Tag: featured

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

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

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

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.

Photo Recap: Fleet Foxes at Santa Barbara Bowl

Janky Smooth Central Command July 11, 2022

Legendary band of modern-day troubadours, Fleet Foxes, toured through Santa Barbara to play the SB Bowl with support from Tim Bernardes and played the classics as well as fresh tunes off their grammy nominated album, Shores. The voices of all Santa Barbara came together to sing with Robin Pecknold, culminating in their final song, the epic Helplessness Blues, who’s lyrics feel more poignant now than ever. This concert was the perfect proof of the healing powers of music and community and we’ve got the photos to show it from that memorable night. Fleet Foxes

The Calm Before the Shit Storm: S.H.I.T. at Zebulon

Danny Ryan July 11, 2022

Words by: Danny Ryan Photos by: Albert Licano With the constant shifts of trends and sounds that have taken place in punk rock music throughout the years, shows nowadays can often feel as though the genre has been restructured so drastically that the roots of it are hard to find. With the current emphasis on the structured breakdowns in hardcore punk and the genre-bending influences found in emo and pop-punk, it’s a breath of fresh air to come across an artist that simply plays their music as fast and chaotic as possible. S.H.I.T.’s recent show at Zebulon with The Passing and Abuso De Poder was a stacked lineup that moved at lightning speed, epitomizing this classic formula of rapid instrumentals mixed with noisey feedback and the snarling character that punk rock was founded on. While recent evolutions of the genre have brought the scene to a larger audience, S.H.I.T. is a band with deep appreciation for the origins of punk rock and they aim to re-create the disorderly energy that the genre was known for. The most impressive aspect of S.H.I.T. is their ability to evoke this feeling of early punk scenes without emulating the past in a nostalgic way

Preview: Fleet Foxes at Santa Barbara Bowl

Janky Smooth Central Command July 7, 2022

On Saturday, one of modern folk’s most beautiful bands, Fleet Foxes is coming to the Santa Barbara Bowl to perform classics as well as songs off their soul-stirring and critically acclaimed fourth studio album Shore. Released on Anti- in 2020 and nominated for a Grammy in the Best Alternative Music Album category, this is the second time they’ve been up for Grammy gold since Helplessness Blues in 2012. Everybody loves Helplessness Blues, I for one might cry upon hearing those songs, and Shore is able to hit the same sort of beautiful peaks. You can find Shore in the top 5 of a few 2020 year-end lists like those published by Uncut, 6Music, Mojo, and Uproxx. Then on lists by The New Yorker, NPR, Pitchfork, USA Today, Stereogum, and Rolling Stone, as well. This tour marks Fleet Foxes’ return to shows since 2018. The live show will feature Robin Pecknold joined by Skyler Skjelset, Casey Wescott, Christian Wargo, and Morgan Henderson. December 2021 saw the digital release of A Very Lonely Solstice, a 13-track collection with limited edition colored vinyl & CD slated to ship in Spring of this year. On November 22, 2022, Fleet Foxes will release Wading in Waist-High Water: The

Take This: Win Two Tickets to Scarface at the Novo

Janky Smooth Central Command July 7, 2022

One of the legendary Geto Boys and an untouchable MC in his own right, Houston’s Scarface is embarking on his final tour. Covid might’ve changed the game but you cannot stop this playa from doing what he does best. Expect the best bars from the greatest rapper. We’re giving away two tickets to see Scarface at the Novo. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS‍ HERE or ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO SCARFACE JULY 9TH 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 SCARFACE Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON JULY 8TH AT 1PM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION

Take This: Win Two Tickets to Failure at the Regent

Janky Smooth Central Command July 7, 2022

Alternative rock from outer space, one of the most influential bands of many of your favorite heavy rockers. Failure tripped out everyone in the 90’s and they’re still playing so long as humans look up at the night sky with wonder and are filled with infinite questions. For within this sound, are the answers. We’re giving away two tickets to their show at the Regent and we can’t wait to take a one way ship. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS‍ HERE or ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO FAILURE JULY 8TH AT THE REGENT 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 FAILURE Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON JULY 7TH AT 1PM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION

Daddy’s Day: Tom of Finland Celebrated 29 Years of TOM’s Bar w/Orville Peck and Mareux

Janky Smooth Central Command July 2, 2022

Let’s be honest, most of the time, Father’s Day is one of the worst holidays. Father’s usually don’t get the respect they deserve on that day, let alone the rest of the year. Daddy’s however, require that respect and usually get it. This year, Father’s Day hit its peak with a celebration by The Tom of Finland Foundation commemorating 29 years of TOM’s Bar at Avalon with rare performances by Orville Peck and Mareux. We sent our manliest Daddy on the camera, Taylor Wong out to capture all the decadent festivities. Photos by: Taylor Wong Orville Peck Tom’s Club

Witch’s Brew: We Intend To Cause Havoc at Brouwerij West

Rob Shepyer July 1, 2022

When the right band comes to play Brouwerij West, there is absolutely no question whether i’ll be attending or not, it’s a definite yes. The drive through beautiful San Pedro is only the first of many gifts one is given upon venturing to this sacred brewery. The beer is the second, with an incredible selection of in-house brews from my favorite, the blackberry saison, to all sorts of unfiltered hoppy IPAs to gorgeous and rich pilsners and alcoholic slushees that can’t be touched. More than any other brewery in Southern California, Brouwerij West is the destination for art, youth, music, and beer all in one. Their Pop Fuji music series always has a few treasures on the lineup, like the one year Sleep performed an unforgettable set, even summoning a guy in full astronaut costume to crowd surf. Shows at this place are one of the most hidden gems in all underground music in Los Angeles. related content: Silver Lake Perris: Desert Daze 2019 WITCH (We Intend to Cause Havoc) are one of those must-see bands that came through Brouwerij West, since I missed their performance at Huichica, a winery based festival, I thought seeing them at a brewery was

Photo Recap: Bright Eyes at SOMA San Diego

Janky Smooth Central Command June 29, 2022

Our day of celebrating the music of Bright Eyes and Conor Oberst continues with this wonderful photo recap of their show at SOMA San Diego. Photos by: Rebecca DiGiglio Bright Eyes