Sebastian Bach challenges Paul Ryan’s playlist at ‘smoke-filled’ Distilled Spirits party

Mark McGrath sings with Camp Freddy at the Distilled Spirits Council party. (Amy Argetsinger/The Washington Post)

CHARLOTTE — “Gone, gone are the smoke-filled backrooms of the past,” promised Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, welcoming the public to the Democrats’ family-friendly “CarolinaFest” street fair Monday.

Er, just a metaphor, right? Because we saw plenty of conventioneers enjoying the smoke-filled back room at the Distilled Spirits Council party Monday night. More of a smoke-filled side room, really — a velvet-roped patio where guests partook of free cigars, handrolled by a tobacco artisan on site.

Tobacco enthusiasts watch the show from the cigar patio. (Amy Argetsinger/The Washington Post) A few feet away, Camp Freddy’s crew of middle-aged rocker stars (Dave Navarro, Mark McGrath, Matt Sorum, etc.) roared through a set of classic rock favorites. Guest singer Sebastian Bach, late of early ‘90s hair-metal gods Skid Row, questioned Paul Ryan’s playlist alphabetizing skills, re: that “starts with AC/DC and ends with Zeppelin” quip. Um, that’s “Led Zeppelin” to you, Bach scoffed.

“I guess he doesn’t like Motley Crue?!? I guess he doesn’t like Minnie Riperton?!?” Bach yelled. “He doesn’t even have any Melissa Manchester!” Boom.

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