THE FRESNAN

INCOMING!: Daulton Mountain Gang CD Release Party

Bluegrass music might not be a regular feature around here but, dammit, when a local band sounds this good, you don't have to be a fan of bluegrass to appreciate these folks, just a fan of music.

The Daulton Mountain Gang (there's a nice little local history lesson if you check out the origin of their name), has a new album out and they're throwing a party in Clovis at the Veterans Memorial Park starting at 6:30 (it's Free!). The gang is well known in bluegrass circles around Northern, Central, and Coastal California.  Earlier this year, they were voted the Bluegrass Band of the Year by the NCBS.  So, this will be a good chance to check out one of Fresno's lesser known talents.

Check em here, shredding your face off... bluegrass style: 

What Was This Sambo's Place All About Anyway?

Always hear Sambo's references from older Fresnans, but never took the time to figure out the where & whats. Thanks to pics on the Mid-Century Modern Fresno Facebook page, best we can figure, Sambo's was like a awesomer version of Denny's. Tak a look (now Joe's Steakhouse):

INSIDE:

Not to be a douche, Joe's (cause you're great and all), but the place could use a bit of streamlining/clearing of the clutter - more like what it used to be with Sambo's. Just sayin'.

The original Sambo's on the SE corner of Blackstone & McKinley, looked pretty sweet too (the building is gone now):

If these pics are really impressing ya (shot by Tim Putz), you can go buy them over at Sambo's Photos.

The Fresnan Presents: Dorktown Podcast #83 - Five Years

If you haven't really listened to the Dorktown Podcast before (you've had five years to not get around to it, why start now?) the following episode is not for you. It will likely suck because it quietly marks five years of Dorktown and it's kinda self indulgent. No party like in previous years. It's just a couple of douchebags dudes talking, pretty much.

There is a new game played, music from Trumpet Solo and the Fay Wrays, the first Dorktown guest ever (Aaron from La Selva Beach), two special guests drop by the studio, Deftones at Woodward and (of course) audio problems. Other than that, don't worry about it - catch Dorktown the next time around.

But if you're hardcore dork, listen/download: DorkownEP83.mp3

*You can announce to the internets you "like" Dorktown on Facebook (even if you don't listen) and also find it on iTunes by searching for "Dorktown Podcast".

Tonight At Audie's: Stellar Corpses & DJ Dinobyte

Think of it as halloween in June. Playing at Audie's tonight, the popular Santa Cruz physcobilly horror rock band, Stellar Corpses, plus Fresno's DJ Dinobyte. Should be punkhorrortasticlly good:

Focused on Fresno: the, Hey That Old Ass Green Lady Is Totally Flipping You Off, edition

Doesn't matter what the temps in Fresno are, Storyland is still the best five bucks you'll spend in Fresno. Although we do find hearing Ray Appleton narrate children's tales through blown speakers a bit off-putting. Still, good times.

Monday Morning Hangover: Frank Has Fresno's Answer

It's going to take some time to build the audience and tweak the space, but the reborn Frank's Place looks to be just kind of venue Fresno needs to run with big cities like SF, LA and... Visalia. (Photos by Kara Lee, like this one of Primer Skyline):

Good shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday, look forward to more in the future:

Bloggiest Moment OTW: Support Live Music, Fresnans

This is the Bloggiest Moment: Conlan sends a message to Fresno's music community. We think it's such an awesome moment, we're going to totally jack it and post it right here:

Hi Friends,

Have you heard of Local Natives? You probably have if you keep up with music websites and magazines, or trust NPR for music recommendations. They’re an amazing indie rock band from LA. Earlier this year, their debut album, Gorilla Manor, earned wide critical praise and continues to win new fans across the country and in Europe. If you don’t already have it, I suggest you pick it up.

Why am I talking about them? Because I’m also wondering how many of you realize that early last year Local Natives played an amazing show to a nearly empty Tokyo Garden right here in Fresno. I was there. They were fantastic.

