Tag: punk rock
Arroyo Secodelic Fest Is Re-vibing The L.A. Music Community- Preview and Giveaway
Danny Ryan
April 16, 2026
Arroyo Secodelic is on a mission to re-vibe LA as a festival capitol, bringing us an off-the-wall lineup no one would expect in one of the most unique festival set-ups that we have seen in a long time. The inaugural event will take place May 22nd- May 25th across seven different venues in Highland Park including The Lodge Room, Oblivion, Cheerio Collective, De Playa Records, and The Highland Park Ebell Club; Arroyo Secodelic is going to turn your Memorial Day Weekend into a psychedelic punk-rock dream. If you’re embedded in the L.A.music scene, there is no way you can miss this event. You can buy tickets now or enter our social media ticket giveaway for a chance to win 3 pairs of tickets @jankysmooth – read to the end for details. related: The 4th Wave Of Garage Rock in Los Angeles – A Retrospective With all of the hype surrounding Coachella over the past week, there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the absence of multi bill lineups missing from Los Angeles’ festival scene; especially with the fall of our local events like FYF Fest and Burgerama within the past decade. Even when diverse and promising festivals do arrive like This
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Take THIS- Win 2 Tickets To See Face To Face At The Novo 4/24
Janky Smooth Central Command
April 6, 2026
Face to Face are playing The Novo on Thursday April 24 2026 in what is shaping up to be one of the most essential punk nights Los Angeles has seen this year. With Unwritten Law and Home Grown providing the O.G. main support and new comers, Ways Away representing a new generation of punks. It’s pretty stacked bill. Buy tickets here or if your wallet is as beat up as your old copy of Don’t Turn Away- enter our giveaway below Face to Face don’t need an introduction- but they deserve one anyway. Since emerging from Victorville in the early ‘90s, the band has been a cornerstone of melodic hardcore, delivering tight, hook-driven punk that refuses to age poorly. Vocalist Trever Keith’s delivery still hits hard and as always, he backs them up with classic riffs that sound as good today as they did in the 90’s. related: St. Patricks Day w/ Flogging Molly and Face To Face The Novo is a room built for moments, and Face to Face are a band that makes them. It’s hard to call this a nostalgia show. It’s hard to call any show a nostalgia show anymore with new generations harvesting old music
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A Secret Riot at The Fonda w/ The Garden & Friends
Janky Smooth Central Command
March 31, 2026
It was one, strange chilly Tuesday night on March 24th 2026 going to see The Garden, Hong Kong Fuck You and Ghost Mountain. Unruly punkers and medieval court jesters engulfed the dim foyer of the Fonda Theatre, barely visible without the presence of the fluorescent glow produced by the brightly lit marquee overhead. A blanket of thick black smog enveloped the atmosphere, polluted with the smell of cigarettes. Limping away towards their otherworldly expedition, The Garden embarks on another journey across the West Coast accompanied by Ghost Mountain and special guest, Hong Kong Fuck You, teasing the audience with unreleased tracks from The Garden’s anxiously anticipated album. Ending 2025 off with an aggressive, emotionally charged single dubbed ‘Ugly’, expressing the “unattractive” side of fame and the unimaginable grief of celebrity life, The Garden twins continue to explore and cultivate their signature sound. related: The Garden Summon Ghosts at The Observatory For One Strange Night In Orange County Setting the stage for the evening, HKFY (Hong Kong Fuck You) unleashed a set where deafening low-end frequencies and frantic basslines smothered the room in a thick, aggressive tension, channeling raw visceral rage that felt less like music and more like physical assault.
