Tag: Save Mart Center

Don’t Sleep On: Kills Birds

The Fresnan
img_2747 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

The Foo Fighters Pay Fresno Back For 22 Years Of Nothing [Includes Fresno Setlist]

The Fresnan 5 Comments

Dave-Grohl The Foo Fighters Pay Fresno Back For 22 Years Of Nothing [Includes Fresno Setlist]

“We never fuckin’ played here before? Shut the fuck up. Shut, the fuck up. Are you fuckin’ serious? … Whoops… Sorry.” That was the moment during the Foo Fighters show at Save Mart Center Friday when Dave Grohl realized it took Foo 22 years to play Fresno.

It seemed they may have actually felt guilty because they played an extra long time and more songs than they have been playing on their current Concrete and Gold tour.

It was an amazing rock show. A clinic. This group has been playing a long time and they knew what the crowd wanted and delivered it.

The setlist came dangerously close to my dream setlist, I was shocked they played “White Limo” and really could not have been much happier. Let’s take a look at the Fresno show setlist:

  1. Run
  2. All My Life
  3. Learn To Fly
  4. The Pretender
  5. The Sky Is A Neighborhood
  6. Rope
  7. Drum solo (with Dave & Taylor jam intro)
  8. Sunday Rain
  9. My Hero
  10. One Of These Days
  11. Walk
  12. Let It Die
  13. This Is The Call
  14. White Limo
  15. Arlandria
  16. Times Like These
  17. Breakout
  18. Make It Right
  19. Under My Wheels (Alice Cooper cover sang by Chris Shiflett)
  20. Better Shape Up (Grease)/Jump (Van Halen)/Blitzkrieg Bop (The Ramones)
  21. Under Pressure (Queen cover, with Dave Grohl drumming and Tayor Hawkins/Luke Spiller [the Struts] singing)
  22. Monkey Wrench
  23. Best Of You (First closing song)
  24. Dirty Water [encore]
  25. Breakdown (Tom Petty cover/tribute) [encore]
  26. This Is The Call
  27. Everlong

Pretty sure I got that right, 26ish songs. Crazy. The show lasted 3 hours and 13 minutes. It did not feel that long at all. When the show let out I thought it was maybe 10:45, but it was Midnight.

I’m not a good enough writer to conjure up all the proper descriptions of what happened during this show. All I can say is it was fucking metal and moving, all at once. Thank you, Foo Fighters, for playing Fresno finally. And thank you, Dave, for not doing the “I don’t call it FresNO, I call it FresYES” joke hack singers use when they play here.

Speaking of Fresno, my favorite part of big shows is when the city is acknowledged by the band and a bit can be made out of it. Here is Dave talking out how the Foo Fighters have never played Fresno, complete with “sad mutherfuckers” and “Times Like These“:

I was super impressed by the stage lighting and video screen, so whoever designed that, kudos. It kept evolving throughout the night and my favorite is when it came down over the stage, creating a ‘roof’ on the stage and giving the show an intimate club feel for a few songs. Very cool.

Anyway, thanks for reading, please leave any Foo Fighter show thoughts in the comments!

Primer For The Foo Fighters Show In Fresno On Friday – Complete With Setlist Hopes!

The Fresnan 2 Comments

img_4290-4 Primer For The Foo Fighters Show In Fresno On Friday - Complete With Setlist Hopes!

Fresno is finally getting the Foo Fighters show we have waited the whole band’s career for! That is a long time. Long. Time.

So, since we here in Fresno may be new to seeing the Foo, we might have some questions and even some demands centered around Friday’s show.

Let’s get this out of the way first: Will they play a Nirvana song? No. Dave has always said Foo would not and they have stayed true to that, with the exception of playing a cover that Nirvana played live.

What special Fresno inspired guest could they bring onstage? This is a move Foo likes to pull off from time to time, get some big local guy or just a special big guest to come out and play one or two songs, even if the performer isn’t rock related. As funny as it sounds, I think they could bring out Timmy T and do a rock version of “One My Try”, might sound kinda nasty (in a metal kinda way).

