Tag: zebulon

Teen Mortgage and Spoon Benders Tear Zebulon Apart – Night One Recap

Taylor Wong April 29, 2025

If there was any doubt that raw, snarling rock n’ roll is alive and breathing fire in 2025, Teen Mortgage and Spoon Benders came to Zebulon the other night and left no survivors. Zebulon was packed to the absolute brim — a heaving, sweaty mass of bodies smashed together like a human ocean. People were bouncing off the walls (literally). It was the first of two sold-out nights, and the energy felt less like a “show” and more like a full-scale uprising. Spoon Benders kicked things off, and damn, if they didn’t blow the doors clean off. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Spoon Benders have been steadily building a name for themselves since forming in 2019. With roots in the Pacific Northwest’s rich DIY scene, they’ve gained a reputation for their blistering live shows and experimental approach to psych-rock. Their sound pulls from a range of influences — a little Dead Meadow haze, a bit of Ty Segall grit, and a touch of doom-laden groove reminiscent of early Black Sabbath. Songs like “Dichotomatic” rattled the bones of everyone crammed inside. Every note felt jagged and alive, like a sonic landslide tumbling over the crowd. If you weren’t moshing, you were probably

The Calm Before the Shit Storm: S.H.I.T. at Zebulon

Danny Ryan July 11, 2022

Words by: Danny Ryan Photos by: Albert Licano With the constant shifts of trends and sounds that have taken place in punk rock music throughout the years, shows nowadays can often feel as though the genre has been restructured so drastically that the roots of it are hard to find. With the current emphasis on the structured breakdowns in hardcore punk and the genre-bending influences found in emo and pop-punk, it’s a breath of fresh air to come across an artist that simply plays their music as fast and chaotic as possible. S.H.I.T.’s recent show at Zebulon with The Passing and Abuso De Poder was a stacked lineup that moved at lightning speed, epitomizing this classic formula of rapid instrumentals mixed with noisey feedback and the snarling character that punk rock was founded on. While recent evolutions of the genre have brought the scene to a larger audience, S.H.I.T. is a band with deep appreciation for the origins of punk rock and they aim to re-create the disorderly energy that the genre was known for. The most impressive aspect of S.H.I.T. is their ability to evoke this feeling of early punk scenes without emulating the past in a nostalgic way

Take This: Win Two Tickets to Spiritual Cramp at Zebulon

Janky Smooth Central Command September 13, 2021

One of our favorite artists, Spiritual Cramp are returning to Los Angeles to tear up the stage at Zebulon, with new material ready to go, this show is sure to be a banger. Along with the boys in SC, are Spice, Dais records’ own band comprised of members of Ceremony. Punk, poetry, and spiritual rebellion all converge in the music of this night at Zebulon. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR: ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO SPIRITUAL CRAMP SEPTEMBER 17TH AT ZEBULON 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 SPIRITUAL CRAMP Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON SEPTEMBER 16TH AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION

40 Years of Fire of Love: Sex Beat at Zebulon

Janky Smooth Central Command August 27, 2021

Words by: Juan Perez Photos by: Taylor Wong As we near closer & closer to the end of 2021 it is clear that Pretty But Wicked doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon. Already responsible for so many great shows this year, Wednesday night was no different. Many talented musicians gathered at Zebulon, celebrating the re-release of Fire Of Love. Going back to 40 years ago, it was the debut album from legendary post-punk band The Gun Club. The main act, Sex Beat, are a group with one time drummer, Terry Graham. On this night they performed songs from the aforementioned record in it’s honor. But, more on that later. A new band being showcased at a PBW show is to be expected. Setting the tone for the night for their first show ever, Rugburn will be a name to know. This is a band that definitely could have played at CBGB’s in the late 70’s, early 80’s. Perfect blend of that early punk sound and modern post-hardcore. From the beginning, the vocalist brought a charismatic presence to the stage. Take bands like Jefferson Airplane, The B-52’s, Cat Scan and Shopping, mix them in a blender, you get Rugburn. Check out their

Take This: Win Two Tickets to Young Guv at Zebulon

Janky Smooth Central Command February 24, 2020

84 Booking is bringing together a few of Janky Smooth’s favorite artists to perform for one night at Zebulon. Flower Punx Young Guv, dub punk heroes Spiritual Cramp, and evening Ross Farrar’s new project, Spice, will all be in attendance. It’s going to be what Janky dreams are made of. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR: ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO YOUNG GUV MARCH 8TH AT ZEBULON 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 Young Guv Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON MARCH 6TH AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION

Take This: Win Two Tickets to Hospital Productions Showcase at Zebulon

Janky Smooth Central Command June 10, 2019

Sometimes, you can tell a lot about a concert from very little information. Such is the case with Eighty-Four‘s next event, a 2 day noise and industrial festival and Hospital Productions artist showcase that will surely produce some wild concert moments and maybe even create hell on Earth in that tiny French concert hall. For those of you that don’t know, Hospital Production’s is Dominick Fernow’s (of Prurient) New York based noise record label. Some of the artists that will be present are Junko, Skin Crime, and Silent Servant. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR: ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO HOSPITAL PRODUCTIONS SHOWCASE JUNE 13TH-14TH AT ZEBULON 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 Hospital Productions Showcase Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON JUNE 12TH AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION

Adult. Interview: Warriors for Weird

Rob Shepyer October 6, 2018

I remember the first time I saw Adult. live at Echoplex for their Detroit House Guests tour. It was one of the most insane and exciting shows I’ve ever seen. With various guest performers, obscure stage antics, and the hardest off-beats, they were truly avant-garde. It was weird to its core but I danced so hard, the weirdness absorbed into me and I didn’t puzzle over it. I fell in love with the duo’s music that night and getting the chance to interview Adam Lee Miller and Nicola Kuperus before their Zebulon show with Plack Blague only intensified my admiration. They were well spoken, intelligent, and unlike many artists with more direct and obvious messaging, they showed a deep understanding of what they stand for and who they are. related content: Different Shades of Black: Adult. And Plack Blague At Soda Bar RS: The latest album is This Behavior. A few of the songs seem to reference human sexuality. What is the album’s title symbolic of? NK: I dunno if I would say it’s symbolic of human sexuality. I think it’s poignant for the moment we’re in with how insane the world is. The process for writing this record was very

James Chance Interview: A New York Original

Audrey Kemp September 17, 2018

Following the Contortions’ stirring performance at Zebulon in Los Angeles Friday night, I had the honor to sit down with one of the most influential pioneers in experimental music: a saxophonist, keyboard player, songwriter and singer from New York City, Mr. James Chance. People may affiliate his music with the 1979 No New York compilation and other no wave acts, but Mr. Chance would vehemently protest and describe himself as an original before any other label. AK: You’ve had many different projects: The Contortions, The Flaming Demonics, James White and the Blacks and Teenage Jesus and the Jerks. What compelled you to revisit the Contortions in recent years, versus the others? JC: I took a break from the music business in the early ‘90s for a few years because there was just nothing happening. I got sick of the business aspect of it. When I came back, Henry Rollins started this reissue label and reissued all of this stuff from 1980, which made me decide which name I wanted to use and I just decided. I’ve been using James White and the Blacks throughout the 80s, so I decided to go back to the Contortions and I’ve been using that for 20 years,

The Sax Maniac Cometh: James Chance and the Contortions at Zebulon

Rob Shepyer September 17, 2018

Zebulon was the stage of choice for James Chance’s return to Los Angeles since his monumental last appearance at the Echoplex, his first show here in 34 years. Something about James is a magnet for young Los Angeles beats, punks, eccentrics, hipsters, and anyone down with it. So, for two nights, James took the Zebulon by storm, regaling us with tunes as diverse in age as the audience. related content: James Chance and the Contortions Play First Show In L.A. Since 1984 I try to make it out to any James Chance or No Wave performance in the area because unlike so many scenes that have come and gone, this small fixture of New York 70’s culture never lost its intrigue or cool. Combining nihilism, stream of consciousness poetry, black and white cinema, all into one off-kilter, jarring jazz-punk style, No Wave is the ultimate stand against musical orthodoxy. Anything goes because James says so, that was the mantra for this night of music. Traps PS opened up with some cool post punk vibes that wrung the audience out with plenty of dancing and sweaty rhythm. Reminding me of such greats as Gang of Four, Traps PS features perhaps Los

Double Review Comin’ at You: Suicideyear at Zebulon and Pope at Bootleg

Aria Silva-Espinosa August 9, 2018

Summer is always the best time for live music, no matter where you live. Of course, Los Angeles is a premium stop for touring artists and even in the sweltering July heat, your favorite out-of-state artists will somehow find a way into your own backyard. Two shows in particular sparked my interest earlier this summer when I began filling out my calendar: Baton Rouge-based artist/producer Suicideyear at Zebulon followed by New Orleans indie sadboy outfit Pope at The Bootleg. Both artists embody two dramatically different genres of music but undoubtedly, this is a compare-and-contrast exercise in that both artists have become known as emotional music despite the vast divide between garage rock and electronic music. related content: Overcoming Fear With Fever Ray At The Palladium Suicideyear, the moniker of composer/producer/songwriter and occasional DJ James Prudhomme, has always been kind of a wildcard in live settings. When I was living in Louisiana, I once saw him play an entire festival set of early 2000’s pop and people were into it. I’ve also seen him play haunting industrial sets in dark rooms for a motionless audience. His independent projects are vastly under appreciated in comparison to the work he does in collaboration

What’s Left To Ponders: Pond At Zebulon

Robert Cohen May 29, 2018

One of the best things my Dad ever taught me was to learn the rules laid down by any system before deciding which ones deserve to be broken. After all, any rebellion set off without having done the necessary research can be painted at best as laziness and at worst as unbridled ignorance (i.e. the Occupy movement and/or the Tea Party). And Tuesday night at Zebulon, nothing was more evident than the fact that while Pond and their protégé Lord Fascinator have learned what it takes to make “successful” music, they’ve discarded any rules which have gotten in the way of their respective visions, much to the benefit of all who are willing to give them a chance. related content: Stayin’ Alive: Giorgio Moroder’s 78th Birthday At The Globe Theater Arriving at the beginning of the night was New York based DJ/performer Lord Fascinator. While I had never heard his music before, he managed to make an impression from the moment he and his band walked on stage; however, anyone who looks like dealer to a Heaven’s Gate offshoot out of the East Village likely would. Once the initial novelty of his appearance wore off though, he kicked off a