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Janky Fresh Friday: New Dropkick Murphys/Haywire split ep and more
Danny Ryan
March 20, 2026
Happy Janky Fresh Friday! This week we had an incredibly festive St. Patrick’s Day release of Dropkick Murphys and Haywire’s split EP, bringing two different generations of the Boston hardcore punk scene together for an experience that really exposes how many of the struggles and core ethics of the 90’s scene are still present today. Similarly, we have the debut release of SoCal DIY darlings Start Today’s first album and the anticipated reunion album of Poison The Well’s first release in 16 years. Whether you’re an oldhead from the 90’s hardcore punk scene or a Gen Z crowd-killer who just got into the genre during its recent post-Covid explosion, we have you covered with new releases that will have you more hopeful than ever for the state of the scene. related: Janky Fresh Friday – Kim Gordon, HEALTH, Lamb Of God, and James Blake Dropkick Murphys & Haywire: New England Forever split (released March 17, 2026)- Dummy Luck Music related: Saint Patrick’s Day w/ Flogging Molly at The Hollywood Palladium Dropkick Murphys are no strangers to releasing surprise split EP’s that rival their full-length studio albums, with their 2006 “Mob Mentality” split featuring The Business (RIP Micky Fitz) being one
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Black Flag At The Roxy and The Greg Ginn Predicament
Danny Baraz
January 23, 2026
I was standing in front of The Roxy Theatre, waiting to see Black Flag. The date was January 16th, 2026. It was the first time I was going to see Greg Ginn on stage in an incarnation of this band. How does any self respecting punk at my age find himself in this situation? To be honest, I was more curious about the new kids in Black Flag than the lone remaining original member and founder. If it weren’t for them, I might not have been motivated enough to find myself there on time. But before I go any further or say anything else- Greg Ginn is the architect behind one of the most recognizable punk rock legacies in history-period. BUT… I have judged Greg Ginn harshly. There has got to be something really negative about his personality and demeanor to be standing alone in what is ultimately a standard bearing and iconic but shared legacy- and to have almost none of the members of one of the most claimed bands in punk rock standing together with him in life truly says something about character- and that’s just Black Flag. related: Jello Biafra Talks Politics, Music, and The Music
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GBH at Ventura Music Hall- Street Punks In Paradise
Rob Shepyer
October 29, 2025
The scene was the Hi Hat. One of the most vibrant venues during its short life on York, a must attend space on Highland Park art-walk nights. I don’t remember who was playing, just that it was a punk show because Blaque Chris was DJ’ing between the bands that night. During his set, Blaque Chris spun a track that stood out to me as especially vibrant and danceable, but in that street punk way, like kicking up dirt in the discotheque. I didn’t know the song at the time and went on a long journey trying to find it. Before seeing GBH at Ventura Music Hall though, the planets aligned to tell me the song was Big Women by GBH off their “Leather, Bristles, Studs, and Acne” album. GBH is quintessential street punk- the exact sound and spirit of the punk genre and look. Songs like Big Women are exemplary of that vibe. Comical, crass, gritty, simple, rhythmic, and too much fun to stop your body from hopping up and down. It took me far too long to see them perform, but finally, I had my punk rock rite of passage on October 17, 2025 by seeing them with Slaughterhouse
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Janky Fresh Friday: New Albums From AFI and Snõõper
Danny Ryan
October 3, 2025
Welcome to Janky Fresh Friday- the busiest day of the week for artists and labels to drop newly released music. Check in every Friday for a fresh squeeze. AFI: Silver Bleeds The Black Sun… (released October 3, 2025): Run For Cover Records AFI has recently been in music news more than they have been in decades. A major aspect of this is frontman Davey Havok drastically changing his physical appearance recently, looking like he’d be more likely to front an indie folk group than a goth or hardcore or alternative band. Are those AFI‘s genres? It’s hard to pin them down to a specific sound, as they are constantly evolving and reinventing themselves throughout their career. related: Cruel World 2024 – A Legacy Forms at The Rose Bowl Today’s release of “Silver Bleeds The Black Sun…” marks the beginning of a new era for them, shifting much more into synthesizer based goth music and darkwave rather than their roots as a rock band. This shouldn’t be a surprise considering Havok’s side-projects Blaqk Audio and Dreamcar were hinting that he’s wanted to head in this direction for a long time. Even AFI’s last couple of albums were heavily incorporating goth and
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Music Video Premiere: Human Issue-INSIDE ft. Crow Jane (Director’s Cut)
Janky Smooth Central Command
October 3, 2025
We are proud to premier the new music video for “Inside featuring Crow Jane” from California peace punk band, Human Issue. Human Issue is a politically charged punk band that formed in 2021, uniting musicians from across California and Texas. Fronted by drummer and songwriter Hunter Martinez from the San Francisco Bay Area, the group also features members hailing from San Antonio, Orange County, and the Inland Empire. Their diverse backgrounds and shared ethos give Human Issue a raw, urgent sound rooted in the tradition of peace punk while pushing forward with modern urgency. related: Circle Jerks Throw Party For Keith’s Birthday at Hollywood Palladium Though relatively new, Human Issue has quickly gained attention in underground circles for their uncompromising message and relentless live performances. Embracing the DIY ethic, they’ve carved out their place as a vital voice in modern punk, proudly accepting the label of “peace punks” as both identity and mission. Human Issue – Q&A with Hunter Martinez Q: Where do Human Issue originate from, both geographically and culturally? Hunter Martinez: I’m from the San Francisco Bay Area. One member’s from San Antonio, Texas, and the others are from Orange County and the Inland Empire. Some people call
