The Smell - Los Angeles, California

Indie

The Smell definitely lives up to its name—it really does smell. An all ages venue. While the venue has an underground, DIY charm, and it’s honestly super cool and punk- the music is often lackluster, with about 90% of the acts being non-talented teenage wannabes. (Not to be too harsh) On top of that, the crowd dynamic can be uncomfortable. There’s a strange mix of mid-20s and 30s weirdos who aggressively try to mosh and shove around the 13-to-15-year-old kids in the crowd, which feels out of place and unnecessary. If you’re into raw, unfiltered spaces, it might be worth checking out, but the vibe and overall experience leave much to be desired. Also hard to find parking!

Leon H.

Legendary venue, good to know there's an all ages punk venue that exists.

Only managed to catch the last band on the night I went, but everyone looked like they followed good pit etiquette and everyone had fun and nobody was left on the floor.

Toilets cloud use some work but maybe that's part of the charm. 😅

J L.

The venue was awful though the show I saw was great. Terrible equipment, and poorly ventilated.

Nikki

Amazing vibe. Coolest looking place I've ever set foot in. Feels like a movie set. Bands are hit or miss. Some experimental but not necessarily good. I loved Jody and was fortunate to catch Ian Sweet that night. Also: sober bar. No alcohol sold. Might be an important detail to some. Also safe for solo female.

Daniel S.

Great place to see up coming female punk bands. Only down fall is that it's like a sauna with no air ventilation.

Bryan M.

The best venue in LA. When I moved down in 2004 the smell was such a welcoming community, and they continually book new and exciting young bands for super reasonable prices. Always worth $5 to see who’s there on a given night. They’re an all ages DIY spot, so no alcohol, but you can go to the new Jalisco between sets if you are inclined to imbibe. I can’t believe I’ve been going here for 20 years now!

platonic S.

I have been coming here for about a year. There's no parking FOR the smell and the entrance is from the alleyway, so its a bit difficult to get there. The alleyway is also porrly lit, but theres a community usually hanging around outside, so its not a dangerous area.
They have snacks and drinks for a dollar ($1).
The venue itself is also poorly lit and cramped. (But thats good in this case!!) (it does get nice and toasty warm in there. Real moist) There are two available restrooms, small lounge area, zine section, book selection, and some places to sit. There are loads of art on the walls.
If you go: please please please Invest in the $1 earplugs at the snack shack. You will not regret it.

Make sure that you look at whos playing and the cost by checking their website or their social media.
Their pricing varies, but always affordable. Buying tickets online comes outmore affordable, at-door tickets cost about $5 more. Shows typically start at 8/9 and end near 10:30/11:00. Usually 2-3 bands play.

The Smell is also volunteer run, so check out the black binder on the front desk to see openings. Volunteer opportunities include, but are not limited to, Cashier at Snack Shack, front desk/ check-in, and sound system assistant.

Thomas M.

Venue is somewhat hidden away, but absolutely awesome and seems to regularly host musicians. I came in for a museum doing a one-night tour from overseas and loved how friendly and accommodating the venue was.

Location can be a bit cramped and mostly standing room only. There is limited seating for those that may need it.

Adequate parking at three locations nearby.

Venue does sell food and drinks, although all of these were at very reasonable prices.