Tag: featured
The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Fire Doesn’t Grow on Trees Tour Rolls up to the Wiltern
Janky Smooth Central Command
April 21, 2022
One of the world’s most iconic modern psychedelic rock bands, The Brian Jonestown Massacre are returning to Los Angeles for a tour stop at the Wiltern meant to melt their audience only after they’re tripping too hard to stop it from happening. That’s right, Anton Newcombe and his wild bunch are bringing retro psychedelia back with a vengeance. Having released two new singles, “The Real” and “Where Do We Go From Here?” earlier this year off their upcoming album titled Fire Doesn’t Grow on Trees, the band is geared up and ready to deliver all the best elements of BJM from hazy grooves, explosive rhythms, walls of sound, face melting fuzz, and drone for daze. With support from Mercury Rev, Friday night at the Wiltern is set to bring the LA psyche community out in droves and leave them totally wasted but happy.
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Analysis of a Slavic Heart: Molchat Doma at the Roxy
Rob Shepyer
April 21, 2022
It is my personal mission to spread the creed of Molchat Doma far and wide across the So-Cal internet airwaves. I feel so compelled because like me, these three men are of Slavic descent, them from Belarus and myself, the child of Russian-Ukrainian immigrants. More than that though, my father was a Ukrainian musician that immigrated to America, hoping to make it in the music industry. He never accomplished this dream but Molchat Doma’s success is a vicarious victory. If they can break out through the (former) iron curtain and into the international mainstream to play Coachella then it’s almost like they fulfilled my father’s dream and so, I will do whatever I can to uplift these three dreamers. related content: Super Saiyan Sasami At The Teragram Ballroom My background doesn’t just make me empathize with and root for this band, it helps me understand them. I understand what elements make a Slavic heart and the textures of Slavic emotion. Much of this is hard to put into words but for the length of this article, I will do my best. Eastern Europeans feel melodrama in a way Americans simply don’t, at least not on the surface. We might be
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Your Baroness’ Majesty: Baroness at The Echo
Dillon Vaughn
April 20, 2022
John Baizley and co. rolled through Echo Park recently for “An Evening with Baroness.” Pitched as a special “by request” tour, the Your Baroness run has given fans in each city the opportunity to vote and select ten songs from the band’s rich catalogue to form the first half of the extended setlist each night. related content: Hell or High Roller: Psycho Las Vegas 2021 John’s work as an illustrator has always given an interesting picture of how his brain perceives the world around him. The Appalachian roars of Baroness’ earlier days served as the defining framework of the “Savannah Sound” – something nearly inseparable from John’s contemporary art-nuveau cover art. Those lush depictions of flora and fauna drifting weightlessly across countless LP covers have seeped into the music more and more over the years as the songs themselves have become increasingly melodic, anthemic, and dare I say uplifting. On stage these days it’s clear Baizley and his bandmates take great pride and meaning in their music as they play every note with a balance of grace and heaviness. Their strength definitely lies in their range: skillful restraint as they perform sleeper tracks like “Cocainium” and “Little Things” versus palpable
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Take This: Win Two Tickets to Parquet Courts at the Wiltern
Janky Smooth Central Command
April 20, 2022
One of modern alternative’s most iconic and influential bands is back with t their first big LA show in years at the Wiltern. We’re talking about the boys in Parquet Courts, who put one of their best albums this year with Plant Life. We’re giving away two tickets to the show, so wake up and enter! YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE or ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO PARQUET COURTS APRIL 28TH AT THE WILTERN 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 PARQUET COURTS Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON APRIL 27TH AT 1PM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Super Saiyan Sasami at the Teragram Ballroom
Rob Shepyer
April 19, 2022
Those who attended Desert Daze’s legendary 2019 installment will never forget Sasami‘s set. It was sweet, tender and psychedelic. Sprinkled with her signature screeches, the band separated themselves into a different league than the rest of the lineup. It was clear to me that Sasami Ashworth was willing to take risks the rest of the LA indie scenesters weren’t dabbling with. That was in a different world though, now, after so much global turmoil, Sasami has evolved into a different artist altogether. Her latest album, Squeeze, has heavy metal, industrial and hardcore moments that are so potent, that instead of being the outlier of the LA indie scene, the scene changes to the music. The Nagas serpent woman that adorns the cover represents Sasami’s anime-esque character arc where a hero or villain needs to show their true form to stand a chance in battle. Slithering, coiling, and constricting with four arms on each side of her serpentine tail, Sasami reminds me of the light version of Naruto’s Orochimaru mixed with a bit of Takashi Miike cinema. related content: Silver Lake Perris: Desert Daze 2019 The concert in question at the Teragram Ballroom was the last stop on Sasami’s tour. This
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How to Wage Class Warfare: D.O.A. at the Roxy
Rob Shepyer
April 17, 2022
