When stripped down to a bare-bones venue and sans eclectic wardrobe, the Model/Actriz live show experience at The Smell on Oct 20th 2026 still held enough gravity to force every single body into orbit around the performance.
While selling out the shoebox venue was never a challenge for Model/Actriz , the last true DIY venue in Los Angeles serves as a petri dish in which the impact of a performance of this caliber can still bloom as it did when they played this room 10 years ago.
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After a decade playing together, 2026 has been a generational run for the band. They’ve even breached the membrane between the underground and mainstream music scenes by securing a coveted slot on the Coachella lineup, collaborating with Miley Cyrus on a track for her new album as well as opening for her Hollywood Bowl show earlier in the week. Admittedly my own (probably incorrect) perception of Ms. Cyrus’ fanbase is one that wouldn’t appreciate the Model/Actriz abrasive noise rock style but respect the invitation extended to a band she can appreciate, despite their stylistic differences. Commendable is the ability to diverge from the style most palatable to one’s fanbase as is the ability to get up on a stage and radiate your essence in front of a crowd that did not come to see you specifically and if anyone has insight on how Model/actriz was perceived as an opener for this performance, I’d be keen to hear all about the response.
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It speaks volumes that a band in town for a performance of that caliber would lend their talent to support a cause deeply important to the city they are visiting. The evening’s show is a fundraiser for the Free Them All Now Fund to provide commissary, bail funds and financial support for legal efforts to those detained in ICE detention facilities. While the threat posed by ICE is prevalent across the country, the stark opposition in the face of fascism is central to the Los Angeles identity and to say we appreciate the support from a visiting artist with a rapidly expanding influence would be an understatement. Collaborative support for mutual aid in an emergency situation is exemplary of what makes music such a powerful weapon of resistance.
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There isn’t much by way of scalable infrastructure inside The Smell and on this particular evening, a busted water main left about an inch of water on part of the concrete floor of the venue. Undeterred, Cole enlisted the crowd in holding the microphone cord far up off the floor, often the only indicator of his location on this evening as he weaved between people moving along to the music in the darkened venue.
Famously inspired by the musical CATS, frontman Cole Hayden’s delivery is often accented by climbing on any available structure and performing largely from the pit as he interacts with his audience in unexpected ways bordering on performance art.
The wardrobe selections we’ve seen throughout a litany of Cole’s performances is notably absent this evening and while a bit of sparkle is always going to enhance the experience for me, tonight I’m glad he’s opted for his original uniform- shorts and a t-shirt.
The venue is hot and sweaty, increasingly so as the high-energy performance merits an equally high-energy response in movement from the crowd. Hayden doesn’t demand participation from those he singles out to connect with seemingly at random. It’s always been interesting to see how each audience member chooses to engage in the interaction. Some stand motionless and maintain eye contact, some match the chaotic energy but rarely does anyone shy away from the encounter.
It’s hard to tell who comes expecting this sort of interactive performance and who is surprised to see it but Model/Actriz doesn’t command you to move, you’ll feel inclined to in a way that defies explanation. There were only a few protestors who tried to remain standing once Cole insisted that everyone get down on the ground and likely the apprehension stemmed from the aforementioned inch of standing water on the floor but the orchestrated response eventually swayed the outliers into compliance.
Despite enjoying a much-deserved taste of mainstream recognition, offering support to causes and willingly stepping off a major amphitheater stage into a community-run venue demonstrates both appreciation for the fans that have carried Model/actriz to the level of success they are enjoying as well as profound recognition that art is inherently political. Always a boundary-pushing act, seeing the core elements of musicality and engaging performance sans pageantry lend cadence to the well-deserved reputation for substance and artistry inherently linked to the band’s reputation. Sitting my ass on the floor in an inch of water is the modern-day equivalent to bowing deeply in the presence of a revered figure; it’s the least I can do to express my gratitude and appreciation for Model/actriz, the fundraising directive and the venue for extending the opportunity for this collaborative effort to provide relief in an unsettling time.
Words: Aria Silva-Espinosa
Photos: Joshua E.J. Perez
