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Lolipalooza Reloads for it’s Second Year at The Echo
Danny Baraz
June 30, 2015
This time last year, I attended the first annual Lolipalooza at The Echo and The Echoplex. I was blown away by the amount of cool, young bands that are coming to and out of L.A. It’s the most amount of fresh, young new music I’ve seen in this city in my entire lifetime, (I wasn’t around for the late 70’s/early 80’s). In the 365 days that have passed since attending their inaugural event, Lolipop Records have not slowed down one bit. The buildings which house The Echo/Echoplex and Lolipop Records have turned into an incubator of fresh, young talent. In this small corner of Echo Park, bands are discovered, recorded, showcased and packaged, all within a 100 yard radius and are subsequently dispersed throughout the globe to show why Los Angeles is the epicenter for music. Wyatt Blair, owner of Lolipop and accomplished musician saw an immense opportunity and took it upon himself to execute his vision and Los Angeles and indeed, the world are a better place for it. I passed through the gates and through the Echoplex driveway early on in the day. It was muggy and nasty out. The sky opened up a couple times during festival
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FYF Presents Head Wound City at The Echoplex: Pretty Boy Hardcore
Danny Baraz
June 29, 2015
When I think of metal bands I have loved throughout history, I think of mullets, Dungeons and Dragons, short busses, bad hygiene and full rooms, void of any feminine presence. My how times have changed. On Friday night, FYF Presents continued to display why they are one of the most diverse talent bookers in town when “super group”, Head Wound City played The Echoplex along with Loma Prieta and Crime Desire. Today’s Metal, no less intense in it’s impact, yet the crowd was filled with beautiful people and so was the stage when Head Wound City played their set. Grindcore, mathcore, thrashcore, noise rock, and noisegrind. Call it what you will but it all stems from Thrash/Speed Metal. There were no soccer moms wearing Slayer t-shirts in the 80’s and 90’s but now, H & M actually have a line of clothing that features bands like Slayer and Metallica on them. I wonder if those particular consumers know that Slayer stands for Satan Laughs As You Eternally Rot. Metal has evolved into many things, most of which I’m not a fan of but Justin Pearson along with his label, Three One G are one of the most creative group of musicians
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Mikal Cronin Pops Into The Griffin: The New Clubhouse for Rockers in L.A.
Danny Baraz
June 25, 2015
Monday nights at The Griffin are becoming a “thing” but it’s definitely not a thing that “they” want “people” to know about. Hopefully Janky Smooth writing about it doesn’t ruin it but it needs to be mentioned since it’s becoming one of the most interesting days of the week for music in Los Angeles. It’s more of a “friend” thing. Ty Segall and Jason Finazzo have managed to rally their circle to come and have a casual hang on Monday nights and their friendship is rewarded with last minute, surprise shows with the likes of Thee Oh Sees and Shannon and the Clams, just to name a few. Quite often people like Henry Rollins show up and stand in a corner as John Dwyer and company do their thang for a small, room full of people. This past Monday, it was Mikal Cronin playing a surprise show at The Griffin. The cool thing about this Monday Night Social that is occurring weekly at The Griffin is that there is no promotion for any of the bands or musicians that play on a weekly basis and that is what makes it fun and casual. There is very little snootiness in the
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California Surf Rock Summer Night: Corners,The Abigails & The Pesos
Janky Smooth Central Command
June 24, 2015
There is a distinct sound to Southern California’s Beach Goth/Surf Rock scene that you will not find or hear as authentically anywhere else but here and especially in the Constellation Room at the Observatory in Orange County. Nothing can quite compare to the strung out guitar strokes that resemble and embody the sounds of our ocean waves. Yan Pessino, the lead singer of The Pesos, indoctrinated us into this show with his haunting vocals. Intoning, “hola, hola, mi amora, hey, hey my, my sweet desire”. He set the mood through melody. The tune, “Hey, hey” romanticized & roused the crowd to dance & sway to the rhythm of this seaside ballad. The Pesos continued their sweet sounding set with the song, “Cumdown”, glamorizing a youthful yet blue drug induced lifestyle. The girls held hands & twirled their long beachy waves & high waisted shorts and boys nodded in their shaggy surfer cuts & band tees. Popping open a few blue ribbons was a successful way to transition to The Abigails. Alcohol might actually be the perfect metaphor for this band. Warren Thomas was stoked as he began the bands set by telling us “I want to fucking party with you, that’s what
