Tag: oc observatory

Vulnerability is Punk: The Lemonheads at the OC Observatory

Danny Ryan December 13, 2022

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of their iconic 1992 album It’s A Shame About Ray, The Lemonheads brought their signature blend of punk, grunge, and folk influences to a passionate crowd at The Observatory. With the night being built up of multiple acts including their magnum opus album in full, an acoustic segment, and a collection of hits from their other material; the show was a dedication to the fans that have followed them with devotion since the beginning. While The Lemonheads are underrated in how they are not always included in conversations about 90’s grunge and indie rock music, their influence can still be felt in underground alternative music today and it was apparent how much their music means to the fans who experienced it during the peak of their popularity with how much love for the band that could be felt in the room that night. As soon as The Lemonheads casually approached the stage, it was immediately clear that their image embodies the DIY grassroots of independent music from their minimalist stage presence to the crudely designed “L H” logo on their drum set made out of green duct tape. Compared to seeing most 90’s alternative

Take This: Win Two Tickets to Kikagaku Moyo at the Observatory

Janky Smooth Central Command October 23, 2019

Geometric Patterns are one of the best psychedelic bands of this generation, if you don’t recognize that name, perhaps you’ll know their Japanese name, Kikagaku Moyo. If you’ve ever wanted to hear music that will transport your mind and soul while your body stays put, look no further than this band’s Observatory show on 10/31. Halloween is for trippers. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR: ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO KIKAGAKU MOYO OCTOBER 31ST AT THE OBSERVATORY 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, TWITTER, or FACEBOOK Kikagaku Moyo Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON OCTOBER 20TH AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION

A Tsunami of Hardcore Kids: Fury’s “Failed Entertainment” Record Release at the Observatory

Rob Shepyer July 8, 2019

Any time Ceremony make their way through Southern California, you can expect me to be there. On this Observatory date though, the band stepped down as the headliners of their tour for one night and let hometown heroes, Fury, close the show for their highly anticipated Failed Entertainment record release show. Both bands had new material to share and are on the edge of transitioning beyond fans’ expectations. Ceremony had released word of their next album Into The Spirit World Now only days before the show and Fury, who’s previous album Paramount cemented them as some of the scene’s brightest prospects, released an album that really showed their range and complexity. related content: Two Times The Biscuit Power: Gorilla Biscuits At The Roxy The entire bill was stacked with diverse genres clumped together to make for a memorable evening every stripe of rock fan could enjoy. Huntington Beach’s Diztort opened up the pit early with traditional, jagged, and pummeling hardcore that really hit that stormtrooper pace and rhythm hard for all the kids to slam to. Next, alternative rockers, Bugg, were matched with hardcore bands yet again, establishing them as the perfect breath to take between heavy noise. They too had new

Take This: Win Two Tickets to Ceremony, Fury, & Sheer Mag at the Observatory

Janky Smooth Central Command June 24, 2019

Janky Smooth’s official favorite band, Ceremony is returning to Southern California for an incredible bill featuring Sheer Mag and Fury hot off the heels of releasing their latest album. Any hardcore kid knows that Ceremony is a band you can’t miss so we at Janky Smooth feel obligated to do our part and contribute by making sure you get to the show by any means necessary. We’re not just giving away one pair of tickets to this mother fucker, we’re giving away two. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR: ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO CEREMONY, FURY, AND SHEER MAG JUNE 30TH AT THE OC OBSERVATORY 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, TWITTER, or FACEBOOK Ceremony Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON JUNE 27TH AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION

Flowers and Oysters: Yasiin Bey at the Observatory

Jessica Moncrief January 9, 2019

I missed Yasiin Bey‘s set at Smokin’ Grooves over the summer and deeply regretted it, so when the opportunity arose to see him perform in an intimate setting like The Observatory, I was elated to redeem myself for one of my biggest FOMO moments of 2018. related content: Black Is Beautiful: Smokin’ Grooves Festival At The Queen Mary Before Yasiin made his way out, his DJ spun iconic songs that have since been sampled in modern day hip hop, Joe Simons “Before The Night Is Over”, which you may remember was sampled in Outkast’s “So Fresh So Clean”, was one of many. Perhaps to signify love and his soul’s active presence in creation, Yasiin prepared the stage by sprinkling rose petals all around it, he then spray painted the word “Oysters” on a white sheet as he began his set. During his first song, Yasiin Bey took one look at the two of us in the photo pit and requested for the house to dim the lights. The photo journalist in me accepted the challenge to “get the story” regardless of the lighting situation, however the human part of me struggled with the inherently dirty feeling of photographing someone who

Photo Recap: Public Image Ltd. at the OC Observatory

Janky Smooth Central Command November 9, 2018

John Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten, brought his communication company, also known as his band, Public Image Ltd. to the Orange County Observatory for an epic show that featured just as much music as poetry. Lydon’s lyrics are sometimes a curiosity and other times a call to action, either way it’s impossible not to take away a lasting memory from a Public Image Ltd show. Photos by: Jessica Moncrief

Kick Out The Jams: MC50 at the Observatory

Maggie St. Thomas October 14, 2018

Words and Photos by: Maggie St. Thomas The innovators of punk were the Motor City 5, known for their high energy live performances, being aggressive revolutionaries of the 1960’s and the house band of the White Panther Party. The MC5 recorded their first album Kick Out The Jams live on October 30th and 31st 1968 at Detroit’s Grande Ballroom. In May 2018, Brother Wayne Kramer announced the MC50 tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kick Out the Jams across the world with a supergroup line-up including himself, and his partner of this guitar army Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Billy Gould on bass (Faith No More), pounding drum beats by original MC5 drummer Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson and joining him to his right was drummer Brendan Canty (Fugazi). Replacing Rob Tyner on vocals with the towering 6’7’’ frame and image reminiscent of the late lead singer stood Marcus Durant (Zen Guerrilla), and Billy Gould on bass lines (Faith No More). related content: Teen Angst Never Dies: Alkaline Trio At The Observatory Nearly 50 years to the date of recording, Saturday October 6th, 2018 in Santa Ana, we paid tribute to this all star line-up that sounded rude and unhinged as ever with domination firing off notes like rockets within the walls of the OC Observatory. Brother Wayne Kramer delivered

Teen Angst Never Dies: Alkaline Trio at the Observatory

Dave Unbuckled October 11, 2018

There’s really no point in beating around the fact that the average age of attendees at the shows I look forward to has well surpassed their mid-20s hipster cred and are slowly blending in with the crowds of parents — most are looking for a safe night out that can reinvigorate some of their teenage angst. Tonight, however, was a culminating difference in the obviousness of this dilemma, made apparent by the leagues of mothers rushing outside in between sets, to call babysitters, and make sure everyone at home finished their homework and chores. On Thursday, October 4th, Alkaline Trio headlined their second sold out night at the Observatory OC, with openers Sharp/Shock and Together Pangea falling mostly onto deaf ears. Though there might have been a few in the audience who closely follow lead singer Matt Skiba’s personal endeavors to recognize Sharp/Shock as one of the few bands on Skiba’s Heart & Skull label, most waited patiently for the headliners to show their face on the main stage. related content: When We Were Young Festival’s Most Dominant Demographic: Mine Sharp/Shock held their own with Together Pangea, and have cemented a worthy ability to share the stage with many of