Tag: featured
Gimme Gimmes for Christmas: Interview with Spike Slawson and Joey Cape
Dave Unbuckled
December 13, 2018
Before Me First and the Gimme Gimmes took the stage at the Fonda to perform an epic set for the Holiday season, I had the chance to sit down with Spike Slawson and Joey Cape from the band and discuss everything under the sun. related content: Me First & The Gimme Gimmes Janky Smooth Sessions W/ Spike Slawson Dave: Hey guys. We’re sitting down with Joey Cape and Spike Slawson from Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Welcome back to LA. “Santa Baby” came out today…we heard it on the way over. Joey: I saw the link but I don’t do the social networking thing anymore. I think someone sent me a link to it. Spike: I took Facebook off my phone…it was getting aggravating. Dave: Is this a single song drop…is there a Christmas album in the future? Are you going to start doing this stuff more? Spike: For now, just the song… maybe a few more (songs) to play live. I don’t know if there are that many Christmas songs that I would want to do. Joey: This is an obvious thing that a cover band should do, and it’s come up over the years a few times.
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Photo Recap: Echo and the Bunnymen at Immanuel Church
Janky Smooth Central Command
December 12, 2018
Legendary post punk band, Echo and the Bunnymen, played a two night stint at Immanuel Church in Los Angeles. Echo and the Bunnymen have to be one of the most iconic and successful post punk bands of all time, their music is almost spiritual to some, so a church was a perfect setting to act as a conduit and electrify the music just that much more. Photos by: Lindsay Arth
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I Saw Loop Daddy Kissing Mrs. Claus: Marc Rebillet at Los Globos
Robert Cohen
December 11, 2018
As the year comes to a close, there’s one thing that all people can agree on: 2018 has been fucking weird. Not weird in the sense of “funny ha ha,” but more along the lines of we’ve all been transported en masse to an alternate version of Earth where anything is possible and strange things happen due to what can only be assumed to be a cosmic sense of humor so complex that we’ve yet to wrap our heads around it. And while the negative weird of this brave new world grabs most of the headlines, the positive side effects of the chaos we now call home were on full display Friday night at Marc Rebillet’s (aka Loop Daddy’s) debut LA show at Los Globos, presented by L’Affaire Musicale & Orlove Entertainment. related content: Your Vagina May Catch Fire By The End Of This Song: Death From Above At Teragram Although I had only learned of his music a few weeks beforehand, it made an immediate impression. His music, while using familiar tools and techniques, utilizes these tools in such a way that each song feels incredibly fresh in a way that few performers can manage these days. While dissenters
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Decibel Metal & Beer Fest After Party: Ghoul at El Cid
Rob Shepyer
December 10, 2018
Night 1 of Decibel Magazine‘s Metal and Beer Festival polished off The Wiltern with a diabolically thrash set by Testament. Bodies were broken, souls lost, but the night didn’t end there, the metal heads needed more, they needed blood. The die hards swarmed eastward to El Cid after the show where Church of the 8th Day brought Ghoul and Gost out of their cages to play the after show. I hadn’t seen Ghoul live up until this show and prior to it, they seemed to be getting hyped up to me from all directions. I distinctly remember being unsatisfied with Gwar and the lacking metal-feel of their show. It felt like metal for kids that weren’t passionate about the genre. Nothing more than a break from bands that no one would ever call heavy so that they could feel extreme for the duration of a single set and go back to safer sounds. Ghoul, on the other hand, represents a true alternative in the world of comedic theatrical metal performance. The music was brutal and more death metal inspired. The comedy was blacker and against the grain of all politically correct standards. I fucking loved it. related content: The Growlers
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Decibel Metal & Beer Fest Pre-Party: Armored Saint at the Troubadour
Rob Shepyer
December 10, 2018
