Category: FEATURES

Hardcore’s Enfant Terrible: Kickback at 1720

Rob Shepyer March 7, 2026

Dedicated to bringing Los Angeles the most exclusive, and sometimes most dangerous bands in all of hardcore; SOS Booking outdid themselves once again by bringing one of France’s most infamous bands, Kickback, to 1720 Warehouse on February 22, 2026 after their recent headlining performance at Hellfest West. As is tradition in the genre, an uproar followed but the genre I’m referring to isn’t hardcore. If you were to ask most people about the origins of punk, they might say The Ramones or the Sex Pistols, but those who know transgressive art is rooted in literature, know that punk’s origins are in France. Arthur Rimbaud’s literature and cultural persona were the original enfant terrible that inspired the Beats, who went on to inspire the punks and it is certainly present in the mouthpiece of the hardcore band, Kickback, There have been many French enfant terribles from Rimbaud, to Comte de Lautréamont, to modern day torchbearers of the artistic tradition like Gaspar Noé in cinema, Michel Houellebecq in literature, and Kickback’s Stephen Bessac in hardcore. *The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Janky Smooth” related:

Gorillaz Invade Los Angeles With An Arsenal of Media For New Album ‘The Mountain’

Rob Shepyer February 28, 2026

Gorillaz don’t just release new albums, they release new worlds. From Demon Days to their upcoming latest, The Mountain, each album has its own story, its own physics, its own ensemble cast, and in the case of The Mountain, its own spirituality. Blending eastern traditions and sounds from Hinduism to Islam into their traditional funky alternative sound, Gorillaz’s intention with The Mountain is to put their fans on a spirit quest. They brought this quest to The Hollywood Palladium for 2 nights on February 22 and February 23, 2026; but also through their current interactive exhibit House Of Kong at the Rolling Greens nursery, which we will cover in the second part in this article. related: Gorillaz, The Most Human Band at Youtube Theater Around the world and across time, mountains have always been significant as metaphorical obstacles meant to test believers and help them rediscover their true essence. In a time of much confusion, where the human soul is routinely compromised by what we consume, we are each called to climb our personal mountains and meditate on their peaks to find new meanings for the new world in its new age. As the world changes, so do the animated

Reunions You Never Expected-The Spirit Of Versailles at Teragram

Danny Ryan February 16, 2026

After over 20 years and against all odds; both The Spirit of Versailles and In Loving Memory played The Teragram Ballroom on February 8, 2026- These once obscure midwestern emo bands played to an audience that, ironically enough, consisted mostly of attendees that weren’t even born yet when both bands were active. All in attendance were witness to the live show birth of a cult resurgence. With how popular Midwestern Emotional Hardcore (Emo) and Screamo/Skramz have become in online music circles in recent years, it’s almost unfathomable to imagine just how niche the genre was up until not too long ago. Especially in the late 1990’s and early 00’s, history about these smaller scenes within emotional hardcore were not very well documented, and many of these bands have been lost to time or may not even be aware of their newfound success amongst younger generations finding their music later on. The Spirit of Versailles and In Loving Memory are two late 90’s bands that could not fit this description more accurately, with very little footage even existing of either band performing in their short-term original runs. Southern California promoter Your Renaissance specializes in the more emotional sides of the hardcore

Cavalera’s Elusive ‘Nailbomb’ Comes to 1720 For A Rare U.S. Performance

Danny Ryan February 12, 2026

While Nailbomb may be a heavy metal associated band due to vocalist Max Cavalera also being the original frontman of legendary Brazilian extreme metal band Sepultura, their unique signature blend of industrial, groove metal, and hardcore punk makes them an absolute anomaly in the genre; being equally as popular within industrial and hardcore punk circles as they are with the metalheads. Considering how widespread Nailbomb’s influence is across these different scenes, they couldn’t have picked a more appropriate lineup for their 1720 Warehouse performance on January 20, 2026; consisting of the Inland Empire’s biggest hardcore band Big Ass Truck I.E., the gruesome sounding death metal of San Fernando Valley’s Greenwitch, Arizona darkwave act Meldamor, and OC industrial punk group Purest Form. The selection of openers not only felt like a curation of artists that Nailbomb themselves are fond of, but a celebration of all of the different scenes that played a part in creating the band’s distinct sound. related: Cold As Life Play First SoCal Show – Death Or Glory at 1720 This was an exclusive one-off Los Angeles performance and only Nailbomb’s third US performance, which only made the night that much more unforgettable for anybody who was lucky enough

