From what I can find, the most accessable options in Fresno for live rock and related genres are Club Fred and the Crossroads. Since the Crossroads seems to be turning in to a Blues Club (Which is why I haven't been there in months after going there almost every weekend for a year) these days, Club Fred seems to be the place to go as a default.

It's not the best option in the world, but at least so far as I've found, it may be the best current option in Fresno.

Really, it's hard to tell because the clubs in Fresno are absolutely horrible at advertising themselves. There might be an amazing club for rocking out at, but you'd have to know what to look for.

Anyways, my visit to Club Fred had no real negatives. The bands didn't exactly blow me away, but at least I wasn't falling asleep at my table.

I don't know about the past of club fred, but I just recently in the past year started hanging out there and going to live shows at the place. Thee wanderers car club has been promoting shows there for a year now and has brought numerous great Banda into the valley that never would have came here. Punk, rockibilly, psycobilly, and thrash bands. Every month its something new and fun. The place is a little dirty and a little rough, but its a rock bar! Its supposed to be that way. The beer is cheap and cold, the bartenders friendly, and the let a smash on the floor. Place is always packed. The past might be screwed for club fred but its bouncing back big. Look up the bar on myspace or go to theewanderers myspace and check put the shows their putting on. Bands like tried and true, mad sin, the quakes, crown city bombers, devil doll, the rockets, benign and the jets, koffin kats, dawn shipply, the charming band, man the list goes on and on. Check them out, you won't be dissapointed.

Is there anywhere to see blues in Fresno anymore?

I will some time soon (before the year is over) post some video clips of Circus Bogus at Club Fred and some local people Jamming in front of Ragin Records. Look for it.

Club Fred became Club Fred in the early 1990's around 90-92 I'll guess. Wild Blue Closed before 1996. I think it was in 94. the Wild Blue Yonder nightclub 1974-1994

With all this talk we have to mention "The Fulton Bar" and it's mid 1990's heyday of fun.

And then there is 'Tokyo Gardens' who had their 50th birthday this last September.

Club Fred did exist at this time.
It's a likely choice. The Wild Blue Yonder existed but was slightly more shiny and upscaley (though it began as a wood picnic tables, earthy, denim-shirt wearing place and got a little more shishi later in it's life)
Tokyo Gardens definately existed, but not sure how many indie-type bands were playing there at the time.

Here's a dream:
A website of Fresno RocknRoll history.
Picture a nice time-line showing the birth and death of clubs----
like when exactly did The Olympic Tavern become Club Fred ?
What exactly were the legendary two years that The Fulton existed?
What were the years of business for the venerable ol' Wild Blue Yonder? What were the years of operation for Stage Dive records?Ragin' Records?

Dang, a site like that would sure be useful and a handy-dandy reference tool to someone who's memory is fuzzing out about 'wayyy back then'.(and too lazy to always go dig through a pile of old flyers and calendars and such.)
-----If it took a lesson from Fresno Famous and made it easy for readers to add content, it would probably evolve into something interesting to many people.

LOL! I just looked at the new site! What a waste of bandwith and storage space...

-s

Club Fred's been top of my crap list for years now. They have stolen money from me, my bands, and my crew. Staff takes TOTAL advantage of live shows by letting in ALL their freinds for free, phucking it for promoters, coke-head's at the door stealing my money out of it, being a-holes in general, wanting to physically fight me & my wife because I actully call them out on their actions. DIRTY, SMELLY place with human piss on the floor and dogs litereally walking on the bar counter. Worst in-house sound in Fresno. I'm surprise it's lasted this long. It sould be burned out and rebuilt & run under someone's authority who has a clue.

I sure won't EVER do a show there again...

-s

Does one have to hire an investigator to find out who's playing & when? Your site sucks and your '80's era answering machine is not up to date. I haven't been to CF in a long time because of the obvious mis-management & difficulties like this. It's obvious by reading this thread that many others feel the same way. Guess I'll be going somewhere else tonite.

well, it's been a month.......

You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear. The change in direction at CF is nothing more than tragic for those of us that need music that is real, not gothic fantasy. The loss of this original music mecca is one more reason why the Fresno music scene retains its second-class status. I speak as an artist and music fan who has played this stage regularly and has also attended numerous shows there over the years. The events of last Fall should have told you what to do, Ernie. Sorry you couldn't put two and two together.

Well guys if its any consolation... I've been booking alot of great shows there under Popsmear Live. Trying to do what I can to bring great live music back to Fresno.

check out the myspace page for details. www.myspace.com/clubpopsmear

Unfortunatley I have nothing to do with Freds site design. I just try to get some shows in from time to time.

We have another site too. www.thefresnounderground.com I post all our events there as well.

Prepare for the fight.

Fred please take Club Fred back!!!!!

...some kind of joke? The joke is on us because a club that we all enjoyed has gone into the crapper. I know almost every story behind the change over and it is horrible what has been done to one of my favorite watering holes. I have seen some amazing bands at Club Fred and had some memorable nights there, but now it is gone. Don't you get it? No one wants Club Fred to be a dance club! Take that to some warehouse downtown please. Club Fred is for blues and punk rock and ska and breaking new acts. It served as a great midway point for bands to play in California between San Francsico and LA. But now? It has been close to two years since I have set foot in the place. To hell with your fog machine. To hell with your DJs. To hell with your Miami inspired silliness. I want my bar back. :(

I am sorry for all the local bands that Club Fred has turned into such a crappy place. It used to be the cool place to see cool local acts as well as great touring acts. Amatuerish website and a booking agent for the venue whom seems to know nothing about anything. I think the best thing to happen here is for Club Fred to shut down or nut up and pay licensing fees and do business the right way. Fred we miss ya and I will never attend anything there again

Hum so do I go to the Tower Theatre or Club Fred? That's a good question?

I sure hope the secured the rights to use that picture of the Tower Theatre. Why not use a picture of Club Fred. As Carlos Mencia says' "Duh, da Duh"!

Yeah, that's a little weak. I'm not saying I could do any better because I certainly can't...but now a days, your website says a whole lot about you as a company and I would think you would want to spend the money, however pricy it may be for a professionally designed site. Just my two cents...

... I don't know what to think about CF anymore. I stopped attending anything at CF after being assed out of gigs three times because the booking people overbooked the night.

Try again with the site redesign. Just because someone says they can build a web page doesn't mean they should.

it looks like a 3rd grader from 1997 had a "made a webpage" homework assignment...

i give the place one month...