The Smell

Since 1998 The Smell has been a community oriented art and music space open to people of all ages who are interested in participating in and supporting an environment of creativity and artistic innovation and freedom.Throughout its more than 24 year history, The Smell has been dedicated to the principle of D.I.Y. We are completely not-for-profit and volunteer run. The community of individuals who call The Smell their home, whether it be the musicians who play here, the artists whose work hangs on our walls, or the dedicated supporters who attend our events week in and week out, are the same individuals who help book the shows, run the front door, provide quality sound engineering services, staff the vegan snack bar, and help with cleaning and general upkeep. We book our own shows as well, but our main focus is giving up and coming bands a space to perform in an otherwise 21+ and pay-to-play music scene. In the interest of these principles, and in keeping with our commitment to creating and maintaining a space that is dedicated first and foremost to the art and the music, and to complete artistic freedom and innovation, The Smell is open to people of all ages and is alcohol free. We also are dedicated to keeping our events affordable, and most of our events are a low $5 admission. We are currently running at limited capacity because of Covid-19, but we can fit up to 250 people. We have a full stage, sound, and lighting setup. Notable The Smell alumni include Reggie Watts, Jpegmafia, No Age, Surf Curse, HEALTH, Fidlar, Best Coast, Warpaint, Together Pangea, Ty Segall, The Locust, Lightning Bolt, Clipping, Bleached, Cherry Glazerr, Sadgirl, Girlpool, WAVVES, The Linda Lindas, Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, Beach Goons, Machine Girl, Current Joys, Inner Wave, Eyedress, and Nosaj Thing. Mikael Wood from the LA Times wrote, ???The Smell opened in January 1998 as an all-ages home for punk and experimental music, and soon it became a beloved linchpin of the underground art scene in Los Angeles.??? Here is a VR 360 video walkthrough tour of our venue during a show. They guys who filmed this recorded a live set in the lobby, the bathroom, the regular ol??? stage setup, the backroom behind the stage, and the storefront, so right outside on Main street. Normally we just stick to the stage, but this video is just to show off the whole venue.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr3ns9J_1Xo