Category: SHOWS

The Sound of Silence: Outside Lands 2019

Janky Smooth Central Command August 21, 2019

Words and Photos: Maggie St. Thomas Back at Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival for my 2nd year in a row, I definitely felt like I was home again. This San Francisco 3-day event is always a mixed bag of goodies and is well known for offering one of the most diverse line-ups in music. Six stages and artwork displays come alive beneath towering eucalyptus trees in the gorgeous lush green forest that surrounds Golden Gate park. Outside Lands is massive. This year was a record breaking crowd that was served the finest once again from the people of Grandstand Media. related content: The Queens Converge At Outside Lands 2018 There was a rainbow color of lights emitting from the trees, through the thick layers of fog, or maybe that was the smoke emanating from Grass Lands, a large cannabis education section. This year Outside Lands made history as the first festival in California to offer their concert goers a place to purchase and consume marijuana products. For 3 days, the festival was home for good vibes, good music, and all around good everything. The beauty of Outside Lands is that there is so much to entertain just about anyone. My favorite part of

Who is Orville Peck? Pink Sunsets Over the OC Observatory

Rob Shepyer August 21, 2019

If you need proof that music has the power to change society, look no further than Orville Peck. Coming from the punk and hardcore tradition of making your own rules to live by, Orville has broken the rules of country music, coming at just the right time when the country is the most broken. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Mr. Peck has skyrocketed to success at the same time as Lil Nas X, revolutionizing the same genre. I wouldn’t be surprised if the two ended up doing a duet, actually. Perhaps there was always a homosexual, sort of Tom of Finland, element to country and cowboy culture (Brokeback Mountain wouldn’t be so controversial if released today) or perhaps this genre steeped in conservatism and rigid tradition has always been begging for an artist to liberate it. Whether gay or black or both, the changing face of country mirrors the changing face of America and the Americans that would’ve rejected a whiter, straighter brand of country are ready, willing, and elated to embrace a gayer, darker country music. So who is Orville Peck? Everyone is wondering. The mask adds to the mystique, so maybe it’s better we never find

Under From Down Thunder: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard at the Greek Theatre

Rob Shepyer August 20, 2019

The ascent of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard from Australian psych rock darlings to Greek Theatre headlining Los Angeles phenomenon has been a journey that has not only pleasured our psych rock scene but developed it to be passed down to a younger generation. In many ways, we in Los Angeles feel like King Gizz is our band. And so, to celebrate their reaching a new steppe in the hierarchy of rock and a new album, the band played an epic set that thrilled, chilled, and gave everyone the full King Gizz experience. My prediction that 2019 would be the year of the Australian takeover might not be as evident as with this concert seeing as all three bands hail from the continent. I’m not sure what the charm is exactly, perhaps we consider them exotic. I think it’s the terrain though, surrealist desert, plenty of surf, oddball nature, cultured metropolis, and hard drinking would inspire great psychedelic music. related content: Unheavenly Skies Above Los Feliz: Coheed & Cambria And Mastodon At The Greek Opening the evening was ORB, a psych rock session of Sabbath worship and we’re talking early Sabbath. Self-titled. Down-tuned riffs that harken ominous imagery and make

Community Outreach: Better Oblivion Community Center at the Observatory

Rob Shepyer August 13, 2019

I had been itching to see Better Oblivion Community Center for the greater part of the year up until this month. They held sold out two consecutive nights at Teragram earlier in the year and though I couldn’t squeeze my way in, I got the sense that the hype was completely deserved. For those of you who don’t know, this oddly titled band is the collaboration between Bright Eyes‘ fearless troubadour Conor Oberst and queen of Los Angeles, Phoebe Bridgers, who together create some of the most heart-felt and groovy alternative folk music you’ll ever hear. With two Southern California shows, one at the Observatory and one at the Wiltern, I wasn’t going to let this opportunity go to waste. I was going to the community meeting with my heart open for change. related content: Haley Dahl, Queen of Rock in 2019: Sloppy Jane at the Bootleg Theater I can’t remember the last group who’s songwriting touched me in such a tender way as BOCC. Songs like “Didn’t Know What I Was In For” and “Chesapeake” are described as moving for a reason, I can actually feel my heart taking a more sensitive disposition toward this life than before I hear

