THE FRESNAN

Tonight In Fresno: Pecha Kucha #4 Is UN-Stopable

That quirky designy-creative-type-people-get-to-be-stars-for-a-night thing called Pecha Kucha, returns to Starline tonight. The theme this time around is: UN. We are unwavering in our belief that Starline will be packed like it always is for Pecha, so get there a little early if you want to sit. Get there late if you want to be drunk at the bar and do some heckling.
[Start time: 8:20 Cost: 4]

Monday Morning Hangover: Coach Fu Manchu Not Powerfull Enough To Stop Boise

It just gets too frustrating thinking about all those losses to Boise. Friday's felt especially nasty. Dammit, man! *sigh* Well, at least the Fresno State band and cheer squad were able to get past it and have a little fun, raise our spirits and what not, post-Boise-loss:

A nice bloggy grading of Friday night's game can be found at Bulldog Bounce.

Also, we would like to say: No more "white outs" for Bulldog games. We all know it's just a bullshit way to make a little side cash for Fresno State. How about a "red out" for the next big TV game, guys? You know, "Red wave." Just sayin'.

Bloggiest Moment Of The Week: Recap Edition

We're not sure that anything definitively "Fresno bloggy" happened this week, so that means it's time for a best-of-the-week kinda post:

• It was Reel Pride again this week and the Beehive's Donald Munro was all over that.
• Dumb Drum fills us in on how to bring the flick "Paranormal Activity" to Fresno (and inadvertently alerts us to a most interesting photo blog [insert Bevis and Butthead laughing here]).
• Travis Sheridan reminds us that Pecha Kucha is Monday at Starline and also, how to not suck giving a presentation. 
• Fashawn is about to be too big to mention he's a Fresnan and he also released a video this week that Mike Oz Heather McLane posted about.
• Archop Fresnos us with two great posts about the Historic Newman home catching fire and asking what the community's vision for the area around the Met should be.
• Apparently those guys who like to eat are damn funny on their Central Valley Talk show. Famous Whitewater gives a review from a guest's perspective.

That's the Fresno-y best, unless you think something else was, then use all means necessary to make a comment.

Fresgeek: What Bands Are 'Spanspek-ing' Where This Weekend?

We know about the Bulldogs and Monsters and that Starline is taken up by Reel Pride this weekend and the Tamejavi festival has returned, but what are the local music options?

FRIDAY

OROSI: Yes we are treating the town of Orosi as a venue... but it really is tonight, with the very cool Spanspek festival. The boys pulled together a great lineup with the Escorts, Zebra Kills Lion, Opus Dai, Drag The Lake, Inconsciente and  Abandoned Soulz. [Doors: 6:30 Cost: 5]

TOKYO GARDEN: Haven't seen the Flywright boys around lately, how nice of them to pop up at Tokyo with The International Debut. Note the odd time: [Time 6:30 Cost: 7 - 5$ students]

AUDIE'S OLYMPIC: Teeming with indie folks, that's what Audie's will be tonight what with Rademacher having a CD release party with Wheels Of Fortune and more. [Time: 9 Cost: 5]

CLUB RETRO: Yes, it's the new all ages venue and it's starting strong with screamy poppy CD release party for A Current Affair. Other folks invited to the party are K Seller, Hello Astronaut, Greener By Color and Paint Me Something Beautiful. [Doors: 7 Cost: 8]

SIDE NOTE: It seems that the elder all-ages venue, KuppaJoe's, got out of the way tonight as they have nothing planned - How Christian of them.

ZAPPS PARK: It's almost over for this venue, enjoy a Cosmic Hayride and The Heaters as you reminisce. [Time: 9ish Cost: 3]

SATURDAY

LUCKY 13: A podcast event with bands, eh? Sounds familiar. Playing is Down Word, Synezra and Saints Of Insanity.

BABYLON: D4D presents to you: Rise Before The Fall, Something For Tomorrow, From The Fallen, Michael Kenney, Nick Hogue

AUDIE'S OLYMPIC: Yes! Sleepover Disaster, The Aircrash, Levator and VIR.

TOKYO GARDEN:

SUNDAY
 

WHATCHA GOT?
Well, that'S what we found, foos. But hey, if you know of something else or wanna talk about how drunk you're getting before tonight's game, let us all know by leaving a comment. Enjoy your Fresno this weekend.

A Monster Hockey Era Begins Saturday Night

Unless you read the Bee's sports section the other day, you probably didn't realize that it's now hockey season in Fresno. The newest team in the WSHL is the Selland Arena playing Fresno Monsters and they play their first game Saturday night downtown:

Tickets are hella cheap ($10 to $19) and the team is kinda awesome. Awesome because they are fighting for their hockey lives since it's all 17-21 year-olds looking to get college scolarships or get the attention of NHL teams. Also there are a couple Fresnans on the roster - I know right? Fresnans trying to be pro hockey players, freakin' sweet!

*Get a look at the team.
**Fresno players: Vinnie Smith #9 F - Kyle Lenhof #28 D

Boise State Fans Messing With The Fu Manchu

In case you haven't heard it yet, it's the Boise State fan song about Pat Hill and his famous Fu-Man-Chu (with pictures by a Fresno State fan). Really, it just sounds like they're jealous of the Manchu:

Get better, Boise State Fan.
Side note from Captain Obvious: Game is tonight at 6.

