Tag: featured
Take This: Win Two Tickets to Joey Bada$$ at the Novo
Janky Smooth Central Command
July 22, 2022
Joey Bada$$ is a hip hop name synonymous with bars and true underground spirit. His talent and purity are recognized throughout every scene of music and here at Jankysmooth, we’ve always sang his praises as a must-watch artist no matter what trends appear in the culture. His upcoming show at the Novo ain’t just another regular appearance though, he’s celebrating the 10 year anniversary of his album “1999”. We’re giving away two tickets to his show on 7/28 and you best believe this one is going to be fire. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE or ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO JOEY BADA$$ JULY 28TH AT THE NOVO Step 1- Join Our Newsletter (look for pop up every time you arrive at jankysmooth.com) Step 2 – Tag a Friend in the comment section of our INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK JOEY BADA$$ Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON JULY 25TH AT 1PM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Porno For Pyros at Belasco- A Time Capsule of Sound and Cultural Concepts
Danny Baraz
July 20, 2022
When I saw Porno for Pyros pop up on a concert calendar for the Belasco on July 7th, my heart skipped a beat. Not quite as prolific or ingrained in the American pop culture psyche as Janes Addiction, this pure, West Side of L.A. band and their iconic first album came out when I was 17 years old and offered something different but just as sacred to me as Nothing’s Shocking- and I had yet to see them live. Perry Farrel, Peter Distefano, Stephen Perkins and Martyn LeNoble created a unique, percussive, groove oriented and angsty soundtrack from a band in a decade that didn’t exactly fly under the radar but certainly not given their proper due in a decade filled with legends. related: Heaven on Earth: Perry Farrel’s Kind Heaven Orchestra at Teragram Ballroom So how has the world changed since 1993 and subsequently, the narrative in the concepts of their songs. Porno For Pyros offered commentary on gender roles, depression, humanity, the female orgasm, war, politics and cultural divide- all topics that are timeless but many that have been defined and redefined since the beginning of time. In the vast legacy that is still being built by Perry
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Photo Recap: Swamp Dogg at Teragram Ballroom
Janky Smooth Central Command
July 19, 2022
For longer than most have been alive, Swamp Dogg has been an underground music hero. He’s outlived musical fads and seen the landscape of culture change, experimenting with music all the while but still remaining the same old Swamp Dogg. He’s played everything from blues, to funk, to R & B, even hints of disco, because the story of Swamp Dogg is the story of American music. To celebrate this legend’s 80th birthday, he performed a career spanning set that touched decades of releases at the Teragram Ballroom in an epic and unforgettable performance for all those in attendance. We sent a photographer out to the show to capture the magic and memories so that they may never be forgotten. Photos by: Todd Anderson Swamp Dogg
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Take This: Win Two Tickets to Wheeler Walker Jr. at The Fonda
Janky Smooth Central Command
July 19, 2022
Wheeler Walker Jr. is the most badass outlaw of modern country music. No other artist dares tread in the same lyrical waters. Everyone is too afraid to get cancelled to platform ol’ Wheeler Walker, not Jankysmooth though. We are giving away two tickets to this shit show. Fuck it. To enter follow us and tag a friend in the comments. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE or ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO WHEELER WALKER JR. JULY 26TH AT THE FONDA Step 1- Join Our Newsletter (look for pop up every time you arrive at jankysmooth.com) Step 2 – Tag a Friend in the comment section of our INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK WHEELER WALKER JR. Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON JULY 25TH AT 1PM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Take This: Win Two Tickets to The Zombies at the Fonda
Janky Smooth Central Command
July 18, 2022
It’s the time, of the season. Los Angeles is a psyche rock city, we love to trip into other dimensions and back in time. One of the places we love to go is the era of bands like The Zombies that inspired the entire genre of music we adore. We’re giving away two tickets to the show, enter to finally find out Who’s Your Daddy? YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE or ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO THE ZOMBIES JULY 23RD AT THE FONDA Step 1- Join Our Newsletter (look for pop up every time you arrive at jankysmooth.com) Step 2 – Tag a Friend in the comment section of our INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK THE ZOMBIES Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON JULY 22ND AT 1PM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Photo Recap: Inner Wave at the Lodge Room
Janky Smooth Central Command
July 17, 2022
Inner Wave returned to what seems to be their favorite venue to perform in LA at, The Lodge Room, for an epic evening of crowd favorites and new tunes. With a big spot on the Desert Daze lineup and shows that sell out left and right in Los Angeles, Inner Wave is quickly becoming one of, if not the most popular and thrilling indie rock band in all the scene. Joining them was Junior Mesa, a young artist with just as much pop punch as psych groove, giving his take on rock and roll an undeniable magnetism. Inner Wave Junior Mesa
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Photo Recap: Skullcrusher at Moroccan Lounge
Rob Shepyer
July 17, 2022
Skullcrusher is the most soul stirring modern troubadour of all the current folk artists of today. Using minimal electronics to create a tranquilizing and transportive atmosphere, she fills her canvas of sound with vulnerable notes and lyrics that command such power while sounding so soft and quiet and fragile. She’s an artist that has achieved impossible balances, strength through weakness, openness and mystery, all wrapped into one beautiful, folk package. Aided by Mal on electronic guitar, Skullcrusher’s rare and intimate Moroccan Lounge show was a must-see for any fan of the artist, or general music-head in the know like myself. Having played the Lodge Room last time she was in Los Angeles, performing at the Moroccan Lounge next meant this was going to be a more closely knit show than the usual. And that’s how the audience was, all very close together with our eyes all paying attention to one figure, trying not to make any small sounds that could disrupt the holy moment in which Skullcrusher was performing. We were like moths to the flame and her fire glowed so brightly but refused to rage, instead it was a dancing, light, somber and sweet to the eyes and ears.