The Ultimate Residency: Ty Segall & Freedom Band at Teragram

Dillon Vaughn August 11, 2019

The second night of Ty Segall‘s MASSIVE 10 week residency at The Teragram Ballroom was a perfect juxtaposition of the now classic, simple songwriting and garage riffs of 2010 paired with the refined and experimental material of a maturing artist. related content: Ty Segall & The Freedom Band Blows Minds At Secret Show At The Griffin Backed by an ensemble of familiar LA musicians performing as The Freedom Band, Ty and Co. set the evening in motion with a blazing rendition of the entirety of the recently released album First Taste. The Freedom Band (consisting of Mikal Cronin, Charles Moothart, Emmet Kelley, and Shannon Lay [perfectly adding six strings to the press-buzz generating “guitarless album”]) cast new light on an already new release by significantly boosting the energy of every single track. A swelling electric rendition of the a capella Ice Plant, now complete with percussion and strings, stands out as a highlight of the evening and a prime example of the power of live performance. Feeding upon the excitement of the audience and playing harder or with more feeling is the cycle that makes it more than just “songs from the album, but live.” It’s the entire purpose of seeing music in person and

The Perfect Summer Show: The Drums at the Palladium

Aria Silva-Espinosa August 2, 2019

The lines for the Palladium blocked foot traffic on Sunset Boulevard Saturday night. It’s been so hot and sticky in Los Angeles the past week or so that everyone seems anxious to leave the air conditioned apartments and ceiling fans they’ve been heavily relying on for survival and seek some social interaction. Conversations carry loudly through the venue halls and common areas. One of the best parts of the Palladium is that there’s an old-fashioned popcorn machine in the back, it really makes it feel more like you’re there for the theatre or the cinema rather than a rock show. related content: Overcoming Fear With Fever Ray At The Palladium It’s a good sign when the line at the merch booth is just as enthusiastic as the line outside the box office and the die-hard enthusiasm for New York indie pop outfit The Drums is omnipresent throughout the venue. I pass a kid in the lobby donning dark red makeup with a custom bejeweled full-body jumpsuit bearing the band’s moniker on the back in rhinestones. The Drums certainly have a sound reminiscent of late 80’s new wave music but in a polished sort of way. The music is happy, the

In the Presence of Royalty: Yes at Fivepoint Ampitheatre

Rob Shepyer August 2, 2019

It’s important to sprinkle in a little classic rock to any LA concert junkie’s calendar of shows. Frequenting only underground music, no matter the genre, will still give you a limited understanding of the human soul, no matter how much you bounce around the spectrum of different sounds. Sometimes you need the radio hits, KLOS or otherwise. Such was the case when I had to decide between Knot Fest, The Drums, and Yes‘ Royal Affair Tour with Asia, John Lodge, and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy. The choice was obvious. Janky Smooth originated as a psych rock operation after all and the psych kids of yesterday were the progressive rockers. Bands like Yes and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer made music and sang lyrics that took listeners on journeys far beyond this plane of existence, much like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard do in 2019. The way King Gizz sings about magic, mysticism, and adventure differs from that of the old kings though. Where the new breed sings about these topics with irony, pastiche, or jest, the old bands sang about them with authenticity and the hope to inspire. It’s no wonder progressive music might be considered a nerdy genre by

Maggots Unite!: Knot Fest Road Show 2019

Janky Smooth Central Command August 1, 2019

Photos by: Pedro Carrera Words by: Wesley Vanhook The sun was high and unforgiving over the San Bernardino hills for Knot Fest Roadshow. Anyone that’s been to the Glen Helen Pavillon knows just how hot the sun beats down. But the heat was no deterrent to the rabid maggots of Slipknot. Parking lot tailgating was in full-effect and the party was only just beginning. The gates opened and fans began pouring in for the masters of darkness Behemoth, as they were about to begin their dark ceremony. related content: No Rest ‘Till Knotfest This would be the second time I would see Behemoth touring North America in support of their latest album I Loved You at Your Darkest. The stage was set and as a banner of North America with a giant upside down cross was strewn over the stage. Behemoth then ripped into the wild track “Wolves of Siberia” and never let up, playing “Daimonos”, “Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer”, and the classic “Conquer All” Behemoth showed their live show is a force to be reckoned with. related content: Slayer’s Final So-Cal Show At Five Point Amphitheater: The Most Insane Review I’ll Ever Write With Behemoth setting the bar for

