
Tag: featured

Take This: Win 2 Tickets to The Growler’s Beach Goth
Beach Goth seems to reinvent itself every year and apart from becoming a traveling circus in 2018, they’ve moved to the old sacred festival burial grounds that is Los Angeles Historic Park and become a one-night affair. As always though, the lineup showcases more musical diversity than any festival you could catch in Los Angeles. From legendary old acts like Gwar, Youth of Today, and Doug E. Fresh; to legends of the future like Starcrawler, Bleached, and Kirin J. Calinan. As always, The Growlers are headlining and who knows how they’ll be dressed for the festivities. related content: Beach Goth 4: The Party Of The Year related content: The Growlers Lose The Beach Goth Battle But Won The War This Weekend Janky Smooth is giving you the chance to catch this gathering of oddities and rarities with yet another epic giveaway. Bring a friend, bring a costume, and bring the party. The festival takes place this weekend, Sunday, August 5th. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR. ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS FOR THE GROWLERS’ BEACH GOTH AUGUST 5TH AT LOS ANGELES HISTORIS PARK Step 1- Join Our Newsletter (look for pop up everytime you arrive at jankysmooth.com) Step 2- Share or RT this post

Rebel Armz in the House: Immortal Technique at Marty’s on Newport
Last weekend Hip Hop lovers rejoiced at the chance to catch Immortal Technique spit knowledge two nights in a row along alongside legends Mr.Choc and Chino XL at the ever so intimate setting of Marty’s On Newport . For those of us trying to make sense of the direction new “rap” is heading, catching the lyrical geniuses that made us fall in love with the genre is an essential role in keeping us from being jaded beyond repair. I’d like to think that trap is a fad for the kids and when it fades into obscurity (like so many other fads have over the decades) acts such as Immortal Technique, Beat Junkies, Pharcyde, KRS One will be the ones left standing the test of time. Maybe that is a fallacy, but I still maintain hope for the future of our youth. related content: Summertime In The LBC: This Is Your Dad’s Hip Hop Line-Ups like this are the defibrillation to the heartbeat that is keeping the true voice of hip hop alive. Immortal Technique and Chino XL speak with spiritual intelligence on unity, human intuition, brotherhood, respect for women and community without compromising their hard as fuck stature that has commanded

Beast from the East: Sand at Toxic Toast Theatre
There are the kinds of music nerds that collect the vinyl albums of their favorite bands and then there are the kinds that sift through the Japanese imports section looking for new favorites. Japan has always been one of the best countries to make hardcore music whether it be bands like Stalin or Loyal to the Grave or my favorite of the lot: Sand. Conceptually, Sand represents an original idea that transcends hardcore in that it makes you rethink the use of language in music. They’re a Japanese band that sings in broken English. They could just sing in Japanese but that would miss the point they’re aiming for. A foreigner might not know your language well but chances are the way he expresses it will bring new meaning to the words. Such is the case when Sand performs songs like “Poser” with unforgettable lyrics like these: Your lyrics sound like an ethics class book. A model father. Sundays in church. A Bible reading pig. I’m gonna puke. DIE! All sounds phony. What a fucking scam. Your lyrics sound like some kid slamming down cheap beers, bragging like he’s been through hell. Then through the filter of a thick Japanese

Anarchy’s Monarch: Scarlxrd at The Roxy
Arcing over the pond in a desperate fire bombing attack on American soil, the UK’s Scarlxrd landed at the Roxy Theatre to light Los Angeles up for his first American show. With only him and his DJ performing, it was almost like a showcase for us foreigners, to see what secret weapon the trap game had up its sleeves. Or, to use an even more ridiculous comparison, it was as if Goldenvoice used a cheat code to select the secret character on the menu screen and we were facing Noob Saibot for the evening. related content: Sleaford Mods Hit The Echoplex On Last Date Of First Ever U.S. Tour For those confused by my ramblings, Scarlxrd is a young, trap artist who’s sound and image have captured young people’s imagination and has garnered seals of approval from mainstream American taste-making institutions such as Noisy and Goldenvoice. What differentiates him from other artists in the game though, is the undisputed aggression and anger in his music which most trap artists only try to give the impression they can summon through their image. If trap and hardcore punk are on two opposite poles of a spectrum, Scarlxrd represents a point on that

