Gig review: The FUSE Festival
Fresno Urban Sound Experience, Oct. 18, 2008
I'm not sure quite what to say about the FUSE at this point.
We could count the numbers and call it a success, and leave it at that (others have). We could say that the bands were all good and the venues were crowded (not packed, although clausterphobics might have had a rough go at Tokyo Garden) and the crowds were all too eager for what transpired.
It's worth noting that several people told me (several times) they'd like to see something like this every month. Mike Oz has always wanted to do a "rock hop," so you'll know where that idea came from if it happens.
It's also worth noting that people were walking around downtown (the Fulton Mall even, after dark even) and they were not afraid. They somehow found parking. They didn't seem to notice the cracked sidewalks or that the fountains didn't work, or that the lady begging for two dollars already got two dollars from someone else. Not sure if she ever made it on the bus.
One lady caught me on the way out of Milano, put her hand on my arm, drew me close in and said, "Thanks for this. Thanks for helping make people unafraid of the mall."
And that might have been the best thing about the night. We had big-time buy in -- from the venues, from the bands, from the volunteers (whom we thank heartily).
And yes ... Brian Kenny Fresno was hillarious (I hear) and sent a table of three running out the door (or at least to the bar). Abigail Nolte packed Cafe Corazon at 5 in the p.m. And Blake Jones didn't play "Hey Hey Light Rail."
But hey, there's always next year.
every month?
LOL yeah that 2 dollar bus scam lady hit us up too. I usually try to get a pan handler to tell me a joke for the cash, because once in SF a man had a sign on him that said Jokes $1.
Since there were so many other bands from around the area that did not play, their could be another FUSE next month too. But I would not do it every month but every season yes.
DANG
DANG. That JT Rocket wins *every*thing. He did look pretty awesome wearing nothing but that FUSE badge while his band was slamming behind him.
FUSE MVP...
And the 2008 FUSE Fest MVP goes to Blaaake...oh wait, JT ROCKET! The dude was even playing to people OUTside Milano's.
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www.thefresnan.com
2 of my fave FUSE moments
#1 was about 2 or 3 bands into it, when I realized that things were going to be O.K..
[This being our first year, we had plenty of space for worry about glitches that mostly didn't appear...whew.....in BIG part, and special thanks should go out to, SHANNON and
TRAVIS who hopped in and made a lot of cool smoothness happen in their functions (which included but were not limited to...) Volunteer Cooridinator and Bagman respectively.
#2
Walking up to Abe at the bar in Tokyo Garden and saying, "This is how Downtown should look *every* Friday and Saturday night." He pulls out his cell phone and shows me the message he sent out to his friends just moments before I walked up that said almost word for word what I had just said.
AND
Where's all the pictures?! :)
Diablo
Major thanks
to the whitewater and everyone else involved.
This function is long overdue and this past weekend proved it in so many ways.
I think you covered the bases rather well with your account.
One thing that stands out to me, and probably most band members or function organizers, the small venue and quaint feel of it all. There's something to be said for the personal feel you get from being in the same small room as the performer.
I don't know how many times I served performers and didn't even know it. One second I'm making a hot chocolate for a dude, and the next thing you know dude us up playing the keyboards for the Loveseats.
The Loveseats have a down home humble attitude. Very original, very Fresno and very good. All the acts were amazing and totally proof positive Fresno is full of talented people.
Thanks to all,
Leo and Liz
Sounds like a lot of fun.
Sounds like a lot of fun.
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