Tag: featured
Your Vagina May Catch Fire by the End of This Song: Death From Above at the Teragram
Robert Cohen
November 8, 2018
In her 1972 book Survival: A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature, Margaret Atwood wrote that the Canadian way of death is death by accident. And while this perspective has been analyzed, discussed, and otherwise relentlessly picked apart in the years since the book’s initial publication, it’s important to note that while DFA may stand for many things, “Death From Accident” was certainly not one of them at Toronto’s own DFA’s Sunday show at The Teragram, despite the temptation at times to think of it that way. related content: Finally Admitting It’s Real: Portugal The Man At The Shrine There were times during the entire show I found myself contemplating if all the slip-ups in their career were somehow intentionally made so that the show could be as perfectly tailored as it was. This was a show that might as well have been planned by a Swiss watchmaker based on how effective it was in escalating the mood of the crowd with each consecutive action. From the size of the venue, to the makeup of the crowd, the swagger of the openers and headliners alike, even extending into the music that played before, in between, and after each set, this was
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All I Want for Christmas is “Blood and Tears”: Danzig’s Halloween Hell Bash at Fivepoint Amphitheatre
Rob Shepyer
November 7, 2018
I attend every Danzig show I can, no matter the incarnation. Glenn’s music is a church of sorts for me, I unapologetically worship the man. For Misfits, I’ll travel across state-lines. For Danzig, I’ll stay in traffic for hours and end up home the next morning. For Samhain, fuck it, I’ll sell an organ to get through the door. For all Glenn Danzig’s done for punk, metal, and dark aesthetics in general, if it wasn’t for him, I would be on a completely different course in life. related content: The Misfits At Riot Fest Chicago 2016: Bats In The Press Tent Danzig I was the first record I ever bought. For months before buying it, I would just stare at the Crystal Skull on the cover until my curiosity and fear got the best of me and I bought it almost to test myself and see if I could handle this dark, evil force. Lately, Danzig has been playing shows to celebrate what might be his most iconic album Danzig III: How the Gods Kill. It’s an album any true fan has to love but it’s Danzig II: Lucifuge that I find is often underrepresented but features a few of my
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Take This: Win Two Tickets to Cloak and Dagger Fest
Janky Smooth Central Command
November 7, 2018
The best goth party of the year is black so get out your black clothes and lint rollers and make sure that shit is spotless because Janky Smooth is giving away two tickets to Cloak and Dagger, your chance to dance the night away with a bunch of vampires and other such dark denizens of Los Angeles. Last year’s Cloak and Dagger fest was undoubtably one of the most popping nights of music Los Angeles had to offer. This year’s festival is sure not to disappoint with a lineup featuring a slew of bands off Dais records, notably my favorites on the lineup, Body of Light and SRSQ. Then there’s Janky Smooth old school favorites Health, industrial dance swan songers Boy Harsher, classic goth rockers Christian Death, and so many more. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO CLOAK AND DAGGER FEST NOVEMBER 10TH AT THE LOS ANGELES 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 Cloak and Dagger Fest Posts WINNER WILL BE WILL BE SELECTED ON THURSDAY NOVEMBER 9TH AT 11AM PST VIA
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Noche de las Luchas: Lucha Vavoom at the Mayan
Jessica Moncrief
November 6, 2018
October 25th, wrestling and burlesque enthusiasts alike gathered at The Mayan to kick off the first of two nights inside America’s most outrageous show, Lucha Vavoom! related content: Pussy Bang Bang Grindhouse Burlesque Show Grinds on Harvelle’s Long Beach The wildly popular production, Lucha Vavoom has been a staple show in LA at The Mayan for years and always sells out for a reason. The producers have combined comedy, Mexican Lucha-Libre wrestling, music, and burlesque to create an over the top spectacular that keeps your senses tantalized from beginning to end. Before the show officially kicked off Peaches delivered the house rules to a rowdy crowd of inebriated wrestling fans via an instructional video. The most important rule, aside from watching out for flying luchadoras, was “No Puking!” The first act of the night featured trans sensation, Neon Music. She made a grand entrance on a bat swing that descended from the ceiling as she sang a delightfully dark rendition of “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”. It was a fitting way to start of the “Circo De Vampiros” Halloween edition of Lucha Vavoom and seriously warmed my little black heart. related content: Fierce Fiesta: Scum’s 2 Year Anniversary W/Limp Wrist At The
