Fulton Street? Dude. So Not Impressed.

Okay. So yeah, I know I’ve been away for a while, not blogging about Fresno and stuff. And yes, this Fulton Mall becoming Fulton Street is the big cool thing in Fresno right now. And I am sorry to write such a negative post, right off the bat.

But I am not feeling Fulton Street:

fulton-street Fulton Street? Dude. So Not Impressed.
The “new look” of Fulton Street

I know the project was short two million but I think they could have done better than that.

Sure it’s nice fresh asphalt. Fresh new asphalt is super pleasing. I can smell this new Fulton Street and be transported back to the 1950s. I can almost see Bob Falfa’s 55 Chevy looking for somebody to race.

And, okay, the art and the fountains all seem to still be in place, so that’s cool. But gosh, I was expecting a little more.

While I’m here, would it really cost that much to at least clean up the construction mess? I was totally stoked to go cruising down Fulton Street like my grandpa and stuff but there’s all the things in the way:

fulton-street-cleanup Fulton Street? Dude. So Not Impressed.

HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DRIVE THROUGH THIS, SWEAR BEAR?! PICK UP THE SHIZZ! Maybe get Mayor Swear’s church group out there to clean it up or something?

Geez. I came back for this?

POST TAKEOVER – FUSE FEST 2012: Bandgeek is FUSEGEEK

6a00e54ee89e6c8833017c31b60ece970b-350wi POST TAKEOVER - FUSE FEST 2012: Bandgeek is FUSEGEEK

Our last Fresno Urban Sound Experience 'post takeover' is the biggest. A special Bandgeek with all the info you need to enjoy the festival this weekend with links to the venues and band websites.

Come out early and stay late. It's a total geek-out for fans of live and local music. It's FUSE FEST!!:

FRIDAY

IRON BIRD LOFTS (All Ages)

7:30 So Long Williamsburg
8:30 Blake Jones & the Trike Shop
9:30 Boxcar Figaro

FULTON 55 (Main Stage) 21+

7:00 Alana Shap Hill
8:00 Actress
9:00 Light Thieves
10:00 Sparklejet
11:00 Collecto

FULTON 55 (Coffeehouse Stage – upstairs) 21+

7:30 Karen Marguth
8:30 Siren Singing
9:30 Kat Jones
10:30 Fatty Cakes

THE LAMPOST  (21+)

10:30 Your Hero Is A Villain
11:30 Werebear
12:30 Dislodic

SATURDAY

CMAC (Inside Old Fresno Met building) “Studio Stage” (All Ages)

4:30 Gayle and The Bowties
5:30 Danielle Rondero
6:30 College Kids
7:30 Art By Numbers
8:30 Lezayr
9:30 American Sanchez

CMAC “Outdoor Stage” (All Ages)

5:00 I Do Not Exist
6:00 Before Perils
7:00 Distrito Torre
8:00 B-Rawcity
9:00 [surprise band]

FISHBOWL – Warnors Theatre Marque (ALL AGES)

6:30 Aesop Fables
7:30 Strawberry Jam
8:30 Cinco
9:30 It’ll Grow Back

FRANK’S PLACE (21+)

7:00 The Dirty Stomp
8:00 Back In The Valley
9:00 Basura
10:00 Patrick Contreras

FRESNO BREWING COMPANY (All Ages)

6:30 Restaurnaut
7:30 The Overdubs
8:30 Brother Luke & the Comrades
9:30 Achievement House

TOKYO GARDEN (21+)

10:00 Niilo Smeds
11:00 Sunburns
12:00 General Populus
1:00 Ornery Ones

TICKETS
Festival Pass is $20 (gets you into every venue and stage for both days).
Day Pass is $15 (gets you into every venue and stage for one day).
Venue Pass is $5 to $10 (Fulton 55), depending on venue. Good for one venue.

Tickets will be available at the Fulton 55 box office starting now. BRING CASH! They will also be available at most venues throughout the festival…did we mention to BRING CASH! You want to have some cash for band merch too!

