Category: SHOWS

Glorious Leader, Kim John Kill: Mosswood Meltdown 2022

Rob Shepyer July 13, 2022

Warning: This article contains humor. A lost art among some, yet one cherished till the grave by this writer and self-professed fool. Jokes, gags and gut-busters bring us closer to some elusive human truth, even in the case of fart jokes. No one is safe, but you can subscribe to certain ideologies that will vaccinate you from this humor and gain you entry to the “no punks allowed” club. If you’re wondering what the name of this article is all about, it’s a merging of all three queens of Mosswood Meltdown into one radioactive mutant. I created this title after realizing the original title was not going to fly in 2022, if this was 2002 though and Jason Biggs was headlining, you better believe I would’ve went with my first choice. “Kim John Kill” does not by any means a suggest any relation between Bay Area punks and communists like Kim Jong Il, though I’m sure he’d do well if he was booked at Eli’s. I was so thrilled to be back at Mosswood Park. To me, this festival is more than just a gathering of bands and rad fellows. This is an annual tradition that brings me closer to

Robots Need Music Too: Kraftwerk 3D at the Shrine Auditorium

Rob Shepyer July 12, 2022

Kraftwerk are a legendary band and it’s not until you see them perform that you truly comprehend the impact they’ve had on every genre, from hip hop samples to electronic music, these strange German art rockers created sounds that were essential to the world’s musical fabric. At first, I wanted to go to this show just to enjoy the sheer spectacle of it. Kraftwerk 3D, or any 3D show, must be a mind-expanding experience, I surmised. Then, very quickly, my understanding of the band deepened much further than I expected. These guys are artists in the highest regard in the sense that this robot rock is a veil for heavy political and social commentary. The song Computer World for instance features the lyrics: Interpol and Deautsche Bank, FBI and Scotland Yard CIA and KGB and total data and memory This song isn’t so much minimalist poetry but the suggestion these forces collaborate and misuse your personal data. People are rather ambivalent to the impact data mining and control have over their lives but as society draws closer to what can really be considered a “computer world”, it’s control of data that will sculpt your user experience simply living in reality.

Photo Recap: Fleet Foxes at Santa Barbara Bowl

Janky Smooth Central Command July 11, 2022

Legendary band of modern-day troubadours, Fleet Foxes, toured through Santa Barbara to play the SB Bowl with support from Tim Bernardes and played the classics as well as fresh tunes off their grammy nominated album, Shores. The voices of all Santa Barbara came together to sing with Robin Pecknold, culminating in their final song, the epic Helplessness Blues, who’s lyrics feel more poignant now than ever. This concert was the perfect proof of the healing powers of music and community and we’ve got the photos to show it from that memorable night. Fleet Foxes

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

Daddy’s Day: Tom of Finland Celebrated 29 Years of TOM’s Bar w/Orville Peck and Mareux

Janky Smooth Central Command July 2, 2022

Let’s be honest, most of the time, Father’s Day is one of the worst holidays. Father’s usually don’t get the respect they deserve on that day, let alone the rest of the year. Daddy’s however, require that respect and usually get it. This year, Father’s Day hit its peak with a celebration by The Tom of Finland Foundation commemorating 29 years of TOM’s Bar at Avalon with rare performances by Orville Peck and Mareux. We sent our manliest Daddy on the camera, Taylor Wong out to capture all the decadent festivities. Photos by: Taylor Wong Orville Peck Tom’s Club

Witch’s Brew: We Intend To Cause Havoc at Brouwerij West

Rob Shepyer July 1, 2022

When the right band comes to play Brouwerij West, there is absolutely no question whether i’ll be attending or not, it’s a definite yes. The drive through beautiful San Pedro is only the first of many gifts one is given upon venturing to this sacred brewery. The beer is the second, with an incredible selection of in-house brews from my favorite, the blackberry saison, to all sorts of unfiltered hoppy IPAs to gorgeous and rich pilsners and alcoholic slushees that can’t be touched. More than any other brewery in Southern California, Brouwerij West is the destination for art, youth, music, and beer all in one. Their Pop Fuji music series always has a few treasures on the lineup, like the one year Sleep performed an unforgettable set, even summoning a guy in full astronaut costume to crowd surf. Shows at this place are one of the most hidden gems in all underground music in Los Angeles. related content: Silver Lake Perris: Desert Daze 2019 WITCH (We Intend to Cause Havoc) are one of those must-see bands that came through Brouwerij West, since I missed their performance at Huichica, a winery based festival, I thought seeing them at a brewery was

Photo Recap: Bright Eyes at SOMA San Diego

Janky Smooth Central Command June 29, 2022

Our day of celebrating the music of Bright Eyes and Conor Oberst continues with this wonderful photo recap of their show at SOMA San Diego. Photos by: Rebecca DiGiglio Bright Eyes

The (Drama Club) Kids Are Alright: Bright Eyes and Cate Le Bon at the Greek Theatre