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POC OC: Tropicalia Music and Taco Fest at the Queen Mary
Dave Unbuckled
November 6, 2018
If the crowd of over 10,000 mostly white attendees at Surf City Blitz in Huntington Beach was anyone’s attempt to portray the demographic of Orange County’s aging local hero music scene, Long Beach’s Tropicalia Festival certainly flipped that turtle on its back. Tropicalia, now in it’s second year, has usurped the beach goth crowd from its predecessors, and has established itself as Southern California’s premier Latino influenced music festival, with one of the most diverse lineups I’ve ever seen. The mostly early twenty-something Latino-American crowd sold out the two-day weekend fest’s $200+ ticket capacity and brought an energy with them that recent Southern California festivals have been lacking. related content: The Growlers Reclaim Castle Beach Goth And All Is Right With The World Again With a lineup that boasted Morrissey and Mazzy Star, in addition to The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr. and Kali Uchis, Tropicalia presented a full day’s worth of entertainment for its attendees. Younger crowds showed up early to watch local favorites Tropa Magica, The Hurricanes, and Jurassic Shark play on much larger stages than the bands usually get the opportunity to perform on, and each enjoyed a well-received set. related content: Janky Meets Marty: The Dwarves At
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Photo Recap: The Damned and Radkey at the Fonda
Janky Smooth Central Command
November 5, 2018
The Damned sold out the Fonda Theatre last week for their Evil Spirits tour. Just in time to catch the back end of the Halloween season, people were dressed up and ready to party like ghouls and devils. Supporting The Damned were young up and coming rockers, Radkey. Hailing from Missouri, this trio plays with a metallic sound that is unquestionably heavy, punky, and American. related content: Dab Hits And The Damned on 420 At The Glass House Photos by: Lindsay Arth The Damned Radkey
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Photo Recap: Generation Sex at the Roxy
Janky Smooth Central Command
November 5, 2018
Fans of 70’s British punk were given a real treat last week when Billy Idol decided to return to his original punk rock outfit, Generation X, only with the addition of Sex Pistols guitarist and radio God Steve Jones. I fondly recall loads of punks near and far expressing how much they wish they could’ve seen Generation X and this show seemed to answer all those prayers. With Billy Idol on vocals, Tony James on bass, and Paul Cook on drums rounding out the original members of the band, Generation Sex marked yet another iconic performance to grace the Roxy Theatre stage. Photos by : Jessica Moncrief
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Photo Recap: Necro’s Night of the Living Dead at Catch One
Janky Smooth Central Command
November 2, 2018
Words and Photos by: Pedro Carrera An underground hip hop Goliath, Necro, took the stage at Catch One with his right hand man, Mr. Hyde to perform to a crazed crowed of demons. This was Necro’s Night of the Living Dead and for all the insanity that took place in that club, it’s better to describe this as a circus than a show. Topless woman, mosh pitting minions and thick clouds of smoke for days only touches the surface of what we witnessed. related content: Black Baptism: Prayers At The Fonda Then you had MCs from every school of rap like 2 Mex, Pawz one, Johnny Slash, Dannyboy, P. Dogg, and One Be lo dropping bars that were all too real for the radio. For all the visual stimulation this night offered, what it really had an abundance of was free thought. Necro Mr. Hyde 2Mex Pawz one P. Dogg One Be Lo Johnny Slash Dannyboy
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Black Baptism: Prayers at the Fonda
Rob Shepyer
November 1, 2018