Birthday Boogaloo: Burger Boogaloo 2019

Nicole Verto July 31, 2019

Words by: Nicole Verto Photos by: Workhorse Studios I’m supposed to be starting this with some glorious cliche about how Burger Boogaloo is “bigger and better” as it celebrates ten years of weird punk fun but I can’t because it wasn’t those things. related content: The De-Evolution of Burger Boogaloo First of all, it was held in the same space but a smaller portion of it. This year, the festival downgraded from two stages to one and closed off access to the amphitheater. Rumors swirled on rays of sunlight. “It’s probably because of low attendance. That’s the only reason it could be, right?” “I heard it was so they wouldn’t displace folks living here.” Whatever the reason, there was one stage and some people did not love that. I am not one of those people — the stage was positioned such that you could hear and see from everywhere. This enabled groups to hunker down in one spot all day and it made the festival seem more intimate — from more conversations to strangers to feeling like you were always close to the music. Basically, for their tenth birthday, the folks behind Boogaloo chose to quietly pull the crowd in

Dais Party: Drab Majesty’s Modern Mirror Record Release at the Fonda

Audrey Kemp July 30, 2019

Since 2007, Dais Records has illuminated artists that challenge the audiophile’s idea of post-punk, and the sold-out Fonda theatre’s guests on July 26 were no exception. Los Angeles’ own rising goth-gaze stars Drab Majesty launched their expansive tour of Modern Mirror, their third studio album, accompanied by the dynamic synth-pop brothers in Body of Light and the imposing industrial phenomenon, HIDE. related content: Deb Demure’s Modern Mirror: Drab Majesty Interview July 26 must have been a pivotal evening for Andrew and Alex Jarson of Body of Light, as it not only marked this performance, but also the release of their second album, Time to Kill. When synth player Andrew emerged alone, diving into an artificial and otherworldly-sounding interlude fit for an early ‘80s sci-fi movie, no one could have expected what would come. Suddenly, Alex emerged from a blood red fog while a synth-pop beat began to take form. Although initially reminiscent of Depeche Mode or Soft Cell, the duo has something that is distinctly their own: Alex’s bursting energy. Going into the album’s third track, “Don’t Pretend,” they were contained to the stage, but by the time they reached the chorus, Alex had jumped from the stage, into the

Photo Recap: Revolver Presents The Pure Noise Tour w/Stick to Your Guns and Terror

Janky Smooth Central Command July 25, 2019

The Pure Noise tour presented by Revolver Magazine made its way to 1720. This stacked hardcore lineup featured some California originals ripping the stage up and as you can see by the photos, this crowd won’t forget the songs or the bruises. Stick to Your Guns, Terror, Sanction, and Counterparts each brought it and brought it hard. Photos by: Veronika Reinert Stick to Your Guns Terror Sanction Counterparts

Boston Calling: Sound and Fury 2019

Rob Shepyer July 24, 2019

Words by: Rob Shepyer Photos by: Albert Licano, Anthony Mehlhaff, and Veronika Reinert I feel like every year I go to Sound and Fury, I end up thinking it was the best Sound and Fury I’ve ever been to. 2018 was the festival’s first time at the Belasco, with California’s beloved Rotting Out reuniting to headline Friday, Ceremony closing out the main fest and Iron Age reuniting for an after show at the tiny Resident. Before that, 2017 had Incendiary headline the Regent but also play Five Star Bar the night before, along with Nails, for an after show that had chairs and real punches swinging in the pit. My first Sound and Fury, 2016 featured an unforgettable Ceremony set and was the only time I’ve ever seen my favorite black metal band, Taake, at an after show. related content: Sound And Fury Hardcore Festival Comes Of Age All Across Los Angeles And yet, taking all of these experiences into account, I still feel Sound and Fury 2019 is the undisputed champion. Why? Simply because Have Heart created a concert atmosphere that was so crazed, I’ve never seen anything like it, nor probably will ever again. Seeing it happen in the