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So we at The Fresnan were invited to a sweet Fresno house party over the weekend. We made an executive decision to not go because we are just gettin' too old - and there wasn't going to be booze.
Looks like we really missed out because my favorite Fresno area band played. Tokyo Death March. Have a look at the fun that is a Fresno house party with a great band:
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There are few things in life more satisfying than a Sunday Morning (for me anyway). I tend to dwell far too long on Saturday nights in places that require you to vacate the premises just before the witching hour. But somehow, no matter the previous evening’s details, I’m always up and ready for what the day has in store for me on Sunday.
Sadly, that rarely brings anything in the way of breakfast for me. Let’s face it, if I stumble into bed after 2am, the last thing I’m thinking about is setting the timer on the coffee pot right? This is however only 1 (of several reasons) why I’ve always wanted a cool breakfast spot in Fresno.
I mean think about it. How often have you been to Denny’s or an IHop and yearned for something other than Egg’s over Myhammy and piped in Muzak? You want more than that, you just don’t think of it as an option. You want a breakfast place that’s playing the same Radiohead song you were listening to the night before. You want a menu that boasts about its Vegan options but is not afraid to offer you the kind of bacon that makes you yearn for the days no one thought about clogged arteries. The kind of place that will provide you with the kind of decadence your severely hung over body so justly deserves. Oh and lets not talk about the décor? Would it be too much to ask for a place with a little ambiance built into the scheme of things? Trust me, there are more than enough Thrift/Vintage spots in Fresno to be able to pull that off without much difficulty.
But alas this is merely a re-occurring dream for a girl who usually takes her vacationing friends (yes, I have friends who come visit me in Fresno) to The Chicken Pie Shop or Irene’s for breakfast. That is not to take anything away from either of those places, I dig them both, but I think we have more than enough space to add a happening breakfast joint to the menu, especially when downtown is so ripe for the picking.
For instance, you can’t throw a rock without hitting a trendy breakfast spot in places like Chicago’s Bucktown Bongo Room (where I dined on the best pumpkin pancakes on the planet) or San Francisco’s lovely Mission district or even Downtown Sacramento for that matter.
I think it’s time people….time to have a place we can all read the Sunday paper, drink coffee and enjoy egg’s ( beaters or whatever) amid hipsters, backpackers, diva’s, poets, bboys and families alike all with a pulsing background of conversation, music and art. Now I ask you, is that too much to ask for?
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This blog needs some help. One goober blogging about random Fresno bands, billboards and comic strips isn't going to cut it anymore. Somebody needs to be brought in that is all up in Fresno's culture, is cool, doesn't mind sharing space with a nerd and can actually write. Believe it or not, we found someone that qualifies.
The Fresnan is insanely proud to introduce Devoya Mayo as its newest blogger. Devoya does too many things in the community to mention. But I do want to point out one of the coolest: her radio show on 88.1 KFCF called "Move on UP!" (Friday nights at 7), it's the best show on Fresno radio. Devoya is new to the blogsphere so cut her some slack while she gets her blogger-bearings. Actually, I doubt you'll need to cut her any slack.
You'll be able to tell the difference between my posts and Devoya's by the "posted by" at the bottom of the posts. Another way you can tell it's a Devoya post and not mine: good writing. Please welcome her guys and thank you for being here Devoya.
-Mikey Seay
[email protected]
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This is what you're doing tonight to get in out of the smoke:
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I love a good loud band probably much more than the next guy. But sometimes I just want to hang out, have a drink, bullshit and listen to some cool music. And I want the music in the background, not punching me in the neck.
Well, Ms Soulflower, Devoya Mayo, has just the thing lined up tonight at Palomino's (listen to her radio show "Move on UP" tonight at seven on 88.1). Even our rivals, the FresnoBeehive, will be there. I'm sure they'll provide the BS and Devoya will provide the music...I'll provide my own drink, thanks.
[SIDE NOTE: A killer addition is coming to The Fresnan over the weekend. After getting our asses kicked by the FresnoBeehive all week, it's time for this little indie blog to strike back. Stay tuned.]
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UPDATE: Unreal! They did it! The biggest upset in college sports history. Unreal...
No matter what the outcome of tonight's game (2-0 Fresno at the moment), I've gotta say thank you to this year's Diamond Dogs. I, like many longtime Fresnans have been following the baseball team since I knew what a baseball was, and to see them playing for a national title is surreal.
So thank you guys for bringing Fresno together this week in the most positive of ways. For once, instead of Fresnans united in talking about smog, heat, desire for an Ikea or even the football team's drama, we're talking about Fresno baseball on the biggest of stages. Thanks Wonderdogs.
More updates: On ESPN.com right now you can vote for all time Cinderella teams. Fresno State is currently number two behind the U.S. Hockey team...not bad.
