FTK is back on the open mic game with a Legends of the Ring cypher
Also, Fresno concert bootlegs; a quick list.
There was a time, a decade or more back, when FTK (the brand and the store) held it down for the Central Cali hip-hop scene.
Their events were well known.
In fact, I was introduced to the store; its brainchild partners Sam Hansen and Bobby Naugle and to local hip-hop culture, truthfully while covering a massive emcee/b-boy battle they hosted at the Visalia Convention Center in the early 2000s.
Some will remember when they brought Kanye West to the Fresno store in 2005 (it made the news).
They also did a series of in-store open mic nights like this one. You can see a young Mike Oz enjoying the action here.
In the years since, Hansen made a name for himself as a promotional mastermind, creating one-off and annual events for himself and his friends; for the Fresno Grizzlies (where he worked as marketing director) and for FTK, which has been reimagined as an invite-only vintage streetwear boutique (if you know, you know. If you don’t, they probably don’t want you there anyway).
His latest event, Legends of the Ring, is an ode professional wrestling. It’s a vintage merch and art show pop-up that also happens to be the return of the FTK Open Mic Cypher.
“Any emcee is allowed to get on the mic, but if they aren’t rapping about classic pro wrestling, they will have to pass,” Hansen says.
“Everyone thinks they can rap with a little liquor in them. This new format raises the bar and makes it more challenging.”
General Populus (whose music you need to check out) hosts, with music from DJ Broht.
This is the first of several themed cyphers in the works. Look out for a Hennessy cypher (for this year’s Positive Hennergy event) and possibly a Taco Cypher at this year’s Taco Truck Throwdown.
Legends of the Ring happens Jun. 26. Open mic starts at 8 p.m. For the Kids is at 1830 Van Ness Fresno, Growlifornia.
What’s with all the Fresno bootlegs?
Somehow, I was unware (or maybe I forgot) that Pearl Jam played Fresno in 2000. Apparently there’s a bootleg (well, it’s an official bootleg, I guess, but… ).
If you believe the Amazon reviews) it’s pretty damn good.
“Disclaimer: Owner of all 72 official PJ bootlegs. This gig in Fresno was 65th out of the 72 shows in the 2000 tour. Some of the other bootlegs around this immediate period show that the band was getting pretty tired, but this show is an exception, and is a strong, no-nonsense performance.”
Now, I’ve never been into the bootleg market, so I can’t say whether Fresno has spawned more bootleg performances than other cities, but I’ve stumbled on quite a few. Mostly, from rock bands and mostly from the late 1970-80s, which makes a certain kind of sense given the tastes and technologies of the day.
Most shows just end up as video clips these days.
As a quick list (there are hundreds more I am sure, so feel free to comment with a link to your favorite):
Van Halen - 9/22/1978
Motley Crue - 11/25/1985
Black Sabbath - 11/09/1976
Kiss - 11/27/1979
And of course:
Grateful Dead - 6/13/1969
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