Janky Smooth Central Command
The Saints at the Teragram Ballroom: Still Stranded After All These Years
Janky Smooth Central Command
November 11, 2025
I never thought I’d ever get the chance to see The Saints live, especially after the passing of frontman Chris Bailey. When I heard the band was reuniting with a new lineup, I had my doubts. The Saints are a legendary Australian band whose influence shaped countless others. But seeing their current incarnation on November 5, 2025 at The Teragram Ballroom, featuring original members Ed Kuepper and Ivor Hay, proved that they truly do justice to the old classics. The lineup was rounded out by Mark Arm (Mudhoney), Mick Harvey (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds/The Birthday Party), and Peter Oxley (The Sunnyboys). Touring as The Saints ‘73-‘78, they focused on the band’s golden years-and it was everything a fan could hope for. Of course all the obligatory “hits” were played like “I’m Stranded” and “This Perfect Day.” The 90-minute set was perfect. related: Cruel World 2025 at The Rose Bowl – We’re Only Happy When It Rains Opening the night were The Chimers, an Australian guitar/drum duo who delivered a driving post-punk set that perfectly set the tone for what was to come. Words and Photos: Albert Licano The Saints at the Teragram Ballroom weren’t just a nostalgia trip-they
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Janky Fresh Friday- Chat Pile w/ Hayden Pedigo and Guided By Voices
Janky Smooth Central Command
October 31, 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. As part of Janky Smooth’s Janky Fresh Friday series, we’ve been comparing two albums that come out on the same day. related: Janky Fresh Friday- New Releases From Militarie Gun and Tame Impala This week we have an album from a punk rock institution and a band creating an institution since no others exist that they can fit into neatly. related: Janky Fresh Friday- Record Release Shows for Spiritual Cramp and Patriarchy Danny Baraz gives us his thoughts on the unlikely collaboration between Chat Pile and singer/songwriter, Hayden Pedigo and Rob Shepyer delves into an all time personal favorite that’s back and still has something to say- Guided by Voices. Chat Pile and Hayden Pedigo- “In The Earth Again” Computer Students Once the initial shock of “In The Earth Again”, the full length collaboration album between Oklahoma City’s Chat Pile and Amarillo Texas’ Hayden Pedigo wears off, what’s left is a surprisingly cohesive concept album between kindred spirits. The contrast in bodies of work is miles apart in sound but the final product
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Take This: Win Tickets To Substance Fest 2025 at Belasco
Janky Smooth Central Command
October 27, 2025
Substance 2025 is being held at The Belasco Theater on November 7th and 8th and we are giving away 2 pairs of tickets to one of our favorite festivals of the year. You can buy tickets now or enter our giveaway below. Substance Festival is back for 2025, ready to return to Downtown LA’s most spectacular cathedral- The Belasco Theater. The two-day event celebrates the best in post-punk, darkwave, EBM, industrial, death rock and techno, merging legacy acts with the new blood both foreign and domestic. related: Becoming The Night- Substance 2019 Substance seems to be simultaneously reflecting and reshaping the underground. While having TR/ST play two iconic albums on back to back nights seems relatively safe compared to last year’s 3 weekend marathon of musical exploration at an iconic but now defunct venue, we couldn’t be more excited to see Qual and not wait half an hour to use the bathroom. related: Cruel World 2025 at The Rose Bowl- We’re Only Happy When It Rains Expect fog, strobe, sweat, and soundscapes to seed your dreams. This isn’t really a casual night out for most attendees. The Belasco’s art-deco bones, state of the art sound and gothic ambience make it
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Janky Fresh Friday: Record Release Shows for Spiritual Cramp and Patriarchy
Janky Smooth Central Command
