This decade saw numerous paradigm shifts that laid the groundwork for a future where people basically become some form of android. That’s nothing to fear, though…we’re still safe….Many predict we’re seeing the fall of the American empire or some kind of apocalypse…hopefully they only mean in the sense that we’re entering a new chapter in humanity’s being….Still, no sweat, right?…We can handle this….In 2019 Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” become the most successful song of all time….Code red! Abandon ship! Get your kicks in before the whole shit house goes down in flames!
related content: Janky Smooth Top 10 Shows of 2018 Rated by Contributors
Every genre of music saw scene defining moments but I guess that ought to happen every year. What was special about 2019 though, was all the reunions that went down. It’s as if when a band decides to get back together, Los Angeles is the first place they think to play just so all their artist friends can attend the show. A few examples of such reunions were: Bauhaus at the Hollywood Palladium, Heart to Heart at Sound and Fury, Stereolab at Desert Daze, The Locust at Desert Daze, Limp Bizkit at the Troubadour then Musink festival, The Strokes at the Wiltern and Ohana Fest, Dethklok at Adult Swim Festival, and of course, My Chemical Romance at The Shrine.
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Reunions are certainly important landmarks in a band’s legacy but there are certain special shows where an artist chooses to span their entire career’s on stage and put it all on the line in one evening. The first one that comes to mind is Amanda Palmer who played for FOUR FUCKING HOURS at the Theater at the Ace Hotel. Others were Cancerslug celebrating 20 years at the Whisky and Sebastian Bach celebrating 30 years. 2019 was a year for many important anniversaries.
related content: This Stage Belongs To Amanda Palmer: There Will Be No Intermission At The Theatre At The Ace Hotel
Celebrations of the past were just as joyous as celebrations of firsts some artists had. Many artists played their first shows in America. Psychedelic guitar genius Shintaro Sakimoto came to the West Coast for the first time and so did punk rockers Death Side, both all the way from Japan.
related content: Japanese Day Dream: Shintaro Sakamoto At Terrapin Crossroads
Plenty of festivals came into their own this year as well. Desert Daze went smoothly in their new location, without a single drop of rain to muck things up. Then we covered Psycho Las Vegas for the first time, the year they diversified from metal and set up shop at Mandalay Bay, and realized it was one of the best festivals on the planet.
related content: A High And Beautiful Wave: Psycho Las Vegas 2019
So many moments defined 2019 for underground music in Los Angeles and since we were there for a few of them, we had to give you our list for the best shows of 2019. Enjoy.
Rob Shepyer, Editor at Janky Smooth
- The Cure at Pasadena Day Dream
- The Flaming Lips at Desert Daze
- Pageninetynine at Catch One
- The Hives at The Fox Theatre Pomona
- Bauhaus at The Hollywood Palladium
- FKA Twigs at Camp Flog Gnaw
- Billy Corgan at The Lodge Room
- Sloppy Jane at Bootleg Theater
- Angel Du$t at The Lodge Room
- Heron Oblivion at The Lodge Room
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Taylor Wong aka Giuseppe Steel, Photographer at Janky Smooth
- Bauhaus at the Hollywood Palladium
- Punk Rock Bowling
- Refused and The Hives at Fox Theater Pomona
- Gorilla Biscuits at the Roxy (night show)
- Gorilla Biscuits at the Roxy (matinee)
- Plague Vendor and No Parents at The Echo
- Plague Vendor at House of Machines
- Ho99o9 at House of Machines
- TSOL and Youth Brigade at The Regent
- Limp Bizkit at Musink Festival
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Dillon Vaughn, Photographer at Janky Smooth
- The Misfits at Banc of California Stadium
- Iron Maiden at Banc of California Stadium
- Shintaro Sakamoto at Great American Music Hall
- This Town Needs Guns at Crystal Ballroom
- Suicidal Tendencies at Garden Amp
- Heavy Psych Sounds LA at House of Machines
- The Antlers at Hollywood Forever
- Carcass, Low Life at Show Your Scars Fest
- Possessed and Grave Danger at the Whisky
- Vio-Lence and Sacred Reich at the Regent
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Audrey Kemp, Author at Janky Smooth
- Cold Cave & ADULT. at The Theater at the Ace Hotel
- The Black Queen, Uniform, & SRSQ at the Regent
- Bikini Kill at the Hollywood Palladium
- Twin Temple at The Roxy
- Ceremony at the Observatory
- The Space Lady at Zebulon
- Dean Wareham performs Galaxie 500 at the Teragram Ballroom
- Drab Majesty, Body of Light, and HIDE at the Fonda Theatre
- Yes, Asia, John Lodge, and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy at Five Point Amphitheater
