Taylor Wong, Author at Jankysmooth

Taylor Wong

Rubblebucket & Vacationer join the circus at The Echoplex

Taylor Wong March 25, 2015

It’s a Tuesday night and I found myself waiting for the doors of the Echoplex to open. I’m a bit out of it from working non-stop all week and packing as I am in the midst of moving. All of a sudden I hear a loud thud and some one scream. Someone just hit a person with their car under the bridge right next to the Echoplex. I walk over to the scene where the driver had stopped to call 911. I looked for a while and walked back to the line a little shaken up but knowing that some one had already taken the responsibility of calling for an ambulance. There was nothing in my power that I could do to help this person at this point. No one else in line even knew what had just happened. I didn’t lose my appetite. I walked in and ordered a couple of slices of pizza and a Red Bull. I was unable to drink to drink due to antibiotics, so you know I am not making any of this up. The bill for the night was a co-headlined show by Vacationer and Rubblebucket, with opening band SWIMM. SWIMM took the stage around 20

Mike Watt and Secondmen at Harvard and Stone

Mike Watt and The Lesbians wearing New Wigs

Taylor Wong March 7, 2015

Thursday nights in LA are like nowhere else in the world. I knew my Thursday night was on the right track when at 8pm, I drove by a couch that had caught fire along with the car next to it. Nothing like a good ol’ hood bonfire to kick off the evening. After all the excitement I made my way over to Havard & Stone for Dirty Laundry TV’s monthly residency. The lineup was Mike Watt And The Secondmen, Kera And The Lesbians, and Small Wigs. I couldn’t have asked for a better show, not only because of the line up but also because Harvard & Stone is one of my top 3 favorite bars in LA. Small Wigs kicked off the night at around 10:15. The band is made up of Elvis and Max Kuehn of FIDLAR, Matt Zuk of Isaac Rother and the Phantoms, and Mikki Itzigsohn now, formerly of Isaac Rother and the Phantoms. I jokingly told Elvis that I feel like I have become an unintentional stalker of the Kuehn brothers, going all the way back to the days they did white boy rap in a group called The Headhunters. These siblings are some seriously talented musicians. Every

Friends & Fans Pack Isaac Rother Release Party at Cretin Hop

Taylor Wong February 25, 2015

There are very few respectable Rock N’ Roll nights in LA these days. I’m not talking about just booked bands, playing around town but a nightly, weekly or monthly party dedicated to the devils music. One of the few good nights out there goes by the name of Cretin Hop at Footsie’s in Highland Park. The night is thrown by Roger Mars on the third Saturday of every month. Roger Mars DJ’s the night along with his partner in crime, Telegram Sam. They spin tunes from Del Shannon, Nancy Sinatra, The cramps, and The Ramones, to name just a few. You get the picture. Pretty much any Rock N’ Roll from the 60s and 70s is fair game. The party is filled with greasers and pin up type women as well as punks and mods. From time to time, Roger will book a band to play out back in the parking lot but due to recent noise complaints from neighbors, it has become more and more difficult to get away with live music. Lucky for us Isaac Rother and The Phantoms were approved to play their record release party at Cretin Hop. Footsies was a full house inside and

Moon Block: Party in Orange County w/ Crazy After Party in LA

Taylor Wong February 17, 2015

Moon Block has done it again. On Sunday night I made my way out to Fullerton for yet another great Moon Block Party. The show took place at The Continental Room, not to be confused with The Constellation Room at The Observatory in Orange County. This, according to the people at Moon Block, is a common issue when booking bands. As soon as I entered the tiny space known as The Continental Room, I noticed Troy and Sleazy P of Death Hymn Number 9 behind the bar. Not only do these guys kill it on stage but they can also make a killer drink. First band on the line up, and one of my all time favorites, Them Howling Bones, ended up not having a chance to play last night do to miscommunication with their bass player, Mondo. Aside from that, the show ran smoothly as Isaac Rother and The Phantoms quickly took the stage. I was surprised to see such a large band fit on The Continental Room’s tiny stage. Isaac and the Phantoms played a few songs before Isaac shared the unfortunate news that his dog had passed earlier that morning. He honored his dog by playing an old folk

