7:30pm doors, 8:30pm first band. $12 door. 21+. TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR.
As the Decline of Western Civilization comes into full focus, our ears turn once again to Los Angeles. The first proper full length from Smirk could very well be the soundtrack to a Decline pt. IV, with tracks like "Living in Hell" and "Hopeless" delivered for a whole new generation of latchkey kids. 'Material' follows 2021's 100% TOTAL PUNK 'EP' and 2020's 'LP', which collected the first two cassettes-de-quarantine that began Nick Vicario's run as Smirk. If you've worn out your copies of those releases, then 'Material' needs no further explanation. But if you're wondering where the magic is - let's start with pure, quality songwriting. Vicario and his revolving cast of Smirk players have really done it this time. It's punk, California, paranoia, guitars, rhythm, and a sense of humor-slash-purpose joining forces to combat reality in the truest sense. Smirk have produced an impressive punk encapsulation of the times across the web of sound on 'Material’.
Pasting pop fantasies upon obscenely distorted guitars, Shutups borrow equally from 2000s alternative and 70s soft rock balladry—like Dave Grohl pounding his way through ELO covers compressed through the blown-out speakers of your shitty car. Davis' vivid lyricism paints romantic yet self-deprecating portraits of suburban life in a world spun out of control, gaining the band a co-sign from modern-day garage rock icon Mike Krol.
A year after their Cody Votolato (Blood Brothers)-produced debut LP Every Day I'm Less Zen, Shutups joined the roster of revered indie label Kill Rock Stars in 2020. With the addition of Bud Armienti on bass and Eric Stafford on lead guitar, the group matured into their most prolific form yet, releasing three EPs over two years.
Now with a career spanning an LP, seven EPs, and nearly a dozen self-produced music videos, Shutups are on the cusp of their most ambitious era to date and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Taking cues from the softer side of the Velvet Underground, the gentle dirges of slowcore, and the innocent shamble of vintage indie pop, the Bay Area collective April Magazine released a clutch of recordings between 2018 and 2020 that were unknown to all but the most dedicated followers of home-cooked lo-fi pop. They toggle between rambling, midtempo pop songs and glacial slowcore ballads. At times they sound like the Pastels playing the Codeine songbook into a handheld tape player; other times it sounds like Duster taking a warbly crack at C-86 pop. Either way, it is a thrilling prospect for fans who like their genres mixed and matched in interesting ways. - AllMusic