support of Rock the Vote and The Roots.

The unanimous decision of the night's highlight for those were actually able to get into the Key Club was a drum-off between Questo and Travis Barker (video after the jump). The highlight for me, besides talking to The Roots' drummer, was hearing the announcement that Raven-Symoné wasn't stopping for pictures because she wasn't wearing makeup. It didn't stop us, we still got a photo.

That photo and more photographic evidence of our presence at the Jam Session after the jump.

While Raven was avoiding the flashing lights of the cameras, nearly every other guest in attendance took some time to pose for a photo or two. Some had more time than others to engage with the media on hand. By "some" I mean the people who you've probably never heard of.

Nearly everyone that caused the members of the press to whisper "who's that?" to each other, had plenty of time to get the word out about themselves. To avoid the awkwardness, I just acted like I was a grip for the cameraman standing next to me whenever I was approached by an unknown guest. I did listen in on some of those conversations, however, and they sure were painful. I heard someone who used to be kind of a somebody say, "You can Google my name" to a reporter who wasn't quite sure what to ask.

Fortunately, the red carpet wasn't exclusive to "celebs" you had to Google and Pussycat Dolls not named Nicole.

On the eve of the most important day in the music industry, some of the biggest names showed up to sit in with Questlove, Black Thought and the rest of the mighty Roots crew. Seal was able to fit the Jam Session into his schedule, I don't know how he finds the time. If I were married to Heidi Klum, I don't think I'd find the time to do anything. Why would you ever leave the house? Unfortunately, Klum did not come along for the show. Corrine Bailey Rae, Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, will.i.am (who wins the award for accessory of the night with his iced-out Bluetooth) and Barker were some of the musicians we saw come through. Missy Elliot, Doug E. Fresh, MC Lyte and Prince were also said to be in the house, but we didn't see them come our way. I guess if you're Prince you don't really use doors, you just appear in a cloud of smoke.

When you think hip hop and political awareness, you immediately think of...chewing gum. No? I do. Wrigley's Doublemint served as one of the night's sponsors, parading out their troop of Doublemint Girls who passed out gum and posed in photos with celebrities throughout the night. I'm told one of the Doublemint Girls was a cast member on the reality show, "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency." It's a good thing I was told this because I didn't even know Janice Dickinson had a show. Apparently, it's been on for three seasons and it's on something called the Oxygen Network. Where have I been? Oh that's right. I've been busy not watching female oriented reality television, that's where I've been.

While we weren't able to get into the show, we were able to talk to one of our favorite musicians, listen in on some awkward conversations, and chew some gum. Thanks to Okayplayer I am also able to see the highlight of the show five days later, from the comfort of my desk and so can you. Sit back and enjoy Travis and Questlove do their thing. Then scroll down for some more photos of celebs who were rocking the vote from the red carpet.

Photos by John Wayne Maioriello for LAist