Category: SHOWS

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

I Don’t Have a Curfew: Dirty Penni Fest IV at the Echo/Echoplex

Jonathan Reyes July 16, 2019

The kaleidoscope of sound heard at the fourth iteration of Dirty Laundry TV and Penniback Records‘ collaboration, Dirty Penni Fest, could best be described as pleasantly confounding. While there was a thread of teen angst sewn through every band, the final product being a disorderly quilt collaboratively sewn by neo-cumbia, acid metal, and traditional punk bands. Walking through this festival made of think of listening to the radio in one room and the TV in another while smoking weed in the bathroom so mom doesn’t smell it. related content: Dirty Penni Fest: A Rock And Roll Romper Room For Young And Old Can you describe something as walking through a sea of teenagers? The patio stage was constant and rowdy, Think “The Smell” without the scared straight element. When I wasn’t getting elbowed in the back I was enjoying Kuromi rip it up. What a band. I watched a lot of kids scream and thrash into instruments but they had something that was lacking in some of the other bands, a point to the fury, they screamed and they bashed and they captivated. Sabrina is Not in This Chat Sabrina is not playing loud enough, for the first couple songs

Amyl and the Sniffers shot by Anthony Mehlhaff

Amyl and the Sniffers at the Teragram Ballroom

Jessica Moncrief July 15, 2019

Opening a show for a band like Amyl and The Sniffers seems like it could be somewhat intimidating, but adding a legend like Alice Bag to the bill seems like it could make it downright terrifying, however that didn’t seem to be the case with Moss! The quartet of young musicians made their way to the stage first. There was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before their set started and the smaller crowd of obvious fans and curious early birds that had trickled in, stood staring blankly at the stage waiting for Moss! to start performing. It wasn’t long before these guys would prove the reason why they were added to this insane bill. related content: Surf & Sniff: Amyl & The Sniffers At Soda Bar Moss! is no 3 chord act. While they embody everything that we all love energetically and stylistically about Punk, their arrangements are much more intricate varying from bluesy and surfy to punchy and aggressive and even melodic at times. It wasn’t long before the room filled up and bodies were moving. Their set served as a great reminder of why it’s important “get there early” to catch opening bands. Next up was

Crossing into the Spirit World: Ceremony at The Irenic

Janky Smooth Central Command July 14, 2019

Words and Photos by: Rebecca DiGiglio The Irenic is an interesting venue, previously a church situated in the middle of a residential neighborhood, slightly awkward inside with a little elevated step area in front of the 3 foot or so high stage. I’ve also seen Ceremony some 6 or 7 years ago at the legendary Philadelphia venue First Unitarian Church, so when I heard the show announcement of one of my favorites, I was excited to see them in yet another holy house. related content: A Tsunami Of Hardcore Kids: Fury’s “Failed Entertainment” Record Release At The Observatory I got to the show just in time to see Sheer Mag (regrettably missed Bugg, as the show was quite early due to venue restrictions and, I’m told, ornery neighbors who like to file complaints). People seemed psyched on this band, with a crew ready to dance situated front and center. The Philadelphia-based band’s style of rock n’ roll with punk leanings was well received and a solid start to what was to ensue. Once they took the stage, Ceremony started out with “Sick”; I was not prepared for them to open with this and immediately got knocked over. Shortly afterwards,

Bay Area Blitzkrieg: Old Firm Casuals at 1720

Rob Shepyer July 10, 2019

The Bay Area is such a special place. The art, specifically the punk, that came from that golden strip of California, has had such a profound impact on my life that not only compares to Los Angeles but in many ways it surpasses it. Whether it be the boys in Rancid that called 924 Gilman Street home or the Dead Kennedys, CRIME, and this young band called Spiritual Cramp, I see so much truth organically coming from those bands. A Hard Times tour with these two bands, rounded out with Section H8, made for a show that brought together so many flavors of music and spellbound 1720 Warehouse. related content: A Tsunami Of Hardcore Kids: Fury’s “Failed Entertainment” Record Release At The Observatory I don’t miss a Spiritual Cramp show. Every time I see them, I find something new to love about their sound and performance. The energy is the first thing you notice, Michael Bingham’s kinetic stage antics, his jumping and swinging arms are the perfectly-paced cardio routine that leaves him drenched, pouring out all the anger and revolutionary spirit we need. This time around, I found the guitar and bass work absolutely incredibly, the tone is so reminiscent

Take This: Win Two Tickets to Suburban Fight & Sound and Fury Present Bar Wrestling at The Hi Hat

Janky Smooth Central Command July 10, 2019

Suburban Fight are the kings of underground wrestling in Los Angeles proper. Whether in a bar or a ring, whether paired with hardcore music or just straight fights from top to bottom, no one else has an aesthetic and matches that fans connect with more. Last year’s Sound and Fury festival concluded with their first partnership with Suburban Fight in a Hi Hat hardcore ho-down with Darby Allin jumping off the venue’s ceiling to deliver an insane elbow drop onto Joey Janela. This year, Allin returns to take on the mysterious underground wrestling legend Ultra Mantis Black in a match that you won’t soon forget. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR: ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO GCW PRESENTS SUBURBAN FIGHT x SOUND AND FURY JULY 14TH AT THE HI HAT 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 Suburban Fight Ticket Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE SELECTED ON JULY 12TH 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

Ming River Drunken Punk Rock LBC Matinee: The Spits and Surfbort at Alex’s Bar

Janky Smooth Central Command July 4, 2019

Matinee show crowds can be a gamble. Even if the bill is solid, you never know if the allure of the lazy Sunday will win over the show. Even if people attend, will they have the energy needed to make it a show to remember? At this particular matinee show, you needn’t worry. On one hand, because the lineup of Die Group, Surfbort, and the Spits is a right-left-right combo of ferocious rock n’ roll. On the other, because the show was sponsored by Ming River Baijiu liquor company. Ming River was offering free shot samples of their different flavors as well as fantastic drink specials. The crowd was at the venue getting well lubricated two hours before the first band even took stage. Most opening bands need to start playing in order to get people to crowd the stage. Most bands with drummers on lead vocals are boring to watch. Die Group is not most bands. Clad in all black and in leather motorcycle jackets no matter how bikram yoga hot the stage gets, the trio deliver monstrous fuzz guitar over solid garage grooves. Eric Big Arm uses every inch of his side of the stage while drummer and

Unheavenly Skies Above Los Feliz: Coheed & Cambria and Mastodon at the Greek

Rob Shepyer July 3, 2019

I could’ve gone to see the Misfits but seeing how it would’ve been my fourth time, I felt like I had a pass to miss a fiend club meet up for the chance to catch Coheed and Cambria’s Unheavenly Skye tour with Mastodon and Every Time I Die at the Greek Theatre. The sweeping, virtuosic, narrative-driven, poppy, metallic music of Coheed and Cambria has always intrigued me. They captured a different sound and concept than any other band within the progressive genre, which I suppose is the only one you can fit them into. And so, this sweet summer night saw the clouds gather over Los Feliz to rumble with thunder and lightning because tonight, the Rock Gods were out to play. Every Time I Die began the night with some of the best metalcore on the market today. I had been trying to catch them for awhile and was blown away by their intensity, fun, catchiness, and just how jagged their riffs were. Following them was one of the most important progressive metal bands of all time, Mastodon. I wouldn’t leave their accolades at prog metal though, they will have a lasting impact on all heavy music. It’s amazing

Category: SHOWS

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