Fresno Famous

In the interested of full disclosure, I am on the board of Creative Fresno.

Creative Fresno is an odd group of go-getters. Born out of the (ex)mayor Alan Autry's Creative Economies Council, its mission is pretty straight forward: Make Fresno the kind of place where creative types are eager to live.

Its list of accomplishments in that vein is legit: 

* It was one of the driving force behind the recently announced Boomerang Project, which seeks to get Fresno's best and brighest to return.  

* When the city defunded the Fresno Film Commission, thye group brought the commission (and its comissioner) under its umbrella. 

* Its Mural Project has paid for nearly a dozen murals and helped bring a cohesive aesthetic to parts of the Cultural Arts District.

* It introduced Fresno to the designer inspired Pecha Kucha night, which still no one can pronounce.

* Its music festival, the Fresno Urban Sound Experience, celebrates its 5th year. Save the dates: Sept. 6, 7, 8.

* One of its original projects, the Mind Hub listserve, has long been a community hub (and soon get an update). 

You get the idea. To get the full picture, the group is holding its annual meeting, 5 p.m. April 28 at CMAC (the old MET Building). There's a bonus if you're a paying member. The group is holding a Members Only Party, which starts at 7:30 p.m. at Rotary Storyland and will feature an eclectic mix of music. 

That's no hyperbole: 

* Brother Luke and the Comrades plays a quiet, heartfelt sort of folk pop, complete with the appropriate instrumentation (banjos and the like).

* The Symbolick Jews I described in an earlier review as having a "David Bowie/Iggy Pop glam-punk vibe, intermixed with moments of Velvet Underground drone followed by riot-girl freakouts." It way more accessible than it sounds.

* Vital is a singer-songwriter from Vallejo, living in San Fracisco and touring across the US. His music is full up on pop sensibilities, but packs enough edge to keep it from being radio dribble. I'm sure there have been acts like Vital who've played in town before, but I can't say I've seen them. So, I'm a bit excited. 

If you're not a member and want to attend the party, you can become a member for $20. Just go online, or show up at Storyland.