Tag: the echoplex

Angelo, Dirty Walt, Norwood- Fishbone trifecta

Fishbone at The Echoplex: The Royal Treatment for Chim Chim

Janky Smooth Central Command May 19, 2017

Saturday night at the Echoplex started off with the Uber driver dropping us off in front of The Echo, where we waited outside for 2 minutes before we realized it was the wrong place. So we run across the street down some filthy stairs around a corner and now we are at what appeared to be a back parking lot. A simple barricade across the front of the drive-way and a few security staff in black shirts greet us and conduct a cursory cavity search and inspection of our immediate threat level. My friend has her trusted ass-pocket flask, (empty by now) confiscated with the promise it will be returned at the end of the night. We are ushered passed a mountain of trash bags and assorted garbage piled high along the side of the building. Just another by-product of the glamour and the glitz of Los Angeles nightlife and moments away from yet another Fishbone show under my belt. Once inside, the show was already in full swing with the latest offering from drummer Stephen Perkins (Janes Addiction/Porno for Pyros) entitled Tabitha– a powerhouse trio consisting of Perkins and the Okai Sisters (originally from Tokyo) on Guitar and Bass. They

Take This: Win 2 Tix To See Pallbearer at The Echoplex on 5/18

Danny Baraz May 16, 2017

Pallbearer dropped a MASSIVE 3rd doom metal album this past March and they are showing why it’s perfect timing for Metal to make a comeback- right here, right now. With the hard rock resurgence the past couple years, the endless stream of pop punk and garage rock proliferating out of every shitty amp in America are being incinerated. It’s perfect timing for Pallbearer to throwdown like they have with their album Heartless released by Profound Lore records and catch them while in the midst of their current tour.. Janky Smooth is giving away 2 Tickets to see Pallbearer this Thursday, May 18th at The Echoplex in Los Angeles. You can BUY TICKETS NOW or Complete These Two Steps to Enter to Win Join our Newsletter. A subscription box pops up anytime you visit our site. Fill out three fields and hit submit. If you subscribe and the box disappears you are entered to win. No newsletter confirmation will be sent. Share or Retweet the Pallbearer Ticket giveaway post on either FB or Twitter. Tag a friend in our ticket giveaway post on Instagram. That’s it. Winner will be announced on Thursday morning, 11am pacific time. Winner will be contacted

Sleaford Mods Hit The Echoplex On Last Date Of First Ever U.S. Tour

Rob Shepyer April 12, 2017

Part Time Punks, Sleaford Mods And Accidental Pop Music What makes a concert special and superior to the rest? It takes more than just the band playing well. Sometimes a bit of coincidence has to be involved to bring all the karmic forces together. On Sunday April 9th, a drunk veered his truck into a bunch of construction vehicles across from the line at The Echoplex. It was omen for the chaos to come. Before I get into the meat of this article and make any pretentious observations about Sleaford Mods, opening bands, punk rock or culture in general, let me begin with writing out the chant that follows the subject of this article everywhere they play. A chant that was repeated over and over by drunken middle-aged men that listen to this band on the car stereo as soon as they drop their kids off at school. Ahem… Sleaford Mods! Sleaford Mods! Sleaford Sleaford Sleaford Mods! Over and over again, I heard this…. Sleaford Mods! Sleaford Mods! Sleaford Sleaford Sleaford Mods! It could drive you a bit loony…. Sleaford Mods! Sleaford Mods! Sleaford Sleaford Sleaford Mods! Right until it gets stuck in your fuckin’ head… Sleaford Mods! Sleaford Mods! Sleaford

PRAYERS and Candy Prove That Sex Cells at Echoplex

Jessica Moncrief March 28, 2017

Sex Cells: The New Monthly Gathering From Lethal Amounts Lethal Amounts hosted what is becoming the baddest dance club night in L.A. this past Saturday. The Echoplex was brimming with activity- Party crews, fashionistas, fetishists and disco dollies came from all over California and abroad to show off their fashion sense, attitudes and dance moves at the new monthly residency, Sex Cells. Anyone who has attended a Lethal Amounts party knows that they are in for a good time. What helps set Danny Fuentes of Lethal Amounts Art Gallery apart from other promoters is that he doesn’t identify as one. First and foremost, Fuentes is a curator and gallery owner and thus, takes a completely organic approach when organizing an event. In doing so, his parties have an air of exclusivity that doesn’t come off as snobby and it attracts the kind of people he would consider good company. I had a chance to chat with him which led to a better understanding of his vision. “I throw myself into everything I do. I always ask myself first, ‘Would I like this? Would I go to this? Would I be impressed?’ If the answer is ‘maybe’ then it’s not good enough.

