THE FRESNAN

Fresgeek Weekend: Walk it off

THURSDAY: Whoops, it's too late, Van Halen Thursday has already come and gone. Did you go? Dave actually sounded good, so did Wolfgang and obviously Ed and Al. A full review with video coming over the weekend.

FRIDAY: At five tonight, turn on ESPN2 and watch Fresno State hopefully beat up New Mexico State in their last regular game of the season. So far the Bulldogs have won every game they were supposed to (very un-Pat Hill like), lets see if they can finish it.

Keep the sports theme going and head out to Save Mart Center to watch the Fresno Falcons kick some Bakersfield Condors hockey ass.

After that is done, head out to the Starline and see Mercury Bullet release a CD with Something From Planet Hell and Flight 409.

SATURDAY: Your first chance to walk Christmas Tree Lane this year and officially start Christmas in Fresno. After that, be a total WAC football nerd and watch ESPN to see if Hawaii can stay unbeaten and get the WAC into a BCS game.

NOT ENOUGH: Like always, if this isn't enough for ya, you could go out and spend a big fifty cents to get Friday's Fresno Bee, dig though the ads to hopefully find the "7" section (along with the sports), and figure out what YOU'D like to do.

[sorry things aren't linked up today, typepad is not working properly...like always...thanks jackasses)

VH Pre-Concert Rundown

Some things to think about before Thursday night's big concert...you're going RIGHT!?

SELLOUT OR NOT, SAVEMART WILL BE BUZZING

It's the holiday's, the economy sucks, Fresno has concert fatigue and TICKETS ARE TOO PRICEY.  Reason it how you will, but it doesn't feel like the concert is selling out.  But Fresnan's do love to buy tickets on the day of, so you never know.  Even if it doesn't sellout, SMC should go off when Dave hits the stage.

WOLFIE VS. MIKIE

Fresno has already debated the classic Dave or Sammy.  And frankly, for me, it's not Dave's voice that is going to be more ear-shocking.  It's going to be not hearing Michael Anthony's back-up vocals.  The stuff I've heard on Youtube of Wolfgang singing backup was not good.  I am interested to hear his bass playing though.

EDDIE AND DAVE

I know Ed will still sound amazing, but Dave won't.  In fact if Dave is halfway decent, I'll be pleasantly surprised.  But since I've never actually seen Dave with VH, his weak voice won't matter much.  It will be sweet just to see him out there.  Also will be interesting to watch how forced Ed and Dave's stage interaction is or if they have a genuine band-ship again.

NOTHIN' BUT THE HITS BABY

I'm a bit of a set-list nerd so I am real interested in what will be played in Fresno.  I know the main list is all over the internet (and rarely changes) but I've avoided it so I can have some surprises Thursday night.  If you see The Fresnan before the show and reveal anything, I will fuckin' blog you into oblivion, you set-list spoiling sucker!

POSTSHOW HANGOUT

Where will be THE place for your ringing ears and beer thirsty throat to go?

Stacy Johnson-Mindnumbing

I've been mildly surprised the Stacy Johnson-Klein lawsuit against Fresno State has flown under the local bloggers radar.  I haven't noticed anyone really blogging about it (Bee's Opinion Blog doesn't count, mmka).

Actually, under the radar isn't a proper description.  We've all been following it, living in Fresno we're kinda forced too.  And there has been a lot of juicy blog-perfect stuff going on.  But it's like...cheesy High School juicy.  And you don't care who wins.

Everybody involved is lame. 

It's like when you're in a club and two drunk assholes get into a fight.  You watch because everybody else is, you don't care who gets their ass beat, you hate yourself for being interested in the first place...and you want to take a shower when you get home.

Monday Hangover: Milton Moon over Fresno

Did you see the moon-ring this weekend?  Ed did, and so did the Fresnan.  It was pretty damn cool, biggest one I've seen.  I also saw Milton Bradley bowling at Sierra Lanes...I shit you not.  MB bowling in Fresno on a Saturday night...pretty sure.

Also on Saturday night, we recorded a new podcast.  Friday night, as predicted, Livingstones was insane.  Bumper to bumper ass.  'Stones was so busy, even the inside bar at Starline Grill was packed.  Trust me, that is busy.

Back to the serious business of Milton Bradley bowling in Fresno.  The Fresnan has exclusive video of what could maybe possibly...perhaps is Milton.  Except you can't see his face.  Buut, if you follow the way he walks back to his bowling-lane and you know his "walk" to the plate (which I'm sure you do), I think you'll agree:  TOTALLY WAS HIM!

OMAHA FRESNO ROCKS

People have called Fresno "Omaha in California." I really don't know if that's a slight against us or Omaha or a complement...dunno.  But I do know a complementary parallel Fresno has with Omaha is a good music scene.

The Omaha video below has gotten some airtime on Current and shows off Omaha's internationally known music scene.  If you listen to the bands talk about Omaha's scene and what it's like to be a working band there, you'd swear they're talking about Fresno.

