Jonathan Reyes, Author at Jankysmooth

Jonathan Reyes

Idol Worship: The Weeknd at Sofi Stadium

Jonathan Reyes September 8, 2022

The fires of California must have burned so strongly because inside the sprawling chamber of entertainment Sofi Stadium the sanguine moon growled, the hunter is coming to cull Los Angeles in the deep of the night, the after hour when The Weeknd rises from his artificial enclave in the ruined city dripping in light and red. For Abel to transform into The Weeknd I watched him as he had to tear his face off, a sacrifice to the red clothed maidens dotting the city stage, they stand like sentinels guarding and channeling the spirit being summoned seven floors down to the field passing through every seat and everybody. The way sound travels feels like a breathe is going through you, I felt caught off guard, I was captivated, my eyes madly fixated on on the performance. Before any of that THE IDOL trailer played and that is where I really felt the congregation vibes it was giving Honk For Jesus. The tide under control of the blood moon… The effigy of ruin under the gaze of the moon dressed as Mars. I wish I could ask him what it all means. What is he doing beneath the artistry is there

Possession by Bass: Thundercat at the Broad

Jonathan Reyes July 27, 2022

Possession, it takes hold like a wave pulling you under the bass notes and syncopated rhythm section of Thundercat, the spiritually eponymous name of the composer I currently am referring to. He who makes the sky crack the way Mr. Murakami’s steps on The Tail Of A Rainbow making it scream and cry out its swirling rainbow blood across his canvases. The notes from the bass radiate through the openings in the side of the Broad Museum in Downtown Los Angeles. While I stand before a massive flower sculpture I closed my eyes for a moment, the augmented reality of my own imagination saw the vines dancing, one of the rainbow flowers face turned into Thundercat and the flowers on the walls cheered. visionary community members, Thundercat and Takashi Murakami, sharing their deepest feeling and thoughts after processing the ways of the world and then giving it back something that brings smiles to peoples faces everywhere it goes. I like seeing a performance from the side of a stage. I would love to one day experience a top-down view but what I like about being on the side is you get to see the mechanics of the artistry. The drummer’s

Ritual Between Stars, Sun and Moon: Molchat Doma at the Fonda Theatre

Jonathan Reyes June 5, 2022

Raise your hand if you didn’t expect such a large population of goths for Molchat Doma at The Fonda. Having not translated their lyrics to the songs before, I felt the languished pleading in “Zvezdy” being so close and as distant from someone as the sun stars and moon are from each other. I danced about in Egor’s lyrical expression of devastation. Molchat Doma presents bare and plain on stage, they look like a improv group waiting for inspiration from the audience. There is no banner above them, nothing to signify their presence or announce themselves. This absence and their simple black clothing contrast the riot happening in the middle of the room. The crowd was hot for Belarusian boys. related content: One World Under Goth: Molchat Doma at the Fonda Their synchronized movements and blank slavic stare, you don’t realize till it’s far too late, is part of a ritual of some kind, all that’s missing is a cleric’s collared shirt. There’s truly something mystical about them having sold out and adding more shows on their west coast tour. Maybe it’s my religious upbringing but anytime I see rhythmic dancing to loud droning music, it brings on a wave of

The Spits Stain SoCal With Stops at Teragram and Alex’s Bar

Jonathan Reyes February 7, 2022

What was the allure for The Spits to perform at Alex’s Bar last week? Did they have a message? A new album is what they’re performing, But what, if anything, were we giving them; I heard it muffled under the crash of flesh punctuated by cheers and laughter from the web of limbs clambering over each other seeking the sound. What they find inside is their own; I like to watch wild smiles form on their faces. Does the band see it? Do they feel it? I guess I can only wonder, from what I gather, its preservation of legacy not tempted into glorification. The Spits are just doing the damn thing. Related Content: The Spits and Surfbort at Alex’s Bar Opening Bands Shine as OFF! Plays Alex’s Bar 16 Year Anniversary Relentless as their tour schedule has to be. I was not surprised to see them looking so virile as they pushed past the crowd on their way to the stage, onto their part of the court. They came in with considerable brother energy, which as if to set the tempo for the evening was how the vibe was. I was inspired to come closer to the center. I

