Fresno Bob is neither a Fresnan or named Bob, but there is a Valley connection on his new album 'Motivational Doom'

Plus, Cloudship drummer Brandon Freeman's new jazz-hop rock and roll crew.

Thanks to Weedian, I now know about Fresno Bob, the bass-drum solo project from Silvio Dalla Valle, who’s new album “Motivational Doom” is streaming now and available on cassette next month.

To be clear, Dalla Valle isn’t a Fresnan or from Fresno and likely took the name from a Snake Plissken line in “Escape from New York.”

“We were buddies, Harold. You, me, and Fresno Bob.”

Fresno Bob was also the leader of the Scorpion Cartel, if you follow the Power Rangers (I do not, so thanks RangerWiki).

But there is a larger Valley connection on “Motivational Doom,” for those looking.

The hook of the album is its heavy, distorted bass and drums, laid under voice sample interviews from “legendary outsiders” like Ed Bunker, Harry Dean Stanton” and … Sam Peckinpah (on the track “That’s a Bunch of Shit”).

Peckinpah was a controversial filmmaker, a sort of proto Quentin Tarantino, who did a slew of grizzly, mostly westerns, including “The Wild Bunch.”

Now, Peckinpah was very much from Fresno. He graduated from Fresno High School and Fresno State (when it was Fresno State College) before heading to Hollywood. He was the son of prominent attorneys in town and was married for a while to Marie Selland (daughter of one-time mayor Art Selland and name sake of the Selland Arena).

Fresno Bob samples Peckipah sharing his thoughts on men fighting (and killing and dyeing) in the name of Jesus (the name of the track kinda sums up his sentiments).

“Motivational Doom” is available for preorder via Tape Head City.

Upcoming: Crewmatic, with Fashawn and Danielle Rondero and the Nitty Gritty at Fulton 55

Brandon Freeman is the kind of musician who always has something in the mix, whether it’s his solo performances (a Thursday night residency at Lucy’s Lounge), his role as singer/drummer in the rock-duo Clouship, or his new gig helming the eight-piece jazz-hop rock collaborative, Crewmatic.

The band was originally a partnership between Freeman and emcee/rapper Catch Benevedo, but became a crew (hence the name) as the pair pulled in other musicians to help fill out their songs.

The group has recorded an EP’s worth of material (shoutout to The Rabbit Hole) and plays its first show Saturday night at Fulton 55, with Danielle Rondero and the Nitty Gritty and Fashawn, who will headline the show backed by Judah for a live-band set. Tickets are $20.

You can hear the band’s debut track “Headache,” plus an interview with Freeman and Benevedo, 8 p.m. tonight on the Homegrown show on New Rock 104.1.

“La Raza Likes to Dance”

Flagging this story from Fresno Bee reporter Melissa Montalvo writing for L.A. Taco because it is the exact kind of deep dive into the history of a subculture that music nerds like me (and y’all, I’m sure) love.

Montalvo takes readers inside the disco party scene in Eastside L.A. in the 1970s. It’s the story of scenester nightclubs and back yard parties and after hours stops at Denny’s, because there’s always a Denny’s.

It’s about L.A., but a good reminder that every city has its tales to tell.

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. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com