Category: SHOWS

Illegal Civilization’s Movie Motel at The Pink Motel for Red Bull Music Festival

Rob Shepyer March 4, 2019

Whether you’re into doo-wop or David Lynch, those with a taste for all things vintage and pink in Los Angeles, would see Sun Valley’s treasured Pink Motel as perhaps the best untapped resource to host a music festival. Leave it to fashion and skateboarding collective Illegal Civilization to tap the vein first, hosting their “Movie Motel” there as part of the Red Bull music festival. related content: Red Bull Music Festival Begins With San Cha’s Epic Tragedy At Vibiana It was a cold evening that February night, two moons after Valentine’s. By then the love had already faded away and in its place we needed entertainment to numb the pain and forget. Bright colors, pinks and neons abound, I arrived in Sun Valley, treading against the breeze toward a drained swimming pool. Having this vintage and historic motel fall into the hands of skaters could’ve proved to be a fatal mistake but none of this punk or hip hop would be here in the first place if we weren’t frivolous. The music was one thing to see but guys and girls zooming through the pool on four wheels and breaking invisible waves as they stunted on every inch of that

Photo Recap: Decibel Magazine Tour with Cannibal Corpse at the Fonda

Janky Smooth Central Command February 28, 2019

Decibel Magazine assembled a lineup of heavyweight death metal bands to crush the Fonda Theatre on the Los Angeles date of the annual Decibel Magazine tour. This year’s tour featured the most successful OG Florida death metal band of all time, Cannibal Corpse, headlining with Morbid Angel as their direct support. Two classic, iconic, genre-defining bands of death metal on the same bill. Then to round out the lineup, Necrot and Blood Incantation were also on the show, two bands with such a bright future that they deserve to share a stage with any OG group. Photos by: Anthony Mehlhaff Cannibal Corpse Morbid Angel Necrot Blood Incantation

Sane Clown Posse: ICP’s Album Release at the Regent

Dillon Vaughn February 28, 2019

The Regent Theater in Downtown LA was recently graced by the gods of Psychopathic Records themselves: Insane Clown Posse. Making an appearance as the hosts of one of their many album release events nationwide on the night Fearless Fred Fury hit shelves, the most wicked clowns took the stage to show some love to the often neglected west coast legion of Juggalos. related content: Whoop Whoop! ICP’s Slam Fest At The Regent: A Family Affair Of the many performances from various regional acts the most striking was theatrical industrial/synth duo Luna 13 who equally enchanted and bored the audience to tears. The edgy theatrical elements quickly wore themselves thin and all that was left was a series of monotone tracks that fell somewhere between Author and Punisher, Otep, and the clearance bin at Hot Topic. This was definitely not the show/audience for this band, but even if it were somewhere else a striptease isn’t a substitution for inventive or soulful music in any situation. related content: Children Of The Night: Doyle At The Whisky With the last minute announcement of the one off show and minimal promotion, most fans weren’t even sure if ICP were actually performing or just showing up to

Noah’s Arkestra: Panda Bear at the Lodge Room

Dillon Vaughn February 27, 2019

Panda Bear (aka Noah Lennox of Animal Collective) recently brought the Buoys Tour to the Lodge Room in Highland Park with support from Flaccid Mojo for two sold out nights of pink tinted audiovisual insanity. related content: A Return Full Of Firsts: Deerhunter At The Lodge Room Highland Park Flaccid Mojo are a strange compliment to AnCo; they recently opened for the group (minus Panda Bear) at the Vista Theater with a massively disorienting set at a volume loud enough to shake material loose from the ceiling. What seemed like an odd choice as an opener for a night focused on the reflective and spacy Tangerine Reef became much more understandable when paired with the live presentation of Lennox’s chaotic solo act. Accented with minimal stage lighting and projections of texturally grotesque collected footage, the sounds emanating from the experimental electronic duo (consisting of members of Black Dice) formed an enticingly abrasive foundation commanding the crowd to move. This is an act I’d love to see in the seediest after hours spot in LA: some place with décor and an audience as primitive and brutish as the music and willing to be completely receptive to it. related content: Animal Collective Drip Sound And Color On

