Tag: featured
Power Chords and Heart Break: Mike Krol at the Bootleg Theatre
Todd Anderson
February 26, 2019
Mike Krol is never dead… but that’s a different story. His Bootleg theatre show was the second show of his tour promoting his newest album Power Chords (Merge Records 2019). He cranked out his own brand of fuzzy melodic power pop to a packed house in Los Angeles with the crowd singing along as he belted out his own special blend of garage influenced pop punk melodies bleeding out with the charming intoxication of the obsessively heartbroken. Power Chords is technically the fifth album from this Milwaukee born musician/(sometimes) graphic designer if you want to count the compilation of his first two recordings called Mike Krol is never dead on merge records 2017. He has consistently pumping out the heart break since 2011. Words and Photos by: Todd Anderson
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Take This: Win 2 Tickets to Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft/DAF at the Regent
Janky Smooth Central Command
February 26, 2019
Legends of German industrial music DAF were supposed to play this year’s Cloak and Dagger festival but had to reschedule due to visa issues. Having bested Trump’s foreign policy goons that act as a road block to any band with dangerous music, they have set a date in stone and that’s coming up real soon. We are so stoked to be giving away two pairs of tickets to this once in a lifetime show, the first time this band has ever played in America. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO DAF MARCH 9TH AT THE REGNT 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 Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook DAF Posts WINNER WILL BE WILL BE SELECTED ON MONDAY MARCH 4TH AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Photo Recap: Viza at the Roxy
Janky Smooth Central Command
February 25, 2019
Hometown heroes, Viza, headlined the Roxy for a beautiful and mesmerizing rock show. The band incorporates Greek and Armenian styles of music into their rock and roll and this unique approach garnered them the attention of fellow Armenian icons System of a Down. As you can see by their performance, not only does the band play with passion but they bust out traditional instruments to incorporate the old world into this new rock. Viza is music to make you dance, think, and head bang to. You will certainly be hearing more of them in 2019 as 2018 saw them releasing two EPs, The Unorthodox Revival I and II. Photos by: Travis Prow
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Take This: Win 2 Tickets to Scars on Broadway at the Observatory OC
Janky Smooth Central Command
February 25, 2019
Daron Malakian is a genius. Whatever the artistic endeavor, you know it’s going to be crazy, unique, twisted, and mind-blowing. That certainly goes for System of a Down, but his other band, Scars on Broadway delivers just as regularly. The band performs once every blue moon so this is a treat for anyone in the Orange County area. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO SCARS ON BROADWAY MARCH 7TH AT THE OBSERVATORY OC 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 Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook Scars on Broadway Posts WINNER WILL BE WILL BE SELECTED ON FRIDAY MARCH 1ST AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Smokin’ in the Rain: One Love Cali Reggae Fest at the Queen Mary
Maggie St. Thomas
February 24, 2019
Words and Photos by: Maggie St. Thomas The fourth year since its inception, One Love Cali Reggae festival is held annually at the historic Queen Mary of Long Beach. Boasting its luscious landscape of the city skyline with a view of palm trees, the Queen creates the perfectly chill atmosphere and vibe rain or shine – and we had plenty of both. This reggae fest was a treat being so close to home with powerful headliners featured throughout the weekend on two stages including legends and power hitters in the reggae circuit including artists likeRebelution, Slightly Stoopid, Stick Figure, and Yellowman. related content: Make America Green Again: The Great American Smoke Out Parking was surprisingly painless and easy, and the shuttles to and from the festival were quick. Vendors were plenty, including an Organic Truck with their fried avocado and vegan dishes, a Swisher Sweet booth, and MMJ dispensaries including Long Beach’s local One Love. LBPD was definitely present, but everyone seemed to be having fun and their presence didn’t prevent the crowd from responding to the positive energy, music, and ganja love. Iya Terra performed on the SMKFLWR stage on Friday, they ordered the audience “Let me hear you scream as loud
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Our Funny Valentine: Oliver Tree at the Roxy
Aria Silva-Espinosa
February 24, 2019
Written by: Aria Silva-Espinosa and Harley Moeler Photos by: Marissa Torres We’ve been waiting for Valentine’s Day for months solely because Oliver Tree would be playing at The Roxy. After announcing the Ugly Is Beautiful U.S. tour in early December 2018, I had already named him as one of my artists to watch in 2019, knowing god damn well the kid would deliver. We saw him turn all the way up at Music Tastes Good in Long Beach last year, despite flying back from Ukraine the same day. Oliver Tree was filming the video from his latest single ‘Hurt’, featuring a series of oversized outfits and morbid scenarios. related content: Food For The Soul: music Tastes Good 2018 We can’t help but notice that Oliver Tree dies tragically in every video he’s shown us so far. Despite capturing attention as the subject of a number of bowl cut-related memes, Oliver Tree’s music is a serious venture. If you take away the scooter, neon ski jacket and wide legged 90’s rave pants, the sound stands alone as really good music. Some of his music is sort of indie rock-ish, like ‘All I’ve Got’ but Oliver Tree can definitely rhyme too, as
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Light Within Darkness: Endless Night Vampire Ball at the Globe Theatre
Janky Smooth Central Command
February 23, 2019