October 24, 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. As part of Janky Smooth’s Janky Fresh Friday series, we’ve been comparing two albums that come out on the same day and seemingly have nothing in common- for the sole purpose of discovering the wealth of similarities between two disparate things. related: Janky Fresh Friday – New Albums from Tame Impala and Militarie Gun This week we mix things up a bit to examine two new albums with late-October 2025 record release parties in LA. Spiritual Cramp’s free show sponsored by Marshall at Zebulon on 10/21 reminded us of what rock music should be all about; and Patriarchy’s upcoming record release party at The Lodge Room on 10/26 is about to be one of the creepiest and most gritty dance-parties you’ve ever been to, just in time for Halloween. Author Danny Ryan gives his review of Spiritual Cramp’s RUDE, with photos by Taylor Wong from the Zebulon record release show. Author Rob Shepyer breaks down Patriarchy’s new album for us in preparation of their upcoming Lodge Room performance. Spiritual Cramp: RUDE (released
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Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins) Announces Autobiography For November 18th
Janky Smooth Central Command
October 18, 2025
How often is it that Cocteau Twins fans get ANY new material? Simon Raymonde’s new autobiography “In One Ear: Cocteau Twins, Ivor And Me” comes out November 18th via Bonnier Books! – Pre-Order HERE British producer, musician and record-company CEO Simon Raymonde helped to create some of the most beautiful and memorable albums of the ’80s and ’90s. From 1983 to 1997, he was one-third of seminal band Cocteau Twins and associated offshoot This Mortal Coil where he helped create music that continues to cast a spell over millions. He also launched and still runs the influential record label, Bella Union. To celebrate and promote the release of his auto-biography, Raymonde has also announced several book events across the U.S including stops at Los Angeles’ Book Soup and New York’s Rough Trade Records, Seattle’s Easy Street Records, and in San Francisco at a venue to be announced soon. For more info on the book events, visit https://linktr.ee/mrsimonraymonde. BOOK EVENTS November 10 – Seattle, WA @ Easy Street Records November 11 – San Francisco, CA @ TBA November 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Book Soup November 15 – New York @ Rough Trade Records Beginning with Simon’s remarkable
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Take This: Win Tickets to Nation of Language at The Fonda Theater Oct 16th
Janky Smooth Central Command
October 13, 2025
Get ready, Los Angeles: Nation of Language is hitting The Fonda Theater on Thursday, October 16. We’re giving away 2 pairs of tickets to the show- you can buy tickets now or enter our giveaway (see below). related: Cruel World 2024- A Legacy Forms in Year 3 at The Rose Bowl Nation of Language has steadily carved a unique lane in modern synth-pop, balancing nostalgia with forward momentum. Their recent work (including the upcoming album Dance Called Memory) finds them refining emotional texture, with shimmering production and lyrics that echo in memory. Expect both fan favorites and fresh tracks to intersect under the Fonda’s lights. The October 16 concert is part of a special two-night run (Oct 15 + 16) at The Fonda — marking a moment for the band to fully immerse Los Angeles in their evolving sound. KCRW is presenting the Oct 16 date. How to Enter the Nation of Language Giveaway Tag a Friend on our “Nation of Language Ticket Giveaway” post on our socials @jankysmooth and make sure you both like the post. Make sure you’re both following us @jankysooth Winner will be announced on Wednesday, Oct 15th at Noon pacific time. related: Glass Beams
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Take This: Win 2 Tickets To Sextile at The Novo Oct 11th
Janky Smooth Central Command
October 6, 2025
Sextile is taking over the Novo in Los Angeles on Friday, October 11th. Sextile are hitting the stage with their signature post-punk fury, backed by hypnotic synths and relentless energy. With Automatic providing support, this show promises to be one of the most kinetic, dance-fueled nights of the year for fans of darkwave, punk, and electronic rebellion. You can buy tickets now or see below to enter our ticket giveaway. related: The Horrific Beauty of A Place To Bury Strangers To Enter: Tag a friend on our Sextile Ticket Giveaway Post on any social platform @jankysmooth Make sure you both follow Janky Smooth Winner will be announced on Friday, October 10th at Noon Pacific Sextile have become one of LA’s most vital live acts, merging the ferocity of punk with the pulse of the club scene. Their explosive performances blur the line between rave and riot — and with Automatic’s hypnotic grooves setting the stage, this Novo show is bound to sell out fast. Recent News (2025) Sextile have been lighting up stages around the world in support of their acclaimed album Push, continuing to expand their sound into rawer, more euphoric territory. Automatic joins the lineup with their sharp,