“Listen to your elders”, though punk rock is eternally young, the timeless adage applies to this rebel art form. Since D.O.A.‘s groundbreaking 2nd album, Hardcore ’81, the genre they helped create has gone through many evolutions and branching-offs until it doesn’t quite resemble its original sonic or thematic mold. Hardcore doesn’t need to change their sounds, but it wouldn’t hurt to listen to Godfather punk bands like D.O.A. more, not just to be inspired by that original, tested and proven sound, but to relearn what the true ethos and political/existential stance punk is supposed to stand for. related content: Sacred Vibration: Guided By Voices At Teragram The moment D.O.A. broke into “Class War”, off the band’s third album, War on 45, introducing the song by saying “the only war worth fighting is a class war” I knew all bets were off. D.O.A. and bands from their era never failed to mince words, opting to make songs with straight forward messaging, striking metaphor, ruthless aggression and artistic bravery that also get the party and pit going full speed. Hardcore these days is much more interested in brutality. There’s nothing wrong with that but in times like these when we can’t quite
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Dungeon Demon: Hulder at Don Quixote
Rob Shepyer
April 16, 2022
Black metal is like black caviar, a rare and special treat not to be consumed everyday for every meal but on those much needed occasions when you need to feel truly alive. Grizzly, noisy, hazy, and atmospheric are the usual descriptors the mind shuffles through trying to synthesize the experience of listening to this purely underground genre. However, when seeing Hulder live, my mind was more consumed with the thought of power, in awe of how much she was able to harness when performing on stage. It’s not just in her demonic vocals or the way she wields a black guitar, or even a sword for that matter, it’s the entirety of her presence. You sense that this person has integrated the genre so deeply into their core, that they’ve become an actual warrior. As if there’s some kind of medieval mitochondria the black metal injected into her cells to give her the fortitude to be Hulder. related content: Satyricon’s Final Los Angeles Show At The Regent: A Night Too Blackened To Forget Women in black metal isn’t common. It’s not unheard of but it’s certainly not the reason Hulder is special. Hulder is special because she commands an audience,
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Take This: Win Two Tickets to Drug Church at the Lodge Room
Janky Smooth Central Command
April 14, 2022
Hardcore meets alternative meets pop punk meets boy meets girl meets Lodge Room and everybody falls in love as Drug Church returns to LA with an axe to grind on a mission from God. We’re giving away two tickets to the show. Here’s what you gotta do…. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE or ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO DRUG CHURCH APRIL 16TH AT THE LODGE ROOM 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 DRUG CHURCH Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON APRIL 15TH AT 1PM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Hardcore Disco: HEALTH at 1720
Danny Ryan
April 13, 2022
Words by: Danny Ryan Photos by: Manuel Arredondo Health’s record release show at 1720 Warehouse was an excellent demonstration of their ability to incorporate the widest-array of contrasting sounds and emotions into their artistic vision. Their dedication to breaking ground in the incorporation of these genres was on full display, from the diversity of the crowd to the band’s ambitious blend of industrial, noise, goth, synth, metal, hardcore punk and shoegaze influences blasting throughout the venue. With their new album “Disco4: Pt. 2” comprising of different guest features on every track, Health proves that their signature style can collaborate with any artist without straying away from sounding like themselves. This show was an ideal celebration for the release of this new album. Even with most of the set being comprised of their solo works, Health is presenting their fusion of these genres in a powerful manner. Health always distinctively sounds like Health, no matter which artists they are featuring or taking influence from. From an outsider’s perspective, it would have been very difficult to discern which genre of music they would be seeing that night. Mesh tops and leather outfits evoking industrial style could be seen throughout the venue, as
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Take This: Win Two Tickets to THICK at the Echo
Janky Smooth Central Command
April 13, 2022
Real recognizes real here at Jankysmooth and Brooklyn pop punk band, THICK are real and ready to make big waves. These gals are only starting to take over and we want you in on the scoop before they blow up. That’s why we’re giving away two tickets to their upcoming show at the Echo. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE or ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO THICK APRIL 15TH AT THE ECHO 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 THICK Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON APRIL 14TH AT 1PM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Take This: Win Two Tickets to Ho99o9 at the Echoplex
Rob Shepyer
April 12, 2022
Our favorite dynamic duo are back in Los Angeles to kick your ass and play songs off their latest album SKIN. Ho99o9 never disappoints and neither do we. We’re giving away two ticket to see them at the Echoplex for y’all to fight over. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE or ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO HO99O9 APRIL 15TH AT THE ECHOPLEX 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 HO99O9 Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON APRIL 14TH AT 1PM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Take This: Win Two Tickets to Sasami at Teragram
Rob Shepyer
April 11, 2022
Sasami has always been a darling of the indie and psych scenes but with her most recent album, Squeeze, we expect the metal kids to start digging her too. We’re giving away two tickets to her upcoming Teragram show and can’t wait to see you there. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE or ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO SASAMI APRIL 13TH AT THE TERAGRAM BALLROOM 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 SASAMI Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON APRIL 12TH AT 1PM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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