Self Improvement Shoegaze: Chastity Belt at the Constellation Room

Jonathan Reyes February 20, 2020

If you start feeling like you’re vibrating a little higher or showing yourself a little more compassion after listening to Chastity Belt, the spell worked and you’re going to be fine. There’s a weight to the words that come from Julia Shapiro’s mouth. That’s not to put the weight of my mental health on lyrics in a song but you listen to Different Now there’s a call for self-care and patience with the problems of your life. There are these subtle complexities weaved into the fabric of The Process to pair lyrics about lying to your therapist and heavy riffs. It’s like if Fleetwood could have listened then maybe things would be been a lot easier on the tour bus. related content: Silver Lake Perris: Desert Daze 2019 Did I mention the finger-tapping solo’s? Call Yngwie Malmsteen and let him know there’s a new sheriff in town. I always liked a finger tap, it’s one of those ones where if you screw up once your band probably doesn’t want you trying again embarrassing them like I thought you said you could shred? related content: Who Is Orville Peck? Pink Sunsets Over The OC Observatory Total Heat, freak jazz beats. If

The Evolution of the Trust Fall: La Dispute at the Belasco

Jonathan Reyes December 22, 2019

When I saw the salt lamps being put on stage I thought I had made a mistake. Post-hardcore like At The Drive-In I was told. Latin Danzig this was not. This was hardcore with Michigan undertones. There’s a fight club aspect to the group. They look like they work in your office, the ones that guard you while you sleep, don’t fuck with them. One brought a tambourine to a hardcore show, another person in the back who’s job it is to clap into a microphone. The bass player looks like he’s going to start playing “China Cat Sunflower”. Los Angeles Latinos love La Dispute, I was like is it Sound And Fury already? I’m envious of the passion a person who vibes with hardcore can produce. There was a pit for someone playing a tambourine. The only other place that occurs is at state fairs. So how could this be, I told a handful of people I was going so I could flex a little and people who I told were like “that’s cool” and “you listen to La Dispute” related content: Boston Calling: Sound And Fury 2019 “Will I still go to heaven if I commit suicide?” Asks

Spontaneous Combustion of the Soul: Dinosaur Jr. at the Fonda

Jonathan Reyes November 8, 2019

There’s a call to the rocks. The siren isn’t calling you your doom. It’s calling you to feel the pain of everyone and then feel nothing. The silvery wizard inside the Fonda, inside his tower built with Marshall Amplifiers, his spellbook is prolific, his voice…his voice tells you it’s suffered, it’s telling you it knows you have too, despite the suffering and loss you too can wear a Mishka tee and baseball cap while shaking the rust off the bones of what seems to be everyone who didn’t die in the 90’s alt-rock scene that has gathered inside the theater made by Morgan, Walls & Clements. related content: Silver Lake Perris: Desert Daze 2019 The fall brought the Mount Rushmore of sad bastard music to Los Angeles. Rob Smith claimed Pasadena, Nick Cave DTLA, J Mascis Hollywood, Billy Corgan Highland Park, Moz was here too but we pretend he wasn’t. It’s something in the air. Santa Ana’s, with the help of PG&E, lit forests like candles in a vigil. The days when the only crises you had to worry about were existential are gone. All that remains is the music and the people who don’t seem to mind. Myself included.

I Don’t Have a Curfew: Dirty Penni Fest IV at the Echo/Echoplex

Jonathan Reyes July 16, 2019

The kaleidoscope of sound heard at the fourth iteration of Dirty Laundry TV and Penniback Records‘ collaboration, Dirty Penni Fest, could best be described as pleasantly confounding. While there was a thread of teen angst sewn through every band, the final product being a disorderly quilt collaboratively sewn by neo-cumbia, acid metal, and traditional punk bands. Walking through this festival made of think of listening to the radio in one room and the TV in another while smoking weed in the bathroom so mom doesn’t smell it. related content: Dirty Penni Fest: A Rock And Roll Romper Room For Young And Old Can you describe something as walking through a sea of teenagers? The patio stage was constant and rowdy, Think “The Smell” without the scared straight element. When I wasn’t getting elbowed in the back I was enjoying Kuromi rip it up. What a band. I watched a lot of kids scream and thrash into instruments but they had something that was lacking in some of the other bands, a point to the fury, they screamed and they bashed and they captivated. Sabrina is Not in This Chat Sabrina is not playing loud enough, for the first couple songs