When I think deeply about the music and impact of Cholo goth duo Prayers, I come up with great memories of enjoying their music and many questions regarding the band’s place in music. 2018 seemed to be a pause in the band’s momentum, a break after 2017’s Baptism of Thieves. With Rafael Reyes getting married to Kat Von D and becoming a father for the second time, an outsider would think the band was stepping back from the spotlight to pursue their lives. This would be an error though, Prayers has multiple albums just waiting to be released but still, lets take this introspective moment in the Prayers’ career at face-value. related content: Rafael Reyes of Prayers Interview: On Fatherhood When the duo first released SD Killwave in 2013 and then their LP Gothic Summer in 2014, they burst onto the scene with such a powerful splash that not only did their sound take-off but they created a new genre of two seemingly clashing aesthetics, Cholo and Goth. These two records were filled with bangers and genuine underground hits. They captured the punks, the goths, and even the hip hop heads. Enter Travis Barker, who produced their next full length, Young Gods,
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The Protomen: Mega Men on a Mission at the Echoplex
Dillon Vaughn
October 31, 2018
There are so many opportunities to see new acts pushing the limits of their respective genres and niches I find it hard to believe anyone can say they’ve actually “heard it all,” especially when the person saying that is living in a major city. Even looking past the one-off performances unique to LA it’s easy to get a glimpse of the countless acts touring across the US to play for fans extremely passionate about their shared interests. There’s a call for music beyond the played out gates of psych and shoegaze that surround Echo Park (and the east-side as a whole.) A call thankfully answered by The Protomen, Makeup and Vanity Set, and Bit Brigade. related content: Chiptune Leveling Up At Freq. Fest: 8bitLA 6.0 At The Smell Upon walking into the Echoplex that evening I was immediately introduced to something I’ve never seen at a show before: the use of Mega Man II as an instrument. Well, not quite an instrument, but a visual guide for the instrumental renditions of the themes present in the game as a member of the Athens, GA based Bit Brigade performed a (nearly flawless) speed-run of the game on a projected screen alongside his bandmates.
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Take This: Win Two Tickets to Alcest at Catch One
Janky Smooth Central Command
October 30, 2018
French metal-gaze innovators Alcest are returning to Los Angeles’ Catch One (formerly Union Nightclub) touring a set that will feature their seminal album Kodama played in its entirety. Few bands have been able to marry such heavy, brutal sounds with such lush, beautiful ones as well as Alcest has. Supporting them on this tour are King Woman and Glaare, two underground heavyweights in their own right. Janky Smooth is giving away a pair of tickets to this stacked lineup. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO ALCEST NOVEMBER 2nd AT CATCH ONE 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 Alcest Posts WINNER WILL BE WILL BE SELECTED ON THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1ST AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Dirty Reggae, Smooth Ska: Hepcat and the Aggrolites at House of Blues Anaheim
Janky Smooth Central Command
October 29, 2018
Words and Photos by: Maggie St. Thomas On a late October’s evening at the Anaheim House of Blues, generations gathered to witness a high energy night packed with great ska classics by The Aggrolites and Hepcat, with Jessie Wagner killing it on guitar and vocals during both sets and sustaining the momentum for the entire night. The dirty reggae style of The Aggrolites began as they opened their set with a mixture of songs led by organ player Roger Rivas (also a member of Long Beach Dub All Stars). They played “Pound for Pound,” a new song off their upcoming album, ‘“Right on Time’’, “Countryman Fiddle,” and ‘Don’t Let Me Down,” and delivered plenty of hits with precision and beats to a jam-packed house. related content: Make America Green Again: The Great American Smokeout Hepcat performed a full 90 minute set sharing the same energy onstage with Alex Désert and Greg Lee singing and dancing the night away, looking sharp and sounding as good as ever. Hepcat’s sound was warm and lively as they kept their live show refreshing, much to the delight of the actively engaged crowd. During songs, Greg Lee began, “We’ve lost some brothers. We’ve lost some family
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