So it’s frustrating when I hear people say they would go see more live music in Fresno “if there were any good bands playing.” The fact is, there are good bands playing. And thanks to the hard work of guys like Johnny and the team, more and more good bands are coming. But they aren’t coming for Love The Captive. They’re coming for you. And it’s up to you whether or not they keep on coming.

Recently Johnny asked you to plan ahead to attend some of the great shows we’ve got lined up this summer. I’m going to make it even easier. All I want you to do is listen. When we announce an upcoming show, don’t immediately dismiss it just because you’ve never heard of the artist. You hadn’t heard of Local Natives either.

Spend ten minutes. Listen to a song on MySpace (it’s still good for that, at least). Watch a YouTube video. Keep in mind, the drawbacks of self-recorded music and the internet mean the sound quality may not be great. But look past that. Hear the music. If it’s something you might like, why not spend a few bucks to see it in person? It’s cheaper than a movie, with the potential to pay off big time.

Or maybe you have a friend you think might like it. Let them know. Drop a link into a Facebook comment, “Hey, thought you might like this,” no big deal.

How many of your favorite new bands passed through Fresno when they were too small for you to notice? Do you ever wonder? How cool would it be to say, “I saw them play to a crowd of 80 people in a little place in Fresno”?

Fresno is on the cusp of some exciting things, but it’s no cliché to say we absolutely need your support. Take a chance. That’s all we ask. You do that for us, and I promise we’ll work on bringing the bands you already know and love.

- Conlan

What Conlan said.

This is the bonus Bloggiest Moment: Donald Munro irks SUV Guy's ire.

Bandgeek: Really One Of The Best Weekends Of Music Seen In Fresno... so yeah

It's finally here, Fresno. The weekend we officially become a full service town (on the music front). It's super kickass, we pretty much have every size of venue for bands, now including mid-size (and we even have park amphitheaters for awesome Sactown bands). The only thing left is too see if Fresnans will support all the music out there. Not a problem when it's stuff like this:

FRIDAY

ARTE AMERICAS: The museum continues its summer series of concerts with Colombian and Caribbean musical group, Revelación Ballenata, led by Efrain Orjuela and tonight's offering is the  [7:30 $12]

AUDIE'S OLYMPIC: Never seen a hawk in L.A. but we've seen them in Madera. Anyway, I See Hawks in L.A.  “I See Hawks... is blend country and psychedelia with soaring three-part harmonies that leave the poseurs of alt-schmaltz dust choked." is what some dude said about them. They're playing with locals Highway City (we've seen hawks there too). [9:00 $7]

FRANK'S PLACE: Hopefully you know about this one already. Great new/old venue with interesting local indie folk bands Wheels Of Fortune and Primer Skyline with L.A. indie rock band, Radar Bros. With a cheap cover, it's a must see:

STARLINE GRILL: This one is going to be different. It's just one dude and has elements of a DJ, live band, Karaoke and Rock Band. So there:

 

STARLINE: Physcobilly on the club side with Cold Blue Rebels with The Backstabbers and more:

KUPPAJOES: Doesn't the dude in the flier look like Baba Booey?

SATURDAY

Darren Carter, Brian Scolaro, Jay Davis and a bunch of other comedic dudes in the Tower on Friday

As Mike Oz has pointed out, there's a lot of comedy happening in the Fresno area this weekend. Maybe the biggest one is happening at The Babylon. A nice mix of locals and nationally known talent. Like, Jay Davis, Darren Carter and Brain Scolaro:

INCOMING!: Radar Bros., Head Like A Kite, Smoosh

This Friday's Radar Bros. show and Saturday's Head Like A Kite show are huge for Fresno. The shows will be pulling double duty; finally resolving Fresno's mid-size venue issue along with not having a promoter like Visalia's Sound N Vision.