- King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard at the Greek Theatre
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Maggie St. Thomas, Photographer at Janky Smooth
- Sick of it All at the Teragram Ballroom
- Portugal. The Man at Troubadour
- X at the Coachhouse
- Snoop Dogg at Fantasy Springs
- One Love Festival at the Queen Mary
- The Damned and X at Pacific Amphitheatre
- Slightly Stoopid at Five Point Amphitheatre
- Andre Cymon at The Mint
- Think EXP at The Wisdome LA
- Leikeli47 at The Roxy
Dave Smith, Author at Janky Smooth
- Shock Therapy and The Side Eyes at Malone’s
- The Red Pears at Nothing Fest
- Patti Smith, Jawbreaker, and Turnover at Riot Fest
- X and the Aquadolls at the Belly Up Tavern
- Black Lips and Joan Jett at Five Point Amphitheater
- Phoenix and Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Just Like Heaven
- The Side Eyes at Alex’s Bar
- The Adolescents at Garden Amp
- Brendan Kelly, Vagabonnies, and Jen Pop at The Slidebar
- The Misfits at Banc of California Stadium
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David Fearn (SHITSHOW DAVE), Photographer at Janky Smooth
- The Coathangers and Prettiest Eyes at the Teragram Ballroom
- Daughters at The Regent
- Black Midi at the Bootleg Theater
- Oh Sees, Amyl and the Sniffers, and Surfbort at SXSW
- The Spits, Surfbort and Die Group at Alex’s Bar
- Glue at Zebulon
- Tropical Fuckstorm at the Bootleg Theater
- Idles at the Wiltern
- Viagra Boys at Desert Daze
- Death Valley Girls at the Lodge Room
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Veronika Reinert, Photographer at Janky Smooth
- Sound and Fury at the Belasco Theater
- Gorilla Biscuits at Garden Amp
- Pageninetynine at Catch One
- Bad Religion and Birdman at The Observatory North Park for Tony Hawk Pro Skater 20th Anniversary
- Sect, Power Alone, TORSO, No Right, and The Choice at 924 Gilman st
- New Age Midwest Fest at Fubar in St. Louis
- Phoebe Bridgers and Azure Ray at the Bootleg Theater
- Heiress and Great Falls at Programme Skate & Sound
- Jeremy Enigk at Gold Comb Barbershop
- Better Oblivion Community Center at the Observatory OC
Grace Dunn, Photographer at Janky Smooth
- John Cale at Levitation
- Devo at Desert Daze
- The KVB at Levitation
- Stereolab at Desert Daze
- Ringo Death Starr at Levitation
- APTBS and Dinosaur Jr. at Levitation
- Death Valley Girls at the Lodge Room
- Amyl and the Sniffers at the Bootleg Theater
- Uncle Acid and The Dead Beats at the Wiltern
- Lightning Bolt at Desert Daze
Albert Licano, Photographer at Janky Smooth
- The Damned at Alex’s Bar
- Dropdead at 1720
- Siege at Catch One
- Death Side at Manic Relapse
- Lowlife (Cryptic Slaughter) at Show Your Scars Fest
- Career Suicide at 5 Star Bar
- Bauhaus at the Hollywood Palladium
- Excel at Brick by Brick
- Crom at Chinatown LA
- Gorilla Biscuits at Garden Amp
Paige Vreede, Author at Janky Smooth
- The Shrine at House of Machines
- Amyl and the Sniffers at the Teragram Ballroom
- Bass Drum of Death at the Lodge Room
- Culture Abuse at the Teragram Ballroom
- Camp Cope at the Bootleg Theatre
- Gang of Youths at the Roxy
- Interpol at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne Australia
- Taking Back Sunday at the Hollywood Palladium
- Veronica B and Andy Clockwise at Hotel Cafe
- Together Pangea and No Parents at The Roxy
Jessica Moncrief, Photographer at Janky Smooth
- Erykah Badu at Smokin’ Grooves
- Billy Corgan at the Lodge Room
- The Spits, Surfbort, and Die Group at Alex’s Bar
- Flipper at Alex’s Bar
- Against Me! at the Fonda Theatre
- Siya Makuzeni at the Ford Theatre
- Orville Peck at the OC Observatory
- Mallwalker at the Factory
- Murder City Devils at the OC Observatory
- The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black at the Globe Theatre for Sex Cells
Rodney Campos, Photographer at Janky Smooth
- Day n’ Vegas
- Adult Swim Festival
- Freddie Gibbs & Madlib at The Roxy
- Anderson Paak at surprise Contact High opening show
- Vince Staples, JPEGMAFIA, and Chanel Res at The Novo
- Baby Keem at The Roxy
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Anthony Mehlhaff, Photographer at Janky Smooth
- Daikaiju and the Manx at The Factory
- Daikaiju and the Manx at the Church of Fun
- Idles and Surfbort at the Wiltern
- Clitkat and Melted Bodies at The Smell
- Graf Orlock, The Manx, Wacko, and Skullcrack at The Satellite for Anthony’s own photo show
- Municipal Waste, Napalm Death, and Sick of it All at the Teragram Ballroom
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Municipal Waste at the Teragram Ballroom shot by Albert Licano
Jonathan Reyes, Author at Janky Smooth
- Brainiac at The Regent
- Idles at the Wiltern
- Nitzer Ebb at the Regent
- Boy Harsher at Substance LA
- Billy Corgan at The Lodge Room
- Erykah Badu at Smokin’ Grooves
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