Photos: Psychic TV (PTV3), Beastial Mouths & DBC- Echoplex

Photos: Psychic TV (PTV3), Beastial Mouths & DBC- Echoplex

Legendary underground artist/musician/writer and bandleader, Genesis Breyer P-Orridge (you know, Throbbing Gristle?) brought the latest incarnation of the mighty Psychic TV, now PTV3, to Smog City’s Echoplex stage for a set of truly special resonance. Presented by the Slowmotion (ex. Killing Spree) team, PTV3 played a long, cosmic warble of a set that featured...
As Above, So Below: A Visit to Actual Pain

As Above, So Below: A Visit to Actual Pain

Formed six years ago by designer/musician/writer TJ Cowgill, clothing label Actual Pain has breached the clogged world of always-borrowed, nostalgic-heavy tee shirt designs to establish itself as a nimble, yet forceful player headed forward not only because of their aesthetically pleasing, symbol-heavy creations, but with their sought-after smattering of religious, philosophical and...
The ECC Archives

The ECC Archives

The Experimental Circle Club ECC Archives is a new project from London DJ Thomas Silverman and graphic designer Ciaran O’Shea. Together, the two promote the underground happenings under the Experimental Circle Club (ϟEϟCϟCϟ) name. The video project is a DIY production wherein a single, unbroken, stationary camera shot captures three-song...
FYF 2011 in Photos

FYF 2011 in Photos

From small East side clubs to a dustbowl of 20,000, the Smog City born and bred festival, FYF, happened last weekend at LA’s Historic State Park. Sets from Guided By Voices, Dan Deacon, OFF! and Four Tet proved highlights, but don’t just take my words for it, allow the photos...
Photos: Charles Bradley- The Echo

Photos: Charles Bradley- The Echo

The Sreamin’ Eagle of Soul motherfuckers, Charles Bradley. Okay, maybe that didn’t need the “mf” inclusion considering the fantastic No Time For Dreaming is the 63-year-old’s debut. He hasn’t achieved legend-status, but boy does he sound like it. Traditional funky soul all around, Bradley and his band (not the album...
Photos: Cold Cave/Prurient/Austra

Photos: Cold Cave/Prurient/Austra

Much like Cold Cave’s newest offering, Cherish the Light Years, their recent FYF-presented show last week in LA was one MASSIVE affair. Supported by noise veteran Dominick Fernow as Prurient (with Cold Cave’s Wesley Eisold assisting) and the group next in line for Zola Jesus/Lykke Li fans, Canadian goth-spiked electronica act Austra, the show was set on...
Photos: Blonde Redhead, Bass Drum of Death

Photos: Blonde Redhead, Bass Drum of Death

Photos from the last Check Yo Ponytail with Blonde Redhead and Bass Drum of Death are over in the gallery. Click here, up top under “Music” or to the right on that pretty “Music” button ->  
Meet The Computer Bike Man

Meet The Computer Bike Man

I commute by bicycle to work each day. It’s nothing much–25 miles about– but I love it. It gives you time to think and process things and, sometimes, something needs to be written down- iPhone notes function FTW. Back in 1989 a writer named Steve Roberts decided he hated his...
Interview: Patrick O'Dell

Interview: Patrick O’Dell

After Levi’s and MOCA’s Skate Video event (which you can read about here), I was able to catch up with host Patrick O’Dell for a quick chat. In case you don’t know, O’Dell is the creator and host of VBS TV’s superlative series Epicly Later’d, where O’Dell links up with some of...
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Photos: Light Asylum, Chelsea Wolfe, Tearist and Violet Tremors- CYP2- Echoplex

Photos: Light Asylum, Chelsea Wolfe, Tearist and Violet Tremors- CYP2- Echoplex

The CYP2 party folks stacked this past Tuesday’s Echoplex bill to the brim with female-fronted power: Light Asylum, Tearist, Chelsea Wolfe and Violet Tremors. Photos from the night are below and will also hit MiskaNYC’s Bloglin. FULL GALLERY HERE Violet Tremors  Tearist Chelsea Wolfe Light Asylum
Kirin J. Callinan Shows Us His War

Kirin J. Callinan Shows Us His War

An oddball and I totally love it. Prolific as a solo artist, the work of Kirin J. Callinan is performance-heavy and borders on the bizarre and impacting and as a result, from me, comes highly recommended. A longtime Jack Ladder (Holloweyed Records, you know?) cohort and a Dreamlander himself, Callinan’s recently signed solo to Terrible Records...
Brussels Express

