Category: NEWS

Model/Actriz at Cruel World 2024 by Taylor Wong

Model/Actriz- Pirouette: Bend Bodies/Break Brains/New Album

Danny Baraz May 5, 2025

Boston forged and Brooklyn based post-punk provocateurs Model/Actriz returned back to us May 3rd with their new album, Pirouette (True Panther Records), the feverishly anticipated follow-up to their blistering 2023 debut, Dogsbody. Known for their physical, feral live shows and vocalist Cole Haden’s magnetic, almost confrontational presence, Model/Actriz are here to twist the knife even deeper—dance or die. The first time I became aware of Model/Actriz was in 2017 when I was invited to see another friend’s new band at the Hi- Hat in Highland Park. I missed my friends’ band but I did NOT miss Model/Actriz. I knew, then and there, that we had something special here and instantly the bands’ first EP- “NO” became a classic in my catalog. related: The Next Wave of Sound- Model/Actriz at The Hi Hat While their follow up EP, AVA did not hit as hard for me, it served as a laboratory for their first full length 2023 release- Dogsbody. Where Dogsbody introduced the band’s vicious fusion of noise rock, industrial grooves, and sweaty club tension, Pirouette sharpens their edge without losing any of the body-moving chaos. Produced with a tighter, cleaner mix that never loses its grit, the record still slithers

Memoirs Of My First Acid Bath Show…

Jessica Moncrief April 28, 2025

After a 28-year hiatus, legendary sludge metal band Acid Bath returned to the stage this past weekend with their first show on April 25, 2025, at The Fillmore in New Orleans. The performance was a seismic event for fans, blending raw energy and haunting melodies that captivated the audience. Acid Bath’s return not only rekindled the fire of their loyal fanbase but also showcased their enduring influence in the metal scene. This milestone event marked a powerful chapter in the band’s storied legacy. A story that is part of my story, as well. The year was 1995. I was 15 years old. My mom had just gotten clean and decided to move us from San Diego to Panama City Beach, Florida. In her heart, I think she believed that putting distance between us and our delinquent friends would somehow make it easier to manage my sister and me while she got her shit together. Boy, was she wrong. Finding new friends to get in trouble with was super easy—and one thing was for sure: Floridian delinquents in the ’90s were a whole different level of crazy compared to San Diego kids. It felt like a dream. We lived at the

Take This! Win 2 Tickets To See Swing Kids at the Lodge Room

Janky Smooth Central Command April 25, 2025

Swing Kids, the iconic post-hardcore band from San Diego, California, are making a highly anticipated return to the stage with an upcoming show at the Lodge Room in Los Angeles on Monday, May 5th. Janky Smooth is giving away a pair of tickets to one winner to see Swing Kids. You can Buy Tickets Now or see below for instructions on entering our giveaway Originally formed in the mid-1990s, Swing Kids made a powerful impact on the underground music scene with their intense live performances, emotionally charged lyrics, and a unique blend of hardcore punk, jazz, and noise rock. Led by frontman Justin Pearson—also known for his work with his label ThreeOneG and his other projects- The Locust, Retox and Dead Cross—Swing Kids stood out with their raw energy and unapologetic political edge. Though their original run was brief, their self-titled EP and the influential “Situation on Mars” release helped define a new era of art-damaged punk and laid the groundwork for future experimental hardcore bands. After disbanding in 1997, Swing Kids’ cult status only grew. Their sound influenced a generation of musicians and earned them a lasting place in post-hardcore history. The band reunited periodically for special benefit shows, always