Black Flag At The Roxy and The Greg Ginn Predicament

Danny Baraz January 23, 2026

I was standing in front of The Roxy Theatre, waiting to see Black Flag. The date was January 16th, 2026. It was the first time I was going to see Greg Ginn on stage in an incarnation of this band. How does any self respecting punk at my age find himself in this situation? To be honest, I was more curious about the new kids in Black Flag than the lone remaining original member and founder. If it weren’t for them, I might not have been motivated enough to find myself there on time. But before I go any further or say anything else- Greg Ginn is the architect behind one of the most recognizable punk rock legacies in history-period. BUT… I have judged Greg Ginn harshly. There has got to be something really negative about his personality and demeanor to be standing alone in what is ultimately a standard bearing and iconic but shared legacy- and to have almost none of the members of one of the most claimed bands in punk rock standing together with him in life truly says something about character- and that’s just Black Flag. related: Jello Biafra Talks Politics, Music, and The Music

Cap'n Jazz at The Wiltern by Michelle Evans

Every Cap’n Jazz Song Is My Favorite- Live At The Wiltern

Michelle Evans December 10, 2025

On November 20th 2025, I saw Cap’n Jazz at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA and then immediately drove to Las Vegas. The familiar five hour, starlit drive through the glowing blue Mojave Desert served as a catalyst for my mind to wander and wonder…is time travel real? What the hell just happened at the Cap’n Jazz show? related: Emo Is Hot Mulligan at The Hollywood Palladium As Southern California was being drenched by a rare storm, a weird-ass but perfectly curated variety show was going down on Wilshire Blvd. The curiously stacked lineup looked like any one of the mixed CDs I would have made in high school. Some thoughtfully burned acid jazz courtesy of Digable Planets, an angsty AFI track, “The Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats. A perfect compilation. I would take a sharpie and scribble “Trix Mix” or something equally dumb on the white surface, but man would that tracklist hit hard on the bus ride to school. Here at The Wiltern, Cap’n Jazz invited four wildly eclectic supporting bands to the bill, as well as four different DJs buffering the sets. related: Ceremony Gets Their Flowers at Hollywood Palladium Anthony Family, a new project led

Melt Banana Rain Harsh Noise in Los Angeles at Teragram Ballroom

Janky Smooth Central Command November 27, 2025

Revisiting the vibrant streets of Los Angeles, California on November 13 on behalf of their “2025 SlinGShot Tour,” Melt Banana crusades across the west coast of the United States in celebration of their latest album, 3 + 5. 11 years of pure creative flow led to the birth of their ninth LP (3 + 5) in 2024, which channeled in raw elements including hardcore punk, noise rock, and experimental electro themes. Joining the duo on tour are Deaf Club and Dream_Mega – both honorable features that beautifully complemented the energy Yako and Agata curated on stage at the Teragram Ballroom. The initial chaotic rush left by the presence of the opening acts left the crowd hungry for more action. A lingering sense of exhilaration fills the venue as crowds of rabid fans flood the scene in classic punk-rock regalia. Overhanging strobe lights and the smell of rebellion energized every individual who dared to attend. Words by Max Molina Photos by Auburn Sky click to expand truncated photos related: Three One G Radiation – Deaf Club at The Echo As Yako and Agata aka Melt Banana made their way on stage, fans erupted in a flurry of excitement, laced with mosh

Janky Fresh Friday- Home Front $ Oneohtrix Point Never

Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases From Oneohtrix Point Never and Home Front