Bass Drum of Death kill in Long Beach

Taylor Wong February 6, 2015

I’m sure Long Beach has plenty of great bars and venues but lately it seems that Alex’s Bar is really the only one worth going to. Affordable drinks and some of the best line ups I’ve ever seen at a bar. Last night Alex’s Bar brought us a performance from Bass Drum of Death with a great cast of opening acts: The Vespertines, Zig Zags, and Rudy De Anda. The first band of the night was a local, Long Beach band. The Vespertines had the unfortunate, first time slot. Although the room was almost desolate at this point, Vanessa Acosta was still a ball of energy on stage. I could really appreciate what the Verpertines were trying to do because they don’t have the standard, 4/4 beat of a garage band. Vanessa reminded me of Pedro Torres of Them Howling Bones mixed with Cassandra from Wayne’s World. Not only did Vanessa have a talented voice but she can also play a mean trumpet. Following the Vespertines came the Zig Zags and they were on point last night. It seemed like they were a little annoyed that they had been bumped down a position in the line up. I can understand why

An insane lineup for another Moon Block event at the Echo

Taylor Wong January 25, 2015

The Echo is on a fuckin roll these days. Friday January 23, Moon Block put on one of the most amazing shows I have seen in a long time. Even though they were competing with the FIDLAR show at the Regent Theater, It seems Mitchell Frank is only competing against himself now because The Echo was a packed house also. The line up was made up of some amazing LA artists. The bill was L.A. Witch, Death Hymn Number 9, Plague Vendor, Kim And The Created, and last minute add on, Sad Girl. With a diverse line up came a diverse crowd, young and old, people of different ethnic origins, and people of different Cliques. Moon Block knows how to put a show together. L.A. Witch opened up the show with an already packed house. I had seen these ladies once before a year or two ago and I remember being blown away. This night at The Echo was no different from the last time. In fact they got even better with the new material that they have been coming out with. The band was very quiet between songs, and as much as I love banter, nothing beats a dark

Dead Kennedys- There’s no room for Jello at the Roxy

Taylor Wong January 20, 2015

West Hollywood was invaded by a variety of West Side punks, from young skin heads to old Venice Suicidals. From the sounds of it you would think this show head lined by the Dead Kennedys was an all out blood bath, but every one other than the Suicidals were on good behavior. (See editors notes) The setting for the evening was the infamous Roxy on Sunset. I was stoked on tonights line up primarily for Tartar Control, DFL, and Dead Kennedys. I didn’t know what to expect or how to feel about Luicidal but I will get into that in a little bit. I rushed to the Roxy and unfortunately, I ran into an accident on the way. I was under the impression that I had still made it in time for Tartar Control, unfortunately i walked in at the end of their set. I have only heard amazing things about Tartar Control and the little bit I saw blew me away. Two men dressed as mormons preaching to the crowd and joining the pit. They said their good byes in a comedic manor and left the stage. View our previous coverage of Tartar Control here: Clepto and Tartar Control

Tennis System debuts new song and split 7″ at Amoeba Records

Taylor Wong January 16, 2015

LA is known for it’s large amount of up and coming bands. One of these bands, although not originally from LA, goes by the name of Tennis System. Tennis System started in Washington D.C. with front man Matty Taylor and has gone through a couple line ups. This current line up which includes Hector Gomez on drums and Zach Bilson on bass, is by far the best line up Tennis System has seen. Tennis System released their album “Technicolour Blind” back in October of last year and have since taken LA by storm. Being named LA weekly’s number 3 band to keep an eye out for in 2015 most definitely says something. They are on my personal top 5 LA bands. Last night, Tennis System played a show at Amoeba Record Shop in Hollywood. The show was a special event where a limited amount of 7” splits were given to the first 200 in attendance. I’m not sure they gave away all 200 of those records, although there was a decent turn out for this special show. The split was put out by Converse and consisted of a second side featuring one of Janky Smooth’s favorite up and comers, So