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“It’s Important To Be Sincere”- Jonathan Richman at The Monday Club
Lawrence Rengert
June 23, 2015
There is something simultaneously heartbreaking and inspiring about seeing a broke legend like Jonathan Richman. I remember years ago getting a call from our friend Hollis (the drummer from Boss Hog) about a secret show. The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion would be the surprise opener for Ike Turner in Manhattan. Of course tickets were like $50 because it was at BB King’s Blues Club, but we paid it. What I remember more than the jaw dropping-ness of Ike’s guitar playing, was an overwhelming sense of sadness that Rock ‘n’ Roll’s originator had been all but forgotten. The man who recorded Rocket 88 on Chess Records in 1951, 2 years before Elvis, played that night to a pathetically small crowd for a no name label release party. And yet…he wasn’t going to let that stop his greatness. He still showed up, smiled, told jokes, played and still humbly thanked the handful of loyal fans who had each paid to see him; something tragic and at the same time noble. Seeing Jonathan Richman in the alley beside The Monday Club venue in San Luis Obispo felt like that. There was Jonathan, a few hours before show time, in a gold minivan, front
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Ho99o9 EP Release Party at Mystery Box: An Initiation
Brent Smith
June 20, 2015
What began as a harmless Ho99o9 show at Mystery Box in the outskirt bowels of DTLA ended in orgiastic ritual sacrifice, which will ensure ultimate hegemony of their newly-dropped EP Horrors of 1999. (free download) Okay, nothing about Ho99o9 is really harmless to begin with—the experimental punk rap group who have lit the underground on fire, and who recently proved far too bloodcurdling for Warped Tour. There’s a reason shows like these, hosted by i Heart Comix and Family Artists, are thrown in L.A.’s industrial limbo, which didn’t seem to drive fans away. In fact, the line was already down the block when I arrived. I entered the massive space, complete with foyer, main room with a sick stage, and spacious outdoor smoking patio where the bar was. I met up with Danny, Taylor, and David of Minivan who was snapping pics; and the four of us were met with inflatable sex dolls strung with nooses, graffiti, barbed wire, and most horrifically of all, only two porta-potties (It got ugly pretty quick). The opening band No Parents didn’t come on until close to midnight, along with the laser lights, black lights, strobe lights, and fog machines. For the next few hours, our
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Jaga Jazzist at Teragram Ballroom: An All Out Assault on the Senses
Danny Baraz
June 18, 2015
Jaga Jazzist are not a normal band. Teragram Ballroom is not a normal venue. Last night at the newly opened and renovated venue on the outskirts of Downtown Los Angeles, I heard sounds I’ve never heard before. I’m still not quite sure if it was the band or the venue that produced some of the most pleasing tones I’ve ever heard but I suspect it was a bit of both. With 8 supremely talented musicians ejaculating all over their instruments simultaneously, just the fact that you could hear every note and cadence is a testament not only to the audio and acoustics of the Teragram Ballroom but also to the men themselves who resisted the urge, unlike most virtuosos, to stomp on that tiny silver boost button that most musicians include in their rack effects. Jaga Jazzist, if you don’t know, are a band of contemporary jazz musicians from Norway who make their home on the Ninja Tune record label. I had a casual love of their music prior to last night and now that I’ve seen them live, I’m obsessed. Their latest album, “Starfire” dropped on June 2nd and last nights show at the Teragram was the first date
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Joey BadaSS at The Fonda- A Rare M.C. That Still Wants to Rap
Janky Smooth Central Command
June 16, 2015
A couple of weeks ago, writer Jeff Weiss (@passionweiss) tweeted: “Tyler wants to be a director. Kendrick wants to be a jazzman. Chance wants to be Jamiroquai. A$AP wants to be Hansel. No one wants to rap.” Earl Sweatshirt promptly responded “I DO” (along with Open Mike Eagle). I would certainly make the case to add Joey BadaSS to that list. The first time I heard Joey BadaSS flow was on A$AP Rocky’s, cameo-filled, 1 Train. Not an easy feat to stand out on a track with verses from Action Bronson, Danny Brown, Rocky, Big K.R.I.T and (the current God MC) Kendrick Lamar. But he does, reaffirming his independence, “while thinking about signing to the Roc,” the youngest MC of the group, by almost 7 years (14 years younger than Yelawolf), follows KDot at bat, and doesn’t disappoint. Fast-forward 2 years later, still independent, the Brooklyn born, 20-year old, Pro-Era Collective co-founder, released his debut album, “B4.DA.$$,” moving 56,000 units the first week making it the #1 rap and #1 independent album in the country. For the past few months I have had the album on heavy rotation. And while my love for “To Pimp a Butterfly” dwindles down to
