Tag: featured
It Ain’t a Cult, it’s a Trap: Tyla Yaweh and SAINt JHN at The Roxy
Rob Shepyer
May 23, 2018
Hip hop shows in 2018 are the most purely fun concerts of any genre causing a ruckus in LA. With rowdy DJs, blunt smoke, wild dance, and beautiful women everywhere, anyone that talks down about this form of music surely hasn’t experienced it live. related content: Nature World Night Out At The Regent: Building Bridges Between Hardcore And Hip Hop The night’s artists, vocalizing under the Not A Cult tour’s banner, were Tyla Yaweh and SAINt JHN. Tyla, a new acquisition of London Entertainment, is an artist ready to make everyone his biggest fan in 2018. How on Earth can he do this? Well, he demonstrated every behavior he would need to capture your adoration and imagination at this Roxy performance. First: Charisma. Tyla’s charisma is perhaps his most noticeable attribute, with a big smile and the ability to use dance and body language to to tell the story. Tyla moves with the lucidity and confidence of someone that risked it all for a dream and succeeded. During one song that featured the lyrics “she told me she really good at dancin’ like Michael Jackson“, Tyla busted out moves that dazzled the audience, dance moves people rarely see from hip
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Soulfly And Nile: From The Amazon to The Whiskey
Rob Shepyer
May 22, 2018
When I was thirteen years old, strewn above my bed, watching over me as I slept, was none other than Max Cavalera. His silhouette standing over the ocean, arms a-stretched like Rio De Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer, was on the cover of Soulfly‘s 1998 debut album, the poster flag of which hung upon my wall. This was Max’s new band and new approach, where Sepultura was a landmark fusion of world music and metal and inspired bands from thrash to death metal to hardcore to nu-metal alike, Soulfly was a spiritual reinvention. related content: Satyricon’s Final Los Angeles Show At The Regent: A Night Too Blackened To Forget It had taken me forever to see Max Cavalera live, either because I’m a poser or because I got so into punk that I forgot Soulfly, but with this Whiskey show popping my cherry, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the music like I was still thirteen. The first band I saw take the stage was Not My Master from El Paso, Texas. Texas produces a very sonically visceral strain of metal and Not My Master are no exception. They’re powerful but but don’t veer too far into noise, so fans of
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Satyricon’s Final Los Angeles Show At The Regent: A Night Too Blackened To Forget
Rob Shepyer
May 21, 2018
How do music writer’s typically describe the black metal sound? Frigid riffs? blast-beat drums? Cold shriek vocals? Epic? Medieval? Symphonic? These keywords are standard diction in black metal analysis but when talking about Satyricon one must introduce words like groove, experimental, and rock and fucking roll. That’s how the band set themselves apart from the rest of their contemporaries in the second wave of black metal (of the True Norwegian variety). They started with that typical winter blitzkrieg assault then evolved by slowing down the rhythm section for groove and making more chorus-heavy, kick-ass song structures while still fitting in the black metal mold. Satyricon should be credited for inspiring bands to blacken up their sound. related content: Slayer’s Final So-Cal Show At Five Point Amphitheater: The Most Insane Review I’ll Ever Write I remember first hearing Satyricon on the soundtrack for the cult movie Spun, directed by former Bathory drummer Jonas Akerlund and written by Will De Los Santos. The song “Mother North” off Nemesis Divina was featured prominently in the film and immediately made me take notice of their thrilling riffage and arrangements. Then once I saw the music video for “Fuel For Hatred” on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball,
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Finding the Funk: Birocratic at Union
Dillon Vaughn
May 20, 2018
I’d like to begin by getting one very important thing out of the way: I’m a transplant here, as I’m sure a solid 95% of those reading this are too. I’m not as far from my home (Arizona) or my home before that (New Mexico – fuck it, I’m a child of the southwest after all) as most of you are, but I’m sure one thing is common among all of us: moving to Los Angeles represented a pivotal moment in which we were all allowed to explore and pursue every desire and interest we’d ever had, regardless of the cultural taboos and expectations placed upon us by those who raised us and sent us out into this mess (often unwillingly.) I was brought up in a very “metal” family; my parents owned a record store in New Mexico throughout my childhood called The Dragon’s Lair and our family road trips (which were almost exclusively planned around concerts) were soundtracked by the big four or Iron Maiden with sprinkles of what would become a growing obsession of mine: funk. Those deep, catchy grooves encouraged me to dig through every soul section I came across in a record store by the
