live music – The Fresnan

FresYES Fest 2022: Show Up Early, Like Always

If you are on ‘Fresno Internet’, I’m sure you have seen that FresYes Fest is Saturday.

If you haven’t been before, my number one tip is to go early. It starts at 1:00 so go at 1:00! (Unless you are not broken like me and enjoy large crowds then go whenever)

322e0f91-8101-4350-9b7c-f0c444957fb5 FresYES Fest 2022: Show Up Early, Like Always — This is an all ages event and free to get it, fyi.

I plan to stick around for Bill Clifton & The Chicken & Whiskey Band’s set there in the 3-4 mid-afternoon sweet spot, then I will have one foot out the door – time to hit the road.

Reason being, that is the time (4:30ish) when the lines really start forming. The mess starts happening. The youth begin to takeover. People from weird places like Clovis start showing up.

And that’s totally cool and stuff – I just don’t want to be there for it. My curmudgeon self won’t endure.

The only thing that might get me to stay is Joshua Tehee hosting a stage:

b5a64b3b-b839-44da-b724-026254bf0384 FresYES Fest 2022: Show Up Early, Like Always

I can’t say I have heard of any of those bands which is totally cool because I am ready to be impressed or whatever – it has been too damn long since I’ve seen some local talent live.

I also might stay for beer – if there are no lines. Also can stay for taco variants:

06f41928-95e0-4db1-b7b5-b80adc96428e FresYES Fest 2022: Show Up Early, Like Always

But again, you gotta be there early, even for tacos.

“Where the fuck do I park!?” Like, dude, wherever. Look at the map:

9b3b3e44-f39d-42d5-b768-79154d238cc6 FresYES Fest 2022: Show Up Early, Like Always

Alrighty, well, it doesn’t exactly hold your hand and show you where to park but just act like you’re going to a Grizzlies game or jury duty and you’ll be fine.

But also, maybe get your Uncle to give you a ride down there and just wing it for a ride home – make an adventure out of it. One year I walked over to The Raddison and got an Uber home from there.

Anyway, it will be fun, even for grumpy dudes like me. See ya out there EARLY. ✌️?

Don’t Sleep On: Kills Birds

Thursday night is the big Foo Fighters return to Save Mart Center. If it comes close to their last/first ever Fresno show, it should be epic.

Opening for them is an L.A. band called Kills Birds. Maybe you have not heard of them yet so here are…

Things To Know:

They have a new Sophomore album out now called Married. It was recorded at Dave Grohl’s own Studio 606 (per Dave’s request) through the same Nerve console Nevermind was recorded on.
The Chicago Tribune calls their music “confrontational rock”.
Voice: Nina Ljetis. Guitar: Jacob Loeb. Bassist: Fielder Thomas.
They have been considered THE band to see at SXSW.
They are not scheduled to play live again until February so they might be giving us a little more than usual.

The current single is “Cough Up Cherries” and can be enjoyed below:

also this:

and this:

Check Kills Birds on their site.

I know the typical Fresno concert move is to drink outside the venue as late as you can while still making the main act. But maybe get in the Save Mart a little early and see Kills Birds this time?…

img_2751 Don’t Sleep On: Kills Birds — Foo Fighters with Kills Birds Fresno concert poster

Fulton Street Party Is All Fresno Music Goodness!

Fulton-Street-Party-2018-setlist Fulton Street Party Is All Fresno Music Goodness!

Fulton Street Party! Glad that Tioga is around, otherwise this might not have happened.

The Fulton Street Party is Saturday, celebrating one year of traffic returning to Fulton. It won’t be the hullabaloo that was last year’s party.

But thankfully, Tioga Sequoia Brewing pushes for something to happen and is making a day out of it, highlighted by the Battle of the Bands style competition happening all day with all local acts.

The two “best” bands will win slots at next year’s Grizzly Fest.

This will be a great snapshot of the state of Fresno’s music scene and it’s free to check out. Gaze at the flyer above for set times. I definitely have a couple picked out already.

Tioga will also have super fresh Fulton Street IPA (nice and hazy) flowing all day along, with other things going on within the block surrounding Tioga’s Beer Garden. Including the main stage for bands in the lot across the street from TS.