PARKING
There is free street parking throughout the Cultural Arts District (or
Mural Town!! if you prefer) and at city lots around the Fulton Mall.
(Parking meter spots are free on weekends and evenings)

RANDOM
The official Twitter hashtag being used is #fusefest

Check the Facebook event page and invite some folks! There's a lot of samples from FUSE Fest artists poping up there too.

FOOD
Eating at FUSE Fest is recommended at Iron Bird Cafe, Tokyo Garden and Fresno Brewing Company. Dusty Buns will be on the Fulton Mall (in front of Fresno Brewing Company) on Saturday night.

DRINKING
On Friday: Fulton 55 and The Lamp Post. On Saturday: Frank's Place, Fresno Brewing Company and Tokyo Garden. Iron Bird Cafe both nights for excellent coffee and tea.

 

GET THERE EARLY! The set times aren't like normal set times that are "suggested". It STARTS at 7pm on Friday and 4:30 on Saturday (Music Gods willing).

The Central California's biggest LOCAL music festival. Come out and kick ass with everyone.

LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT: Fresno Urban Sound Experience Festival for 2012

6a00e54ee89e6c8833017743dbb8a1970d-400wi LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT: Fresno Urban Sound Experience Festival for 2012

Hope you'll be in town September 6th-8th. It's going to be a fun weekend in Fresno. Fun because that's the weekend for the Fresno Urban Sound Experience. It's the 5th year for FUSE Fest and while it may be a bit bigger, the ideals are the same as year one: Showcase Fresno's diverse and talented music scene while featuring relevant venues in Downtown Fresno.

So. The big stuff. The reason there is a festival at all. Let's take a look at the lineup for Fresno Urban Sound Experience #5! Because FUSE Fest has no headliners, this is in no particular order:

That's a large helping of Fresno music. Lineup is supject to change (such is life). But it's looking damn special so far and we cant wait to see it all in Downtown Fresno, Friday and Saturday September 7th and 8th.

Make sure to start inviting all your friend's faces. Follow FUSE Fest on Twitter and check the website for the latest news.

Music To ArtHop To: Benji McEntee, Brother Luke, Niilo Smeds, Strawberry Jam and Fatal Rebirth

We noticed there's a lot of good music happening during Art Hop tonight… Alright well, there's ALWAYS good music at Art Hop, we just noticed it this time.

At P*DE*Q, Benji McEntee (he of the greatness that is The Fay Wrays) will being doing a set of his own in support of Danielle McEntee's exhibit. [Free, 5-8pm]

At Fresno Brewing Company is Brother Luke & the Comrades featuring Bekah Eropkin, Pro Wings, and Kevin Reese (Aspen Hollow). [Free, 8pm, All Ages]

6a00e54ee89e6c8833017743d96f4c970d-400wi Music To ArtHop To:  Benji McEntee, Brother Luke, Niilo Smeds, Strawberry Jam and Fatal Rebirth

And, of course there's always Jazz Hop:

6a00e54ee89e6c8833017743d976c2970d-400wi Music To ArtHop To:  Benji McEntee, Brother Luke, Niilo Smeds, Strawberry Jam and Fatal Rebirth

POST HOP

At Tokyo Garden, there's some Strawberry Jam, Niilo Smeds and Who's Clayton. [$3, 9:30, 21+]

At Audie's Olympic, some late night metal from Fatal Rebirth and DJ Evil G all night. [$3, 9pm, 21+]

There's probably plenty more music too. As always, please feel free to leave a comment if you know of something!

Saturday The Fierce Creatures Managed To Make The Fulton Mall The Best Place In Fresno

Congratulate promoter Religious Appeal. Congratulate the Fierce Creatures. The Fresno Brewing Company. Sheet Jesus (he was there). Fresnans. Everyone. It was a special kind of night on the Fulton Mall Saturday.

The Beehive has some quotes and a fine video up that explains it better than we can. We did get this video that gives those that weren't there an idea of how many Fresnans are willing to go see live music on the Fulton Mall:

If John or somebody can give us all the formula to make this kind of thing happen on a regular basis in Fresno (and we mean wherever), we'd be mighty grateful.