Fresno's Supreme Love Gods get a guest-filled remix on "We Are All Together" Ep
Plus, Willie Nelson returns and your upcoming event list.
Supreme Love Gods played for just three years in the early 1990s and were a totally legit American Brit-pop band, even if they were eventually somewhat lost to history.
The Fresno band signed to Columbia/Sony Music in 1991 and then to Def American, which released their self-titled debut in 1992. The band gets quick mention in Alex Ogg’s history of the label alongside the likes of Chicago proto-doom band Trouble as one of the lesser known bands on the roster at the time.
(I became obsessed with Trouble’s 1992 album “Manic Frustration” after seeing them at the Wilson Theatre, but that is another story).
A Los Angeles Times profile of Supreme Love Gods in 1992 led with the question: “What’s the best thing about being a successful Fresno band?”
“You get to leave Fresno.”
The story goes on the describe the band’s touring schedule as an opener for Ned’s Atomic Dustbin (which was no small act at the time).
After the band split, guitarist Tommy Joy became a touring sound engineer and manager, working with a number of known alternative rock bands (the Black Angels, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Kurt Vile, among others).
Which brings us “We Are All Together,” a four-song Ep that reimagines Supreme Love God’s 1992 single “Souled Out” as series of collaborations with members of those bands, but also the likes of the Dandy Warhols, Black Heart Procession and others.
“Last year when the pandemic started to take over, I started a charity project to help people affected by the job loss … In this case, everyone I know from touring,” Joy says.
“Pretty much everyone I reached out to I knew personally.”
“And I’ve been lucky ... I’ve toured with some pretty cool bands in my career,” he says.
The EP is currently being funded through Bandcamp with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to Crew Nation, a Live Nation backed global charity that gives financial support to touring professionals whose jobs were affected by the pandemic.
It will be released on the English label OLI Records.
Willie Nelson returns to Save Mart Center (with the Avett Brothers)
Willie Nelson is one of (if not the) last of the outlaw county originals. At 88 years old he continues to tour, both on the theater and fair circuit and also at larger arena and stadium shows.
He recently announced a date and lineup for Farm Aid (which includes Sturgill Simpson, Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, plus Neil Young and others) plus a series of dates for the Outlaw Music Festival.
He’s also doing a series of one-off concert dates, including a stop Oct. 20 at the Save Mart Center.
He’s bringing his family, but also The Avett Brothers and Lucinda Williams as openers. Tickets start at $49.50 and are on sale now.
Events list Aug. 1-7
Strummer’s hosts a weekend of shows, its first post-pandemic.
Thrash metal band Vio-lence plays 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6. Tickets are $25, all ages.
On Saturday, Aug. 7, is Dear You: Emo Night with the Sunnydale, plus DJ Shannon Taylor of awakebutstillinbed. Show stars at 9 p.m. Tickets are $5, all ages.
Fulton 55 also has a full weekend of shows.
On Friday, the Morning Drive performs with the Medium Blue and Kat. This show was rescheduled from earlier this summer. Show start at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10.
LMC presents DJ Dillon Nathaniel, 9 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15-$20.
On Sunday, the venue hosts a tribute to Jerry Garcia with Touch of Gravy. It’s a 4 p.m. afternoon show. Tickets are $5.
The Prince tribute The Purple Ones performs 7 p.m. Saturday at Englemann Cellars. Tickets are $20.
EDM returns to the Rainbow Ballroom. Adventure Club, Kompany, Neeya, Maxx'd Out and Yo Isaac See Less perform 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $25-$350, 18 and up.
That’s it for this week. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com