Another epic Lolipop Records show with Mystic Braves and friends at The Echo

Taylor Wong December 21, 2014

Lolipop Records graced us with another great lineup in LA last night at The Echo- Levitation Room, Drinking Flowers, Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel, and headliners, Mystic Braves. This show was like a high school backyard party. I say that not because the crowd was mostly under 21 but because all the bands playing and half the people attending were people I have met through out LA shows. These bands frequently play 5 Star Bar in Downtown Los Angeles. Another reason it felt so tight knit was all the bands that came out to support these artists. At one point I was at the bar sandwiched between Cherry Glazerr and Isaac Rother and the Phantoms. On the smoking patio I ran into members of The Shrine, Jesus Sons, and The Santoros. It really gives me a warm feeling seeing that kind of support. The first band up was Levitation Room. Now I had written about Levitation Room at Them Howling Bones EP release party and how it just wasn’t the right venue for them. Last night was a different story. These guys are meant for a stage and that’s what The Echo gave them. They were the first band

The Dodos at Alexs Bar- An intimate show with a room full of friends

Taylor Wong December 16, 2014

The last few weeks have been filled with loud, fast punk music. I was beyond excited to have a nice mellow night at Alex’s Bar in Long Beach. Alex’s Bar is an awesome bar out in Long Beach that’s a bit bigger than the Chain Reaction and they host amazing shows. Not only do they have amazing bands come through but the booze is also ridiculously cheap there. Last night wasn’t just some ordinary bar night. The band headlining was none other than The Dodos. The Dodos is a two piece indie band that was formed by vocalist and guitarist, Meric Long, who partnered up with Logan Kroeber. Logan Kroeber was drumming for metal and punk bands before joining up with Meric. I got the chance to ask Logan after their set, what inspired him to go from drumming in a metal bands to drumming for a solo artist with out the use of a bass drum or snare? He told me about how he had gotten bored playing metal and that not having a full drum kit and Meric’s style of music challenged him. At this point in time, the band had a full drum kit which being an

Burgerama 4 Announcement Party with together Pangea, No Parents and Others.

Taylor Wong December 9, 2014

Five dollars made all the kids holler last night in the Constellation Room at The Observatory. Burger Records threw a show last night with bands White Night, Unkle Funkle & Free Weed, No Parents, and Together Pangea. This show was a Burgerama 4 line up release party even though the Burgerama line up had actually leaked to the internet before any one at the show actually knew who was playing. They actually never told us what the line up was. You had to be paying attention to the music the DJ was playing to get the list of bands. Pretty fuckin clever if you ask me. Here is the amazing lineup for Burgerama 4 taking place March 28th and 29th at, of course, The Observatory in Santa Ana. Tickets go on sale this Friday, 12/12/14 at 10am and you can purchase them here. Oh boy oh boy oh boy. The opening band White Night played mid speed thrashers. The first couple songs hand the crowd second guessing White Night. I decided to stand in the empty pit and grab a few photos. That was my first mistake of the night. The children of the corn, as I like to call

OG’s, Toddlers and Whiskey for The Weirdos and Adolescents at The Observatory

Taylor Wong December 7, 2014

When I got to the Observatory in Santa Ana, the first things I saw were teenagers drinking whiskey from water bottles, old timers drunkenly fighting in the parking lot and babes with mohawks bouncing around. The scene has been set for one of the gnarliest punk shows I’ve seen in a long time. Last night, The Observatory had the ultimate punk line up, The Widows, Channel 3, The Stitches, The Weirdos, and The Adolescents. This was an all ages show, and when I say all ages I mean all ages. There were what i call, with all due respect, “old timers” with canes, blue hair, and driver caps as well as toddlers in patched up denim vests with mohawks. I was loving every moment of it. Out of all the shows I’ve been to, punk shows seem to be the most family oriented and friendly shows, ironically. The only time I almost got knocked out over the course of the show was when I was pulling a girl through the crowd to get up closer and forgot to say sorry to the dick head i accidentally bumped into. The first band up were The Widows. I’ve never heard of them