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The Smell

The Smell Los Angeles United States 34.050143 -118.2453289
3 4

Concert Venue / Live Music Venue

Review

Ratings:

Lucas

Adriana

Jonah

Emma

Party Earth Review: An all-ages, alcohol-free nightspot run by volunteers, The Smell is a cavernous, two-chambered live music venue that showcases indie, punk rock, experimental, and even unsigned garage bands. Originally dubbed “The Smell” in mockery of a snooty nearby coffee shop – and not for the dumpster that marks the alleyway entrance – the venue has become a secret club for goth girls, postmodern punks, and high-school hipsters who sprawl on the random assortment of mismatched sofas in the smaller graffiti-adorned front room to listen to their favorite bands. More popular or well-known acts tend to take the stage in the larger back room, where retro theater seats nailed to brick walls offer the only comfort in the otherwise sparse space. Although the audience for these amateur rockers and up-and-comers is usually comprised of friends, family, and classmates of the band members – which makes for a slightly cliquish vibe that might put off the over-twenty set – The Smell has nonetheless created an affordable nightlife venue where young misfits and weirdos can groove out and where the focus is not so much on drinking or flirting, but on the music itself.

... read full review

Neighborhood:

Downtown

Address:

247 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Get Directions

Metro:

Red Line: Pershing Square; Purple Line: Pershing Square

Links:

Official Website

Hours:

Th–Sa 9pm–1am

Recommended as:

 Night Spot
See Address and Hours See Ratings and Summary

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The Smell Review

Tip from Jonah:

“The Smell is a pretty small venue that doesn’t sell tickets in advance – you just have to show up and wait for a ticket outside. The more popular bands sell out by 9pm, so get there by 8pm for the best shot of getting in.”

The Scene

An all-ages, alcohol-free nightspot run by volunteers, The Smell is a cavernous, two-chambered live music venue that showcases indie, punk rock, experimental, and even unsigned garage bands.

Downtown, Los Angeles – An all-ages, alcohol-free nightspot run by volunteers, The Smell is a cavernous, two-chambered live music venue that showcases indie, punk rock, experimental, and even unsigned garage bands.

Originally dubbed “The Smell” in mockery of a snooty nearby coffee shop – and not for the dumpster that marks the alleyway entrance – the venue has become a secret club for goth girls, postmodern punks, and high-school hipsters who sprawl on the random assortment of mismatched sofas in the smaller graffiti-adorned front room to listen to their favorite bands.

More popular or well-known acts tend to take the stage in the larger back... read more →

Crowd

Musicians, artists, high school students, punks, goths, nerds, and music lovers, teens to mid-20s.

Entertainment/Music

On average, three live shows a night with a range of styles including punk rock, indie, experimental, noise, electronic, and metal. Books available to peruse on the premises only.

Food/Miscellaneous

100% vegan-friendly snacks include candy, cookies, pretzels, and Clif Bars.

Prices

Cover charge $5. Candy $1, cookies $1, pretzels $1, Clif Bars $2. Water/tea/coffee $1. No alcohol.

Dress

Dark colors, skinny jeans, Vans, neon hair, black lipstick, flannel shirts, Doc Martens, vintage band shirts.

Hot Nights/When to Go

Fridays and Saturdays for the most well-known bands. The headliners play the last set of each night around 11:30 pm.

Close By

Bar 107 (107 4th St) is good for a drink beforehand, while Pete’s Café and Bar (400 South Main Street) has a full dinner menu.

Tags:

Anything goesArtistsConcertsCover chargeEarly 20sElectronicFlannel ShirtsGarage RockGothHeavy MetalHipsterIndieIndie RockJeans and T-ShirtLive BandLive MusicMetalMusic LoversMusiciansNo LiquorPunkPunksRockSnack FoodStudentsTeenagersVegetarian Food

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