Category: NEWS

PEARS New 7″: Letters to Memaw

Brent Smith September 17, 2015

Heads up, hardcore fans! If you dug the PEARS debut album Go To Prison, re-released by Fat Wreck Chords, you needn’t wait until 2016 for a taste of their follow-up. The 7” Letters To Memaw has your name written all over it, and is being released tomorrow, Sept. 18! Wrought from the old, macabre streets of New Orleans, the newbie thrashers made a big enough splash to catch the still-bloodshot eyes of the Fat Wreck 90s punk syndicate, which championed the likes of Propaghandi, Anti-Flag, Face To Face, and others. The 7” features songs “Snowflake” and “Anhedonia” that oscillate playfully from rabid screaming to headbanging riffs to pop-punk sentimentality, and then back around again, proving PEARS is carrying on the greasy Fat torch just fine. Singer Zach Quinn had this to say about it: “These are two songs from a quick session in April that subsequently got re recorded for the next full length. They were the first two written for our follow up, Snowflake is loosely about struggling to identify one’s own power, and Anhedonia is loosely about a joyless life versus oblivion.” They’re currently on the road with partners-in-crime Teenage Bottlerocket, and then Lagwagon later on in the

Red Bull Sound Select Announces Lineup for 30 Days in L.A.

Danny Baraz September 9, 2015

We here at Janky Smooth have a special affection for the folks at Red Bull Sound Select and their annual, month long, nightly takeover of almost every club in Los Angeles called 30 Days in L.A. After all, Janky Smooth launched on November 1st 2014 and the lovely, tireless music professionals handling the press for 30 Days In L.A. allowed us access to every night of top flight talent when WE didn’t even know who the fuck we were. But before we start getting TOO sentimental- if you want to get into ANY of these, low cost, high value shows, you better start the RSVP process Here Red Bull Sound Select: Corporate Music With Soul? So it’s with great excitement and zeal that we’d like to help our friends at Red Bull Sound Select spread the word about the talent involved in this years L.A. takeover. Take a look at the what Redbull has booked for every day in November of 2015. Grimes, Joey Bada$$, TV on the Radio, No Age, Flume and Vince Staples are just a few of the bigger names Red Bull Sound Select booked to headline for their up and coming artists that are a part

New Siouxsie Sioux Music Scores the Hannibal Series Finale

Brent Smith August 31, 2015

As if it wasn’t cool enough that Eagles of Death Metal released new music for the first time in forever, Siouxsie Sioux has also stepped into a recording studio and has given us a new single for the first time in 8 years. Who can we thank? Hannibal music supervisor and collaborator Brian Reitzell (Red Kross). If you’re a fan of the show, you can also thank him for single-handedly nixing the director’s original idea of featuring pop music in the pilot, and crafting one of the most haunting scores in recent network TV history. If you haven’t caught the show, do watch it. It’s a gruesome delight. As EW reports, Siouxsie and Reitzell are set to put out some more tracks together in the near future. Here’s to it. Lyrics Oh, the skies, tumbling from your eyes So sublime, the chase to end all time Seasons call and fall, from grace and uniform Anatomical and metaphysical Oh, the dye, a blood red setting sun rushing through my veins burning up my skin, I will survive, live and thrive Win this deadly game Love crime Love crime I will survive, live and thrive I will survive, I will survive I

Eagles of Death Metal Release New Music For the First Time in 7 Years

Brent Smith August 28, 2015

Queens of the Stone Ager and one half of Eagles of Death Metal, Josh Homme, had the other half of Eagles of Death Metal, Jesse Hughes, on his Beats 1 radio show, “The Alligator Hour”. They riffed music and moustaches and dropped the single “Got A Woman” along with the video to “Complexity”, both due out on their new album Zipper Down in October on T-Boy Records. The arty and tongue-in-cheeky “Complexity” video is as playful as its track; a riff-heavy, desert rock dance number. The video has people screaming everything from ‘Mike Meyers’ ‘Sprocket’ to ‘Hamlet, why the big glasses?’ All through the lens of a drab new wave video that eventually turns into an iTunes visualizer. Enjoy the eargasm below. Check out the Eagles of Death Metal new track, Complexity Listen to the Beats 1 episode to hear “Got A Woman” (46:30 mark). Zipper Down Track List Complexity Silverlake (KSOFM) Got a Woman I Love You All The Time Oh Girl Got The Power Skin Tight Boogie Got A Woman (Slight Return) The Deuce Save A Prayer (Duran Duran cover) The Reverend Eagles of Death Metal 2015 Tour Dates: 06/17 – London, UK @ KOKO 06/19 –

Kanye and Tyler Backstage at Coachella shot by Grady Brannan

It’s Better Than Drake: Kanye West Becomes Filler at FYF Fest

Janky Smooth Central Command August 22, 2015

As you may have heard, Frank Ocean is no longer playing FYF. None other than the gawd, Yeezus, has filled the spot. My fervor for the church of Yeezus is well documented. Yet, I feel cheated by this turn of events. My malevolence is as much a shock to me as to many of my friends, “But you love Kanye,” they say, “Remember when you fell through the roof because you were jumping, singing “Touch The Sky” at that party?” They ask. “OMG, when Kanye came out with the Weeknd at Coachella? You were crying!” They remind. Do I love and have I done those things? Yes. Very much yes. But it doesn’t change how I feel. Am I over Kanye West? I don’t think so. I think it might just have to do with redundancy. A word I never thought would survive on a page discussing Kanye. (The fact that I wrote it and lightening hasn’t turned me to dust reminds me of the first time I texted a friend on the Sabbath) But, yea, it feels played out. “Kanye West: Have Mic, Will Headline.” “Need to add a price surge to your event? Hire Kanye West!” “It’s hard

