Every now and again (or is it now and then?) we here at Famous like to pass along some leads on new hot spots, up-and-coming bands, or stupid-cool Web sites. It’s a quick list of what we’re all about at the moment.
Here’s rundown what we’re thinking about this week.
The day the music died
Even after enduring three karaoke versions at a company Christmas party one year, I still think Don McLean’s 8-minute “American Pie,” is about as good a epitaph as there is to the glory days of rock ‘n’ roll, back when the music stood for everything that is right in the world, before the genre-bending and corporatization (you hear me Disney Corp?).
The song is an homage to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, who were killed in a plane crash on Feb. 3, while taking part in the Winter Dance Party Tour. It’s become known as “the day the music died.”
Now, there are a lot of did-you-knows about the crash. For instance: Did you know that country singer Waylon Jennings played in Holly’s band and gave up his seat on the plane to the Big Bopper? Did you know that the tour continued on after the crash, even without its three main stars?
This year is special, because it is the 50th anniversary and the Surf Ballroom, the last place Holly played, will become a landmark in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
As way of celebration, why not add “La Bamba” to your Nextlfix queue.
Sacred Math
This isn’t the grand conspiracy about the path to illumination (though there is something up with that pyramid eye on the back of the dollar bill). No, this is the new solo project from Andrew (Badandy Bunnell), which debuts Jan. 31, at Tokyo Garden, with Poplord opening and sitting in as the backing band.
Seriously, this is the most excited I’ve been about hearing new music in a long time. If it is anything like Bunnell’s previous projects (that would be American Sloth and Pinkeye) we’re all in for a sweat-drenched, dance-filled good time. Show starts at 9 p.m. More info at: myspace.com/pinkeyemusic
Pizza Fusion
For everyone who cares about where their food comes from and how it’s grown and prepared, Pizza Fusion is saving the planet one pizza at a time. Or, that’s the slogan, anyway.
Seems like a lofty goal, but one we’re totally down with. Billed as the socially responsible pizza parlor, 75 percent of the menu (that includes beer) is organic, deliveries are made in company-owned hybrid vehicles, and the whole thing is built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. The bar’s even made from recycled wine bottles. Sweet! Plus, I’ve heard that some people can’t eat wheat, and for them, gluten-free pizza is like a gift from heaven.
Pizza Fusion is 1785 Herndon Ave. in Clovis. More info at www.pizzafusion.com
Urban housing choices
Maybe I’m just weird, but I live in a small(ish) apartment and have a closet full of junk and often find myself thinking, “Just how much space do I really need?”
The answer: Roughly the size of a living room.
To understand it, you’ll have to check out “Urban Housing Choices,” the next installment in the quarterly Arch|op series, 5 to 8 p.m., February 5 at Broadway Studios, 1416 Broadway Ave.
The exhibition will include a full-scale model of a small-space dwelling, which designers say can be used as affordable housing for the homelessness, working class, single professionals, students and the single elderly. Additionally, there will be examples of well designed urban housing projects throughout California.
Arch|op focuses on the need for an improved built environment in Fresno.
Gustav’s Groupie
Gustav Stickley was a furniture maker/architect who helped lead the American Craftsman movement and whose ideas influenced Frank Lloyd Wright. He’s also the inspiration for the blog gustavsgroupie.blogspot.com, at least in name.
It’s not often I get pulled into someone’s personal blog, and this one has its share of journal-esqueness and work-world insights. But it also has just the right hint of wittiness and snark.
It’s worth a daily check just for the author’s analysis of The Fresno Bee’s letters to the Editor. And here I’ve always just done that in my head.
I'm with ya.
If I possibly can, I'm going to head out for the Andrew/Poplord double-bill Saturday. I've heard stories of the recording, but I guess now I'll hear it , live-in-person. Are these recordings available Saturday? or in the near future?
Also, agreed on the Gustav's Groupie blog.
Not so much on the American Pie song. I'm a fan of Holly, and I like that the song rambles on in that ballad way, and that there's all that 'code' in there for rock fans...but for some reason, maybe cuz I heard it as a kid, the *mood* of the song totally brings me down.
I remember a neighbor playing it at our house on one of those 45's you had to flip over to get the whole thing.