It’s Friday and my guest on “Move on UP” tonight is none other than local musician (and friend) Niilo Smeds. We’ll talk about his recent tour with “Man Man” and what makes him excited in the way of local options. That all takes place at 7pm on 88.1 FM.
After that I’ll get in the Toyota and rush home to pick up my music, some Soulflower Compilations, and a few rows of 45’s I made as decorative as possible for tonight’s jump off over at “Zapp’s Park”. If you’ve never been to Zapp’s you should think about checkin it out. It’s a tiny spot just south of Olive on Blackstone. It share’s the odd distinction of having the ladies room attached to the Chinese food spot next door. So while you wash your hands you usually get a whiff or two of Special Chow Mein, but that’s beside the point.
The spot is well known for attracting an audience ready for live bands. Back in the day I had the pleasure of seeing Fresno favorites like Heavy Weather, Bennett Clark Funk Jam, Mofo, DLF and Papa Bear just to name a few. Even though the place was small it always left a big impact on me. I guess I’ve always had a soft spot for joints that have that juke joint aesthetic, so in 2003 I asked the owners if they’d allow me to throw a party there…and well that was the beginning.
I (along with a long list of DJ’s & Friends) helped to create some good times at that spot. One time during Halloween we walked in with our equipment to set up and found that theowners had stapled real corn stalks to the walls. The look on Mykal Powell’s face (priceless). We pretended it was cool like that, but dag, it was not cute people. Anyway…sometime during the night with well over 100 people packed into that place someone bumped up against one of the stalks and decided to stick his hand in to see what was beneath all that mess. He very slowly pulls out a cob and held it up in the air and yell’s “Oh shit, they got real corn too”! I wish I would have taken a picture.
We made some dough doing shows back then. Most of our friends enjoy drinking and Zapp’s not only allow you to take the door, but you take 10% of the bar as well. Word!
A couple of years ago there was a change in ownership. The new guy’s came through and cleaned things up from the floor to the ceiling. No more carpet’s stained by years of drunk dancing, or wall’s with stalks of corn attached to them. I have to say I miss that a little, but I’m always down for change.
So tonight marks my return to Zapp’s which is actually called “Last Call at Zapp’s” now. My boy DJ4am is driving in from San Francisco to play an all 45 set. If you don’t know what that involves you need to come witness it for yourself. I’ll start things off with whatever I’m in the mood for on the early tip, DJ Transparent will give you some of his smokers lounge vibe and if my friend DJ Fresh Choice roll’s through I am sure he will have some heavy sounds in his crates too. So yeah…come by Zapp’s tonight and do the damn thing with us!