OC’s Alright if you Like Saxophones: Psychedelic Furs and X at the Pacific Amphitheatre
The Psychedelic Furs satisfied everyone’s nostalgia fix at The Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa last Thursday with support from The Fixx and X. What may have seemed like an odd bill melded together perfectly, reminding us that in the 80’s New Wave kids and Punks were cut from the same cloth. Some concert goers that I spoke with throughout the evening held the opinion that The Fixx played the best set of the night and that is saying a lot considering the energy and talent that X and The Psychedelic Furs played with. Exene Cervenka, John Doe, Billy Zoom and D.J. Bonebrake were all in X-cellent form and garnered a reaction from the crowd that was fit for hometown heroes. related content: Burger Boogaloo 2017: The Ballad of John and Iggy They played all the hits like “Your Phones Off The Hook, But You’re Not”, “Los Angeles” and “Johnny Hit and Run Paulene”. Craig Packham of The Palominos joined in for a few songs playing acoustic guitar during “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes” and hopped on the drums while D.J. played the vibraphone for “Come Back To Me” and “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts.” You don’t realize how familiar you are with The

Janky Smooth Exclusive: A Scene from The Icarus Line Must Die
The Icarus Line were an unique and quintessential Los Angeles band filled with much internal conflict and turmoil that inspired the creation of great rock and roll. Filmmaker Michael Grodner set out to capture the band’s history and its member’s personal journeys of death and taxes through Los Angeles in his film The Icarus Line Must Die. In this exclusive scene, Icarus Line lead singer Joe Cardomone finds himself in a struggle that every musician must be familiar with and that’s trying to make good money making music. It feels like a conversation we’ve all had, in a place we’ve all been, only Joe seems totally original. The Icarus Line Must Die is now available on VOD from Google Play, Youtube, iTunes, and Amazon. You can watch the film’s trailer here: Joe Cardamone released his first album as a solo artist this year. Holy War delves into the world of dark electronics to make what some people are calling “industrial soul”. Utilizing a powerful array of symbols and a dangerous singing style, the mystery to this artist seems to thicken the more we learn about him. You can check out Joe Cardamone’s solo album Holy War here:

Take This: Win 2 Tickets to Kruder & Dorfmeister at The Fonda – Dance to K&D
Peter Kruder & Richard Dorfmeister are considered the Godfather DJ’s of Vienna. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of their first EP, G-Stoned, the band is embarking on a tour on which they will perform for four hours straight just like in the old days. The downtempo genre owes everything to this duo and their unique mastery of tonal language. Their masterpieces The K+D Sessions and DJ Kicks have both sold over a million copies worldwide and are staples in any electronic dance music collection. Seeing this group perform is sure to be a memorable and inspiring experience for anyone with an open mind. That’s why Janky Smooth is incredibly proud to be giving away a pair of tickets to Kruder & Dorfmeister at the Fonda Theater on November 4th. Those lucky enough to win and attend the concert will experience a transformative four hours that will make you rethink the possibilities of music. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR. ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS FOR KRUDER & DORFMEISTER NOVEMBER 4th AT THE FONDA Step 1- Join Our Newsletter (look for pop up everytime you arrive at jankysmooth.com) Step 2- Tag a friend and post a video of yourself dancing to any Kruder & Dorfmeister song in

A Handle of Jim Beam and a Joint: Weedeater at Union
Among the veterans of the stoner metal genre, Weedeater is the loudest, the stoniest, and the best. Often times the bands that come to mind when you say stoner metal are Sleep and Electric Wizard, I figure these people have never seen Weedeater live because once you do and headbang your neck off while every piece of your clothing vibrates and you nearly go deaf, you realize no band is heavier. After a Weedeater show, you won’t exclude them from any conversation about the power of live music. related content: Ascending The Holy Mountain: Sleep At The Fonda Theater The Carolinas aren’t heavily represented in metal but when they are, like in this case, they make such a huge splash that you immediately get a sense of the area. If the Carolinas feel like Weedeater, they’re a bold, down to earth, and toughened bunch. related content: Weedeater And The Obsessed At The Regent: Blaze It Up, Fool Dixie Dave, Weedeater’s iconic bassist and vocalist, is the perfect spokesperson for stoner rock. With the ability to drain a handle of Jim Beam and sip on cough syrup during his shows and only being enhanced by these substances, Dixie has develop super human