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Midnight And Ghoul at The Poor Kids Mansion
Janky Smooth Central Command
August 22, 2025
If you’ve never been to a sanctioned or unsanctioned show or event at The Poor Kids Mansion in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of L.A., can you even consider yourself a part of the punk and metal scenes of Los Angeles? Of course you can. But if music scenes were like levels on a video game, this would be one of the challenges along the way to some abstract street cred needed to complete the level. On top of a dead end, hilltop street just off Broadway, is an address that has been made public over the years but I still hesitate to mention. In a somewhat dilapidated 120 year old, 4 story estate whose windows have one of the best views of downtown in the city, is a residence and clubhouse called the Poor Kids Mansion. In the backyard you can see punk rock, thrash and sometimes, backyard wrestling- complete with a pro wrestling ring. There is also a ring inside the house- three of them, in fact. And the ring master of this circus is Russ. He and his brother Dougie are the Poor Kids. There are more Poor Kids but if you say that name, Russ and Dougie
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The Adicts- One of Punk’s Most Enduring Acts In Midst of Legendary Tour
Jessica Moncrief
June 9, 2025
Fresh off a mind-blowing set at Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas, The Adicts hit the West Coast running—selling out every Southern California date, including San Diego, Los Angeles, and Pomona. Demand was so overwhelming that they added a last-minute extra night in Pomona to accommodate the flood of fans. Over the course of four unforgettable consecutive nights, they delivered their signature blend of theatrical punk and unshakable optimism to rooms packed with loyal fans, first-timers, and multiple generations of droogs—all coming together to celebrate the simple miracle of being alive in the moment. Even though The Adicts have been spreading joy for nearly five decades, punk isn’t just nostalgia with this band, it’s present-tense, kinetic, and thriving. Since the late ’70s, The Adicts have been singing songs of praise for the weird, the wild, and the joyfully defiant—reminding the world to stay playful, live loud, embrace autonomy, and not take life so fucking seriously. related: Hat Trickers And Lower Class Brats at Bootleg Theater- A Real Horror Show The Drowns opened each evening on a high note with a fun, energetic set of melodic punk. Their stage presence was undeniable, each member brought their own charisma, and together they
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Erect Tricks and Loose Rails: The Erections and Hat Trickers at Moroccan Lounge
Rob Shepyer
October 5, 2023
From either end of the Pacific Ocean, Nacho Corrupted is known as a punk icon, flying the flag of East Los all the way to the far east by bringing Japan’s wildest punk bands to Los Angeles for this year’s C.Y. Fest. Catching The Erections and Hat Trickers at the Moroccan Lounge is a rare treat, so street punk faithful dug through their crates to excavate that precious punk rock imported vinyl to offer up to the bands like sacrifices to be signed for the 2nd to last C.Y. Fest side show of 2023 related: Manic Japan: Death Side At The Regent The last time Hat Trickers came to Los Angeles was for a one-off side show after Manic Relapse 2019. A whole pandemic later and that band returned to even more fanfare and excitement than the previous show. The air was buzzing with punks awaiting this set, making everyone anticipate a show that would imprint itself on your memory, for better or for worse, but unquestionably for good. It was a night jam packed with punk rock and mine began seeing local punks, The Rails, wreck the stage with blasting, unhinged guitars and true to street percussive rhythms, boots
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LA Still Believes In Anarchy: The Exploited at The Regent
Danny Ryan
July 7, 2023
While many foundational classic punk bands still tour regularly, the reckless soul that the genre is known for can often be missing with how much older the artists have become. Rather than the stagedives, partying, and rowdy moshpits that you’d expect at a punk show, many landmark bands unfortunately feel more like seeing a nostalgic cover band that you’d find at a local bar. While age has affected the energy of many artists, that has only made it more special when you experience the rare event of seeing an early punk band wreak the havoc that they would have in the prime of their career. The Exploited are one of the few examples of a classic punk band that’s able to bring this anarchy to modern audiences, transforming The Regent into the environment of a rowdy 1980’s club with their recent show hosted by Concrete Jungle Entertainment and Nothing Less Booking. With a perfectly crafted lineup of chaos including Conflict, Total Chaos, and Section H8, the spiritual essence of punk rock could have not been more prevalent in the venue that evening. The Exploited proved to us that punk’s not dead, you just have to know where to look for
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