The Smell

This downtown no-frills space has been a mainstay of DIY in Los Angeles since 1988. The Smell strongly broadcasts their own booking parameters: “You must know a booker or a band already on a bill. Ask them for help.” This statement may come off as a bit unforthcoming, but it speaks to a transparency that is hard to find at most venues in LA. Plainly, the Smell is saying that in order to play there, one needs to attend shows, talk to bookers and bands, organically place themselves within the scene this establishment has worked hard to cultivate in order to be a part of it.