That's right, Fresno music fans, we have nothing left to bitch about. Love The Captive has become the promoter Fresno's needed and the Star Palace + Frank's Place have become the mid-size venues we've been whining for.

Here are your milestone shows for the weekend. And also we'd like to add: Fuck. Yes. Fresno.

Substantially good LA indie rock band, Radar Bros. Sustainably good local indie folk-ers, Wheels Of Fortune and Primer Skyline. All the well written info you need is here.

On Saturday, same place and time, maybe better, maybe just as awesome:

 

If you read this blog, you know all about the Fierce Creature folks already so let's check these Head Like A Kite boys:

Really was hoping that Smoosh was those Smosh guys from Youtube (they're funny...mostly), but it's these guys..err... um girls. Maybe young ladies by now?:

Dude I'm Just Sayin': If Paul George Is So Good, Why Did Fresno State Suck So Bad?

Wow. The hype for now former Fresno State guard, Paul George, has been building so much this week (Paul was the featured story on Yahoo Sports, Tuesday), if the NBA Draft was still a week instead of Thursday night, George might go number one. But really, Paul is just hoping he can go higher than Ryan Mathews did so he can get an extra five grand.

We, along with the rest of Fresno, wish Paul the best. But, not being basketball experts, we're confused: If he has so much NBA game, why couldn't he at least get a pretty talented Bulldog team to the NIT? A winning record? (15-18) A winning record in the WAC? (7-9)

Dude, just sayin'.

[Photo stolen from the Collegian]

Be An Indie Winner!: A Fierce Creatures Prize Pack

These Fierce Creatures, they've been around less than a year but they've been hitting all the local milestones rather quickly. It's 'cause they're good. In July they are having a release show of their first EP July 6th at The Captive. Should be awesome, hot band in a intimate place.

It has the earmarks of one of those shows you'll one day being telling people "I remember when I saw Fierce Creatures in this little space in the Tower District. They gave everybody sweaty hugs afterwords. It was so fun." You can buy your EP party tickets here (purchase the pre-sale+party pack).

But, we have a workaround for one lucky reader: A free, double, Fierce Creatures Prize Pack! The winner gets admission for two to the July 6th show, plus an EP for themselves and their friend and two limited edition glow-in-the-dark buttons. All courtesy of Fierce Creatures.

To win just be the 6th commenter. That's it. Just be the sixth real person to leave a comment (and your legit email where it asks) and win. The comments will stay hidden until a winner has been determined. Contest rules: Don't be a douche.

RELATED: Bonus live video from that one show:

Indie Tuesday: Snuffaluffagus, WITT, Bicicleta and Albatros The Musical @ Starline

Click the names and get to know, Snuffaluffagus (Solana Beach), WITT (San Diego), Bicicleta (Fresno) and Albatross The Musical (Madera) because they're playing tonight at Starline.

If it turns out you that you think the Snuffaluffagus and WITT boys are rad, maybe you'd like to help them tour Europe. Details on their Kickstarter.com page - fairly funny video there too ya might enjoy.

Weeee! It's Code Monkey Day In Fresno!

The Silicon Valley is not the only place that has nerds smartass people that can write code. Fresno has them too. If one of these local code monkeys are your friend, you might have noticed them being a bit stressed out the past week. That's because they've probably been writing code like crazy for the 59 Days of Code event.

This competition/showcase feels like one of those stop-Fresno-brain-drain kinda things. We like that. Check it out today at Clovis Veterans Memorial District Auditorium. It's free but they would like you to let them know you're coming.

More info:
Facebook page.
Website.
Mike Oz Beehive post.
A look at the projects.

The event monkeys explain this in there own words after the break...

Do It Yourself Monday Night Punk At the CYC

Local bands, The Deadbeats, Manic Relapse and The Pit Rats (good for Coalinga, they've got a punk band, moving up). Plus the Bay's Dead Panic and The Penny Dreadfuls.