James Chance and the Contortions Play First Show in L.A. Since 1984

Rob Shepyer March 23, 2017

James Chance and the Contortions Zig and Zag, Jig and Jump at The Echoplex This Past Sunday for Part Time Punks Gig Sometimes punks become so punk that you can’t even call them punks anymore. Sometimes punks become so punk that they turn punk into jazz. But before they dive head-first into crate-digging for Japanese pressings of Thelonious Monk records, they discover the bridge between the two genres: No Wave. Punk rock saxophone has always held a special place in my heart. Whether it be Steve Mackay playing on my favorite album, The Stooges’ Funhouse, or it be Derf Scratch pouting out “New York’s Alright if You Like Saxophones”, or if it be X-Ray Spex ripping through “Oh Bondage, Up Yours!” The Saxophone always seemed to me to be a superior phallus to the guitar that can make any punk sound peak into pure Dionysic release. Never has there been a better practitioner of punk rock saxophone than the man, Part Time Punks just wrangled to play The Echoplex. It only took 33 years but on Sunday March 19th, James Chance and the Contortions finally made it back to Los Angeles. I had been waiting and hoping for years that this would

No Parents pose at Echo Park Rising by Taylor Wong

Echo Park Rising 2015: Rising and Rising and Rising…

Taylor Wong August 20, 2015

In it’s 5th year, Echo Park Rising has become a barometer of culture in Eastern Los Angeles. 20 years ago, the music scene in L.A. was way further west on Sunset Blvd on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. Most of the music lovers that attended Echo Park Rising 2015 this past weekend wouldn’t have felt safe crossing the street in this part of L.A. 20 years ago. 20 years ago, the club now called The Satellite was purchased by a man named Mitchell Frank (and partners) and transformed from a gay disco called Dreams of L.A. and rebranded into an alternative music club they named, Dreams and Spaceland. That one event proved to be one of the most important events in the history and future of the city of Los Angeles. That one event was a catalyst to the complete transformation of everything between Los Feliz to Downtown L.A. Significant events like the building of Staples Center in 1998 and the collapse of the music industry at the turn of the century contributed to the transformation but Mitchell Frank might just go down as one of the most important figures of modern history in L.A. There aren’t many examples of gentrification

Lolipalooza Reloads for it’s Second Year at The Echo

Danny Baraz June 30, 2015

This time last year, I attended the first annual Lolipalooza at The Echo and The Echoplex. I was blown away by the amount of cool, young bands that are coming to and out of L.A. It’s the most amount of fresh, young new music I’ve seen in this city in my entire lifetime, (I wasn’t around for the late 70’s/early 80’s). In the 365 days that have passed since attending their inaugural event, Lolipop Records have not slowed down one bit. The buildings which house The Echo/Echoplex and Lolipop Records have turned into an incubator of fresh, young talent. In this small corner of Echo Park, bands are discovered, recorded, showcased and packaged, all within a 100 yard radius and are subsequently dispersed throughout the globe to show why Los Angeles is the epicenter for music. Wyatt Blair, owner of Lolipop and accomplished musician saw an immense opportunity and took it upon himself to execute his vision and Los Angeles and indeed, the world are a better place for it. I passed through the gates and through the Echoplex driveway early on in the day. It was muggy and nasty out. The sky opened up a couple times during festival

Ticket Giveaway: Lolipalooza 2 at The Echo 6/27

Danny Baraz June 11, 2015

If you are you music lover and live in Los Angeles and did not attend last years inaugural installment of Lolipalooza, then you missed something truly special. If you miss this years showcase of Lolipalooza 2 then you should seriously reconsider your life. Lolipop Records is onto something unique. While it is nothing new for a DIY record label to scout, develop and release music by both fresh, young and established talent, the way Lolipop is approaching this is something to admire. Taking their queue from Burger Records in Fullerton, Lolipop Records is the Los Angeles version of Burger. Janky Smooth is giving away 2 pairs (4 tickets) to Lolipalooza 2 happening at the both The Echo and Echoplex on Saturday June 27th, to 2 lucky individuals. To enter you must complete ALL the steps below. Winners will be selected on Friday, June 26th at 11am. 1. Share or retweet our contest posts on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and tag @jankysmooth – You must share from our posts, not create your own. 2. Comment in the comment section of the post on our website stating you completed this step and give us a reason why we should pick you.. 3. Like us

