Discovery: Paul Flores and the Porterville Music Society

Plus, a look at who is vying to take over the Tower Theater, and a new EP of Fresno HXC (hardcore)

Paul Flores collected cookbooks, before he started started buying and archiving old records on Youtube.

“One day I was at the last antique place in town and they had a gospel album from 1958 sitting in a trash box with no cover,” says Flores, who runs the Porterville Music Society.

He had a cheap Ion USB-turntable that had never put to much use and saw this old record as an interesting cultural study.

“I never had a YouTube channel before so I just created one and began it as the society by myself.”

Over the last five years, Flores has now uploaded dozens of these old records to Youtube and created a running list online of bands and musicians from Porterville (and the surrounding area).

Recently, he’s begun posting interviews and profiles of local musicians (more than a dozen and counting) and sharing gig fliers via the society’s social media pages.

I emailed Flores to find out more about the project.

Have you always been a fan of/nerd for music and its history?

“I remember being raised listening to ’50s and ’60s mixes on family roadtrips. When I was in high school me and friends were definitely into British ’60s/glam rock thing.

I still love mostly old music today and don’t really relate or resonate with lots of modern music (I make exception for techno).

But, I would say being into thrift shopping and junk stores is far different than wanting to go and look at records that cost a lot. So, perhaps it’s just being thrifty and wanting to see trash put to use rather into a landfill?”

So, it’s not just about the music?

“Music Societies have existed since the 13th century in various forms that we know about, so to make a distinction between history versus music, I think is wrong because it’s all interwoven together.

If you want it to just be for local value, then that will be it. If you just want it to be for music value then it’s that, or for the history, and so on.

Our music society isn’t interested in labels and genres as much as the gathering process (I think) and making our own connections of meaning, which opens up the ability for everyone to make meaning.

For example: If there is any major influences on my project that have helped to fuel some curiosity it would be Slipcue.com’s Joe SixPack. Reading through his music blog you realize this person has owned every California Hippiebilly/Country album and has some serious knowledge to drop.” 

Is there a larger, long-term goal then?

“The number one goal would be to establish some sort of non-profit to be able to have funding for this preservation/archiving research.

A proper book/blog about these other musics is deserved at some point and I would like to maybe find people willing to work on that.

Another goal is finding a physical home for the archives that can be used by anyone.

My goals are small, like finding .50 cent tapes/CDs/records that are local adding them to the archives. Doing better interviews, specifically with some people who have been in town doing it for 30-40+ years, is also a big goal.

Maybe returning to college for library archival sciences.”

What’s the most interesting discovery you’d made so far?

The most interesting discoveries are always the ones that generate more questions than answers. Nearly 80 percent of these local records are gospel, the rest jazz or school band music, so we are talking about music mostly from the ’60s-’70s.

There are many records we find and have that are not on Discogs, and you cannot find any information about the people, or where it was recorded or when.

So, I am used to having my phone out as I dig, trying to make connections.

One I can think off top of head: Don Smith (Gospelaires) was a member of the Blackwood Brothers before they ever recorded, and once his studio was set up in Fresno, it seems he was one of the first to record them in 46/47.

Obviously, the focus here is on Porterville, but the idea could be expanded into any of the Central Valley’s small towns, or even into Fresno proper. Any thoughts on expanding the reach?

“The reach needs to be expanded if people care about their heritage and history. If not then it goes to the dump.

The idea is there for anyone to have and use! A USB-turntable and Audacity, some pocket change and a day at the thrift stores. It is our musical traditions and ancestry and it only becomes more complete with participation.”

Who’s vying to take over the Tower Theatre?

Last month, the city started collecting official bids to determine who will handle operations and management of the Tower Theatre.

You will remember, the city purchased the theater for $6.5 million in order to ensure its historic (and future) use as a community-centric arts space and councilmembers said the city would seek proposals for a new manager to replace its interim operator (and former owner/operator). That process that would take 60 to 90 days once it began.

The city’s request closed Nov. 4, with eight bids.

It is a mix of local, regional and out-of state interests with various levels of relevant experience and community ties.

They include Sterling Venue Ventures, Scottland Concerts, Team Neville, Fresno Arts Council, Tower Theater Productions, Olive Branches Property Management, Numskull Shows and Tully Huffaker’s Definitive Productions.

The requests are being evaluated by a committee and a presentation will be made to the city soon, with any decision subject to a city council vote.

You can read more about the candidate in my story at The Fresno Bee.

Bulldog HC, “Every Dog Has its Day”

Here’s a new addition to the Fresno hardcore scene.

After teasing a single last week, Bulldog HC, released its debut EP on Bandcamp on Friday.

“Every Dog Has Its Day,” Fresno four tracks of grinding, chugging (in not somewhat straight forward) hard-core. Think throat screams and gang vocal with screeching guitars punctuating thunderous breakdowns.

Win tickets to Strange Vine @Strummer’s

If you’re planning to hit up that Strange Vine show at Strummer’s next Saturday and haven’t got tickets yet, let me know. I am doing a quick giveaway for y’all readers.

Just leave a comment here or shoot me a message.

PAY ATTENTION: I’ll go with the first response I receive after 8:15 p.m. or so tonight (to open it up to listeners of The Homegrown show).

That’s it for this week. Remember you can now hear me on the Homegrown Show Sundays at 8 p.m. on New Rock 104.1 FM and follow my other writing at The Fresno Bee. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com