Sex Cells Returns to Los Angeles: A Night of Subversive Glamour and Sonic Mayhem

Janky Smooth Central Command April 24, 2025

After an extended hiatus, Sex Cells is making its highly anticipated return to The Dragonfly in the heart of Los Angeles on May 3rd, 2025. Known for its decadent fusion of underground music, avant-garde fashion, and unapologetically provocative aesthetics, this cult-favorite club night is more than just a party—it’s a cultural statement. Founded by creative provocateur Danny Fuentes, the res-Erection of Sex Cells promises a surreal collision of art, music, and provocation that only LA could birth. At the core of the Sex Cells ethos is Danny Fuentes himself, a driving force behind some of LA’s most boundary-pushing art and nightlife. He is the visionary behind Lethal Amounts, an iconic art gallery and brand known for celebrating counterculture, queerness, punk, fetish, and the underground. Located in downtown Los Angeles, Lethal Amounts has exhibited works by transgressive legends like Genesis P-Orridge, Lydia Lunch, and Rick Castro, creating a platform for voices and visuals too raw for the mainstream. related: Pink Flamingos and Peaches- 2nd Annual John Waters Easter at The Madonna Inn Sex Cells emerged as a natural extension of Fuentes’ world—bringing the spirit of the gallery to the dance floor. Originally launched in 2016, the party quickly gained notoriety for

Featured Song: Phantom Hound’s “From Boom Town To Ghost Town”

Rob Shepyer July 16, 2024

If you like your music equal parts moody and crushing, Phantom Hound’s latest release, “From Boom Town To Ghost Town” is just the jam you’ve been looking for. Hailing from Oakland, California, Phantom Hound is a power trio that plunges new depths of heavy psych and stoner rock to conjure a sound too hallowed to be restricted by the genre conventions of “doom”. Signature to this band’s sound and aesthetics are their grunge influence and love of all things vintage, be it western saloons, scarred leather, or good ol’ fashioned American gothic. “From Boom Town To Ghost Town” is a slow, methodical journey through American history, where black and white film can’t help but feel macabre. These grainy, faded memories marry the song’s themes well, about venturing back to places in your own past and discovering all that remains is a ghost town of what once was. The song juggles between a melancholy reverie of American shamanism to a stoner clinic with a brutal, sludge-fest of riffs, transcendent solos, and a powerful vocal performance that you would follow anywhere. Whether you prefer to pair their playing with a joint or bottle of whiskey, these riffs go down thick and Jake

Take This: Spend Your Summer w/ Das Bunker Ticket Giveaway

Janky Smooth Central Command June 20, 2023

Das Bunker is responsible for some of our favorite club nights, launching some of the freshest new bands and continuously resurrecting some of the rarest acts in dark, underground dance music. This summer, in the year of our Lord, 2023, Janky Smooth has teamed up with Das Bunker to give 2 lucky winners, 2 tickets each for all 6 of their summer events. You can buy tickets NOW or check the details on how to enter below Das Bunker has got your summer covered with 2 band nights, 2 club nights and two themed cruises floating on the Pacific Ocean. related: Pixel Grip, Spike Hellis and Black Light Odyssey Find Refuge at Das Bunker Calendar of Das Bunker Ticket Giveaway Events Spike Hellis, Gatekeeper and Feudal at Catch One- June 30th 2023 Creux Lies, Deceits and Hallows at Catch One- July 6th 2023 Sarin (DJ set), Milliken Chamber (live) and Cruel Kiss (live)at Catch One- July 8th 2023 MorrisSea: Morrissey/Smiths themed cruise on the Long Beach Harbor- July 29th 2023 Nine Inch Sails (Nine Inch Nails themed) cruise on the Long Beach Harbor- Aug 5th 2023 Summer Massive: 7 clubs join forces at Catch One- Aug 12th Goths,

Godflesh at Brick by Brick by Becky DiGiglio

A Proven Experiment: Oblivion Access Festival Returns To Austin June 15th-18th

Danny Ryan June 9, 2023

Oblivion Access Festival will be returning to Austin, Texas in 2023 to host their signature celebration of experimental music and art showcases from all different walks of life, and this is not a year to be slept on. Spanning over multiple genres with darker gothic performances of Drab Majesty and TR/ST, heavier metal grooves of Godflesh and Earth, stagedive-filled hardcore sets from Drain and Drug Church, and even underground hip-hop artists like Clipping and Lil Ugly Mane; Oblivion Access Fest is sure to blow your mind no matter what your brand of the avant-garde and strange falls under. related: Austin Psych Fest 2023 – Authenticity In A Far Out Place Germany’s classic progressive rock band Faust is headlining the festival to celebrate 50 years of their mind-melting psychedelic career. Faust hasn’t graced America in 5 years with their mesmerizing grand performances, and they’re the most authentic way to experience the weirdo avant-garde roots of progressive rock live and in-person nowadays. Experiencing Faust live is a rare opportunity with how sparsely they visit the States, and their performances take you on an introspective adventure that is sure to stick in your mind just as much as an actual psychedelic experience would.

