THE FRESNAN

Win Something: Tickets To Saturday's 40 Watt Hype Show At Fulton 55 With King Sugar & Clouded Vision

WIN TICKETS: [UPDATE: The contest is closed. Congrats to Abe and Brian for winning the tickets! Sorry other people, ya gots to pay just like us.]
Fresno's own Alt Latin Hip-Hop and Soul kings, 40 Watt Hype, have a big show coming Saturday night at Fulton 55. They'll be playing with more stellar local talent, King Sugar and Clouded Vision. It will be good times. And 40 Watt would like some Fresnan readers to get in for free. Yes, we have a pair of tickets (two, actually) to give away. To enter, just leave a comment on this post (and use your real email where it asks) and you're entered. Winners will be chosen randomly and sent emails by Tuesday night. Good luck!

INTERVIEW: Frontman for 40 Watt Hype, Aaron Wall, was brave enough to sit down, talk to us and let us record it. Aaron talks about his Fresno roots, 40 Watt Hype's beginnings and creative process, and Fresno's music scene. Listen in by using the Soundcloud player below or by clicking: AaronWall.mp3

Aaron Wall - 40 Watt Hype by thefresnan

GO TO THIS SATURDAY:

BUY TICKETS: We can't all be winners. Losers can get some tickets by clicking here. Doors at 6, music at 7. $8 advance, $10 day of.

 

Fresno Bands Have More Fun Than Bloggers Do

As we passed along to you, Fresno sent forth four bands to represent at the ultimate music/film festival, South By Southwest. Here are some pics and what not from the road and festival over the past week:

FIERCE CREATURES: They are so indie, they managed to find a indie motel along the way:

...take some Fierce *ass* road picks:

And get interviewed by Radio SXSW.

SHIVER FOX: posed with some a' those body suit dudes in Austin. Shiver.

MOTEL DRIVE: Put their hotel time to good use by writing some new material - clothes be damned!:

Bandgeek!: Fresno's Scene More Than Just Four Bands

You're a Fresnan. You know Fresno's music scene knows not of limits. Take notice of this week's Bandgeek not having four of Fresno's strongest bands listed anywhere ('cause they're in Austin right now). Yet there is still loads of quality Fresno musicianship to enjoy.

So let us wander through and figure out what to see, exactly ... LET'S BANDGEEK!

STARLINE: Haven't seen this kind of lineup at Starline in a while. Thumbs up to it, would like Starline to get back into more local music shows again. Especially when it's The Escorts, The Dirty Sanchez, Pawn (Vicecity) and I Do Not Exist. [9pm - $6 - 21+]

THE BEL-TOWER: Being billed as the "Last Day On Earth Show" featuring R.A.S.H., D.D.A.M. (Formerly know as A.G.F), Clarence Boddicker, Bioside, Switchblade 327, Rombo and more bands piling on. [5pm - $3 - All Ages]

THE BABYLON: Local promoters, Diehardz Music, took a little break there but are back with more strength and wisdom and pulling off a show with Tomorrow's Bad Seeds (just played the Late Late Show), locals Hot Shade, Corsair, the White Glove Service and Home Brew. [7pm - $15 - 21+]

KUPPAJOES: Returning to Fresno after becoming more powerful, it's Abandon Kansas. They are releasing a new album and will party with the likes of From Indian Lakes, We Are At War, Old Tire Swingers and Amoret (Swimming With Dolphins cancelled). [7pm - $10 - All Ages]

CYC: Nice. At The Hands Of An Architect. And other stuff:

FULTON 55: It's Mezcal's turn to be a big local act to play at:

SATURDAY

FULTON 55: Yes, it seems it will be the final show for Fresno rock veterans, Six Ounce Gloves. Good news is, for those of us that thought they were broken up already, this is like a re-birth show ... or something:

St. Patrick's Day: Cultivating Punk Rock

Several (alright, well, two) live music choices on this day for Saint Patrick. And remember the reason for the season, ya drunk ass!

