Tag: lethal amounts

Sex Cells 2025- Photo by Abraham Preciado

Sex Cells and We’re Buying- somewhere south of Hollywood Blvd

Danny Baraz May 7, 2025

Somewhere in the heart of Hollywood on Wilcox, in a club/venue I have never entered before, Sex Cells re-emerged from it’s hiatus hole, to return to us a provocative buffet of fetish culture, avant-garde/smutty art, and self-expression. Out of the birth canal of Danny Fuentes, the L.A raised freak show turned ambassador and the individual behind Lethal Amounts gallery (but not in the alley). Sex Cells transcends traditional club nights, offering a haven for those who revel in the unconventional but fiercely protective against any potential spectators looking for a freak show or a glimpse of t&a+D. Danny Fuentes: the PT Barnum of rare humans but unlike that circus, exploitation is consensual. Lethal Amounts has long been a stalwart advocate for counterculture. If Lethal Amounts had any over arching theme, it would be that. Fuentes has curated exhibitions that delve into once taboo subjects in the mainstream- satanic rituals and serial killers and of course, forwarding and celebrating all the divine, aesthetic and historical culture that has brought the queer community to it’s current paradigm all across the world . This is our vanilla. His commitment to showcasing the extremes of human experience is evident in the gallery’s diverse array of artists,

Sex Cells Returns to Los Angeles: A Night of Subversive Glamour and Sonic Mayhem

Janky Smooth Central Command April 24, 2025

After an extended hiatus, Sex Cells is making its highly anticipated return to The Dragonfly in the heart of Los Angeles on May 3rd, 2025. Known for its decadent fusion of underground music, avant-garde fashion, and unapologetically provocative aesthetics, this cult-favorite club night is more than just a party—it’s a cultural statement. Founded by creative provocateur Danny Fuentes, the res-Erection of Sex Cells promises a surreal collision of art, music, and provocation that only LA could birth. At the core of the Sex Cells ethos is Danny Fuentes himself, a driving force behind some of LA’s most boundary-pushing art and nightlife. He is the visionary behind Lethal Amounts, an iconic art gallery and brand known for celebrating counterculture, queerness, punk, fetish, and the underground. Located in downtown Los Angeles, Lethal Amounts has exhibited works by transgressive legends like Genesis P-Orridge, Lydia Lunch, and Rick Castro, creating a platform for voices and visuals too raw for the mainstream. related: Pink Flamingos and Peaches- 2nd Annual John Waters Easter at The Madonna Inn Sex Cells emerged as a natural extension of Fuentes’ world—bringing the spirit of the gallery to the dance floor. Originally launched in 2016, the party quickly gained notoriety for

Nitzer Ebb and Flow: A Night of Dance and Darkness at The Music Box

Danny Baraz November 3, 2023

Star date Saturday, Sept. 2nd, 2023… San Diego, California. Nitzer Ebb is the band. Modern.wav and Lethal Amounts are the pilots and The Music Box became the vessel for the only U.S. show scheduled this year for the British EBM/Industrial pioneers. It was perfect timing for Venus to come out of retrograde as the stars aligned to bring lost loves back into our lives. Last time I saw Nitzer Ebb was at Substance 2021 and as fun as that set was, it was missing front man Douglas McCarthey with composer and energizer bunny Bon Harris insuring the show went on. This show was a collaboration between Lethal Amounts and San Diego goth scene impresarios, Modern.wav, whose line-ups, clubs and vibes have been drawing me down to San Diego on a more regular basis over the last year. As one might imagine, Nitzer Ebb drew Angelenos down to the southern most part of California so the crowd was filled with familiar and friendly faces. related: Nitzer Front- Cold Waves 2022 at The Mayan The lineup was stacked with quality, dark music acts, bondage exhibitions and DJ’s between bands. Opening the show was synth pop group, Normal Bias. Normal Bias have a

Peaches at Madonna Inn by Jessica Moncrief

2nd Annual John Waters Easter at Madonna Inn: Pink Flamingos and Filthy Bunnies:

