music – The Fresnan

Summer Sweat 2018: The Fresno Thing To Do This Weekend

August 8, 2018August 11, 2018 The Fresnan

img_8698 Summer Sweat 2018: The Fresno Thing To Do This Weekend

It’s time for Summer Sweat again!

My favorite music-related event of the year (well, since FUSE Fest is tucked away hiding in a Downtown basement somewhere).

I love Fresno events that fucking own that they are a Fresno event! That’s right, an outdoor event, during the hottest time of the year. Call it Summer Sweat. Bring the damn sweat!

SUMMER SWEAT DETAILS

Day: Saturday.
Location: Tioga Sequoia Beer Garden.
Time: 5 – 11:00.
Ages: All!
Vendors. Food. Music.

TIOGA SEQUOIA STAGE

Viaa (Los Angeles)
Swimm (Los Angeles)
Nuex (D.C.)
Conversation (Fresno)
Pinkeye (Fresno)
Macondo (Orosi)
Stone Shiver (Fresno)
Lance Rodriguez (Fresno)
Levi Josiah & The Orange Offense (Fresno)

TEZZY RADIO STAGE

I will check in on this in between sets on the Tioga Stage and getting Fulton Street IPAs. But I would be lying if I told you I knew what the hell was going on there.

DJ Burns will be there. I sure hope it’s my friend Doug from 3rd Grade whom we all still call “Burns” and he has secretly been DJ-ing for years. Probably not.

OTHER THINGS TOO

There will be food and vendors of various sorts, check the flyer above for the list. All I need to know is there will be food and I’m cool. I am here for the music and beer.

I’ll try to update this post when I know the set times and if there are any special beer releases Tioga has up its sleeve.

Oh wait, here are the set times:

img_8771-1 Summer Sweat 2018: The Fresno Thing To Do This Weekend

I am definitely centering things around Pinkeye’s set with an eye on Macondo’s.

The thing I like about Summer Sweat above all the other music related events and festivals in Fresno is that it doesn’t get uncomfortably packed with Fresbros or anybody else, it’s about the music, it’s approachable, there is the good beer. Enough said.

See ya out there, sweating and breathing heavy.

Moments Of Review: Farooq’s “Heel”

August 4, 2016August 4, 2016 The Fresnan 1 Comment

farooq-demo-1024x1024 Moments Of Review: Farooq's "Heel"

Don’t be frightened. Farooq is not here to harm you. Their brand of sincere hardcore Fresno metal, is here to make you feel pumped and awesome.

They have a new EP/album-promo out on Bandcamp called “Heel”. Here is an odd BUT TOTALLY METAL, BRO review:

BIGGEST HEADBANGING POINT: The 2:13 to 2:31 mark of “Hoarders”.

STRONGEST MOMENT FOR THE F-WORD: Three seconds into “Ask Me”.

SECTION THAT SOUNDED THE MOST LIKE SUICIDAL TENDENCIES: The :45 Second to :55 second mark of “Ask Me”.

OH SHIT, THAT WAS COOL: When “Write Up” stops and he says “Are you mad ’cause I’m stylin’ on you?” At least I really fucking hope he says “stylin’ on you” because it’s rad and I will be saying “Are you mad ’cause I’m stylin’ on you?” to people all day today and forevermore.

THE PART WHERE YOUR MOM OVERHEARS WHAT YOU ARE LISTENING TO AND SAYS “WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU LISTENING TO, SON?”: The first minute of “Write Up”.

You may think that you can’t handle hardcore style stuff but really, I find Farooq more accessible than you think. Give it a shot. I love these dudes.

Check out the video for “Write Up” (audio is NSFW):

And follow them on their current tour vlogs via their YouTube channel.

9 Cool Ass Things I [Will] Remember About Audie’s Olympic

March 15, 2016March 19, 2016 The Fresnan 8 Comments

I dunno if you heard about this but Audie will soon no longer be running Audie’s Olympic club in the Tower District. Crazy, right?

Hey, don’t ask me what happened, I’m sure Josh over at Fresno Beehive has something up about it or soon will. Rumor has it that the Audie Camp is saying the owners of the building want to do their own thing there and are pushing him out. The Owners Camp (total rumor, bro, ok?) say they would like him to stay if he met with the obligations of the lease.

Totally not my business. All I know is I have spent a lot of time in Audie’s Olympic. Not as much as of late but I think maybe I’ve gone to… 90? 100 shows there? Yeah, sounds kinda right.

