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Take This: Win Two Tickets To John Waters Easter w/ Peaches by Lethal Amounts

This Easter Weekend, Lethal Amounts returns to the Madonna Inn with a performance by Peaches and John Waters to mark the 50th anniversary and restoration of Waters’ cult classic, Pink Flamingos at the iconic Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.   related: Burger Boogaloo 2017: The Ballad of John and Iggy   Janky Smooth is giving away two tickets to this historic and delightfully filth laden event which includes: April 7th performance by Peaches April 8th PINK FLAMINGO movie screening with John Waters and Mink Stole conducting live commentary and a Q&A April 8th Janky Smooth EXCLUSIVE meet and greet with the man himself, John Waters To purchase tickets now, visit Lethal Amounts To be entered to win, simply go to our page on Instagram and/or Facebook, like the post and tag a friend.  That’s it.  Winner will be announced Monday April 3rd at high noon.                related: Sex Cells Divine Ball at El Rey- The Filthiest People Alive  

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FIDLAR at The Observatory is STILL a Vibe

There is little more that’s as iconic in the last 10 years of the SoCal indie music scene than FIDLAR playing at The Observatory in Santa Ana.  It brings back memories of the golden age of the now defunct label that shall not be mentioned- but it rhymes with “Zurger”. related: An Interview with Zac Carper from FIDLAR Ticket holders wasted no time filling up The Observatory for the opening acts. Fans flooded the pit, full of raw energy and not holding anything back for Reckling. The set came with fast, high energy that had the fans crowd surfing, singing along and of course, moshing. Reckling opened the night strong and set the bar high.   Not to be outdone, Liily came out just as powerfully and kept that energy going, if not elevating it to the next level. From their catchy songs to the electric performance of frontman Dylan Nash and the nonstop, chaotic energy of bassist Charlie Anastasis, all combined to make for one hell of a show. The crowd was warmed up, stretched and sweaty for FIDLAR to come out and destroy and they did just that. FIDLAR came out firing on all cylinders with “ Wake

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JANKY SMOOTH Top 10 ALBUMS of 2022 Rated by Contributors

It’s hard to fathom underground music survived, thrived and broke new boundaries only two years since the pandemic’s peak-year. In the heat of that fire, stuck at home, people suspected that the dire circumstances we were all living under would have some great inspiring effect on the artist community. At first, some might’ve mistakenly changed their minds, pessimistically losing all hope in artists returning to purer vision, but now, in 2022, we’re finally beginning to see the true fruits of this brave new artistic world. Some of our favorite artists like Adult., Spike Hellis,  Soul Glo, Wormrot and Boy Harsher all released work that evolved their sound, image, and identities in ways none could’ve predicted. Every year, Janky Smooth loves sharing our top-ten albums lists with our audience, 2022’s lists are especially bizarre for all you beautiful weirdos. Publisher, Danny Baraz Spike Hellis – Spike Hellis Deaf Club – Productive Disruption Soul Glo – Diaspora Problems Beach House – Once, Twice, Melody HEALTH – Disco 4:: Part II Ho99o9 – SKIN Kumo 99 – Body N. Will Candy – Heaven Is Here Adult. – Becoming Undone King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Omnium Gatherum Editor, Robert Shepyer Wormrot –

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JANKY SMOOTH Top 10 SHOWS of 2022 Rated by Contributors

On this eve to Christmas Eve, we at Janky Smooth have done our due diligence in accounting the year’s most profound concert moments. Found herein is the top ten shows lists of our contributors. Give them a peep and let us know if you were there too! Publisher, Danny Baraz Bauhuas at Cruel World 2022 Gogol Bordello at the Belasco DAIS Records 15 year anniversary at The Belasco Substance LA at The Los Angeles Theatre Desert Daze 2022 Metz, Kowloon Walled City, Deaf Club at Teragram Ballroom HEALTH at 1720 Twin Tribes, Light Asylum, Spike Hellis at El Rey Lie Detector Weekend Adult. at The Lodge Room Editor, Rob Shepyer Gorillaz at Youtube Theatre Mercyful Fate at Psycho Las Vegas Nine Inch Nails at Primavera Sound LA Rixe at Lie Detector Weekend Meshuggah at The Hollywood Palladium Kraftwerk at the Shrine Auditorium W.A.S.P. at The Wiltern Danny Elfman at the Hollywood Bowl Molchat Doma at The Roxy Pavement at The Fonda Theatre Photographer, Albert Licano Rixe at Lie Detector Weekend Nick Cave & Warren Ellis at The Shrine Auditorium Electric Frankenstein at Alex’s Bar S.H.I.T. at Zebulon Spy at Manic Relapse Subhumans at The Sardine Mercyful Fate at Youtube Theatre

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Austin Shines On: Levitation 2022

Words by: David Lacroix Photos by: Grace Dunn On a Halloween weekend, concert aficionados from around the world packed clubs in Austin’s Red River district to the brim for 4 long nights of Neo-psychedelic music. Founded as Austin Psych Fest 15 years ago, Levitation curates compelling artists ranging from intimate performances by pioneers like desert-tinged rockers, Los Dug Dug’s and post-punk godfathers, the Jesus and Mary Chain. No festival on earth presents the pilgrim with the enviable problem of too many fantastic concerts to choose from like Levitation. The city’s culture lends Levitation much of its character, with the festival mostly spread around a few city blocks in the Red River district. All venues paint the skies with vivid projection light artwork. Levitation has long celebrated concert visuals; most shows featured either the twisted liquid light of Mad Alchemy or protégés of neo-psych visuals from Bob Mustachio, previous live visual artist for The Black Angels. With a multi-venue format, the festival fell across half-a-dozen or so venues within a short walking distance. The crowd took some time before arriving at Stubb’s but showed up in full-force for headliners, Jesus & Mary Chain. With guitar tones crushing like waves, Jesus and