Why do they have three guitarists? Ok, so, you have founder Dave Grohl throughout, duh. Originally there was also Pat Smear (yes, came over from Nirvana) as rhythm and lead guitar. Pat left the band and was replaced by Frank Stahl. Then Frank left and was replaced by Chris Shiflett, who is the still the current lead guitarist. So you got Dave and Chris. Cool? Cool. BUT WAIT! At some point Pat Smear is like “Wow, guys, remember when I was in the band? Yeah that was actually pretty rad, huh? Good times, good times… Hey, I was thinking maybes, you know, it sure would be cool if I was in the band again. Yeah?” And Dave was like “Cool, whatevs bro, come on back.” And so there were three.

What kind of setlist should we expect Friday? Well, I don’t like to peak at what songs a band has been playing on tour before I see them, so I have not looked. A big show like this is kinda like going to see a Star Wars movie or something; I want to know as little as possible.

I do know that they are playing 22 songs on average this tour. So, I have compiled a sorta dream setlist for Friday’s show that I’m about to reveal, I did it on my notebook because that is how you do nerdy rock band doodles. You know, like when you were in high school and stuff.

You’ll notice I mostly left off songs from the new album, making this setlist-wish unrealistic as they are touring to support “Concrete and Gold.” But hear me out on this, DAVE, (I’m talking directly to you, Mr. Grohl): YOU BASTARDS HAVE NEVER PLAYED FRESNO! We deserve a unique set that reflects that.

So here it is:

img_4275 Primer For The Foo Fighters Show In Fresno On Friday - Complete With Setlist Hopes!

I chose “All My Life” as the opener because it would be cool to have that initial single riff playing to a completely dark arena, can’t see the band yet just hear the riff going for an extended time, until you hear Dave (the place is still dark) recite the initial lines and then BOOM! song kicks in all lights on!

Fuck yes, the Foo Fighters are in Fresno!!

For some reason, there are still tickets available. Please leave your must-hear-live Foo Fighter songs in the comments!!

Foo Fighters! Foo Fighters Show In Fresno! Foosnooooo!

The Fresnan 2 Comments

Foo-Fighters Foo Fighters! Foo Fighters Show In Fresno! Foosnooooo!

It’s the kind of news that turns a bad day into a good one. The Foo Fighter’s lifelong dream of coming to Fresno is finally a real thing!

They will be here December 1st. That’s a Friday night show, brotha! Foo on Friday! #FooFriday. Tickets on sale, June 29th, at the old classic time of 10 AM. Check out their website for pre-sale.

The super important question already being asked. Will Dave use the tired “I think this town should be called FresYES not FresNO!” joke?

But isn’t Dave Grohl too cool for such a joke? I hope so. I think so.

I will accept an “I don’t call this place FresNO, I call it FOOno!” joke. But if Dave does the tired and corny “I don’t say FresNO, I say FresYES!” joke, I will boycott the next song by sitting down in my seat, folding my arms and staring Dave down with a very disappointed smirk.

I’m getting away from the fact that it’s so freaking awesome that the Foo is finally coming to Fresno. This news will make the summer so much easier, having this to look forward too in December.

So, good job Fresno. And we didn’t even have to gather all the town’s musicians to convince them to come.

*Pic stolen from here.

[sorry it’s over] Win This!: A Pair Of Tickets To ‘The Black Keys’ at Save Mart Center

The Fresnan

6a00e54ee89e6c883301774363e003970d-400wi [sorry it's over] Win This!: A Pair Of Tickets To 'The Black Keys' at Save Mart Center

UPDATE!
Sorry everyone, this contest is closed. Sorry to everyone but April that is as she won the pair of Black Keys tickets. Thanks for all the emails. Don't feel so bad because we haven't gotten our tickets yet either. Maybe we can get April to take us.

ORIGINAL POST
If you at all like The Black Keys then you know they're coming to Fresno's Save Mart Center October 1st (with Tegan and Sara). It will be a damn fine night. If you're a hardcore fan then you've already got your tickets. If you're a regular Fresnan, you haven't gotten around to getting any. Well, your Procrastinating Fresnan ways might pay off.

The SMC is being cool to Fresnan readers and letting us give away a pair of tickets to the show. No creative hoop to jump through to enter our little contest. Just email something to contest@thefresnan.com and you are good.

GOOD LUCK!

Winner will be chosen randomly. Contest will end Friday night at Midnight. One email per household (we have our ways of knowing you sneaky guy). We're GIVING away something so promise to still be cool if you don't win. Winner will be emailed by Saturday (July 21st) and will pickup their tickets at SMC Will Call.