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Erika Wennerstrom Brings the Bootleg Theater Closer to Nature
Grace Dunn
May 17, 2018
Questioning your existence is necessary for spiritual expansion. Growth through self-exploration in solitude is Erika Wennerstrom‘s debut of her solo album Sweet Unknown. The Bootleg Theater witnessed Erika’s soul on fire approach to song writing and those whom have never crossed paths with her were in for a treat. related content: In The City Of Sad Angels: Loma And Jess Williamson At The Bootleg Theater Jaime Wyatt opened the night for Erika and gave a courageous musical exchanging of vulnerable tales. She was bold and brave enough to mention her time spent in jail. Her confident charisma comes across best in her song ‘Wasco’. Performing without her band, her accompanying guitarist was a solid match to Jaime’s raw, powerful country voice. Erika was equipped with a brand new Gretsch Duo Jet that had such a clean tone that it cut through the crowd with great range. Immediately, the audience reacted in supportive awe with plenty of whoops and hollers all in agreement that Erika’s vocalizing song paths feel as refreshing as water through the Grand Canyon. Erika’s sensitive songwriting combines the great American spirit of freedom with a deep sense of humility and alignment of purpose with soil. Then haunting howls
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Take This: Win 2 Tickets To The Melvins At The Observatory
Janky Smooth Central Command
May 17, 2018
Fathers of sludge and elder-statesman of rock and roll, The Melvins are returning to the OC Observatory on July 12th and Janky Smooth is giving a pair of tickets away to one lucky fan. If you haven’t seen the Melvins live before than I don’t feel like you can call yourself a real LA music head. They’re essential viewing. See for yourself what it would be like if Captain Beefheart played metal on July 12th at The Observatory. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR. ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS FOR THE MELVINS JULY 12TH 2018, THE OC OBSERVATORY Step 1- Join Our Newsletter (look for pop up everytime you arrive at jankysmooth.com) Step 2- Share or RT this post on FB or Twitter or Tag a Friend in the comment section of our INSTAGRAM Melvins Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE WILL BE SELECTED ON FRIDAY JUNE 1st AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Take This: Show Us Your Scars: Win a Pair of Tickets to 3 Shows: GBH, Subhumans, and Fear
Janky Smooth Central Command
May 16, 2018
Celebrate hump day with the highlight of Janky Smooth’s giveaway week: The Show Us Your Scars: OC Punk Ticket Package giveaway! This once in a lifetime opportunity offers you the chance to win A PAIR of tickets to not one, not two, BUT THREE shows at The Orange County Observatory. These shows include GBH on May 25th, The Subhumans on May 29th, and Fear on June 29th. And what did we at Janky Smooth think was the best way to find a winner to attend these three punk shows in Orange County? By showing us your battle scars. That’s right, punks that got a fist to the lip at a show or broke their legs skating, this is your opportunity to cash-in on your injury. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS TO GBH HERE TICKETS TO SUBHUMANS HERE AND TICKETS TO FEAR HERE OR ENTER TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO ALL 3 SHOWS IN OUR SHOW US YOUR SCARS GIVEAWAY MAY 25TH, 29TH AND JUNE 29TH, 2018, THE OC OBSERVATORY Step 1- Like one of our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) Step 2- Direct Message us a picture of your gnarliest scar The gnarliest of the gnarly wins WINNER WILL
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Take This: Win 2 Tickets to Godspeed You! Black Emperor at The Observatory
Janky Smooth Central Command
May 15, 2018
Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a landmark band in the history of music with the innovations they’ve made in the world of post-rock. With their latest release, Luciferian Towers, the band has only intensified the mark they’ve made. Be ready to be thrilled, chilled, and find perfect lucidity in the dramatic instrumental highs and lows of the sonic and emotional roller coaster this band takes you on at every performance. Janky Smooth is proud to to give you the chance to win 2 tickets to see Godspeed You! Black Emperor at the OC Observatory on Thursday, May 24th. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR: ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS FOR GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR MAY 24th 2018, THE OC OBSERVATORY Step 1- Join Our Newsletter (look for pop up everytime you arrive at jankysmooth.com) Step 2- Share or RT this post on FB or Twitter or Tag a Friend in the comment section of our INSTAGRAM Godspeed You! Black Emperor Giveaway Post WINNER WILL BE WILL BE SELECTED ON MONDAY, MAY 21st AT 11AM PST VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION
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Slayer’s Final So-Cal Show at Five Point Amphitheater: The Most Insane Review I’ll Ever Write
Rob Shepyer
May 15, 2018
Seeing Slayer from the front of the crowd is the most violent live music experience you can gamble your life on. And I’m not exaggerating, the risk is real, tangible. Most music bloggers covering this show didn’t choose to stand where I stood, inching forward with the crowd with some kind of unconscious death wish; probably because most music bloggers have more to lose. To sum up what a Slayer show that close to the band is like, I’ll make a World War II reference like the band does on the song “Angel of Death”, their closer of the night. The front row of a Slayer concert feels like being crammed into a train on its way to a death camp, only a band is playing. Everyone is squeezed so tightly into each other that they can’t move. There’s no step you can take back, forward, to the right or left, that could give your body any relief. You’re lucky if you can move your arms. Then suddenly, you’re violently pushed in every direction, colliding with the bodies beside you and falling into them but not falling over, if you’re lucky and God forbid you do, because those that fell
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Take This: 2 VIP Tickets & VIP Swag Bag For Dirty Penni Fest 3 At The Echo & Echoplex
Janky Smooth Central Command
May 14, 2018
Dirty Laundry TV and Penniback records are joining forces once again to bring you the gnarliest, dirtiest, most insanely fun festival this side of Sunset Blvd, that’s right boys and girls, Dirty Penni Fest is back with its 3rd installment on July 1st and it’s taking over the Echo and the Echoplex again for you animals to crawl up and down between sets. related content: Dirty Penni Fest: A Rock And Roll Romper For Young And Old This year’s lineup hosts none other than LA noise rock hooligans No Age, surf punk trio Sad Girl, Oakland’s own Mt. Eddy, kings of LA psyche rock Frankie And The Witch Fingers, garage rock from the future: Feels, and much, much more including a special guest >_>. Underground legends get made at Dirty Penni Fest, so here’s your chance. Janky Smooth, Penniback Records, and Dirty Laundry TV are giving away 2 VIP tickets to Dirty Penni Fest 3 and a VIP swag bag that includes shirts, CD’s and cassettes to one winner. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE OR: ENTER TO WIN 2 VIP TICKETS AND SWAG BAG FOR DIRTY PENNI FEST 3 July 1st 2018, The Echo + Echoplex Step 1- Join Our Newsletter (look for pop up everytime
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Morbid Angel at The Regent: A Lesson in Death
Rob Shepyer
May 13, 2018
Morbid Angel is one of the longest reigning, pioneering, OG Flordia death metal bands still touring. If one were to make a list of the “Big 4” of death metal, one would have to place them in the the number 2 slot, only after Death. Having titled their records alphabetically, the band has already gotten to K with Kingdoms Disdained an album that scrapped their former lead singer and bassist David Vincent to reunite with Steve Tucker. Under the master guidance of guitarist and band leader Trey Azagthoth, this latest 2017 release is one of the most crushing and riveting albums in the entire universe of extreme music and for a first generation death metal band to have released it among all these young kids trying to reinvent the wheel of metal, is truly significant of Morbid Angel’s greatness and right to reign. related content: The Battle of The Bays: Obituary & Exodus Clash At Teragram Ballroom Church of the 8th Day hosted Morbid Angel at the Regent with three openers, each contributing to a night of ear-splitting insanity. The first of which was Voices of Ruin, strapped with spiked leather and growls of Herculean magnitude, the band’s sound was
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We All Scored At Lethal Amount’s Pure Trash With Sylvain Sylvain
Rob Shepyer
May 10, 2018
You read that title right. Every last one of us, from the most hideous to the most creeporial (or is the word creepatory?) got laid that night. This was just an event like no other, between the cool, rock and glam songs Sylvain Sylvain was licking out to the unmistakable camaraderie inspired by any Lethal Amounts shindig, getting laid gets easy. Part of the reason is that Lethal Amounts brought back their Pure Trash night which used to be a staple every week at Monty bar and ever since its absence, I’ve had a lot more trouble chasing tail. Now that it’s back though, lock up your daughters… fuck it, your sons too. related content: Snow Blood On The Leaves: Alice Glass, Zola Jesus, And Pictureplane At Teragram Sylvain went on a bit late, strutting on stage after midnight but that left a few hours of great hanging to transpire at the ol’ El Cid with plenty of palomas and beers being passed around. I was actually just as entertained by the groups of people talking and being natural with each other as I was for the show and that’s not a slight against the performance. Some weird dude was
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