At Fulton 55 is local band with a perfect valley inspired name: The Cultivators. They play covers and punk/rock inspired stuff. Tickets.

Just another night of kickassing for CYC with A Hope Not Forgotten (Seattle), We Rose From Ashes (Reedley), The World As We Know It, Malice In The Eyes Of Medusa (Porterville) and Chowtown's We Sunk The Mayflower. Details:

Careful out there tonight, Fresnans! Chief Dome is watching.

 

INCOMING!: Pecha Kucha Night Fresno #10 @ Fulton 55

The popular Creative Fresno event, Pecha Kucha, returns Monday night with the 10th installment. The theme this time is Tasteful/Tasteless. Head's up for you PK regulars: The venue has changed. There will be no Starline controversy this time around because Pecha has moved to Futlon 55. This will be a good one.

And HEY, look at this!: There is still time for YOU to be a presenter!

In case you don't know, here is what you do as a presenter. Here's what you may look like as a presenter. Basically, you show 20 images, each image stays up for 20 seconds while you present and you sorta rif on what image is on the screen.

Maybe getting interested? If you can get your 20 images together that are loosely based on the theme, before noon Saturday, you're a presenter too. Contact Pecha Kucha Fresno on Twitter or email: [email protected].

For the rest of us, cover is $5 - $3 for Creative Fresno members.

Door at 7. Starts at 7:30 and goes 'till 9:30 10-ish.

Download: Corsair's "In Search Of Missing Pieces" EP

Fresno Post-hardcore band, Corsair, has a new EP out called "In Search Of Missing Pieces" and they're letting everyone download it for free. Click on over to their Bandcamp site and bulk up your local music collection. (Our current favorite is "Miro")

You can see Corsair live this Friday at Babylon.

 

Video Dump: Dead In 60 Years Visits the CYC

Face it.  The shows we frequently post about happening at Chinatown Youth Center scare you a little bit. Interesting looking, but you ain't going down there. Well, the boys at Dead In 60 Years went down there for you last week and made a video. It may illuminate things.

Sure, the CYC may still frighten you some, but at least you know what the hell is going on. DIY kickassness is what's going on, foos:

Related: Fresno Famous, Joshua Tehee, played another popular DIY Fresno venue (Bel-Tower) last weekend and told readers about it.

Next CYC show is Thursday:

Focused On Fresno: The Last Blockbuster Ever, Edition

It's no news that video stores are a dying breed. They have quickly joined record stores as a niche market collector sorta place. But isn't there still SOME room for the places even with the downloading and vending?

Nope. Not when the Olive Avenue Blockbuster, in the heart of the Tower District, is closing. Game over, man. Game over.

Moving on from that. Now there is going to be a prime PRIME Tower District spot open. That Blockbuster building is large enough for a club or a big restaurant or some kind of retail we're not thinking of.

Maybe a new music venue called "The Fresnan"? The most awesome local music venue ever. Where the stage is just the right size. The sound is perfect. The bathrooms are big and magically stay clean. The bands are not douchebags and the singers can actually sing. Fans buy merch and stand in front of the stage. The beer is never taped-out. It's all-ages and Chief Dyer is, like, totally cool with that. Yes. YES!

Wait. Maybe somebody can finally open up "Fresno's"!

Or we could just let Dusty Buns park there.

Last Weekend: Fresno Gets Fierce For Locals

Nice job Fresno. Friday night, you sold out a large venue for a (mostly) local show. All together, 562 people went through Fulton 55's doors during the Fierce Creatures/Strange Vine/Achievement House/Silent Comedy show. Causing Fulton 55 to be "at capacity" several times during the night.

The most notable difference in the crowd was seeing a lot of people that don't go to local shows. Fresnans that were there because it was THE happening that night. That could be looked at as a good or bad thing. But really, if a showcase of local music talent regularly becomes THE thing to do on a Friday night, we're all for it.

