Photos: Chinatown Summer Nights, with the Janks, Quarterback, Tolaku, Alexa Melo, Sneakout and the Fontaines

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The Janks at Chinatown Summer Nights

Like colorful paper from one of the ever-present confetti cannons, Chinatown Summer Nights burst into action Saturday night for the first of the series’ monthly shows, with L.A. rockers The Janks capping an eclectic evening of live music with a blistering, bluesy set on the Live Music Stage.

||| Photos by Chad Elder

The night featured two touring bands from Taiwan — Quarterback and Tolaku (both playing tonight at the Whisky) — who showed that rock is indeed a universal language. Young L.A. rocker Alexa Melo impressed with a set of tunes from her new album (and a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Us and Them”); Sneakout inspired an early dance party with a batch of funky, bass-driven pop; and The Fontaines started the night in winning fashion, doing their infectious “new-wop.”

A big crowd turned out to explore Chinatown, dance with KCRW DJs Anthony Valadez and Raul Campos, enjoy the craft beer garden, get their photo taken with the Bruce Lee statue, feast at the restaurants and food trucks, watch all manner of cultural activities and make nice with the Capuchin monkey. Did we say monkey? Yes, monkey. See the second photo gallery below …

Chinatown Summer Nights

The next Chinatown Summer Nights is July 25; watch this space for a lineup announcement this week.