Lina Lecaro

The provocative DIY spirit of punk rock is alive and well in Los Angeles, and local rabble-rousers Dead City Punx are proving it. This weekend, an exhibition celebrating the band’s “volatile and unapologetic street-level activism” takes over Beyond the Streets gallery, and as founder and curator Roger Gastman says, it’s a celebration of “art on its own terms.” The show, which runs on La Brea Avenue through May 30, brings the band’s history together with other anti-establishment artists that reflect the “Punx” ethos.  Known for its retrospective explorations of street culture—from music (Beastie Boys, Gwar) to photography and street art (Estevan Oriol & Teenage Angel, Guerilla Girls)—BTS’s approach to its subjects and themes are always multi-faceted and deeply reflective. This new Punx project is no exception.  An accompanying book release and documentary film (coproduced by Rage Against the Machine’s Zack de la Rocha) provide a bold immersion into the volatile world of the L.A. band’s creative anarchy, including the communal energy of its illegal gigs and the damage left in their wake when law enforcement breaks them up.   Formed in 2020, Dead City members Meka, Grumpy, Mike and Adrian (all use first names only due to the nature of their notoriety with authorities) were lifelong friends growing up in various parts of L.A. They started jamming when Mike had just gotten out of jail.  Mike’s raw and ravaging lyrics and shrieks, and his bandmates’ wicked thrash conveyed what a

The term “4/20” has long been cultural code for an afternoon smoking session, but since legalization in January 2018, it’s grown (yes, like a weed) into a bona fide celebration, especially in Los Angeles. Beyond 4:20pm (or am if you’re a wake-and-bake early bird), April 20th has become a springtime tradition that represents connecting with nature and each other, as well as promoting cannabis commerce, business and brands. It may have all started in the 1970s in Northern California, but here in SoCal, we’ve made it our own and we have a plethora of pot-themed parties to prove it.    Reefer Madness: The Musical Wisteria Theater, Apr 10–May 10; $58 This “Tale of the Devil’s Terror” takes over North Hollywood’s Wisteria Theater for a presentation of the classic cautionary toker story. The “jazz-fueled, satirical stage experience” promises intoxicating performances, outrageous antics and creepy vibes inspired by Lucifer’s lettuce and the fear tactics of the past that made it forbidden, a perfect way to head into 4/20 this month and keep it going into the next. Weed Bus L.A. Tour Various locations, Apr 10, 11, 16, 17, 24, 25; $79 Cruise over to see homes seen in the classic Ice Cube Friday movies on this popular tour. You’ll also cruise over to Nipsey Square, visit shops like Cypress Hill’s Dr. Greenthumbs, check out local murals and a lot more at this L.A. high history experience. From South L.A. to Downtown, this three-hour guided tour will stone you with nug knowledge and fun ac