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Cold War Kids Play an Intimate Gig at Red Bull Sound Space
Danny Baraz
June 11, 2015
Cold War Kids took the stage, ready to dive into their set and play to this small, intimate room filled with only 275 people. Kat Corbett of KROQ had a different itinerary, instructed to perform her Q and A with the band as a part of this incredible music series in the iconic Los Angeles radio stations’ space/collaboration with the ever evolving lifestyle brand, Red Bull. Red Bull Sound Space, located inside the radio station was filled with the lucky fans who won their way into this rare, free concert from a band of the magnitude of Cold War Kids. Everyone stood and waited as Corbett clawed her way through some basic questions that were met with a bit of resistance and hesitation by Cold War Kids bass player, Matt Maust. Maust came off almost, “dickish” as Corbett attempted to plug Maust’s collaboration with the launch of the What Youth Artist Series which features Maust’s artwork. Corbett navigated the dead pan, one word answers like the professional that she is and prevented Maust from repeatedly shooting himself in the foot. Cold War Kids lead singer, Nathan Willett was less of a dick and a much better sport when fielding questions
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Hanni El Khatib: The Last First Friday of 2015 at Natural History Museum
Justin Cornwall
June 7, 2015
The last First Friday event at the Natural History Museum brought out in-the-know Los Angeles music lovers, young and old, together for an amazing summer kickoff. This lineup featured Hanni El Khatib, Chicano Batman, Avid Dancer and DJ’s Raul Campos (KCRW) + Captain Planet – all local talent. The evening was filled with different genres, hitting and missing different marks, but altogether the night smoothed out well. The Natural History Museum was PACKED, lines at pretty much every one of the 7 (there were more) bars that I counted and all tickets for the night were SOLD OUT. The weather cooled off quite a bit, but the crowds stuck it out for the performances on the new outdoor stage the museum had erected especially for this event. Food trucks, multiple full bars and the opened portions of the museum kept the crowds entertained till show time. Raul Campos played a radio friendly filler set leading up to Avid Dancer’s opening performance. I didn’t know much about Avid Dancer prior to the night, but I’m glad I was able to catch their set to build my own opinion on them. After some research, I discovered that the band was initially a
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Courtney Barnett at The Roxy: How to Make a Rockstar
Danny Baraz
June 1, 2015
By Danny Baraz Walking from Doheny on Sunset on my way to The Roxy, it felt like Beverly Hills had finally swallowed West Hollywood whole. The once filthy and foul smelling Sunset Strip now sparkles like a well placed rescue dog. Once the epicenter of club rock in Los Angeles, only the Roxy and The Rainbow remain relevant to Rock and Roll on the Strip. Most independent artists are playing their shows East of La Brea Blvd these days. Thanks to Goldenvoice, The Roxy just nearly escaped the pay to play fate shared by The Whiskey and The Viper Room and on this night, it was hosting the first of two nights with the rocket ship named Courtney Barnett. The first time I heard Courtney Barnett’s music was covering her gig at El Rey in November as part of Red Bull’s, 30 Days in L.A. At another Goldenvoice venue, organized by a corporate lifestyle brand, it was the first of two times I’ve seen Barnett playing to a 21+ audience. Courtney Barnett’s music seems better suited to play venues in the eastern part of Los Angeles to all ages crowds but I have yet to see her in that setting.
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Vinyl Release Party with Them Howling Bones at Harvard and Stone
Taylor Wong
June 1, 2015
We love Them Howling Bones over here at Janky Smooth and we have been super hyped on this upcoming vinyl release of Them Howling Bones tracks: Follow You Home and Left For Dead. The release party had an awesome line up at an awesome bar with awesome people. What I’m trying to say is the party was awesome. The line up consisted of Sand Babes and Cutty Flam, two awesome Los Angeles bands and was brought to you by Pizza Party Music, A Pint of Cacophony, Cretin Hop and Janky Smooth. The night also consisted of Roger Mars from Cretin Hop providing some dancy tracks between sets. Sand Babes has that very psychedelic/surf vibe that’s been catching on here in LA. and all over the world. They remind me of Mystic Braves and The Growlers. They have a great sound but to be honest it’s starting to get very repetitive to me and becomes very difficult to stand out. Cutty Flam classify themselves as Prom Punk which I believe The Muffs classified themselves as that at Punk Rock Bowling. I’ve heard great things about Cutty Flam and was extremely excited to catch their set for the first time. I also
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