Fresno Famous

This was one of three shows Malcom Sosa put together for the Thanksgiving Holiday, all of which were well attended I am told.

Blake Jones: Blake had his video camera and was going around all night asking folks about local music, why it's important, and why we (us musician types) all doing it. He's trying to make some connection to the Forrestier Underground Gardens. Like an allegory or something. This is what I love about Blake. He's always look at some bigger picture. The answers or whatnot. The dude is out there playing because he knows no better, and he's trudging along, but not in a that seems defeatist at all. If that make sense. He's making music on his own terms and I respect that. Also: the band is good. For this show, it was a variation of the normal band, maybe no keyboards? Anyway, it still sounded full and good. They did not play Hey, Hey Light Rail, but they did play my other favorite, which I think is called Brother John, but I could be wrong. Oh and there was theramin, yes.

Wheels of Fortune, with special guest: This was sort of a Niilo solo show with Daren playing a snare and some shakers or something. I know Niilo doesn't like the solo act, but even stripped to its barest parts, the songs hold up.
Being on stage every night has done Daren well, because even standing behind snare playing with brushes the guy had presence that was undeniable.

Trumpet Solo: First, if you haven't read this. Trumpet Solo is my new favorite band. They're loud, yes. And exciting to watch and if you hang out on their MySpace page long enough you can sing along to every song. Which I did. Reid and Co. create some serious metal action that is aggressive enough for the purists and accessible enough for the indie kids. Watching Reid flail around banging his guitar while Pierce wails away on some solo will never fail to excite me. Keep your eyes on the swine flu, indeed.

Racelegs: I'm sitting in a back booth during Raceleg's set and Malcom walks buy and mouths (cause it was sooo loud), "They're blowing my mind." That pretty much sums things up. Racelegs plays a sort of free-style jazz rock that's loud, fast, clean and complicated in a way that music theorists must love. Kind of like an anti-punk rock. You've got to be into what they're selling, but if you were, this was aces of a set.

Our set: As the last band of the night, you always run the risk of playing to no one. Or the last dregs drunkards before they stumble home (which seems to be where we shine brightest). The crowd did thin some, but there were enough people there to keep the energy high. Tokyo Garden has to be my favorite stage in town. Yes, it is tiny. And there's no fancy sound equipment. No waiting for some dude to mic your gear. Just a mic and that's it. And yet it always sounds great from the stage.