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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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The Lost Coverage Of Substance Fest 2022- Los Angeles Theater
Janky Smooth Central Command
October 1, 2025
With Substance Fest 2025 quickly approaching on November 7th/8th in it’s return to The Belasco, it has forced us to look back. Amidst the exponential increase in the volume of content this year, in the scramble to preview this year’s Substance, we uncovered the unpublished coverage from a special year of the festival- Substance 2022. Laying in the debris of the pandemic, in the smoldering ashes of this music blog were the photos of Albert Licano- mostly unseen by the outside world. As we all rise again to attend or cover Substance 2025, let us not forget the elation and gratitude of the after years in which we thought live music would never be the same again. This was one of those years. Between October 21-22, 2022, Los Angeles played host to Substance Fest 2022, aka “LA’s Dark Underground Festival,” a two-night celebration of post-punk, industrial, darkwave, goth, synth pop, and ebm, et al. Held at the majestic Los Angeles Theatre, the fest brought together a collective lineup of established underground legends, emerging acts, DJs, visual art, and immersive environments. In this look back, we’ll break down the experience: the venue, lineups, standout performances, production, crowd vibes, strengths, and areas
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TAKE THIS! Carcass And Nails At The Wiltern-Ticket Giveaway
Janky Smooth Central Command
September 27, 2025
Carcass is playing the legendary Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 1st. You can buy tickets now or see below to enter our ticket giveaway. Carcass are wrapping up their North American run in support of their latest release, delivering one of the most intense extreme metal lineups of the year. With Nails, Brujeria, Necrot, and Mongrel on the bill, this show is a must for fans of death metal, grindcore, and heavy music of all kinds. See you at The Wiltern! related: Obituary at The Bellwether- 35 Years of Cause Of Death We are giving away a pair of tickets to see Carcass, Nails, Brujeria, Necrot, and Mongrel at The Wiltern To Enter: Tag a friend on our Carcass Ticket Giveaway Post on any social platform @jankysmooth Make sure you both follow Janky Smooth Winner will be announced on Monday, September 29th at Noon Pacific Carcass, the legendary British death metal pioneers, have been redefining extreme music since the late 1980s. Known for genre-shaping albums like Heartwork and Surgical Steel, their live shows are ferocious, surgical, and unforgettable. This Los Angeles date at The Wiltern promises to be one of their heaviest nights yet. Recent News (2025)
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Take This: Win Two Tickets To See The Armed at The Roxy 9/20
Janky Smooth Central Command
September 16, 2025
The Armed is playing the legendary Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip on Saturday, September 20. You can buy tickets now or see below to enter our ticket giveaway. The Armed are wrapping up their September U.S. tour in support of their most recent album, the critically acclaimed The Future Is Here and Everything Needs to Be Destroyed. With Prostitute opening, the two bands have put together a fierce lineup for fans of experimental underground music across hardcore and post-punk genres. related: Desert Daze 2022: 10 Years in the Evolution of a Music Scene We are giving away a pair of tickets to see The Armed and Prostitute at The Roxy Theatre To Enter: Like and Tag A Friend On Our Armed Ticket Giveaway Post on any social media platform Make sure you both follow Janky Smooth Winner Will Be Announced on Friday, September 18th at Noon Pacific. The Armed is a Detroit-based experimental post-hardcore collective made up of rotating members including Tony Wolski and Cara Drolshagen. With their 2025 album The Future Is Here and Everything Needs to Be Destroyed, the band explores themes of war, media, and social purity. Known for wild shows, the group often surfs
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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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