Power Chords and Heart Break: Mike Krol at the Bootleg Theatre

Todd Anderson February 26, 2019

Mike Krol is never dead… but that’s a different story. His Bootleg theatre show was the second show of his tour promoting his newest album Power Chords (Merge Records 2019). He cranked out his own brand of fuzzy melodic power pop to a packed house in Los Angeles with the crowd singing along as he belted out his own special blend of garage influenced pop punk melodies bleeding out with the charming intoxication of the obsessively heartbroken. Power Chords is technically the fifth album from this Milwaukee born musician/(sometimes) graphic designer if you want to count the compilation of his first two recordings called Mike Krol is never dead on merge records 2017. He has consistently pumping out the heart break since 2011. Words and Photos by: Todd Anderson

Photo Recap: Viza at the Roxy

Janky Smooth Central Command February 25, 2019

Hometown heroes, Viza, headlined the Roxy for a beautiful and mesmerizing rock show. The band incorporates Greek and Armenian styles of music into their rock and roll and this unique approach garnered them the attention of fellow Armenian icons System of a Down. As you can see by their performance, not only does the band play with passion but they bust out traditional instruments to incorporate the old world into this new rock. Viza is music to make you dance, think, and head bang to. You will certainly be hearing more of them in 2019 as 2018 saw them releasing two EPs, The Unorthodox Revival I and II. Photos by: Travis Prow

Smokin’ in the Rain: One Love Cali Reggae Fest at the Queen Mary

Maggie St. Thomas February 24, 2019

Words and Photos by: Maggie St. Thomas The fourth year since its inception, One Love Cali Reggae festival is held annually at the historic Queen Mary of Long Beach. Boasting its luscious landscape of the city skyline with a view of palm trees, the Queen creates the perfectly chill atmosphere and vibe rain or shine – and we had plenty of both. This reggae fest was a treat being so close to home with powerful headliners featured throughout the weekend on two stages including legends and power hitters in the reggae circuit including artists likeRebelution, Slightly Stoopid, Stick Figure, and Yellowman. related content: Make America Green Again: The Great American Smoke Out Parking was surprisingly painless and easy, and the shuttles to and from the festival were quick. Vendors were plenty, including an Organic Truck with their fried avocado and vegan dishes, a Swisher Sweet booth, and MMJ dispensaries including Long Beach’s local One Love. LBPD was definitely present, but everyone seemed to be having fun and their presence didn’t prevent the crowd from responding to the positive energy, music, and ganja love. Iya Terra performed on the SMKFLWR stage on Friday, they ordered the audience “Let me hear you scream as loud

Our Funny Valentine: Oliver Tree at the Roxy

Aria Silva-Espinosa February 24, 2019

Written by: Aria Silva-Espinosa and Harley Moeler Photos by: Marissa Torres We’ve been waiting for Valentine’s Day for months solely because Oliver Tree would be playing at The Roxy. After announcing the Ugly Is Beautiful U.S. tour in early December 2018, I had already named him as one of my artists to watch in 2019, knowing god damn well the kid would deliver. We saw him turn all the way up at Music Tastes Good in Long Beach last year, despite flying back from Ukraine the same day. Oliver Tree was filming the video from his latest single ‘Hurt’, featuring a series of oversized outfits and morbid scenarios. related content: Food For The Soul: music Tastes Good 2018 We can’t help but notice that Oliver Tree dies tragically in every video he’s shown us so far. Despite capturing attention as the subject of a number of bowl cut-related memes, Oliver Tree’s music is a serious venture. If you take away the scooter, neon ski jacket and wide legged 90’s rave pants, the sound stands alone as really good music. Some of his music is sort of indie rock-ish, like ‘All I’ve Got’ but Oliver Tree can definitely rhyme too, as

