20 Years Of Pining After Fresno’s “Sparkle Jet”

sparkle-jet-1 20 Years Of Pining After Fresno's "Sparkle Jet"

I go back and forth when it comes to my favorite all-time Fresno band. Some days it’s the Light Thieves. Other days it’s Strange Vine. On days I’m feeling hardass metal it’s Farooq. Punk days it’s It’ll Grow Back. If you’d have asked me 20 [something] years ago, I would have said Neanderthals.

But the band I consistently go back to? Sparklejet.

The 20th Anniversary of Sparklejet has arrived and to celebrate, the band went back to the studio to record a new song. It’s called “UR A Dope” and they are letting you download it for free here. Check it:

If you’re like me, this may send you down the Sparklejet rabbit hole. To help guide you, here are nine Sparkle Jet songs that totally still stand out:

I love that the guys are still around and care enough to take the time to make new stuff. They always sound warm and familiar when I listen to them. Important sounding. Very Fresno, but somehow more sophisticated.

If you’re a fellow Sparklejet fan, I’d love to see your favorite songs and/or memories in the comments.

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:

6a00e54ee89e6c88330177440895b2970d-350wi BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious

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

6a00e54ee89e6c88330176172299e6970c-350wi BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious

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

6a00e54ee89e6c883301774408a590970d-350wi BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious

ENGLEMANN CELLARS: Wine, vineyards and King Sugar:

6a00e54ee89e6c8833017617228682970c-350wi BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious

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

6a00e54ee89e6c88330167692d812c970b-350wi BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious

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BANDGEEK!: Via Coma, Session, From Under The Rug, The Violet Lights, Grassroots Festival, Beetles and more

If you're a band (or anything else) it has become well known now that only about 20% of your fans on Facebook actually see your posts. Confirming that Facebook sucks cyber shit.

Well 100% of your fans will see info about you and your show if they read The Fresnan and… BANDGEEK!:

FRIDAY

KUPPAJOE'S: Three-piece rock outfit from Lafayette, Via Coma, is touring on their new album "Figures" and are nice enough to stop in Fresno. They're hanging in Fresno with Atlas, I Do Not Exist and Le Wolves:

6a00e54ee89e6c883301630696b8b7970d-350wi BANDGEEK!: Via Coma, Session, From Under The Rug, The Violet Lights, Grassroots Festival, Beetles and more

FULTON 55: Local rock from Session and The White Glove Service and Sea Of Sound:

6a00e54ee89e6c88330167678a2da1970b-350wi BANDGEEK!: Via Coma, Session, From Under The Rug, The Violet Lights, Grassroots Festival, Beetles and more

FROM UNDER THE RUG: A local publishing company called "From Under The Rug" is having a art & music show to celebrate the book release of The Many Moons All In Orbit, Volume II. The company itself is a collaboration book of local Fresnans who have contributed art, writing, photography and short stories. Bands playing are Mane Horse, Grow, Asian Girls, The Milford Higgins and Cinco:

6a00e54ee89e6c883301761583e7e9970c-350wi BANDGEEK!: Via Coma, Session, From Under The Rug, The Violet Lights, Grassroots Festival, Beetles and more

STARLINE: Rock local with Jabu, Babel and Firecat:

6a00e54ee89e6c88330167678a35a7970b-350wi BANDGEEK!: Via Coma, Session, From Under The Rug, The Violet Lights, Grassroots Festival, Beetles and more

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Bandgeek!: Look. Decide. Go. Listen.

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:

6a00e54ee89e6c883301630606139f970d-350wi Bandgeek!: Look. Decide. Go. Listen.

AUDIE'S OLYMPIC:

6a00e54ee89e6c88330168ebfb63f4970c-350wi Bandgeek!: Look. Decide. Go. Listen.

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:

6a00e54ee89e6c8833016766f9d62e970b-350wi Bandgeek!: Look. Decide. Go. Listen.

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:

6a00e54ee89e6c883301630605f764970d-350wi Bandgeek!: Look. Decide. Go. Listen.

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

6a00e54ee89e6c8833016766f9c4dc970b-350wi Bandgeek!: Look. Decide. Go. Listen.