Decibel Magazine brought out a slew of amazing bands for their wild Metal and Beer Festival weekend which featured Testament, Power Trip, Godflesh, and culminated with legendary proto-black metal front man, Tom G. Warrior’s Triptykon, playing a set of Celtic Frost classics. My Metal & Beer Festival weekend began the Friday night before the festival with a pre-party at The Troubadour which featured big bands on a small stage, headlined by Metal Blade records’ legendary Armored Saint. related content: Photo Recap: Toxic Holocaust At Resident Armored Saint is a bit of an anomaly in heavy metal history. They brought a hard rock traditional sound to 80’s metal and combined that with European power metal aesthetics and medieval imagery. Their iconic album, Symbol of Salvation, gave the band their biggest hits with bangers from start to finish. The band toured earlier in the year, playing the album from start to finish but on this show, the band was loose and wanted to make this intimate show feel like a hang, where they could play the songs they wanted to from all over their catalogue. The entire bill was stacked with UADA beginning my evening. American black metal never sounded so fierce and haunting as
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Photo Recap: Toxic Holocaust at Resident
Janky Smooth Central Command
December 9, 2018
Toxic Holocaust is a band that shines most as a headlining act. It’s still a treat catching them on tour with bigger bands or at fest, but the mixed crowd they bring on their own makes for a wild (and occasionally dangerous) time. Their recent performance at Resident is a perfect example of metalheads and punks losing their minds alongside each other to some of the most memorable thrash tracks released over the past decade. The night opened with SoCal crossover act Take Offense and LA heroes Scrapmetal and Parasite. Resident has earned it’s title as the (unofficial) home of metal and punk this year and I’m excited to see what acts they host in 2019. Photos by: Dillon Vaughn Toxic Holocaust Take Offense
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Nowell Family Values: Bradley’s House Benefit at the Gaslamp
Janky Smooth Central Command
December 8, 2018
Words and Photos by: Maggie St. Thomas An all ages benefit for Bradley’s House, the Nowell Family Foundation is helping artists in the industry overcome opioid addiction so they can get help and no more lives are lost to this horrific epidemic sweeping America. It was a reggae and punk filled line-up at the Gaslamp Restaurant & Bar including live performances by Long Beach Dub All Stars, LAW, Burritos, Corn Doggy Dog, Kyle Smith, Simbala, Back-Bone, and DJ Product. Vendors booths with merchandise available to those in attendance and whose proceeds went to the charitable Nowell Family Foundation. The venue was packed and full of love, and Jim Papa Nowell was seen in the back with his own booth enjoying the night with friends and family. related content: Dirty Reggae, Smooth Ska: Hepcat And The Aggrolites At House Of Blues Anaheim The night was coordinated by Kellie Nowell, sister of the late Bradley Nowell, and executive director of the Nowell Family Foundation. “We were overwhelmed by the love and support of everyone who came. Our goal with the foundation is to bring together fans and musicians to create a place of hope and healing. This event was a beautiful example of the
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The Culture’s Collective: BROCKHAMPTON at the OC Observatory
Aria Silva-Espinosa
December 6, 2018
It’s comforting to see that the evolution of the iconic American boy band has landed so gracefully at this spot in the natural trajectory. Brockhampton owes a portion of their success to the VICELAND show titles American Boyband, thus drawing the comparison between the modern-day hip hop collective and the saccharine sweet talkers of the 90’s like ‘NSYNC or Boyz II Men. Truthfully, it isn’t a fair comparison and Brockhampton has defined themselves as a unique tribe of diverse delivery styles. Their first album was good, the SATURATION album trilogy got better and better and then in 2018 Brockhampton brought us iridescence, a new classic to glitter your playlists and binge listen the same way I did with SATURATION III. I was definitely excited to see what kind of crowd they would draw from the depths of Orange County, a place riddled with teenaged discontent and disillusionment embedded safely in the comfort of the suburbs. related content: Corn Dogs, Fashion, Puke, And Rap: Camp Flog Gnaw 2018 Approaching The Observatory, the screen above the box office read ‘SOLD OUT’ in giant red letters. Inside the venue, the crowd was packed into the riser-style standing area with determination, the pit was
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Take This: Win 2 Tickets to Ministry at the Fonda