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All Hallow’s Melt: Halloween Meltdown 2022

Words by: Gloria Velez Photos by: Workhorse Studios Halloween Meltdown spin-off to its summer time counterpart, “Mosswood Meltdown” (Formally Burger Boogaloo), thrown by Total Trash Productions and hosted by the “Pope of Trash” him self, John Waters, returned to Oakland’s Mosswood Park to kick off October with some spooky punk festivities. related content: Glorious Leader, Kim John Kill: Mosswood Meltdown 2022 The two day music festival with a halloween twist and a D.I.Y. feel, served up a stellar line up with headlining acts like Amyl and the Sniffers, Shannon and The Clams, The Spits, Lydia Lunch and Kid Congo Powers. The festival also featured a Haunted House designed by local musician and horror artist, Rob Fletcher and costume contest where attendees got a chance to win a $500 prize. Keeping in the Halloween Meltdown spirit all weekend, festival-goers and local music lovers stayed busy with a series of perfectly curated afterparties that sold out night after night. The afterparties, lead by Bay Area lo-fi garage punk legends The Mummies, and thrown at Oakland’s historic dive The Stork Club, where the perfect add on to the already fun weekend of Halloween Meltdown. Excited to be back in Oakland with fellow music

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Photo Recap: Gogol Bordello at The Observatory North Park

Gogol Bordello‘s return to Southern California had been long-awaited as soon as The Solidaritine tour was announced. Their first stop in our neck of the woods was San Diego’s Observatory North Park where the band had the audience in the palm of their hand, taking them on a sweeping journey through Gogol’s catalogue, including songs off Solidaritine, and all the classics ranging from Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike. It doesn’t feel like it but Gogol Bordello has been around for over two decades, spreading inclusivity through punk rock. Although originally constructed as a blend of Eastern European culture and punk, the band expanded to involve various forms of world music to make a truly gypsy vision. Those that experience a Gogol show come away with a more worldly sensibility. Eugene Hutz’s Ukrainian roots were never diluted upon the band’s expansion. With Ukraine under Russian attack in this hideous situation, the many stops and long performances of this tour are all an effort to support Ukraine and Eugene’s fellow countrymen. You could tell the band was going extra hard because you could feel lives hung in the balance of this musical effort. We got photos from their Observatory North Park show

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Photo Recap: Thursday at 1720

Celebrating their epic album Full Collapse on a Thursday, post-hardcore kings Thursday brought the unforgettable, signature passion that made them a seminal band for millennial hardcore and emo kids. 1720 Warehouse bounced off the walls and screamed at the top of their lungs along with the band. We got photos to capture this special anniversary show. This wasn’t just a celebration of Thursday but of a golden age for hardcore music, a golden age that the people who lived through it will never forget. Photos by: Manuel Arredondo Thursday

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Photo Recap: Otoboke Beaver at The Echo

Otoboke Beaver‘s first two concerts in LA took place at the Echo and over the course of these two performances, the band made LA music history, with their unique and original brand of Japanese power punk. We consider ourselves lucky enough to have a photographer there to document the evening of October 20th’s show. As you can see in these photos, the band is relentless and the audience reciprocates by giving them every ounce of energy. Otoboke Beaver is perhaps the most important punk band of this generation, transcending any status as a gimmick or an import or as a girl band. Photos by: Chris Molina Otoboke Beaver

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Photo Recap: Otoboke Beaver at The Casbah

Otoboke Beaver finally made their Southern California debut and Jankysmooth was present to see this Japanese Power-punk group redefine everything it means to be heavy, raw, and underground. At first what might’ve been considered a gimmick, punk rock through a J-pop lens, turned into an avant-garde rock and roll acid-trip, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in rock and roll. Otoboke Beaver began their tour de force through So-Cal at San Diego’s Casbah and we got the pictures to make them live forever on Jankysmooth. There is more to come as we had peeps at their Los Angeles shows as well. If you didn’t get the chance to see them this time around, don’t fret. They just extended their tour with more shows in Southern California to attend. You can buy tickets to those upcoming shows, including one at San Diego’s Music Box and another at Pappy and Harriet’s here. Photos by: Rebecca DiGiglio Otoboke Beaver

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Photo Recap: Mars Volta at The Hollywood Palladium

The Mars Volta‘s highly-anticipated comeback tour brought them to The Hollywood Palladium for a sold out show featuring a set of classics and new songs that made everyone recall how much they loved this band. Song after song made clear the memories of listening and singing along to these progressive, psyched out rock and roll adventures on wax. The more songs they played, the more the audience remembered that they knew every damn lyric. Though many years had gone by since the band took the stage before this tour, every member was in their element, showing mastery of both instrument and performance, with charisma that was just as other-worldly as the magic within every Mars Volta tune. This was one for the ages and we got the photos to prove it. Photos by: Grace Dunn The Mars Volta

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Photo Recap: Citizen at The Regent

For two sold out nights, Citizen treated Los Angeles’ softer side with post hardcore maladies and sweet serenades that left an eternal impression upon the Regent walls. Alongside Militarie Gun and Prince Daddy & The Hyena, this was a showcase that proved hardcore is for lovers, or at least fighters that fight for love. Photos by: Jason Murillo Citizen Militarie Gun Prince Daddy & The Hyena

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