L.A.’s Best Festival is Sound and Fury (imo). Here’s Why:
There are many qualities that make Sound and Fury Los Angeles’ best festival. I will try to touch upon them all in this article and also review every band that played the festival and after shows. You will want to attend the festival after reading this and not because I’m novelizing the experience but rather, what actually takes place at Sound and Fury is so uniquely incredible that the only reason a fan of heavy music wouldn’t want to attend is because they don’t know the festival exists. So, consider this your introduction: Sound and Fury is a hardcore music festival that began in 2006 in Ventura, California. Hosting legendary sets by underground hardcore artists whether they be in warehouses or the back of a U-haul like for Trash Talk in 2009, the festival’s momentum kept growing and growing until moving to the Regent Theater in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, the festival had expanded to the point that it could upgrade to the Belasco Theater. related content: The Most Complete Sound And Fury 2017 Review On Earth Gathering bands from all around North America (and one from Finland) to perform on two stages in the Belasco or at various

Summertime in the LBC: This is Your Dad’s Hip Hop
Most people read the first part then skim through for pictures of themselves so I want to say this before it gets ignored. The Game never took off his jacket in 100% heat and Ja Rule has those deep dick muscles. The second year of Long Beach-centric music festival Summertime In The LBC felt like it finally lived up to its namesake with the inclusion of the face of Long Beach hip-hop Snoop Dogg. Last year felt like NYC in the LBC with Wu-Tang and 50 Cent being the headliners but this year was like the west coast took back its territory, with that comes some great benefits like great weed everywhere but there was also a dude dressed like a cholo clown popping and locking around like tattoo flash come to life. related content: Summertime In The LBC: Love Letter To A City That Doesn’t Always Love Back Snoop Dogg performed Doggystyle in its entirety and as cool as it was to see its hard not to see its age. As fun as wondering when exactly the jack off hour is, when I listen “Ain’t No Fun” it makes me want to hug 93’ Snoop Dogg and tell him it’s ok to fall in love

One Friday Night in Hell Part 4: Os Mutantes at Union
Beads of sweat, sans regret. Move your body to the voodoo rhythm of Bat Macumba on the most sweltering summer night in Los Angeles. I admit it felt too perfect a circumstance for the universe to combine this delectable lineup of Os Mutantes and L.A. Drones in the melting pot that is Union Night club. I remember looking up the show in advance thinking: “Why did a legendary sixties band choose a low key venue far out from the usual popular venues in LA?” I figured perhaps I haven’t explored the venue’s history enough to give it credit. I had been to Union Nightclub years earlier for a show or two, but never since. Either way, I looked forward to this because I missed their set back in 2013 at Carson Creek Ranch for Austin Psych Fest. Moving forward, I knew I wanted a refreshing night of music to dance and thoroughly enjoy movement with the musicians. I couldn’t foresee the added heat of the night making it almost unbearable to move even with the fans blowing into the audience. All I ever saw whenever I would visit the venue in the past was how rowdy the crowd was waiting for an electronic

One Friday Night in Hell Part 3: Lethal Amounts Presents The Zeros at El Cid
Let me give you a bit of advice, when Pure Trash is booked, you attend. The bands start late, around midnight when most of the shows throughout the city have already ended. Then with bands like The Zeros playing, you’d have to be a fucking idiot to miss out. It’s the ultimate goto destination for nights you never want to end. That’s where I wound up on this especially hellish Friday last week. After Show Me The Body, Twitching Tongues, and Vein then after Das Bunker’s Das Ich show at Los Globos. related content: One Friday Night In Hell Part 1: Show Me The Body, Twitching Tongues, And Vein At The Regent I made Downtown and Echo Park my bitch that night, cruising for a bruising and testing myself to see how hard I can party. After hardcore and industrial, the Zeros were the relief I needed, loose, raw and most of all fun punk rock that didn’t take itself too serious. Perfect tunes for Pure Trash. related content: One Friday Night In Hell Part 2: Das Ich At Los Globos The Flytraps opened up the night, more happily unhinged than they usually are, like they had a license to