So with that, here are my ~~Ten~~ 9 Cool Ass Things [I Will Remember] About Audie’s Olympic:

The Tub Of Beer: Not every place in town has a horse water trough full of ice and cheap beer cans. Even if you are not hipster enough to like PBR (I apparently am not), you had to order one, just so you don’t stand out too much.
The Chalk Event Board: I am a real nerd about chalk boards. No self respecting craft beer tap room doesn’t have one. Audie’s has one. Checking out the board during band breaks is a classic past-time for me.
The Bathroom Door Sticker Art: I can only assume the girls bathroom is the same but I KNOW the boys has always been covered in band stickers. I really haven’t checked it out close enough to see if they are ever peeled off or if there are years and years of layers.
Audie Chilling In the Corner of the Bar: If you look real close, behind the soundboard, you just might catch a glimpse. Always felt like I was looking behind the curtain at the Wizard of Oz.
The Wall Carpet! Zanny I say (and probably helps with the sound). And all the stuff above the bar. ZANNY!
Pool Table/Merch Table: Of all the years going there, including when it was Club Fred, I think I saw the pool table actually functioning as a pool table, twice. Love picking up merch there so that is ok. Always bring cash for band merch, people, it seriously helps the bands survive.
The Sidewalk Scene: In between bands, more than half the club spills out onto the sidewalk in front of Audie’s. And most aren’t smoking, just getting some air and catching up with folks. Because have you tried having a conversation inside a rock club?
The Couches: It was super rare that I would get the couch in the center of the dance floor. I would occasionally get the one under the control booth. This was always a mistake because you never got up again.
Seeing Rising Bands: Whether it was a Fresno act or a touring act just trying to get noticed. There is no greater pretentious dude joy than to be able to say “I saw that band play at a small club in Fresno before they hit big.” Really this is [was] my favorite thing. And you get to talk to the bands outside during the sidewalk sessions.

Seriously, much love and respect to Audie and what he has done for the music scene in Fresno, it can’t be said enough. Safe travels on his next adventure.

Hopefully the space continues as a rock club. It just has too. Even if the wall carpet has to go.

[photo from David Prasad]

LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT: Fresno Urban Sound Experience Festival for 2012

August 6, 2012August 6, 2012 The Fresnan

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.

BANDGEEK!: Peter Case, Mercury Bullet, Gaza, Galye and her Bowties, Prince Parties and Red Airplanes

June 8, 2012June 8, 2012 The Fresnan

You just really have to love Friday night for the good mix of stuff. Saturday you may need to just dance it out with Prince.

How bout we BANDGEEEEEK!?:

FRIDAY

AUDIE'S OLYMPIC: Tonight's big act, Peter Case, is one of those dudes you kinda know, should know, but maybe don't. He's been around a ton of people, influenced a ton. Singer of the LA based The Plimsouls whose song "A Million Miles Away" was a big 80's hit featured in the movie Valley Girl. But he never quite got over the "big-time" hump. Seriously, check out his resume, it's quite extensive. Point is the guy is talented and shouldn't be missed. Peter will go on first at 9:30 followed by Fresno's own The Backstabbers and Third Rail Power Trip. Good stuff, Fresno. [$8, 21+]:

FULTON 55: Stacked up with hard rock from Mercury Bullet, Beta State, Relax Reload:

C.A.F.E. INFOSHOP: Heads up for experiemental grindcore type stuff with Gaza (Salt Lake City, Utah), Cabin Fire (Fresnans), Tide Mouth (Santa Clarita), Grow (Fresno) and Gorrilla Stomp (Fresno):

STARLINE: Breakout hit from Rogue Festival, Gayle And The Bowties, playing with Fresno alt-country band, Back In The Valley:

KUPPAJOE'S: Time to check out Valkyrie Missile, The Current, The Red Airplanes and Mercy Fists:

Bandgeek!: Look. Decide. Go. Listen.

June 1, 2012June 1, 2012 The Fresnan

Just so we're all clear, these are things happening music-wise this weekend in Fresno. Yes, there have been better weekends, but there are still some gems if you want to look. That's what this post is here for. It's… BANDGEEK!:

FRIDAY

FULTON 55: Yes his dad can play guitar but Salvador Santana can score with younger women "TAKE THAT, PAPI!" If that isn't enough, THE Patrick Contreras is playing along with Santana tribute band (see what they did there?), Heavy Weather. Definately the show of the night:

AUDIE'S OLYMPIC:

THAI PALMS: The only consistent show North of Shaw is Homerown Fridays. This week it's Jayson Brooks, Screaming Me Me and From The Fallen:

CYC: Frequent Fresno flyers, Maya Over Eyes (San Jose) with Denver's Forty Fathoms and Wyoming's The History Of Hope. Plus locals like We Sunk The Mayflower:

KUPPAJOE'S: It's Kuppa's Summer Kick Off Benefit Show with Saving Temperance, Rachel Belman, SirenSinging and Karlo of The Unbelievable:

SPECTRUM ART GALLERY: Check out Niilo Smeds and Strawberry Jam. Featuring the photography of Gary Christiansen. [$2, 9pm, 21+]