Tag: psychedelic

Moon Block: Party in Orange County w/ Crazy After Party in LA

Taylor Wong February 17, 2015

Moon Block has done it again. On Sunday night I made my way out to Fullerton for yet another great Moon Block Party. The show took place at The Continental Room, not to be confused with The Constellation Room at The Observatory in Orange County. This, according to the people at Moon Block, is a common issue when booking bands. As soon as I entered the tiny space known as The Continental Room, I noticed Troy and Sleazy P of Death Hymn Number 9 behind the bar. Not only do these guys kill it on stage but they can also make a killer drink. First band on the line up, and one of my all time favorites, Them Howling Bones, ended up not having a chance to play last night do to miscommunication with their bass player, Mondo. Aside from that, the show ran smoothly as Isaac Rother and The Phantoms quickly took the stage. I was surprised to see such a large band fit on The Continental Room’s tiny stage. Isaac and the Phantoms played a few songs before Isaac shared the unfortunate news that his dog had passed earlier that morning. He honored his dog by playing an old folk

The Warlocks and Weed Smoke Don’t Mix at The Bootleg

Danny Baraz February 12, 2015

I was excited to see The Warlocks for the first time. Attendees of Wednesday’s show at The Bootleg Theater in L.A. were treated to a stacked lineup of opening acts in both rooms of the venue. It was a well crafted build up to a band that helped define the modern day psych genre. I walked into the venue to the sounds of Gun/Her. Gun/Her are a two piece band from Los Angeles. The simple but tight bass playing of front woman Xe serves to accentuate the raw and soulful sounds that emit from her esophagus. The musical arrangements are a potpourri of post punk and blues goodness while Xe’s vocals summon the ghost of Janis Joplin. It’s a killer mix. I made a visit to the main room to check out Dream Boys who have a big, surf/indie sound like a polished sonic diamond. I opted to go back to the muck and rawness of Gun/Her before they vacated the stage for the glamorous, Blood Candy. I couldn’t really tell if Blood Candy was any good because lead guitarist Cliff was turned up way too loud. I heard the potential in there somewhere and I almost walked up to

Another epic Lolipop Records show with Mystic Braves and friends at The Echo

Taylor Wong December 21, 2014

Lolipop Records graced us with another great lineup in LA last night at The Echo- Levitation Room, Drinking Flowers, Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel, and headliners, Mystic Braves. This show was like a high school backyard party. I say that not because the crowd was mostly under 21 but because all the bands playing and half the people attending were people I have met through out LA shows. These bands frequently play 5 Star Bar in Downtown Los Angeles. Another reason it felt so tight knit was all the bands that came out to support these artists. At one point I was at the bar sandwiched between Cherry Glazerr and Isaac Rother and the Phantoms. On the smoking patio I ran into members of The Shrine, Jesus Sons, and The Santoros. It really gives me a warm feeling seeing that kind of support. The first band up was Levitation Room. Now I had written about Levitation Room at Them Howling Bones EP release party and how it just wasn’t the right venue for them. Last night was a different story. These guys are meant for a stage and that’s what The Echo gave them. They were the first band

Corners puts Cosmonauts To Test As Headliner at Part Time Punks at The Echo

Danny Baraz December 15, 2014

It’s amazing how many young people are picking up instruments and starting bands these days. What’s more amazing is that the attraction to do so seems to be motivated by the purest of intentions. There is less hope than ever to reach the heights of rock stardom achieved by every American generation since Elvis because of the relatively recent collapse of the music industry- When most young people at the time thought Metallica was out of touch in their fight with Napster, it appears they had a clear vision of what the future held. Bands work harder for less money. Album sales have been replaced by marathon touring schedules. Mega bands are asked to play the Superbowl for free. The tallest heights are measured by landing a single in a national commercial. Music has been devalued by a society that’s not quite sure how to make money off it anymore. While the internet is the greatest technology ever created to reach people all across the world, sell your product, book a tour and promote it, there are so many shiny objects distracting us all that the very ADD nature of it seems to have shortened the careers of many young

Allah-Las in La La Land: A cold, rainy night and warm vibes inside The El Rey Theater

Danny Baraz December 12, 2014

On the heels of an extended fall tour, the release of their second album, “Worship the Sun” and the upcoming birth of the new year, Allah-las must have quite the lofty visions of 2015 in their collective third eye. On Thursday, December 11th, the Allah-las made a stop at the El Rey in Los Angeles with Tashaki Miyaki. There was a mosaic of Burger Records alumni in attendance at this event. There were also the usual caravan of beautiful women, chronic appreciators, an over flow of “man bun” hairstyles, retro-thrift store army’s of fashionable special forces and cocaine, Gucci attitudes that seem like permanent, fixed appendages to these types of L.A. shows. Burger stars such as Warren Thomas of The Abigails and Clementine Creevy of Cherry Glazerr were in the house as Burger roster mates usually are when their friends, mentors and influencers play local gigs. The Allah-las took the stage to gaze upon a packed house. Almost instantly, a wave of good vibes washed over The El Rey Theater as the reverb hit our ears and the projected, live liquid visuals by Mad Alchemy hit our eyes. Lead Singer Miles Michaud cocked his head to the right, opened

Friday Night In LA: A secret show with Ariel Pink at OP and Kurt Vile at First Unitarian Church

Danny Baraz November 22, 2014

Los Angeles is the best place in the world to have a love affair with music. Aside from the occasional, low energy, scenester transplants that fill up some of our venues, it is the perfect city to go see shows. There was so much going on this past Friday night that it made the head spin with possibilities. Janky Smooth attended two events: Kurt Vile and the Violators headlining the First Unitarian Church and a surprise and semi secret Ariel Pink show at Over***, L.A.’s seediest, most exciting rock and roll speak easy/after hours. It is L.A.’s worst kept secret and is surprisingly celebrating it’s 3 year anniversary. Amazing it hasn’t been shut down yet. The night started at The First Unitarian Church for another amazing Red Bull Sound Select installment of 30 Days in L.A. Kurt Vile on stage in a religious sanctuary was draw enough to worship at this opulent altar of Rock and Roll. Red Bull brought in some extra sound and some elaborate lighting to fill up the palatial sized ceilings with more audio and visual. The night featured two more solid Red Bull Sound Select artists, Air Review and Little Tybee. Air Review gave a