If you're plugged into Whittier's music scene then you know there's a humble warehouse in West Whittier called Da Dank that throws some of the craziest shows in town.
An ordinary evening at this DIY space typically includes dancing, moshing, skanking, and plenty of head bobbing and foot tapping—if the epic dance sequence from Peanuts was real and set in 2016, it'd likely be held here.
Since opening its doors to the public this year Da Dank has garnered a steady following of young music junkies thanks to its well-curated shows and social media buzz. ViceVersa, the Whittier-based band that operates the venue, personally welcome a plethora of talented musicians from surrounding cities every weekend. “We realized that we were sitting on this untapped vortex that was right in the middle of OC and Downtown LA,” says Zeke Zeldon, lead singer and guitarist of ViceVersa. “The longer we played gigs, the more we found awesome bands that were right here in our hood—we knew the scene needed a spot like this.”
Ever since Penny Lane Records and Fenix 5-4 folded years ago, the city has lacked a pulsating live music scene beyond the well-behaved lounge acts that play the restaurant and bar circuit in Uptown Whittier. A city that was once sprawling with hardcore gigs at local Christian churches, backyard rockabilly
Located in a low-key industrial plaza off of Washington Boulevard, Da Dank hosts an artist's paradise. Upon passing through a metal door, you step into a hallway with lime-green walls and a beautiful cherry-red velvet couch. A ticket window with either a member of ViceVersa or one of their homies charges folks around 5 bucks a pop for entry—which isn't bad considering you're likely to see at least five talented bands on any given night. And they're the type of acts that will have you asking everyone around you where to find more of their music—trust me.
After you get your hand stamped, an adjacent loft-like room with couches, a merch/art table, a projector, a sound board and a makeshift stage with a green spotlight greets you. Groups of teenagers and twenty-somethings from Whittier and neighboring towns such as La Habra, La
Even bands from as far away as Ohio and Seattle have passed through Da Dank to play in the millennial enclave. Genres ranging from punk, reggae, ska, cumbia, jazz, soul, hip-hop and everything in between are well-received and frequently met with chants of “Otra!” (“another one” in Spanish) from the multi-racial though mostly
While ViceVersa
ViceVersa
For now, the current magic happening at Da Dank is as
To stay updated on upcoming shows at Da Dank follow ViceVersa on Facebook and Instagram.