Tonight In Fresno: Republic Of Letters

Hopefully that video will help you decide whether you want to hit up Audie's Olympic tonight to see the San Diego band, Republic Of Letters. Fresno's own, Ballad: The Memory will also be there. [Cost: 5 Time: after 9]

Tonight In Fresno: Why Doesn't Fresno Have A Clean Air Festival?

Before all these bands play the Clean Air Clean Stars festival in Los Angeles, they are playing Audie's Olympic:

Clean air fest. That definately sounds like something Fresno should be doing.

RE:FUSE Fest 2009: Racelegs

Last night at Starline we were scouting one of this year's Re:FUSE Fest bands, Racelegs, and took this video. Gotta say, Racelegs/Elmo Marconi fans are always good about standing in front of the stage to enjoy the bands. We like that:

Don't Forget and Stuff: Reel Pride 2009 Begins Tonight!

Celebrating 20 years of success tonight (and for the rest of the week) is Reel Pride film festival. Plenty of films, parties, filmakers hanging and awesome to check out. Check the full schedule and follow Donald Munro for your go-to festival blogging.

Douchebaggy Or Not: Falltini?

Never been to this Falltini thing (happening Saturday). Always hear about it. Don't really understand what the purpose of it is. It's like the Fresno Martini Enthusiast board meeting or something, right? We've never heard of a board meeting with vendors, but...

Is it douchebaggy? Cause it feels douchey, but we're not sure.

Indie Tuesday: Screw Hawthorne, These Bands Are Showing Up To Starline [knock on wood]

Don't get all down on going to see a Starline show because some dude claims his throat is sick. Because, tonight at Starline, a very awesome show featuring two touring bands and two Fresno bands. From Fresno, Beastmaker and Racelegs - Both creating some good Fresno buzz out there in the scene and worth the trip alone. And from Seattle is By Sunlight and from Silverlake is Kissing Cousins - Wow, look how damn cute they are, guys:

 

Hope to see ya out there!

The Fresnan Presents: Dorktown Podcast 76 - So Metal!

Dorktown is happy to return and fill your ears with Fresno foulness. What kind of podcast drunkness is there to expect in this episode?

• North Clovis: Where Farmer Ted meets strip malls.
• Bells remembers an old Fresno bar called "Wired"?
• A kinda ACDC in Fresno review.
• Past Bells and Mikey at Greek Fest.
• Marin County talk.
• A new local podcast may be invading Dorktown's space.
• Re:FUSE Fest is coming to Downtown Fresno October 2nd and 3rd.
• Fresno band Racelegs gets Dorktown play.
• Former Flowing With Famous star, Reid May, is at Tokyo Garden and is so metal with his band Trumpet Solo.
• "Or Game"
• Fonzy Eyyys.
• Bootlegged In Fresno: Trumpet Solo.

Download Episode 76: DorktownIsSoMetal.mp3

*Or go to your iTunes, search in podcasts for "Dorktown" and have some dirty fun!
**Or use the player below:

***Contact the show about anything: [email protected] or [email protected]

The Friday Fluffer: This Is Like, A Lot Going On, Right?

Have you noticed there is going to be a perfect storm of awesome things happening Friday night in the Fresno area? Check this:

FRESNO STATE FOOTBALL GAME
Yeah so they lost a tough one (again) Saturday against Wisconsin, but Friday against Boise State is the biggest game of the year. Bulldogs lose this one and a bowl game is the only thing left to play for. And all this before a national audience on the Mother Ship.

REEL PRIDE FESTIVAL
One of the largest gay and lesbian film festivals in the country is celebrating 20 years (congrats) and will be in its third day Friday, showing films like Hannah Free and Big Gay Musical.

NEW MUSIC VENUE OPENS
Hey, finally something happening on West Shaw other than Costco; A new all-ages venue for bands opens called Club Retro with A Current Affair and more. One all-ages question remains: Will their be air conditioning?

RADEMACHER CD RELEASE SHOW
Fresno's version of indie music royalty is releasing a new CD and are having a party at Audie's Olympic to celebrate.

SPANSPEK MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL
Who says Orosi isn't cool... What? Nobody ever says that? Anyway, it will be cool Friday night with great bands and artists entertaining Central Valley folks. Speaking of entertaining, check out the Spanspek promo video "Cop With A Fanny Pack":

UPDATED: You Beter See This 'Mayer Hawthorne' Dude Tonight Or The Blogoshpere Will Get You

[UPDATE: Show has been cacelled due to Mayer's weak throat.] So tonight the Starline and Love, The Captive is bringing you soul singer and douche-y glasses wearer, Mayer Hawthorne. Apparently this guy is going to be big or something. Like, Y101 big - woo ha.

We only know this because the Beehive's Mike Oz is posting how we need to be out in full force for these kind of shows so we can get more of them. And, fellow blogger, This Is Conlan, is so damn confident this is going to be a good show he made this statement on said post:

"Whether you like this kind of music or not, you're gonna see a really talented guy doing some really talentful stuff. If you call yourself a fan of music, you should be able to appreciate that.

And I'm declaring here: if you go to the show and don't enjoy the performance, I will write you a personal letter of apology on a crisp, new piece of high-quality paper. That's how confident I am. I dare you."

So, will Fresno pack Starline tonight? Maybe So, Maybe No.

 

Yes, packin' the place tonight would be great and all, but we would really like to see Tuesday night be packed, more. Cool local bands, a couple touring bands... just sayin'.