Go to 'Drums for Julian' benefit, help a 14-year-old burn victim learn to play drums

Plus, Tool makes a return stop at Save Mart Center and I ponder a Fulton 55 marquee.

Oct 15, 2023

Officially, Fred Martinez has been retired out of the live-music game for awhile now.

But the guy still has connections and the one-time singer/venue owner/band manager does pop up now and again to shout out new bands (Rock On!, the Dying Suns, recently) and do some concert promotions. See the last two years of Tower Porchfest.

Martinez’ next concert happens Oct. 29 at Fulton 55.

“Pete Dern and I are doing this benefit for a 14-year old burn survivor from Compton,” Martinez says.

“We met over the years at the Wonder Valley Burn Camp.”

Dern is the Fresno Fire Captain who was severely burned when he fell through a roof while fighting a fire in 2015. The teenager in this case is Julian, who lost his father and two siblings in a crash.

“His father was a musician and Julian had always wanted to play,” Martinez says.

“So, I gave him a brand new shiny set of black Pearl drums and have arranged for music lessons.”

The first year is already covered with donations, he says. The benefit concert will make sure those lessons continue.

Martinez put together a solid lineup, with performances from Rock On!, Roger Perry and the John Clifton Blues Band. Tickets are $20 and on sale now.

As a bonus for the night, the concert will also be a birthday celebration for Perry and Clifton. There will be cake and ice cream, Martinez says.

Tool sets Feb. 12 at Save Mart Center, Fresno

Tool had a run in the mid to late ’90s where they played Fresno every other year or so. They played the Wilson Theater in 1994 and again in 1996 (for what would be the venue’s final show before becoming Cornerstone Church).

They returned in 1998 to play the Fresno State Amphitheater in what has become a much-remembered show for fans (at least ones I talk to).

I bring this up because Maynard James and company just announced a Fresno date as part of its expanded North American tour, which is happening now. They play Feb. 12 at the Save Mart Center. Tickets are on sale now ($63.50-$173.50, plus fee is you go the Ticketmaster route).

If it feels like Tool just came through Fresno, they kind of did. They played Save Mart Center in early 2020 in one of the venue’s last pre-pandemic shows.

Of course, the real news of this leg of the tour might just be the opening act, Elder, who some may have seen when they played Strummer’s back in May. The band does epic-length doomed-out psychedelic space rock songs and has some fans hyped.

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Let’s get Fulton 55 a marquee

Fun fact: In the 10-plus years since Fulton 55 opened, I never noticed it doesn’t have a marquee.

This was brought to my attention by someone who happened to be strolling by the venue on a random ArtHop Thursday when a tour bus was parked outside. He inquired and was shocked to find out Kurt Vile was playing that night.

And also that the venue didn’t have that info blasted up in lights, or block letters or however its done these day.

Now, I’ve always paid attention to the venue’s social media, and am more plugged into the scene than most, and there have still be nights where I’ve seen a line of people queued up outside Fulton 55 and wondered who was playing.

So, a marquee would be nice. Especially given the upcoming calendar (Pat Travers, High on Fire, Built to Spill, Duane Betts and so on).

I don’t know why there isn’t a marquee already (could be some kind of city code thing) or what it would take it get one installed (especially if there’s a city code thing), but it seems like someone should create a Change.org petition or a GoFundMe or something.