Words and Photos by: Abraham Preciado The Endless Night Los Angeles Vampire Ball took over the iconic Globe Theatre, hosted by Father Sebastiaan and the Sabretooth Clan (founded in 1995 as a fang club back east in New York) President’s Day Weekend. The Vampire Ball, which is also held throughout multiple cities across the nation and select international locations, brings Vampire culture together each year. related content: Black Baptism Prayers At The Fonda Attendees of the Ball prepare for the event months in advance and arrived in dark elegant wear the night of which ranges from Victorian to Edwardian dress. Dress code is strictly enforced to provide an immersive night for patrons and the community alike. related content: Cold Waves LA: Heaven For Industrial Kids Endless Night brings burlesque performances, light fetish play, live band acts, and more underworld delights to create a night filled with energy and ‘Endless’ fun. This year the patrons were treated with a special musical guest, The Cruxshadows. The band made its first LA appearance in 10 years to a packed house of fans awaiting their return. In short, the crowd was not disappointed by their consuming performance. related content: Luna 13 G.O.A.T. Witch Record Release
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Nothing’s Sexier Than Success: The-Dream at the Fonda
Robert Cohen
February 23, 2019
What is success? I’m sure Google can supply its own blasé explanation, but in an age where boundaries of race, class, and culture are becoming increasing indefinable, the goalposts of success have also drifted into a twilight zone whose borders shift as often as our expectations of what is possible these days. Thanks in equal part to an increasingly competitive media landscape and the rising ubiquity of social media, visibility and success have practically become synonymous. However, as anyone working the in the higher echelons of any industry knows, it’s often the people with the lowest profile who hold the real keys to the kingdom. related content: Corn Dogs, Fashion, Puke, And Rap: Camp Flog Gnaw 2018 Such is the case with seminal R&B act The-Dream. While by no means an unknown, after thumbing through even a short list of his production and writing credits, he has undeniably become more famous as a power-behind-the-throne figure than as a musician in his own right. Although comparisons to the music moguls of yore hold water on first diving into his output, unlike them, The-Dream shares more as an artist and culture driver with the éminence grise of politics, who conduct themselves concurrently as
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Take This: Win Two Tickets to Back to the Beach Festival
Janky Smooth Central Command
February 19, 2019
Music festivals on the beach are always a special treat, something about see your favorite band with the ocean roaring behind them and having the sand right underneath your feet as you mosh. This year’s Back to the Beach festival features a variety of southern California favorites from the world of pop punk. As a true fan of underground music, I can’t lie and tell you this is my favorite style of punk but even still, with a drink in hand, I know I’d enjoy singing all the Blink 182 songs I grew up with or jamming out to Reel Big Fish. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO BACK TO THE BEACH APRIL 27TH & 28TH AT HUNTINGTON STATE BEACH 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 Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook Back to the Beach Posts WINNER WILL BE WILL BE SELECTED ON MONDAY APRIL 1ST AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Take This: Win Two Tickets to Sabroso Festival
Janky Smooth Central Command
February 18, 2019
Beers, tacos, punk rock, lucha libre wrestling, and the beach, what more could you want out of the Offspring’s Dana Point festival Sabroso fest. Even Greg Ginn’s Black Flag is returning to the stage to play this year with Flogging Molly headlining one night and The Offspring closing out the fest. Hell, even Good Charlotte is on the lineup rounding out one of the most legit, pure, true, and uncompromised, least corporate festival lineups of all time. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO SABROSO FESTIVAL APRIL 6TH AND 7TH AT DOHENY STATE BEACH 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 Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook Sabroso Festival Posts WINNER WILL BE WILL BE SELECTED ON MONDAY MARCH 11TH AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Photo Recap: Gang of Four at the Roxy
Janky Smooth Central Command
February 14, 2019
70’s English post punk legends Gang of Four have returned to play a slew of shows, climaxing with their Los Angeles performance at The Roxy. Although guitarist Gill Sterry is the only original member the band still plays their classic songs with youthful power and swagger. In April of 2018 the band released an EP entitled Complicit featuring this lineup. Photos by: Lindsay Arth
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Southern Fried Outlaw Psych: Blackberry Smoke and Nikki Lane at the Fonda
Rob Shepyer
February 13, 2019
In my journey to observe as many genres as I can, holding a microscope over bands on every side of the musical spectrum, Blackberry Smoke always intrigued me. As the one southern rock band on Earache Records, they had a maverick quality about themselves in my eyes. I didn’t know the music as well as I knew the sort of people that enjoyed it. The kinds of people that were into classic rock revival were into Blackberry Smoke. And after seeing them live, I can see why. It’s been decades since bands jammed out this hard. The whole evening had a nostalgic, vintage, and cinematic feel about it. Nikki Lane felt like something out of a T Bone Burnett soundtrack while Blackberry Smoke could’ve been the living incarnation of Stillwater from Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous. On paper, Nikki Lane‘s support under Blackberry Smoke made this a heavyweight tour. As I strolled into the Fonda, I saw the Queen Bee of Outlaw Country on stage turning Los Angeles into a regular hootenanny the likes of which you might see on the Midnight Special or Heehaw. Dressed in a black jumpsuit with gold serpents slithering up and down the cloth, Nikki’s dark
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