Danny Ryan November 21, 2025

Today’s new albums for Friday, November 7th, 2025, are two releases that may come from genres known for their simplicity, but both completely throw all preconceived notions about said genres out the window with how innovative and forward thinking each of these artists have consistently been throughout their careers. Oneohtrix Point Never almost needs no introduction in the conversation of avant-garde experimental music, being a trailblazer for Warp Records and arguably taking Aphex Twin’s place as King of IDM over the past few years. On the flipside, Home Front has been making waves in Oi punk since they first stepped on the scene with their ambitiously insane incorporations of new-wave, post-punk, and arena rock elements to the normally barebones genre. related: Janky Fresh Friday – New Releases from Orville Peck and FKA Twigs OPN’s album is a return to form in a lot of ways, shoving every element of his artistic identity in your face and sticking a flag in the sand of his place in experimental electronic music. Being a much newer artist, Home Front, is conversely finding their identity more and more with each release and creating their own brand of destroying genre-limiting boundaries. Both of these albums

Hong Kong Fuck You at 1720 by Taylor Wong

Powerviolence is Back: Nothing Less Mini Fest w/ Hong Kong F*ck You at 1720

Danny Ryan November 19, 2025

Most JankySmooth readers are likely familiar with the recent “hardcore renaissance” that music outlets have been raving about post-Covid with the rise of bands like Turnstile, Drain, Scowl, and Knocked Loose; but less talked about are the current revivals of punk subgenres that have not quite yet received the same level of media attention. LA’s underground is deeply familiar with the excitement surrounding the rising popularity in Oi, street punk, and more recently: powerviolence. During the 2010’s powerviolence and the incorporations of genres like noise and power-electronics were much more common than you see in the hardcore scene nowadays, but there is a rising scene of artists hoping to bring the avant-garde abrasive elements of anarcho-punk back to the forefront. related: Sound And Fury 2025 – Everybody Spinkick! Hong Kong Fuck You (HFKY for short) are among the leaders in blazing this trail, and their dedication to the art of noise is so unique in the modern landscape that LA’s staple promoter for the rare vinyl side of hardcore punk, Nothingless Booking, decided to host a mini-festival at 1720 Warehouse on November 7, 2025 around this concept. It was an absolutely stacked bill including Azusa’s powerviolence legends ACxDC, the recent

ADULT. at Substance 2025 by Chris Molina

Substance Festival 2025: The Post Pandemic/Post Punk Era

Danny Baraz November 14, 2025

Substance Festival in Los Angeles has become a right of passage in this city and this past November 7th and 8th we attended the 2025 installment in the festival’s return to the Belasco Theater. Approaching this Substance Fest review with any overt enthusiasm would be antithetical to the spirit of the way we revel in the morose nature of this art- the oddly mesmerizing decay of destruction/creation approached with a somewhat detached dreariness that is direct in it’s aloofness. But also… the fucking horrific beauty of it all… or whatever. related: Cloak And Dagger Fest- The Heart Of Los Angeles Bled From Dusk To Dawn Even with the orbits and cycles of pop culture and music circling back to black lipstick among the masses, the mainstream attention can cause a scene to go into lockdown and it’s members more discerning on where they spend their show dollars. So for Substance Festival, it was important to pull in the beating heart of the scene at the increased ticket price. related: Sextile At The Novo- The Most Important Band in Los Angeles? A touch for curation in the dark arts is what scene loyalists look for most and their return to the

Insane Clown Posse at House of Blues Anaheim by Chris Mounts

Juggalo Halloween Party: Insane Clown Posse at House Of Blues Anaheim

Danny Ryan October 28, 2025

Insane Clown Posse was not a band I ever expected to see in my lifetime, especially if you would have asked me in my younger years. Between their goofy carnival-sounding production, overly edgy lyrics and imagery, trailer trash fanbase, their beef with Eminem; the list of reasons not to like them upon first impression is endless. As time goes on and Juggalos get older however; the perception of Insane Clown Posse has changed drastically over the years with Vice’s documentary about their Gathering Of The Juggalos festival, their collaborations with Danny Brown and more recently Jelly Roll, and their song Miracles becoming a viral sensation upon its release. ICP are the black sheep of music as a whole, and the world has mostly decided that we were a bit too hard on them over the years. related: OC Did It All For The Nookie: Musink Tattoo Convention And Music Fest 2019 I decided I wasn’t doing my due diligence as a music journalist if I had never experienced them live, and being as they never visit Southern California; this was one of the few chances I had. House Of Blues Anaheim made the ridiculously insane decision to book them right

Category: FEATURES

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