Wavves Announces New Record and Shares 1st Track

Danny Baraz July 20, 2015

Wavves 5th studio album, “V” has been announced and is set for release on October 2nd via Ghost Ramp/Warner Bros Records with Woody Jackson as the producer. As a part of the announcement, the band is previewing a new track called, “Way Too Much”. You can pre-order the album here on iTunes Track list: 1. Heavy Metal Detox 2. Way Too Much 3. Pony 4. All The Same 5. My Head Hurts 6. Redlead 7. Heart Attack 8. Flamezesz 9. Wait 10. Tarantula 11. Cry Baby Nathan Williams reports that the new album is much more of a group effort and songwriting duties were shared across the entire band. It’s set to be a busy year for the band between the new record, the collaboration with Cloud Nothings and a tour that starts in September and runs through October. Wavves Tour Dates: 9/8/15 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune * 9/9/15 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom * 9/10/15 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s * 9/11/15 – Orange County, CA @ Constellation * 9/12/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour * 9/14/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom * 9/15/15 – San Diego, CA @ North Park * 9/16/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom *

Alice Glass Drops First Solo Single “Stillbirth”

Brent Smith July 19, 2015

Get giddy, kids. Bad ass, sharp-tonged former Crystal Castles front woman Alice Glass just released her first solo jam “Stillbirth”. In collaboration with L.A. noise rocker Jupiter Keyes from HEALTH (recall this 2007 gem), Alice Glass has crafted a darkly metal neo-psychedelia track, featuring her signature sylphine cooing over some very crunchy industrial beats (that’s just a lot of words for saying it’s rad). The 26 year old, Alice Glass explained via social media and her website the genesis for “Stillbirth” came from getting herself away from an abusive relationship she’s been involved in since she was in her teens. This, along with her recent not-so-smooth split from her CC cohort Ethan Kath, points to Alice Glass processing a lot of smashing and crashing lately. But alas, such is life in your 20s. We just hope she continues to keep on keepin’ on while busting balls and taking names. At least we can selfishly admit that we’re all benefiting from her expressive output. “Stillbirth” is now available to stream and buy digitally. All proceeds benefit organizations that help survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and incest. Apparently there’s a sister track soon to follow. Stay tuned, glitch heads!

Live Stream: Cold War Kids Intimate Performance on Red Bull TV

Danny Baraz June 9, 2015

It’s hard to believe that June 15th will mark 10 years since Cold War Kids released their first EP, Mulberry Street. Since then they have fought the good fight of rock and roll bands in the main stream. Somehow, Cold War Kids are able to maintain their originality and edge and still sell records. They are a GREAT example of a band that can make money and still make good music. On Wednesday, June 10th at 2pm pacific time, Cold War Kids will enter Red Bull Sound Space at the KROQ radio station to play an intimate show for just 275 fans. Chances are you weren’t one of the lucky ones to win tickets to this event but you can stream this show LIVE and up to 24 hours after the show ends, right here on JankySmooth.com. I must say, I am thoroughly impressed with what Red Bull is doing in music. I was able to attend the Alabama Shakes Red Bull Sound Space performance last month but Janky Smooth was not cleared to shoot or write about that show. This time, Janky Smooth will be shooting the event along with a review of the performance. But why count on

Punk Rock Bowling 2015 Deep Thoughts and Sideshows

Danny Baraz May 21, 2015

Punk Rock Bowling is starting to attract almost as many side gigs as Coachella. From L.A. to Las Vegas, bands both playing the official festival and club shows and bands that weren’t invited to this year’s festivities are all booking as many gigs as they can to take advantage of the busiest season in Punk Rock. See the list of shows (below) across two states that seem to be the spawn of the biggest punk rock event in the country, maybe the world. We asked some of your favorite punks and some young guns to talk about their experiences at Punk Rock Bowling. Jack Grisham- TSOL How many times have you attended/played Punk Rock Bowling? A: This will be my 2nd time attending, both of which have been in a performance roll–not a real roll What’s your bowling average? A: The highest i’ve ever rolled was a 264. it was a miracle. my average is shit. What band are YOU most excited to see? A: No one–i’m tired. i like the people though. i’m excited to see them What’s your drink of choice? A: $12 dollar waters and bitter, black, hot coffee What’s the most money you have ever won in Vegas?

Z-Flex Jay Boy Classic at Venice Skate Park May 23rd

Danny Baraz May 21, 2015

The second annual, Z-Flex Jay Boy Classic is taking place this weekend, Saturday May 23rd at The Venice Skatepark. If you love skateboarding. nowhere on this planet captures the spirit of it’s birth quite like the Venice Skatepark. No one person captures the spirit of skateboarding quite like Jay Adams. No skate company captures the spirit of the OxGx Z-boys like Z-flex. In only the second year of the competition and the first since the untimely passing of it’s namesake in August of 2014, the Jay Boy classic features the best in amateur and professional talent. Last year’s inaugural event was witnessed by over 25,000 spectators and this year’s event should surpass that. This year’s Z-Flex Jay Boy Classic has a new format with an Unsponsored Bowl Jam, Legends Session and Invitational Cash Grab with over $5k in cash and prizes awarded to the participants of the events. Unsponsored Bowl Jam : Over $2000 in product Legends: $1000 cash Invitational : $2000 cash The schedule of the event is as follows: 9am – 10am : Competitor Registration 10am – 2pm : Unsponsored Bowl Jam 2:30 – 3pm : Legends Session 3:30 – 4:30pm: Invitational Cash Grab This event is brought