It’s been said that Uphill Gardeners represent some kind of No Wave by way of Los Angeles, but No Wave always seems like such a New York thing that it comes off as slightly disingenuous to assign them that signifier when they’ve got so much happening on their own merits. Primitive disorienting art rock might be a better way to put it; “moody noise noir” might make even more sense, but only time will tell.

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photography by Ward Robinson

The Smell was sold out for the Vivian Girls and Best Coast Saturday night. Best Coast’s set was great with Vivan Girls’ drummer sitting in with them. Their leader seemed a bit shy on stage but sang beautifully. Vivian Girls put on an excellent set and the crowd went nuts throughout the entire show.

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VOICEsVOICEs might be like the middle of every great Led Zeppelin song, or maybe like Yoko Ono played backwards while in a warm cave. Their new EP—produced by Prefuse 73—is out now on Manimal Vinyl. This interview by Scott Schultz.

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The feverish daze in which Foot Village and Mi Ami left the loyal denizens of The Smell’s new, smell-less tomorrow was a perfect segue into Lucky Dragons’ ethereal midnight dream.

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photography by Travis Moore
Animals on Coke, Peg Leg Love, Cigarette Bums, and Fantasticas Bastidas all performed at The Smell on January 21, 2010 to raise money for Haiti Relief.

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photography by Travis Moore
The Allah Las are one of my favorite bands of their kind. I have known these guys since the beginning and have seen them grow into a serious band. With songs like “Catamaran” and “Did She Smile”, they keep the ladies dancing and the dudes happy. Young Prisms from San Francisco were pretty [...]

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She was tiny. One girl in the audience motioned of picking her up like a snack and popping Roza in her mouth. Cute, a bit hunched over, messy black hair, she bellowed and swooned between crouching at her sampler to cue beats for the next song.

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The people came out in droves, brimming out of the venue to catch a glimpse at one of Mika Miko’s three sold out shows at the Smell before the band called it quits. In a full out family affair, the lineup consisted of Paris Hilton Motherfuckers, Le Joshua, Pearl Harbor djing in the main room and the guerilla band HNMR, who hijacked the alley and set up outside the Smell—all showed their love for L.A. favorites Mika Miko.

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VIVIAN GIRLS + BEST COAST ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, AT THE SMELL, 247 S MAIN ST, LOS ANGELES, $5, ALL AGES.

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