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Whole Crew in the House: The Game at the Novo
Danny Ryan
July 16, 2022
Words by: Danny Ryan Photos by: Manuel Arredondo The standards for what makes a hip-hop artist a GOAT amongst fans have shifted dramatically in recent years, as newer rappers bring more eccentric personalities and more diverse influences of sound into the genre than what was seen in its earlier history. As hip-hop evolves through this experimentation, the common debate of which rappers are considered the greatest has widened profoundly from the days of “2Pac vs Biggie” arguments. This is a natural progression, as many younger hip-hop heads grew up listening to more artists from the early 00’s than the artists worshiped throughout the Golden Age of Hip-Hop. Even as these standards change, most younger hip-hop fans have a deep appreciation for the roots of the genre and understand the importance of earlier scenes within it. Nobody has more respect for these ranges in hip-hop’s history than The Game, and his dedication to the genre could not have been more apparent than in his heartfelt tributes to the legends of every era of hip-hop that the audience experienced during his recent “Drillmatic” record release at the Novo Theater. related content: Lyrical Assassin: Pusha T’s “It’s Almost Dry Tour” Hits the Novo
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A Sacred Sound Bath With William Basinski at Ambient Church
Audrey Kemp
July 16, 2022
How affecting sounds and environments can be on our souls. The events that transpired at Ambient Church last Saturday concocted neo-chamber music that could provoke a transcendent experience in even the most spiritually bereft. Ambient Church, a self-proclaimed “nomadic experiential event series,” has worked with artists to create audio-visual experiences in unique locations since 2016. June 9’s sold-out show was held at the First Congregational Church in Koreatown, a Gothic cathedral that was erected in 1932. The opening act was 25-year-old vocalist-songwriter Zsela, who in 2020 released her debut EP Ache of Victory. The leading act was one of the most renowned experimental artists of the latter 20th century: William Basinski. related content: Full Moon on a Friday the 13th: Cold Waves L.A. Showcase at The Regent The first performer to enter the cathedral was not Zsela but her musical companion Daniel Aged – a session musician who has previously worked with Beck, Elton John and Frank Ocean. Immediately, Aged removed his combat boots so he could play the baby grand piano, guitar and pedal board before him with the utmost concentration. He began creating jangly loops with his guitar that had echoes of ‘80s greats, The Durutti Column. Within
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Glorious Leader, Kim John Kill: Mosswood Meltdown 2022
Rob Shepyer
July 13, 2022
Warning: This article contains humor. A lost art among some, yet one cherished till the grave by this writer and self-professed fool. Jokes, gags and gut-busters bring us closer to some elusive human truth, even in the case of fart jokes. No one is safe, but you can subscribe to certain ideologies that will vaccinate you from this humor and gain you entry to the “no punks allowed” club. If you’re wondering what the name of this article is all about, it’s a merging of all three queens of Mosswood Meltdown into one radioactive mutant. I created this title after realizing the original title was not going to fly in 2022, if this was 2002 though and Jason Biggs was headlining, you better believe I would’ve went with my first choice. “Kim John Kill” does not by any means a suggest any relation between Bay Area punks and communists like Kim Jong Il, though I’m sure he’d do well if he was booked at Eli’s. I was so thrilled to be back at Mosswood Park. To me, this festival is more than just a gathering of bands and rad fellows. This is an annual tradition that brings me closer to
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Take This: Win Two Tickets to Desert Daze 2022
Janky Smooth Central Command
July 13, 2022
For its monumental 10 year anniversary, Desert Daze is pulling out all the stops with what some believe is their greatest lineup ever. The iconic Lake Perris festival definitely has some previous years that are contenders for the top of best ever but for 2022, Tame Impala, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Iggy Pop, Sky Ferreira, and so many more are gonna prove a challenge to beat. So, throw your hat into the battle royale for our giveaway for a pair of general admission tickets to see for yourself if this will be the greatest Desert Daze in all the festival’s history. If you ask us, we’re more stoked than you can imagine to give you that sweet, sweet coverage of the show. related content: Desert Daze 2016- Quantifying the Physics of a Good Time Tame Impala performing Lonerism in its entirety is an especially unique twist on this year’s lineup, seeing him reverse course from his biggest, most stadium-friendly releases to his true roots as a psychedelic king. Iggy Pop performed Desert Daze in 2017 back when he would regularly play festivals for his Post Pop Depression album, this time though, we should expect the rowdiest Iggy we
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Robots Need Music Too: Kraftwerk 3D at the Shrine Auditorium
Rob Shepyer
July 12, 2022
Kraftwerk are a legendary band and it’s not until you see them perform that you truly comprehend the impact they’ve had on every genre, from hip hop samples to electronic music, these strange German art rockers created sounds that were essential to the world’s musical fabric. At first, I wanted to go to this show just to enjoy the sheer spectacle of it. Kraftwerk 3D, or any 3D show, must be a mind-expanding experience, I surmised. Then, very quickly, my understanding of the band deepened much further than I expected. These guys are artists in the highest regard in the sense that this robot rock is a veil for heavy political and social commentary. The song Computer World for instance features the lyrics: Interpol and Deautsche Bank, FBI and Scotland Yard CIA and KGB and total data and memory This song isn’t so much minimalist poetry but the suggestion these forces collaborate and misuse your personal data. People are rather ambivalent to the impact data mining and control have over their lives but as society draws closer to what can really be considered a “computer world”, it’s control of data that will sculpt your user experience simply living in reality.
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