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I never got Merced band El Olio Wolof. I saw them at Starline. Didn't get. I saw them at Babylon. Nothin'. "What's the big deal?" is a stupid question I would ask to nobody in particular.
Maybe I just needed a venue change because I saw a version of El Olio at Tokyo Garden recently and finally got them. I think the T Garden's atmosphere fit the music better or something...I dunno. Wolof singer "Radioactive Cauliflower" has a cracked genius way about his songwriting that I really dug.
The point is, I really liked what I heard and I'm on board the Merced indie-train. A train that leaves this month for a short summer tour of the states. A tour that will have Malcolm Sosa playing keyboards. You can hear what that might sound like with our exclusive bootleg clip from Tokyo Garden of a stripped down version of El Olio Wolof playing "A Fire Breathing Dragon":
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Because the FresnoBeehive can't catch every Fresno mention, even if it was in the paper: The Fresno Bee got some product placement action a couple Sunday's ago in the comic Pearls Before Swine. If you click the pic on the right, you can see what I'm talking about.
We could have something to do with it too. Some time ago I did a vlog about the Bee removing Get Fuzzy for Pearls. I didn't like the move and I did some Swine bashing.
A couple days after posting the vlog, the creator of Pearls, Stephan Pastis, emailed me and said he saw the video - whoops. Except he wasn't pissed, he thought it was funny (kinda). He was just worried because most people who like Fuzzy, like Pearls - Stephan happens to be best friends with Fuzzy creator Darby Conley by the way. He later relayed that he and Darby were bummed Get Fuzzy got bumped from the Bee at the same time Pearls caught on.
But it all ended happily because the Bee saw their error and brought Get Fuzzy back while keeping Pearls Before Swine. So now, we can get stuff like this:
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I had never been to
Turns out I was just being an idiot. Tokyo is cool, even for nerds and I received no jaded hipster stares all night - that I know of.
Tokyo Garden has a great atmosphere, owner, unassuming stage and cool booths that you use to separate yourself from the music, if you so wish. By the way, the music was nice Thursday and you'll here some in a post later this week.
I'm glad I finally broke my hipster hangout cherry and I won't be afraid to go back. Even if somebody starts a fire across the street like they did Thursday night. The Fresnan got video, but other local bloggers got to test their live blogging skills. Check it:
[photo by Kurtz]
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I know there are Fresnans and Fresnan Bloggers out there that don't know what the big deal is. But this Diamond Dog run IS a big deal foos and there's still a little bit of time left to get on board with the rest of town. IF you still don't get it, this letter to the Bee Sports Editor will say it better than I can:
Hooray for Fresno State. I love witnessing the advancement of the baseball team in the College World Series. For me, this is so much bigger than just a win on a scoreboard. I see ourselves as a community in this team. All of our grit, heart, determination and sheer will to survive is something that all of us Fresnans embody. I wish them continued good fortune as they break through walls everyone warned were too high to climb.
-Kelly Racca Clovis
The bandwagon leaves the ahh...band...wagon...station at 4:01 Monday.
[photo AP]
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After the big Bulldog game, get out there tonight - do some stuff:
40 Watt Hype with HR7 will be at Crossroads tonight. HR7 explains:
There's also this:
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Listen to Episode 62
The first half of the show is clips from the Dorktown Three Year Anniversary Party. Second half is Mikey and a low volume Bells talking on the phone about why they had to talk on the phone...yep, it's as exciting as it sounds.
No real summary this time. You've just got to listen and try to enjoy. If you're new to the Dorktown Podcast, I'd like to warn you it's unprofessional, obnoxious and there is swearing throughout - nasty Fresnans. click it: dorktown62.mp3
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Time for more bootleggin' in Fresno. This time it's Fresno's punk boys It'll Grow Back. This was recorded at the Dorktown Three Year Party. It's raw and I mean that in every way: sound quality and f-bombs (from the crowd and the band). Not very safe for work or your kid (Earmuffs, all you have to say is earmuffs).
Download saywhatmofo.mp3 "Say What Mother Fucker" recorded on 6/10/8 at Starline, Fresno.
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There will be less dorks out this Tuesday at the Starline (that's a good thing), so it may be easier to enjoy things tonight.
Portland's The Friendly Skies stops in Fresno. Playing as well, Windowsill Rose and Brother Luke and the Comrades.
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Because we love new segments here at The Fresnan: "BATTLES". We take two similar Fresno things and have them battle - Valley Floor style bitch! - I don't know what that means either.
Our first combatants: Channel 24's Rich Rodriguez and ABC 30's Warren Armstrong.
Well hell, this is a even match. Rich is from here and is a pretty good singer (I've heard him, he's not bad). But Warren pops up on Fresno's blogsphere...we like that. Results after you click below.
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