I Got the Mic, So Shut the Fuck Up: Freddie Gibbs and Madlib at the Roxy

Jonathan Reyes June 30, 2019

If there’s anything to take from Tuesday night’s preview of Bandana, the latest release from Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, it’s just shut it and enjoy what could possibly be the best Gangster Rap artist of the last ten years. Counter to that claim, Gibbs would have to care about accolades and “best of” lists, from his yearly revitalization and inability to create anything unoriginal, he couldn’t be bothered, the only thing that seems to matter to him is being the best version of himself. related content: The Music Millennials Make Love To: Smokin’ Grooves 2019 At The Queen Mary If Freddie has all the ingredients, Madlib is the chef preparing the courses. Their second album is Mexican candy, it’s a burger, its caviar, it’s one part Hennessy one part Freddie one part Madlib, and like a basket on Chopped it all works out into an unconventional but complete meal. Imagine being so good that you don’t need gimmicks in a genre populated by them. Think about making best rap album of the year and deciding to put a teddy bear riding a zebra on the cover. The confidence in skill to freestyle multiple times a night, I’ve seen plenty headliners

The Music Millennials Make Love To: Smokin’ Grooves 2019 at the Queen Mary

Jonathan Reyes June 19, 2019

Every year a festival comes to Long Beach, each a little bit different and improved from the previous model. Summertime in the LBC on their first try, was a fun but flawed fest, I told security I was with the Wu Tang Clan and they let me on stage. The next year I wasn’t as successful telling them I used to be in NWA so I had to be on stage with Ice Cube. In 2017, Goldenvoice claimed The Queen Mary as their testing ground for boutique music festivals. Having abandoned Orange County, Long Beach offers something missing from The Observatory, a destination. How can you beat listening to music with the ocean to your side and the legendary Queen Mary in your sightline, combine a destination with an experience and you have Smokin’ Grooves‘ sophomore year. Crowds don’t clap after the set is over. It’s the weirdest thing. Its like not tipping on a to go order, you feel kind of bad because they did kind of take care of you but not really because they just did their job. related content: Summertime In The LBC: This Is Your Dad’s Hip Hop House background makes Ravyn Lenae‘s music a little more

Warbeast v Sent2Slaughter v The One Percent

PCW Ultra Wrestle Summit was Like Summer Camp for Wrestlers and Wrestling Fans

Jonathan Reyes April 3, 2019

PCW Ultra Wrestle Summit was like summer camp for wrestlers and wrestling fans. Greasy food, a guy carrying a gigantic foam hammer, beer, and sweaty men. This was something really unique that I truly hope people pick up on. So many different companies and independent wrestlers in one ring for one night. From the opening bell, there wasn’t a moment of insignificance. Storyline wise and behind the curtain, a lot of questions were answered that night. Wrestle Summit started with everyone’s new problematic bae Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”, I looked around like are we all cool with this? Did you see Leaving Neverland? It looks like I’m the only one who saw it. related content: Rebels of Wrestling: PCW Ultra 3 Year Anniversary Trey Miguel vs Adam Brooks Taking the bullet are Impact Wrestling’s Trey Miguel and Defy Wrestling’s Adam Brooks. Sometimes you see a move you wish you could describe but how do you explain a backflip over a downed opponent that lands in a surgically precise drop kick to the back of Adam Brooks head. This was a great start to the night. Fast and to the point. Trey won a future shot at the ULW championship. For this

Rebels of Wrestling: PCW Ultra 3 Year Anniversary

Jonathan Reyes January 25, 2019

For how popular independent wrestling has become, it’s still at the edge of the map, on the outskirts of the mainstream, that’s where PCW Ultra grows. In the dark, like a mushroom, unsuspecting and complex. Outcasts and rebels with a super chill attitude. Cultivated in the San Pedro bay, to describe the organization as such is to describe the city. While I mean it romantically, if you ask Johnny Ultra who grew up on the other side of the hill in Palo Verdes he’d call it “the place where he throws his trash” and “people with cars who can’t make it up the hill”. Right from the start this felt different. To start PCW ULTRA’s third year anniversary show Shane “Swerve” Strickland the first person to carry the PCW Ultra LHW champion and PCW Ultra Heavyweight championship came out to address the crowd. To let them know to ignore what the internet might say. To let them know that there is nothing, not contracts, not rumors, not weight class stopping him from achieving his goals. He is the newly designated PCW ULTRA champion as he relinquishes the PCW ULTRA light championship with a challenge to the ULTRA light division, try