Maybe someday soon there will be a Current "Pod" about Fresno's scene, talking to bands like Rademacher, Flight 409, Super Lucky Catz and HateFX.

fresgeek weekend: Red Saturday

A couple places a Fresgeek like me might hit during this long weekend in the 'No:

FRIDAY: Long Beach indie rock band The Valley Arena is hitting The Starline in the Tower District.  Plenty of Fresno area bands will be opening up for them, like Flight 409 (Mike Oz of the Fresno Bee considers them one of Fresno's most singable bands), The Midnight Howlers and Buffalo Guns (Madera's finest).  This show shouldn't be missed.

SATURDAY:  You're just getting up, trying to recover from The Starline last night, no wait, you're fully recovered and ready to start drinking IMMEDIATELY!  No worries, tailgating for the Fresno State vs Kansas State game begins at 8:30 AM!  That's right baby.  If you're too much of a pussy for that, just nurse your hangover at home and watch the game on ESPN at 12:30.

Looking for more to do this weekend?  Check out Mike Oz's popular flyers.

Natives invade Fresno

You can call them sellouts, a-holes, quiters, or maybe just cool people that needed a change. Who are these people? Fresno Natives, livin' life elsewhere. And Fresno will be crawling with them Thanksgiving weekend as they return to visit family - and remember why they left.

So, what are THE places to see the Natives mixing it up with locals?

I think Livingstones is a guarantee (patio pictured above). Maybe the Bullard grads hit the Elbow Room. I've run into Natives at the Silver Dollar many times over the years.

So where do YOU bump into Natives the most?

March to your death tonight

Tuesday night is as good as any to begin the holidays. Check out this under the radar but still cool show happening tonight at The Starline.

Orosi band Murdoc (yes, Orosi has bands), Reedley band Tokyo Death March and Austin Texas band Red Leaves.

Taste some Reedley sound below before you head out:

In more places like MendoFireChowMaderaPalos

Finally, Westside towns get some love. I don't know anything about this video other than lesser known valley towns getting shout-outs, is cool!

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monday hangover: Roadrunner wins

The Hangover item is one of the lowest points in Fresno State basketball history:  Losing to Bakersfield. 

Forget all this crap, getting beat by the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (first time I've even heard what their mascot was), that is a new low.

(photo by Matt)

Fresgeek Weekend: Boo somebody

FRIDAY:  You might want to hang out with the Beehive and Super Lucky Catz over at Crossroads.  If you're not sure what SLC is all about, then listen 2 dis.

SATURDAY:  Make a little run down 99 and see the Bulldogs play some hoops in Bako.  You can disguise yourself as a Cal State Bakersfield fan and scream smack at hangs-with-dumbshits-so-that-makes-him-a-dumbshit-Thanks-for-fucking-up-another-fresno-state-basketball-season: Rekalin Sims.  Wait, Fresno State suspened Sims...probably won't make the trip...nevermind.

YOU:  Leave a comment and let Fresnans know what your Fresgeek Weekend is all about.

Henry T: Mayor of Fresno's Internets

Is being the first Fresnan, to announce running for mayor on the net, historic?  Doesn't matter what you think...it just is...makes for a cool post opening.

Historic or not, Henry T Perea announced his plans to follow Bubba Wednesday.  The same day as Swearengin announced her run, at Eaton Plaza.  What a one-upper "T" is. 

Henry had a cool live backdrop downtown in his video.  I couldn't stop watching the traffic down below...it distracted me from listening to Henry's message for Fresno's future.  I think he said if he is elected, he is giving free WIFI to every Bulldog gang member.  You might want to watch the video for yourself and make sure.  It's a solid website BTW.

(Damn you Famous Whitewater for beating me to the blog punch)

You are not a Fresnan until...

I'd like to begin a new segment on The Fresnan called "You're Not A Fresnan Until..." 

For the first YNAFU (wow that's one crappy acronym):  You're Not a Fresnan Until you've been to Storyland/Playland.  I was talking with one of my good friends recently (a lifelong Fresnan) and she revealed that she has never taken her child to Storyland or Playland.  Not only that, she never went as a child.  SACRILEGIOUS I tell you! 

Every Fresnan must take their child there before they grow old (well, not now, they just closed for the season).

Both places have had financial trouble in the past...but not this year.  Check out this great article by the Fresno Bee's Cyndee Fontana to see what I'm talking about.

YNAFU out.

Monday Hangover: Don't mess with Fresno's ego

For a FresNerd the number one item over the weekend would have to be a big F*%# UP by one bad ad agency uniting Fresno Defenders (check out all the comments Mike Oz' blog got, I still haven't been able to get though them all).

Another weekend happening (that came along too quietly) was Aaron Espinoza's return to Fresno with his band Earlimart.  The Fresnan was at Club Fred to take a look and listen and we have a little bit of that for you (audio sucks on my camera):

*Keep a podcasting ear out  because I will be playing an interview The Fresnan did with Earlimart frontman Aaron, on a future Flowing With Famous.  (Also, sorry there was no "Fresnerd Weekend" last Friday, computer was down this past weekend.)

Fresno Jones: it's a wrap!

We all know about the craziness that was the new Indiana Jones Movie filming its final scenes at Fresno's Chandler Airport.  Well, now IndianaJones.com has a compilation video of all of the movie series "wraps", including - what I'm pretty...mostly sure is - the Fresno "wrap"  of Crystal Skull.  Check it.