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Detonate at The Echoplex

Taylor Wong May 8, 2015

It was a rainy Thursday night out here in Echo Park. I could imagine no other acceptable way to spend this rainy evening than at the John Spencer Blues Explosion show at The Echoplex. Now I’m a noob when it come to Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, but what I have heard is that they put on an explosive show. Pun intended. So a little fact about me- I’m compulsively early to almost everything I do. This came in handy this specific evening. There were only 2 bands scheduled to play this last night. Opening for Jon Spencer Blues Explosion was a band by the name We Are Hex. About 15 minutes before they went on I realized, being human and all, I had forgotten something necessary to cover the show. I was able to rush home and back by the time they were 2 songs into their set. I was extremely glad I made it back in time, not only because I still had a job to do but because We Are Hex were simply incredible. Front woman Jilly Weiss reminds me of a grungier Exene Cervenka of X mixed with a little Brody Dalle of the Distillers. She awkwardly/adorably danced around

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion photo by Casey Lewis for Grimy Goods

Win 2 Tickets to Jon Spencer Blues Explosion at Echoplex

Danny Baraz April 26, 2015

Have you heard the new concept album released by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion this past March? “Freedom Tower” is quite a ride. It’s a deep dive on a New York that doesn’t exist anymore. It’s like opening a time capsule. Another question; Have you seen Jon Spencer Blues Explosion live? If the answer is no then goddammit you have no idea what you are missing. Janky Smooth is giving away 2 pairs of tickets to see Jon Spencer Blues Explosion at The Echoplex on May 7th. It’s pretty damn easy to win. You can follow the rules below to enter or you can Purchase tickets here To enter you must complete ALL the steps below. Winners will be selected on Tuesday, May 5th at 11am. 1. Share or retweet our contest posts on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and tag @jankysmooth – You must share from our posts, not create your own. 2. Comment in the comment section of the post on our website stating you completed this step and give us a reason why we should pick you.. 3. Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, Follow us on Instagram Photo by Casey Lewis for Grimy Goods

Marmozets Move The Crowd at the Echoplex

Taylor Wong April 8, 2015

I’m about to get a little personal with all of you, probably to the point where you may want to just punch me in the face. This past week has been one of the most hectic weeks of the year for me. Between covering shows almost every other day, one of which was the 2 day, Burgerama festival and moving from Redondo out to Hollywood; I also work at a bar 5 days a week. Just writing that made me exhausted. During this hectic week, I ran into my buddy Brandon Blaine from Plague Vendor at Burgerama on my way out of the festival. I grabbed his photo and caught up for a bit. During our little conversation, he mentioned that his girl friend, Becca Macintyre would be playing The Echoplex with her band, Marmozets that Thursday of that gnarly week. Not realizing how beat up I would be by then, I told him that I would come check them out. Boy, was I glad I did that. It was a much needed break from moving boxes. Marmozets have been playing shows since 2007 and have played in the past with such bands as Funeral For a Friend, The Used,

Rubblebucket & Vacationer join the circus at The Echoplex

Taylor Wong March 25, 2015

It’s a Tuesday night and I found myself waiting for the doors of the Echoplex to open. I’m a bit out of it from working non-stop all week and packing as I am in the midst of moving. All of a sudden I hear a loud thud and some one scream. Someone just hit a person with their car under the bridge right next to the Echoplex. I walk over to the scene where the driver had stopped to call 911. I looked for a while and walked back to the line a little shaken up but knowing that some one had already taken the responsibility of calling for an ambulance. There was nothing in my power that I could do to help this person at this point. No one else in line even knew what had just happened. I didn’t lose my appetite. I walked in and ordered a couple of slices of pizza and a Red Bull. I was unable to drink to drink due to antibiotics, so you know I am not making any of this up. The bill for the night was a co-headlined show by Vacationer and Rubblebucket, with opening band SWIMM. SWIMM took the stage around 20