Light Within Darkness: Endless Night Vampire Ball at the Globe Theatre

Janky Smooth Central Command February 23, 2019

Words and Photos by: Abraham Preciado The Endless Night Los Angeles Vampire Ball took over the iconic Globe Theatre, hosted by Father Sebastiaan and the Sabretooth Clan (founded in 1995 as a fang club back east in New York) President’s Day Weekend. The Vampire Ball, which is also held throughout multiple cities across the nation and select international locations, brings Vampire culture together each year. related content: Black Baptism Prayers At The Fonda Attendees of the Ball prepare for the event months in advance and arrived in dark elegant wear the night of which ranges from Victorian to Edwardian dress. Dress code is strictly enforced to provide an immersive night for patrons and the community alike. related content: Cold Waves LA: Heaven For Industrial Kids Endless Night brings burlesque performances, light fetish play, live band acts, and more underworld delights to create a night filled with energy and ‘Endless’ fun. This year the patrons were treated with a special musical guest, The Cruxshadows. The band made its first LA appearance in 10 years to a packed house of fans awaiting their return. In short, the crowd was not disappointed by their consuming performance. related content: Luna 13 G.O.A.T. Witch Record Release

Nothing’s Sexier Than Success: The-Dream at the Fonda

Robert Cohen February 23, 2019

What is success? I’m sure Google can supply its own blasé explanation, but in an age where boundaries of race, class, and culture are becoming increasing indefinable, the goalposts of success have also drifted into a twilight zone whose borders shift as often as our expectations of what is possible these days. Thanks in equal part to an increasingly competitive media landscape and the rising ubiquity of social media, visibility and success have practically become synonymous. However, as anyone working the in the higher echelons of any industry knows, it’s often the people with the lowest profile who hold the real keys to the kingdom. related content: Corn Dogs, Fashion, Puke, And Rap: Camp Flog Gnaw 2018 Such is the case with seminal R&B act The-Dream. While by no means an unknown, after thumbing through even a short list of his production and writing credits, he has undeniably become more famous as a power-behind-the-throne figure than as a musician in his own right. Although comparisons to the music moguls of yore hold water on first diving into his output, unlike them, The-Dream shares more as an artist and culture driver with the éminence grise of politics, who conduct themselves concurrently as

Photo Recap: Gang of Four at the Roxy

Janky Smooth Central Command February 14, 2019

70’s English post punk legends Gang of Four have returned to play a slew of shows, climaxing with their Los Angeles performance at The Roxy. Although guitarist Gill Sterry is the only original member the band still plays their classic songs with youthful power and swagger. In April of 2018 the band released an EP entitled Complicit featuring this lineup. Photos by: Lindsay Arth

Southern Fried Outlaw Psych: Blackberry Smoke and Nikki Lane at the Fonda

Rob Shepyer February 13, 2019

In my journey to observe as many genres as I can, holding a microscope over bands on every side of the musical spectrum, Blackberry Smoke always intrigued me. As the one southern rock band on Earache Records, they had a maverick quality about themselves in my eyes. I didn’t know the music as well as I knew the sort of people that enjoyed it. The kinds of people that were into classic rock revival were into Blackberry Smoke. And after seeing them live, I can see why. It’s been decades since bands jammed out this hard. The whole evening had a nostalgic, vintage, and cinematic feel about it. Nikki Lane felt like something out of a T Bone Burnett soundtrack while Blackberry Smoke could’ve been the living incarnation of Stillwater from Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous. On paper, Nikki Lane‘s support under Blackberry Smoke made this a heavyweight tour. As I strolled into the Fonda, I saw the Queen Bee of Outlaw Country on stage turning Los Angeles into a regular hootenanny the likes of which you might see on the Midnight Special or Heehaw. Dressed in a black jumpsuit with gold serpents slithering up and down the cloth, Nikki’s dark