5 Iconic California Locations in Daisy Jones & the Six

The hit American musical drama Daisy Jones & the Six has taken the streaming world by storm with a captivating tale of a band that rose to the top only to split up at the height of its popularity. Based on a book of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones & the Six first premiered on Amazon Prime Video on March 3rd, 2023, and quickly became a smash hit, connecting with a generation of viewers who lived through the vibrant counterculture and rock scene of the 1970s. 

Although it follows the story of a fictional rock band, Daisy Jones & the Six is still very much a homage to that bygone era in American music. So it comes as no surprise that it prominently features some of the most famous California settings in television and in American musical history. Here are five of the coolest California locations in Daisy Jones & the Six.

Sound City 

Also known as Sound City Studios, this legendary recording studio in Van Nuys, California first opened its doors in 1969. Over the next few decades, Sound City became famous for its distinct sound, especially for drums, live performances, and rock bands. As a historic rock and roll hub, this California location in Daisy Jones & the Six has played host to many famous artists and groups over the years, including Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Metallica, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan, and many more. After passing through many owners, Sound City reopened its doors to the public in 2017, and its vintage analog recording equipment is now available for all artists to use. 

As a California location in Daisy Jones & the Six, Sound City is depicted as the spot where the band created their multi-platinum album, Aurora. The show took over the location for over a month in order to film recording scenes for episodes five and six of the show. However, because Sound City has been upgraded multiple times in its history, it looks quite different today to its 1970s layout. This means the showmakers had to recreate the same recording booths used by some of the greatest rock and roll stars to have ever lived, making for a truly authentic setting. If you plan to visit Sound City, be sure to buy a Sound City t-shirt or baseball cap

Filthy McNasty’s 

Once one of the most infamous dive bars of the Old Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, Filthy McNasty’s was founded by its owner of the same name (previously known as Wilfried)  and Wolfgang Bartsch, two enterprising brothers from Berlin who moved to the US in 1956 with dreams of founding their own restaurant. By the 1960s, the two brothers had taken over the Melody Lounge at 8852 Sunset Boulevard, which would later become Filthy McNasty’s. Wilfried legally changed his name to Filthy McNasty, transforming himself into a real-life mascot for this iconic establishment. Over the years, Filthy McNasty’s quickly became a popular haunt for many famous names in music, including Elvis, Evil Knievel, Mick Jagger, Little Richard, and many more. 

Despite its name, Filthy McNasty’s became something of a serene retreat for Hollywood’s A-listers, a place where they could hope to escape the scrutiny of the press and paparazzos thanks to the bar’s ban on photography. The brothers decided to sell this California landmark in the 1980s and it was ultimately rebranded as the Viper Room, a name it retains to this day.   

Laurel Canyon

This Los Angeles neighborhood is a legendary California landmark in the world of music thanks to the many stars who have called it home over the years. Located in Hollywood Hills, this California location in Daisy Jones & the Six was first envisioned in the 1920s as a vacationing spot away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Because of its location in an area of rugged hillside, the neighborhood is quite secluded from the rest of Los Angeles. This made Laurel Canyon a very desirable place for people who wanted a haven away from downtown LA., especially people who wanted to go against the mainstream.  

Enter the 1960s. By this time, Laurel Canyon became a major center for counterculture art movements and a home for some of the most famous rock acts of the twentieth century including the Doors, Frank Zappa, the Mamas and the Papas, and many more. Los Angeles has grown a lot since then, and Laurel Canyon specifically is no longer the counterculture hub it once was. That being said, it is definitely still one of the coolest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, and its quiet secluded nature remains quite appealing to average Joes and the super-rich of LA alike.  

The Troubadour 

In the 1970s, the place for folk-rock was The Troubadour, a West Hollywood nightclub that is still going strong today. Established in 1957, The Troubador has played an important role in the careers of countless rock artists over the decades. It was a place where new talent went to get discovered. Neil Diamond recorded his first live album here, Elton John got his first big break here, and the Troubadour was one of the hubs of new wave acts in the 1970s, including Bad Religion, Napalm Death, and Redd Kross. 

This California location in Daisy Jones & the Six remains an important part of the LA music scene even today and has seen countless performances from big names like Artic Monkeys and Coldplay. Although it fell on hard times due to the pandemic, it remains open for business as one of the last household names of old Hollywood. Be sure to pay it a visit next time you’re in town.     

Riot House

The Continental Hyatt Hotel on Sunset Strip was the hotel of choice for many 1970s rock stars thanks to its proximity to the most famous clubs of the strip. Affectionately nicknamed “Riot House” by its star-studded guests, the hotel quickly became known as a place where you could find famous bands such as Led Zeppelin and The Who on the guest list. Riot House definitely lived up to its name as well since it was the kind of place where it wasn’t unusual for hotel rooms to be trashed or set on fire by uproarious rockstars. In one famous incident, Rolling Stone’s Keith Richards threw a television set out the window during a particularly wild night. The hotel still stands today, although it looks nothing like it did in the golden age of rock and roll. Fortunately, it still features the iconic rooftop swimming pool, and all the TVs are now secured to the wall.