Tag: mdou moctar

Stroking to LCD: This Ain’t No Picnic

Rob Shepyer September 7, 2022

Goldenvoice has been on a roll, especially with their Rose Bowl based festivals, hosting special gatherings on sacred grounds. These two to three day festivals they’ve been churning out have all featured incredible lineups and have allowed audiences to see numerous artists that could each play at the Greek, Shrine or Bowl all on one giant, dusty field inside a literal melting pot. From Pasadena Daydream with the Cure to Arroyo Seco with Neil Young, Goldenvoice is building up a powerful Pasadena legacy. This Ain’t No Picnic hosted artists that represented our modern rock and roll heroes like Sparks, Le Tigre, The Strokes and LCD Soundsystem, but also the cream of next crop of legends like Turnstile, Caroline Polachek, Yves Tumor, Magdalena Bay, Ethel Cain, King Woman, and Idles. Mark my words, these artists will be massive headliners in the decades to come and on that day, we’ll look back to lineups like This Ain’t No Picnic’s and be in awe of how so many huge artists were assembled on the same bill. related content: Arroyo Seco: The Nostalgic, The Timeless, and the Real Day 1 Getting to drive on the greens of a golf course to find my parking

Slowhand of the Sahara: Mdou Moctar at Lodge Room

Rob Shepyer October 7, 2021

Mdou Moctar‘s mystique is well-earned. The story of his origin is like something out of a comic book, but instead of him becoming a super hero, he merely became a ‘Guitar God’. When you read about how his rise to fame is the result of a trading network of cellphones and memory cards, you are immediately given a sense of place and global context. Had he been born in America, like many of his adoring fans that packed his two sold out nights at the Lodge Room, who knows how far his gifts would’ve taken him already. But coming from Niger and playing Tuareg guitar has made Mdou’s music not only exotic and mystical but a sort of generational upheaval, a reward for decades of struggle. related content: Dream Jams: Arooj Aftab At Lodge Room Mdou Moctar’s Desert Daze set from 2019 made him a hot ticket for the LA psychedelic scene. He sold out two shows at the Lodge Room almost immediately. Even though the Lodge Room has been selling out shows left and right, this one became a must-see show especially fast. Part of this appeal is that LA audiences know how difficult it is for an international

Take This: Win Two Tickets to Mdou Moctar at Lodge Room 10/2

Janky Smooth Central Command September 29, 2021

One of the most anticipated shows of the year is gonna go off without a hitch, a lot of other artists are having trouble getting into the Stares from abroad right now but Mdou Moctar is on his merry way. We have two pairs of tickets to giveaway for his first night of two at the Lodge Room and this is probably your only chance to get in since they’re both sold out twice over. THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO MDOU MOCTAR OCTOBER 2ND AT 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 MDOU MOCTAR Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON OCTOBER 1ST AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION

Janky Smooth Top 25 Artists to Watch in 2020

Janky Smooth Central Command December 28, 2019

We have reached the end of the decade and to usher in this new epoch, we have chosen 25 artists that can be your guiding light through the darkness and confusion. We might reach catastrophe but with this soundtrack, we can at least ease your nerves to make the trip a little more enjoyable. We’ve picked something for everyone, from the dark to the light, from the heavy to the soft, the happy to the sad, and every sound and emotion in between. Some artists are based in LA, some are international, but all 25 artists should be watched closely because they will make a mark on 2020. related content: Janky Smooth Top 25 Artists To Watch In 2019 Acrylics Ever since we first covered their set at Home Sick, we’ve had high hopes for Nor-Cal hardcore outfit, Acrylics. They might have the most vigor of any young band out there. The music exhibits much more nuance than typical hardcore though, with a garage sensibility beneath the steamrolling core. This is made clear on their 2019 release Sinking In. The music is just as off-balance, thrilling, and a roller coaster on record as it is live. Acrylics is underground and