Brussels Express

Brussels Express is a beautiful documentary about two of the only bicycle messengers in the very congested city of Brussels, where as it stands, only boasts a 4% cycling traffic rate. Even for myself, a bicycle commuter in Smog City, that number is low. Directed, shot & edited by Sander Vandenbroucke. 19 minutes.
Photos: OFF! Record Release Show w/ FIDLAR- Whiskey a Go Go

Photos: OFF! Record Release Show w/ FIDLAR- Whiskey a Go Go

Keith Morris, one of hardcore’s true forces through stints in Black Flag, Circle Jerks and now OFF!, is 56 and is still fucking pissed. As evident with OFF!’s 2010 EP collection as their powerful debut, Morris can still lead a band to war and continuing the battle (with pretty much most of society), the quintet...
GRAB BAG: Sleep Maps, Anenon, Ditt Irne, Dreamers and DIIV

GRAB BAG: Sleep Maps, Anenon, Ditt Irne, Dreamers and DIIV

The NYC project of multi-instrumentalist Ben Kaplan Sleep Maps have matured into a full-fledged band for their debut, Fiction Makes the Future, out now via the Lost Future Music imprint. The music is aggressive, yet buoyant instrumental rock perfect for fans of a band like Pelican. Stream the tune, “Men Against the Stars” below. Sleep Maps- “Men Against the...
Photos: Gatekeeper + Hype Williams- The Echoplex

Photos: Gatekeeper + Hype Williams- The Echoplex

The mighty industrial-leaning electronic duo from New York, Gatekeeper, return with their interactive debut LP, Exo, set to drop July 17th via Smog City imprint, Hippos in Tanks. Welcoming the group, the CYP2 party folks stacked their recent Echoplex bill with Hype Williams, Bodyguard (James Ferraro + Teams) and White Car. Photos from the very...
Photos: Trust, Oh Land and Blood Orange- CYP2/The Echoplex

Photos: Trust, Oh Land and Blood Orange- CYP2/The Echoplex

Such a well-booked night! The Check Yo Ponytail crew polished the gold to a sparkle at their last event and from openers to headliners the night blinded. Responsible for one of the best albums of the year- yeah, I know it’s April dude- Canadian dark dance act Trust went first staking claim at their LA debut and leaving...
Review: White Fence- Family Perfume Vol. 1

Review: White Fence- Family Perfume Vol. 1

White Fence-  “A Hermes Blues” (MP3) From Vol. 1 It’s a darn good time to be a fan of Tim Presley’s brand. Following his recent SXSW stay (9 shows), the Bay Area musician is in the midst of a few-months tour alongside friends/conspirators The Strange Boys and as his solo project, White Fence. There’s also...
Photos: Hanni El Khatib / Tijuana Panthers- The Satellite

Photos: Hanni El Khatib / Tijuana Panthers- The Satellite

Smog City’s best garage duo is a now a trio. Kicking off another stint of dates supporting his pleasing and powerful debut, When the Guns Come Out, Hanni El Khatib has just added a third member on organ and second guitar and judging from the exciting results of Friday’s sold-out Satellite gig, I suggest you...
GRAB BAG: Lonesome Savages, Crocodiles, Cosmonauts + Writer

GRAB BAG: Lonesome Savages, Crocodiles, Cosmonauts + Writer

  Yesterday I was listening to Howie Pyro’s fantastic Intoxica radio show. Mixing the best and rarest 60s garage, rockabilly, punk and more, Pyro’s massive record collection (30,000+) has become stuff of legend. I assume that this new 7″ from Kind Turkey records would fit right in in Pyro’s crates. The Madison, WI band The Lonesome Savages...
TOPS- Tender Opposites

TOPS- Tender Opposites

TOPS – VII Babies The young, seasoned players comprising Montreal-based quintet TOPS play a funk-lite, sprightly vintage pop/rock release that wafts from the slow burn of timeless, lamenting and youthful placement. Ranked alongside Grimes and Blue Hawaii on the Arbutus Records imprint, TOPS is built from members of bands like Pat Jordache, Paula, Sugar Boys and...
Photos: Nicolas Jaar (LA Debut) / Nicola Cruz- The Echoplex

Photos: Nicolas Jaar (LA Debut) / Nicola Cruz- The Echoplex

This past Monday, 22-year-old producer, Clown and Sunset owner and recent NY Times profile subject, Nicolas Jaar played (with band) his debut Los Angeles show. My guess is that considering how the young electronic player pretty much owned the sold-out Echoplex space with tunes spread from both his handful of singles and the Space Is Only Noise longplayer,...