Janky Smooth Central Command
December 6, 2018
Uncle Al is back and just in time for the holidays. Celebrating 30 years of The Land of Rape and Honey, one of their finest albums, Ministry is playing two nights at The Fonda Theatre and we are giving away a pair of tickets for each night. Opening for Al will be Carpenter Brut and since Al has a special keen sense of picking the best bands to open for him, I’m sure they too will burn down the house. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO MINISTRY DECEMBER 20TH OR DECEMBER 21ST AT THE FONDA THEATRE 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 Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook MINISTRY Posts WINNER WILL BE WILL BE SELECTED ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 14TH AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Industrial Avalanche: GODFLESH at Brick by Brick
Janky Smooth Central Command
December 5, 2018
Words and Photos by: Rebecca DiGiglio When I was walking up to Brick by Brick to see GODFLESH, there was already a line formed and I heard INTRCPTR sound checking. I thought I would’ve arrived right at the sweet spot time slot to brazenly walk in and shoot the first band, so it seemed like things were running a little behind schedule. related content: Cold Waves LA: Heaven For Industrial Kids After talking to a friend in line, I came to find out that some key gear of GODFLESH’s didn’t arrive in time, and instead was flown into Los Angeles. Coming to the rescue was Travis Ryan and co. of Cattle Decapitation, who offered up his bass and guitar to the duo. The Brick crew worked their magic, and with a little help from some friends, the loaned gear arrived, and a makeshift laptop/projector setup was made on the floor of the stage to at least have some manner of dark and brutal imagery throughout the set. The show must go on, so they say, and go on it fucking did. related content: Different Shades Of Black: Adult. And Plack Blague At Soda Bar INTRCPTR (members of Pelican, Ancient Lights)
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Off Without a Hitch: Elvis Costello and the Imposters at House of Blues Anaheim
Maggie St. Thomas
December 5, 2018
Words and Photos by: Maggie St. Thomas I was escorted into the Anaheim House of Blues by Professor Steve Nieve himself, who came out to greet his daughter, my date for the night. We walked into the venue and backstage through production to the Green Room, adorned with english teas and candies, and just under a 1/2 dozen Elvis Costello mugs and Grether’s Pastilles on the table. A man walked by who I introduced myself to. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place it. My eyes lit up when I saw him enjoying a small cup of espresso in the greenroom. I asked if I too could get a cup, and within seconds a tiny mug of espresso was in my hand. I am almost too embarrassed to admit I thought this was a roadie due to his friendly and accommodating demeanor, I figured it out long after my espresso had kicked in, when the man I mistook for a roadie walked onstage to the sold out venue to take the microphone, and the band kicked into “This Year’s Girl.” related content: Falling In Love All Over Again: Sparks At The Palace Theatre The Anaheim House of Blues didn’t keep fans
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Redbull Music Festival 2019: An Experiment in Concert-Going
Janky Smooth Central Command
December 4, 2018
Redbull Music Festival always provides a lineup that lets you see interesting artists ininteresting settings. This year in particular gives audiences the chance to see artists in venues that perfectly act like conduits to that artist’s music. San Cha in Viviana church will be an emotionally religious experience for all those that attend. Heartbeats: A Night With Rae Sremmurd and guests will be a stellar evening of trap wildin’, the likes of which Los Angeles has yet to see and with a venue like The Reserve hosting, it will feel like an elegant, VIP experience gone a-wall. And what I’m most personally excited for, Illegal Civ‘s Pink Motel Skate and Music event will be absolutely insane. I already see it in my head, a motel pool filled with drunk and insane skaters while Show Me The Body is tearing up the stage. This one will go off the rails without question. Tickets for Red Bull Music Festival Los Angeles go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, December 5th at 12pm PT via www.redbullmusic.com/los-angeles. Stay tuned for more programming announcements and festival details to be shared in early 2019.
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