Jim Reid- Jesus and Mary Chain by Johann Ramos

Take This: Win Two 2-Day Passes to Cloak And Dagger Festival

Janky Smooth Central Command October 10, 2017

If you dress in black everyday and find comfort in the shadows, you’re in luck. Janky Smooth is proud to announce our Cloak And Dagger: Dusk Till Dawn festival giveaway. Goth, post punk, industrial, and more, converge into one monstrous 2-day lineup that will be taking place at both the Globe and Tower Theaters on October 19th and 20th. This is the first year of this two day festival created by those that brought you Cloak and Dagger Tuesday club night’s in Hollywood. We here at Janky Smooth haven’t seen a lineup as whole and cohesive as this one in quite awhile. A lot of bands Janky Smooth has loved for quite some time will be playing, bands like: Ho99o9, Health, The Gaslamp Killer, Drab Majesty, and Uniform. There will also be plenty of powerhouse acts playing like: German industrial legends KMFDM, OHGR of Skinny Puppy, and of course Jesus And Mary Chain. IF YOU HAVEN’T BOUGHT TICKETS ALREADY, DON’T WASTE ANYMORE TIME. YOU CAN BUY THEM HERE. IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE COIN AND FEEL LUCKY, SIGN UP FOR OUR GIVEAWAY. CONTEST RULES Join the Janky Smooth newsletter. Subscription box pop’s up anytime you visit JankySmooth.com. (if you hit

Video Premiere: Thee MVPs “US Airways” Exclusively at Janky Smooth

Janky Smooth Central Command October 9, 2017

Thee MVPs have toured coast to coast, stopping off at SXSW to play with Janky garage favorites like Meatbodies, Dead Meadow, and Night Beats. Director Max Horn, whose worked previously with Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes, was able to capture the kinetic intensity of Thee MVPs being their most vivid and wild selves in this video premiere of the track “US Airways” from the short film Receiver. Check it out… Recorded across the pond in a big room at Brighton Electric studios, Thee MVPs tear the house down with this jammer that they usually bust out to close sets with, sometimes taking the song to a frenzied 12 minute session live. For fans of King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard and Thee Oh Sees, Thee MVPs play garage and psych rock from an English lens that may resemble the same transformation of the blues through bands like the Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin. So give this groovy video a peep and make sure to keep your eyes open for Receiver which will be released October 13th on Greenway and as a tape through Burger Records. Cheers!

Take This: Win 2 Tix To See Quicksand at The Observatory

Janky Smooth Central Command September 8, 2017

After announcing their first album in 22 years, Interiors, 90’s NYC post hardcore kings Quicksand have been selling out shows all around the country on this tour. You don’t want to miss out on their two Southern California dates and seeing as Saturday’s show is already sold out, we at Janky Smooth are happy to be your hook up at The Observatory tomorrow, Sunday 9/10 Quicksand consists of all its original members: Drummer Alan Cage, vocalist/guitarist Walter Schreifels, bassist Sergio Vega, and guitarist Tom Capone. Interiors will be released November 10th on Epitaph. Canadian Shoegazers No Joy are opening for the band. Janky Smooth is giving away 2 Tickets to see Quicksand this Sunday, Sept 10th at The Observatory in Orange County. You can BUY TICKETS NOW or Just Share/Retweet our Quicksand Ticket Giveaway posts, Tag A Friend on said post on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram. That’s It! Winner will be announced on social media at noon pacific time on Saturday 9/9. GOOD LUCK! note: if you make a post private then we won’t be able to see it or consider you.