Vanessa Burgundy April 14, 2023

It was a sea of queers and bunny ears at California’s campiest hotel, the Madonna Inn, for opening night of the 2nd Annual John Waters Easter Weekend hosted by Lethal Amounts. The event featured electropunk musician/performance artist, Peaches, as well as a screening of Pink Flamingos with live commentary from Mink Stole and John Waters himself, replete with Easter and Tom of Finland photobooths and of course an Edith Massey look-a-like contest. related: Satanic Manic- Lethal Amounts Honors Anton LaVey on Halloween It was a slow race to the Inn as Peaches was set to take the stage at 7:30pm and with most attendees coming from Los Angeles or San Francisco, Friday traffic was a bear in either direction. We made it just in time for a quick a dip in the pool before the show and a seemingly innocent, lone, swimmer asked the occasion for our visit. His bewildered response to our answer was “Jowwhn Waterrs…izze a COUNtry singer or somethin’?” in an unplaceable drawl. He was there for a wedding and it was then that we knew: the other hotel inhabitants had no idea they were about to be bombarded by the filthiest people alive. related: The Teaches

Take This: Win Two Tickets To John Waters Easter w/ Peaches by Lethal Amounts

Janky Smooth Central Command March 22, 2023

This Easter Weekend, Lethal Amounts returns to the Madonna Inn with a performance by Peaches and John Waters to mark the 50th anniversary and restoration of Waters’ cult classic, Pink Flamingos at the iconic Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. related: Burger Boogaloo 2017: The Ballad of John and Iggy Janky Smooth is giving away two tickets to this historic and delightfully filth laden event which includes: April 7th performance by Peaches April 8th PINK FLAMINGO movie screening with John Waters and Mink Stole conducting live commentary and a Q&A April 8th Janky Smooth EXCLUSIVE meet and greet with the man himself, John Waters To purchase tickets now, visit Lethal Amounts To be entered to win, simply go to our page on Instagram and/or Facebook, like the post and tag a friend. That’s it. Winner will be announced Monday April 3rd at high noon. related: Sex Cells Divine Ball at El Rey- The Filthiest People Alive

Dressed to Transgress: Sex Cells Halloween at the Globe

Rob Shepyer November 6, 2021

I don’t think theres ever been a Sex Cells that wasn’t just Halloween on the wrong weekend. Costumes, debauchery, candy, scantily-clad ladies and sexually deviant dudes are ingrained in the party’s DNA. The Halloween edition of this masquerade was estimated to be Sex Cell’s strangest, most insane installment. When halloween falls on a Sunday, you get at least three days to dress up differently. Since I was already Ace Frehley on Saturday, I got into the Gonzo spirit by cobbling together a Hunter S. Thompson getup and going to Sex Cells to score some synthesized liquid treats. As I expected, the kinds of creeps that came out to the Globe by 10pm after Lethal Amounts hosted night 2 of Danzig does Elvis, were all dressed to trangress. related content: Technically, We’ve Always Been Sick: Sex Cells Returns To The Globe Theatre As we danced and pogo’d with Pogo the killer Clown, we were given the night’s greatest treat, sweeter than candy corn and dressed as red as a Hot Tamale, Thee Teenage Werewolves took the stage busting out the classic Cramps tune– “Human Fly”. This Cramps cover band is so good, they very well could be the most talented tribute

Technically, We’ve Always Been Sick: Sex Cells Returns to the Globe Theatre

Rob Shepyer August 5, 2021

There must be something wrong with us. To party so closely, so sweatily, without personal protective equipment in the middle of a pandemic? No face masks. No face shields. No papers needed to be shown to any bio-tech gestapos. We knew the risks. We knew the transmissibility. We saw all the latest science, conspiracies, government lip services and disaster porn. But still, we did the dubious and dangerous thing and decided it was worth the risk to reunite and see friends we missed for over a year. This next comparison might be a little extreme, maybe even tasteless but bear with me, the point is solid–at the height of the 80’s AIDs epidemic, when Anthony Fauci was as much a media personality as he is now, did gay men stop having sex altogether? Some probably did. Some definitely didn’t. Like it or not, the choice of love over fear is similar today. If anything, this experience should make people more empathetic to those who suffered the last epidemic. Celebration, fun, night-life, partying, socializing in general–to many people these things are as essential as actual love-making and no one is going to deny them their right to do so, not the

Take This: Win Two Tickets to Sex Cells at the Globe Theatre

Janky Smooth Central Command July 14, 2021

The return of Sex Cells might just mark the beginning of the 2nd roaring 20’s because things are about to get fierce when Lethal Amount’s landmark bacchanal returns to the Globe Theatre. Parties put on by Lethal Amounts are legendary and this one won’t fail to disappoint as they’ve got a legend of their own set to spin records, none other than NYC’s Junior Sanchez. Night of 1000 Madonnas is the evening’s theme with the best look being eligible to win $1,000. So enter to win our giveaway and come dressed to justify your love. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR: ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO SEX CELLS JULY 30TH AT THE GLOBE THEATRE 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 SEX CELLS Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON JULY 23RD AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION

Punx Undead: Phantoms Book Launch: The Rise of L.A. Deathrock Presented by Lethal Amounts

Rob Shepyer February 26, 2020

Los Angeles has always had an obsession with death. Our city’s celebrities and socialites have a habit of perishing in the most dramatic and mysterious fashion, Rozz Williams of course being no exception. It’s no surprise that from out of punk rock would come a death obsessed, black clad, sorrowful, mournful form of expression and rebellion known as deathrock. To celebrate the launch of Mikey Bean’s new 600 page encyclopedia of deathrock called Phantoms: The Rise of Deathrock From The LA Punk Scene, Lethal Amounts and Release the Bats held a photo exhibit and concert celebrating the genre’s Los Angeles heyday. You need this bad boy on your coffee table. related content: Sex Cells’ Divine Ball At El Rey: The Filthiest People Alive Among the attendants at the gallery showing and concert were the likes of 45 Grave singer Dinah Cancer, LA experimental artist Ron Athey, Don Bolles, and many more. With walls adorned with Rozz’s likeness as well as all the show flyers of the scene, the gallery captured a mood, a time, and a place that were quintessentially gothic, dark, and exploding with creativity. Following the book signing, the gathering moved to Monty Bar where numerous bands took

Take This: Win 2 Tickets To Hercules and Love Affair at El Rey

Janky Smooth Central Command September 20, 2018

I can smell a good party and Lethal Amounts always carries the scent. This occasion though is special because Hercules and Love Affair is performing. As a life-long leather bar DJ, Andy Butler knows exactly how to make any dance floor turn up. As a recording artist, he took dance music to new heights whether by putting electronic beats behind the vocals of Anohni or melding disco and techno. This cat has raised the entire game. Then with Lethal Amounts’ beautiful freak show behind the band, this will be an all-out rager to be remembered. Janky Smooth is proud to offer you a chance to party with Hercules and Love Affair for free by offering two tickets to the lucky winner of this contest. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR. ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR SEPTEMBER 26TH AT EL REY THEATRE 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 Hercules and Love Affair Giveaway Posts WINNER WILL BE WILL BE SELECTED ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24TH AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION

Sleepy Bangers/Hard Lullabies: The Book of Love at Teragram

Rob Shepyer September 10, 2018

Over the last few years, The Book of Love has been playing shows to celebrate their three decades long career. Los Angeles, as a city that means so much to their career, was the one city that was missing from their tour schedule until Friday night’s show at the Teragram ballroom presented by Lethal Amounts. related content: We All Scored At Lethal Amounts’ Pure Trash With Sylvain Sylvain Philadelphia Synth-pop duo, The Book of Love is made up of nightingale siren Susan Ottaviano and Electro-maestro Ted Ottaviano. What’s amazing about the group is their musical formula of taking synth lullabies and turning them into hard, dance floor bangers. This was “dream pop” before pop knew how to dream. The destined-duo are unrelated but their families trace back to the same Italian village. From start to finish, the crowd of 80’s kids was bopping and dancing madly to the music. People were making out like mad during the set. The band even seemed to have their own gaggle of groupies. The audience was in step for the whole show, eating out of Susan’s palm as her heavenly, serene voice swept over them. Songs that resonated hardest with the audience were “Alice

One Friday Night in Hell Part 3: Lethal Amounts Presents The Zeros at El Cid

Rob Shepyer July 13, 2018

Let me give you a bit of advice, when Pure Trash is booked, you attend. The bands start late, around midnight when most of the shows throughout the city have already ended. Then with bands like The Zeros playing, you’d have to be a fucking idiot to miss out. It’s the ultimate goto destination for nights you never want to end. That’s where I wound up on this especially hellish Friday last week. After Show Me The Body, Twitching Tongues, and Vein then after Das Bunker’s Das Ich show at Los Globos. related content: One Friday Night In Hell Part 1: Show Me The Body, Twitching Tongues, And Vein At The Regent I made Downtown and Echo Park my bitch that night, cruising for a bruising and testing myself to see how hard I can party. After hardcore and industrial, the Zeros were the relief I needed, loose, raw and most of all fun punk rock that didn’t take itself too serious. Perfect tunes for Pure Trash. related content: One Friday Night In Hell Part 2: Das Ich At Los Globos The Flytraps opened up the night, more happily unhinged than they usually are, like they had a license to