Taylor Wong June 29, 2022

Words by: Hunter Hall Photos by: Taylor Wong In the early 2000s, Connor Oberst tapped into the sadcore, indie rock zeitgeist that would define Bright Eyes and become cornerstone soundtracks for sensitive teens in their most formative years. Twenty years later, these now 30-40 somethings packed the Greek Theatre for Bright Eyes’ first concert in Los Angeles in a decade. With a perfectly curated set list of songs from each era, Bright Eyes delivered exactly what fans hoped they could expect — Dylan-esque lyrics sung in a quivery voice that would take them back to their high school days. What was not expected, at least by myself, was how a show to tour a 2 year old album and some fan-favorite hits really became a night at the theater. related content: Community Outreach: Better Oblivion Community Center at the Observatory Opening for Bright Eyes was Cate Le Bon, who served as the perfect prologue for the play to come. The band was costumed in a potluck of delicious 70s suites, suede fringe, and thick bangs; a variety of artsy looks not much different than the crowd before them. At the center of the stage, Le Bon herself was cloaked in

Feeling Supernatural: Turnover at the Regent

Janky Smooth Central Command June 24, 2022

Words by: Alfredo Luna Photos by: Dave Unbuckled On the back of two brand new singles, Turnover took to the stage on the first night of their sold out 2 show run at The Regent. The band has always felt like it had a kaleidoscope of sound with their music revolving and hopping from genre to genre. This varied assortment of sound brought a diverse mix of fans out. With the release of their newer stuff and the limited West Coast run they had announced, it was hard to guess how they were going to sound or what they were going to play, the hype in the line and in the venue turned into full on speculation of what we thought was going to be played as well as the classic debate of old stuff versus new. Regardless of what was in store for us, we were all ready to experience one of the more unique discographies on display that night. related content: For Every Season Turn, Turn, Turn: Turnover and Turnstile at El Rey Kicking off the night we were treated to the NorCal based Healing Potpourri which brought an easy listening lounge vibe to the stage. The band

Every Maggot Learns to Fly: Knotfest Roadshow at North Island Credit Union Amphitheater

Rob Shepyer June 24, 2022

I have to admit, Slipknot was my very first concert. It was the 2004 Jagermeister tour featuring support from one of my favorite bands, Fear Factory. Even back then, Slipknot put on an unforgettable show where the theatrics, pyro, visuals and stage antics were just as impressive and psychotic as the instrumentation. Almost twenty years later, the band has only grown in size and spectacle and having sold out North Island Credit Union Amphitheater, it goes to show that you can never underestimate the power of this fanbase. More than any other band, Slipknot have cemented themselves as the band for the outsiders. There are people accepted by the mainstream culture, then there are Maggots. To be a maggot you must feel music differently than most, then maybe, the meatgrinder of metal that is Slipknot’s sound can touch your black, tender heart. I remember one interview with Clown where he summarized the band in very simple terms. The reason they wear masks is because their art is full of so much pain, they can’t even bear to show their faces while they express themselves. This furious howling, shredding, chugging and blast-beat drumming comes from a very vulnerable place, one that

Photo Recap: Nasty Savage at the Regent

Janky Smooth Central Command June 22, 2022

Thrash metal’s most hardcore band, Nasty Savage returned to the Regent to decimate the stage with their heavy metal, extremely violent and outrageous antics. We had to be there to capture the insanity and beyond the amazing performances from Hirax, Witchaven, Saintbreaker and EvilDead, Nasty Savage tore shit up as brutally as you’d expect. Nasty Ronnie was on the ground after his TV stunt, leaving debris everywhere. It’s a shocking scene that requires documentation and we caught all the nasty evidence on film. Photos by: Jason Murillo Nasty Savage Hirax Witchaven Saintbreaker EvilDead

Ringleaders of the Underground: Teenage Wrist at the Echo

Danny Ryan June 22, 2022

Words and Photos by: Danny Ryan Teenage Wrist’s range of influence is incredibly wide with their embrace of grunge-era angst seamlessly blending into moments of blissful shoegaze breakdowns. With how large and atmospheric the band’s sound is, the modest stage presence rooted in their DIY background complimented the small venue atmosphere of The Echo amazingly. Their newest album “Earth is a Black Hole” signifies a drastic shift in the band’s sound, with a new vocalist and a much more punk-influenced sound than the emo roots of their previous works. Teenage Wrist has consistently been dedicated to their evolution with exploration of incorporating new genres throughout their career, which was clearly represented with the contrasting musical styles of each opener. The exciting feeling of seeing promising up-and-coming bands that could eventually take over the world was felt throughout The Echo that night, and Teenage Wrist came across as ringleaders of the underground with how much unique charisma that could be felt in each performance. Equally important to the blend of genres in Teenage Wrist’s headlining set at The Echo, the band curated an excellent lineup of diverse sounds from different underground backgrounds with the 90’s college rock influence of Soft Blue