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

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BANDGEEK!: Saturday Is A Fresno Music Nerd’s Dream Day

Nothing against the fine shows happening Friday night, but DAMN! foos, Saturday is going to be crazzetz. Enjoy the holiday weekend, Fresnans. Get out there and BANDGEEK!:

FRIDAY

FULTON 55: Come out and support Creative Fresno's Mural Project, proceeds go to bring more murals to Fresno (aka MURALTOWN!) Love the mix of bands on this one (complete with set times):  8:00 Lisa’s Big Night Out, 8:45 Suicide Lounge, 9:30 Lezayr, 10:15 Blake Jones & the Trike Shop and 11:00 Motel Drive:

6a00e54ee89e6c8833016305cff385970d-350wi BANDGEEK!: Saturday Is A Fresno Music Nerd's Dream Day

AUDIE'S OLYMPIC: Performing stuff off their newly released CD "Unashamed Portrial" is The Jay Smith Group (Jay Smith-keys/synth, Eva Scow-mandolin, Tyler Cravines-drums, Pat Olvera-bass). Plus The Experience with Eva Scow:

6a00e54ee89e6c8833016766c41f3e970b-350wi BANDGEEK!: Saturday Is A Fresno Music Nerd's Dream Day

C.A.F.E. INFOSHOP: Reggae ska and punk represented with Iwanaga, Checkered Past and more:

6a00e54ee89e6c8833016766c42808970b-350wi BANDGEEK!: Saturday Is A Fresno Music Nerd's Dream Day

THAI PALMS: Local talent, no cover, North Fresno… 2 out of 3 aint bad. Whatever The Matter, SixHandsMouth and Not Perfect Humans:

6a00e54ee89e6c88330168ebc592d2970c-350wi BANDGEEK!: Saturday Is A Fresno Music Nerd's Dream Day

THE NEXT BAR: More Fresnan rock with Outside The Wire, Broken G String, Palm Kids and more:

6a00e54ee89e6c8833016766c44d38970b-350wi BANDGEEK!: Saturday Is A Fresno Music Nerd's Dream Day

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BANDGEEK!: It Feels like Every Musician In Fresno Is Playing This Weekend

Before we see what bands are playing this weekend, let's not forget about the Fresno Film Festival, NOtown's first Fresno bout of the year and Creative Fresno's Annual Meeting happening at the new CMAC.

Alright, heads up: Friday's music pattern is definately full… LET'S BANDGEEK!:

FRIDAY

STARLINE: We want to give this one the Show Of The Night award but there's too many other good ones. You've got Los Angeles' The Hangmen plus a CD release party from Fresno's The Backstabbers, the very good Third Rail Power Trip (Fresno) and more:

6a00e54ee89e6c88330168eac2550f970c-350wi BANDGEEK!: It Feels like Every Musician In Fresno Is Playing This Weekend

AUDIE'S OLYMPIC: San Jose ska band, Monkey, comes to town and is joined by Fresno's King Sugar and Checkered Past:

6a00e54ee89e6c88330168eac935dd970c-350wi BANDGEEK!: It Feels like Every Musician In Fresno Is Playing This Weekend

FULTON 55: Damn dude, a lot of Fresno talent coming out to support local musician, Keeney, whom was recently in a bad skateboarding accident and needs some support. All performing are Patrick Contreras, From the Fallen, HammerDown Sindrum, Merduh the Innocynce, E-Rose, Beal Street, Joe Davis, Dislodic and Soul Intact. Plus a special set by Keeney:

6a00e54ee89e6c88330168eac968f8970c-350wi BANDGEEK!: It Feels like Every Musician In Fresno Is Playing This Weekend

THE CYC: Valley metal and hardcore rule the night with Blackwoods, Cursed, Failed Creation, Doloris Clairbourne, Evisceration and Obsidian Seraph:

6a00e54ee89e6c8833016304d3d586970d-350wi BANDGEEK!: It Feels like Every Musician In Fresno Is Playing This Weekend

THE LAMP POST: Fresnan rock with The Dirty Stomp + NoGenre:

6a00e54ee89e6c8833016765c6c439970b-350wi BANDGEEK!: It Feels like Every Musician In Fresno Is Playing This Weekend

C.A.F.E. INFOSHOP: Humbolt's Creepy Marbles, Nicole Kidman (Oakland), Sci-Fi Caper, Lover Boy, Glamour Tronic and Restaurnaut:

6a00e54ee89e6c8833016304d3e6c8970d-350wi BANDGEEK!: It Feels like Every Musician In Fresno Is Playing This Weekend

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