Vivian Girls, Kremlin Head play L.A. benefit for Pussy Riot

Pussy Riot, the embattled Russian punk band whose members are serving prison time after being convicted Friday on charges of hooliganism, will be the recipients of a Los Angeles benefit concert at all-ages punk club the Smell on Aug. 27.

The benefit will feature New York all-female garage punk group the Vivian Girls, whose incendiary work draws on similar spirit as Pussy Riot. Also on the bill will be Kremlin Head, an all-cover punk band comprised of members of Angeleno rock duo No Age and the late, lamented punk band Mika Miko; kindred spirits Haim, whose version of “Hold Me” is a standout on the new Fleetwood Mac tribute album, “Just Tell Me That You Want Me”; and L.A. garage punk band Pangea.

That the gig is at the Smell is notable, because were Pussy Riot an L.A. band, it would no doubt be at the Smell where it’d find its fanbase. The grimy all-ages club, located on Main Street in downtown L.A., features stacked lineups of teen and twentysomething bands pushing at the edges of rock, noise and electronic music.

Proceeds from the event will aid the Pussy Riot Defense Fund.

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Twitter: @liledit