Sounds like a damn fine day to me. Hope I see ya there!

Maybe I’ll finally check out Chicken Shack.

BANDGEEK!: Fresno Covers Fresno, Gets Into A Strawberry Jam, Blows A Fuse Box and finds some Nashville Pussy

Good stuff happening this weekend. Let's do our research before we head out. Let's Bandgeeeeek!!:

FRIDAY

TOKYO GARDEN: We have only three weeks left until we geek-out on FUSE Fest #5! This show isn't part of the main festival but it is put on by the Fresno Urban Sound Experience. It's show one in a series of shows that will raise money to make an album of Fresno bands covering other Fresno musician's music. Cool stuff. Playing live tonight and helping out is That Guy Kevin, Omar Nare', Blake Jones & the Trike Shop and The Overdubs:

FULTON 55: People have been saying not to miss Strawberry Jam…just sayin'. We hear Sci-Fi Caper and Francis Ward are pretty good too. We also hear that *Surprise Guest* sucks shit:

AUDIE'S OLYMPIC: Yes, Nashville Pussy, [insert lame pussy reference here] will be rocking Audie's tonight. Local rock provided by The Backstabbers, Blue Crown and Thrawtle:

THE LAMP POST: Check out Not Perfect Humans with Whatever The Matter. [$?, 8pm, 21+]

THAI PALMS: Fresno's Rubiks Theory:

STARLINE: That Wild Bunny just won't go away, he still thinks he can rock. Maybe he can, who knows. Certainly Fuse Box can rock some AC/DC and it doesn't hurt that it's free:

Continue reading “BANDGEEK!: Fresno Covers Fresno, Gets Into A Strawberry Jam, Blows A Fuse Box and finds some Nashville Pussy”

BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious

Saturday feels thin again. Not sure what that's about. There's still enough for us to get all Bandgeeeeek-y with though:

FRIDAY

THE CYC: A Pink Teeth DIY mini Fest with Young Turks (Portland), Sloths (Portland), Colony (New York), Burn Your Life Down (Seattle), Stress Relief (Redding), plus locals Grow, Gorilla Stomp, and Cabin Fire:

AUDIE'S OLYMPIC: Fresno's Westerns and The Red Coats plus some surprises:

KUPPAJOE'S: Seattle pop-rock from Dylan Jakobsen, plus Midnight Mirage, My Beautiful Surrender, & Mongrel City:

ENGLEMANN CELLARS: Wine, vineyards and King Sugar:

THAI PALMS: Nice lineup for Homegrown Fridays this week with Tommy Marquez, Palm Kids and Iwanaga:

Continue reading “BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious”

BANDGEEK!: It’s Not Quite ALL About Saturday’s ‘Catacomb Party’ But It’s Close

Once you've stolen a glass from Fresno Brewing Company, you're all set to begin your weekend of comedy and music. It's time to… BANDGEEK!!

FRIDAY

KUPPAJOE'S: Frequent Fresno visitors Picture Atlantic stop in to release their CD "Digital Tension" with Cold Eskimo, Happy Body Slow Brain, Sahab and Conveyor:

FULTON 55:

C.A.F.E. INFOSHOP: Seattle folk rock from Origami Ghosts. Plus Fresnan favorites Werebear and more:

THAI PALMS: Valley rock from Dislodic, Hamerdown Sindrum and Keeney:

STARLINE: It's a Jurassic Jam to fight cancer:

SATURDAY

FRESNO BREWING COMPANY/FULTON MALL: Biggest show Catacomb Party we've seen all year and one of the more unique ones. The Fulton Mall (out front of FBC) will be turned into, basically, a music festival venue. Lots of good bands, lots of good beer, highlighted by a performance from the Firece Creatures. Plus music from Fast Car, Strange Vine, The Slient Comedy, a reunion for the Argyle Pimps, Achievement House, Coast Jumper, Animal Eyes and Bell Thieves. And did you get that it's free and open to all ages? Yep:

Continue reading “BANDGEEK!: It’s Not Quite ALL About Saturday’s ‘Catacomb Party’ But It’s Close”