Fulton 55 wasn't the only interesting happening Friday night. As Religious Appeal tells us, Christopher Mintz-Plasse a.k.a. McLovin, was at Kuppajoe's. So, yeah, that's pretty cool. Speaking of Religious Appeal, John got some good on-stage video of Fierce Creatures set Friday. Check out more here and one here:

Shutdown: Dusty Buns Kicked Off The Streets... For Now

The City of Fresneck has told the Dusty Buns Bistro Bus to stay off Fresno streets. Reason: "The trend will grow & affect restaurants." Yet Dusty Buns is permitted, licensed, taxed and health coded.

But somehow, a taco truck parked in a parking lot or a lunch truck parked in the street in front of a construction site, doesn't. But a bistro truck parked along the street (not in front a restaurant) affects restaurants more.

Bistro trucks (like Dusty Buns) pretty much operate in most major cities. Most.

It may not be over though. Dusty B' is "...studying up new Food Truck permits, organized zones & appropriate regulations in SF. Let's hope our Growing City of FRESNO considers them." And, we hear they may have some support within Fresno's city workings.

Dusty has some tasty tasty food and adds some hipness to our city. Hope it works out. If not, Thursday night's on Wishon Row may never be the same.

Bandgeek!: More Music Than We Deserve This Weekend

The Rogue Festival. It continues. That's awesome. For the music fan, you must check out the Rhoda Penmarks show (Friday and Saturday at 8 at Audie's) and Big Show Or Bust at Starline (5:30 Fri - 2:30 Sat). So there.

Moving on to Fresno's regular music scene. As usual there's a full slate of talented Fresno bands mixed in with some nice touring acts. We just need to filter down some things so we can figure out where to go exactly. That's what Bandgeek is here for:

CLUB RETRO: It may seem a little funny that Fresno punk band It'll Grow Back is playing with all this faith music stuff like Mind Away and Mercy Fists. But really, what is more punk rock than playing in that kinda mix!? [7:00 - $12 - All Ages]

THE BABYLON: Metal up with Fresno's HateFX, Death Alley Motor Cult, Hands That Kill, Merced's Cursed and more. [7pm - $10 - 21+]

FULTON 55: Fresno's Fierce Creatures are just about ready to hit SXSW. They just need to get this awesome as hell local shot out of the way. Fellow highly talented locals, Achievement House and Strange Vine are playing tonight too. Along with the ever-rising-nationally the Silent Comedy. Not sure that it will, but this better sell-out. After party at the Treasury. Details:

KUPPAJOES: EP release show for Siren Singing. First ever NorCal (it's Central Cal, boys) for The Harm. Plus A Current Affair and My Beautiful Surrender! Nice stuff. Details:

THE BEL-TOWER: Xibalba - it's Mexican black metal. Not to be fucked with. Flier is wonderful:

AUDIE'S OLYMPIC: Lookie, it's Big John Bates, Merle Jagger and the Naughty Angel Dancers:

Happening In Moments: Or The Whale, Olin And The Moon

Sorry, just found out about this one. Olin & The Moon, indie rock from Los Angeles. Or, The Whale, Americana rock from SF.

Video Dump: Achievement House @ Kuppajoe's

Nice. Video by Kyle Lowe.

And in case you haven't heard, Achievement House has a big show tomorrow with some other big local rock band or two:

Tonight @ Fulton 55: Hargo and The Screaming Me Me's

It's one of Fulton 55's "take a chance" nights; you don't have to pay if you don't feel it was worth it, or just pay the cover you feel it deserves ... whatever.

Playing tonight is San Diego indie/alt rock from Hargo, with the Screaming Me Me's of Fresneck. Doors at 7, show at 8. Hargo:

Film Stuff: 2 Nights Of Oscar Nominated Shorts

The event so popular for Fresno Filmworks, they need to spread it out over two nights. It's their showcase of 2011's Oscar Nominated Shorts. Showings begin tonight with one at 5:30 for the live action shorts and 8:30 for the animated. More info on the shorts and on Friday's times can be found here. Trailer:

In other Fresno culture stuff tonight, don't forget, Rogue Festival is still going - through this weekend. Tower District refuses to stop.