No Age, Abe Vigoda, Mika Miko, Wavves & Friends @ The Smell, Los Angeles 1/25/09
Nik Gomez
On the eve of a trip to Australia, Dean and Randy from No Age threw a matinee house party at scene institution the Smell, inviting six bands and a sold-out crowd to come over for some blissed out punk and noise and pancakes. Figuring this lineup was too good to miss -- including Smell stalwarts Abe Vigoda, Mika Miko, and the rising Wavves -- we asked photographer Nik Gomez to capture some of Sunday's sights, and then we asked No Age's Randy Randall to capture some of Sunday's insights. Both obliged:
From the electronic computing machine of Randy Randall:
Man, this show was so much fun. I hadn't really thought about what an awesome line up it really was till the show got started. I guess I am just spoiled to know most of these folks as friend before I think of them as sick bands. It was 7 bands from 12:30 to 5:30 so things were running fast. I was having a lot fun making sure everything could go as smooth as possible. I think it sold out by 2 o'clock, so I was bummed people were turned away, but I guess that is something that happens when there are 7 rad bands playing on the same bill.JLep kicked things off, they are a new band and this was their first time playing the Smell. I was stoked to see them in such a big boomy room. They sounded sick at a louder volume. I have to say Wavves were super awesome. I hadn't seen them before and I was really psyched on them. Dave Scott Stone played some really beautiful harmonic electronic noise that was mega blissed out. Rings brought their deconstructed haunting mysterious vibe in full force.
This was one of Abe Vigoda's most jaw dropping shows. I have had the good fortune to see them a ton, but they played today with such intensity that it was something I will never forget witnessing. I believe this was the last if not 2nd to last show with Reggie on drums. He will surely be missed, but I happened to overhear them practicing with their new drummer and the new material is really tight.
Mika mutha fuckin' Miko are going to eventually destroy the entire building of the Smell ... Seth is seriously holding it down as their new drummer. They played songs of their forth coming PPM album, which will be out in May. "Turkey Sandwich" is gonna be the summer jam of 09'.
I am always scared to play after Mika Miko, I always feel like we are such a let down after watching them, so I can't really say anything cool about No Age. I feel like the show was over after Mika Miko and we just prolonged a sweaty brutal dog pile.
Engaged and humble reportage, Randy. However photog Nik delivers the unbiased No Age report:
The true headliners. They really do tear the house down when they play. They played all their greats (including Boy Void, a personal fave), and there were too many people stage diving to count. The guys really treat the smell as their home, and you can seem them running around all day to congratulate other bands, helping to get stuff set up, or just hanging out talking to fans. It was a great show.
Click on for a slate of shots. Brace yourselves, citizens of Down Under. Don't fly Oceanic, No Age.
Posted at 2:03 PM by amrit in Concert, Photo
Tags: Abe Vigoda | David Scott Stone | Jennifer The Leopard | Mika Miko | No Age | Rings | Wavves
Seriously... How great are No Age? Too great, that's how great.
Score = 4
this seems like the topic to bring it up - what the fuck is up with pitchfork? it works about 10 minutes out of the day. the rest of the time i get a "Drupal" message...
Score = 4
"drupal" is an anagram for stop wasting time on the internetz
Score = 0
Yeah right. As gay as its sounds, Stereogum - can you check on them. I wrote them 2 mails about it but they didn't answer both. Site's slow. Search is not working (and nowhere as good as the engine one year ago), best new music-section isn't working anymore and fucking drupal. what's up with p4k?
Score = 1
i agree with the part where the smell is destroyed.
Score = -5
"drupal"= web content management system
Score = 0
Want to get rid of a bunch of crappy LA noise bands?
Drop an atomic bomb on the Smell.
Please.
Score = -11
what do you wanna bet Aaron lives in Brooklyn and thinks that Animal Collective is somehow interesting?
Score = 0
Nope.
So.Cal and Animal Collective is also very overrated.
If they replaced samplers with overtly-distorted guitars, I'm sure they'd be Smell stalwarts also.
Score = -4
Why is Reggie leaving Abe Vigoda?! Great drummer...
Score = 3
I was at this show. The mostly chick band (except the bad-ass drummer), Mika Miko kicked ass. I'd never seen/heard them before, and I am totally a convert now. But it was ALL about No Age. And yeah, damn, there was so much stage diving and crowd surfing happening. Everyone there was just totally stoked and in good spirits. That's what good music/performance is supposed to do, no? I also had the pleasure of catching their free show at the New Image art gallery the night before. That was fucking bitchen, too. Rock on!!
Score = 2
Reggie is a bad ass drummer! if he leaves the band.they are going to lose that great loud sound that both the drums and guitar bring in.
Score = 0
no one has the "good fortune" of seeing abe vigoda multiple times. woops. said it.
Score = 0