I break down the massive Tower Porchfest lineup, so you don't have to.
Plus, Tenacious D's Kyle Gass at the Tower Theatre and Vina Robles keeps upping its lineup.
This year’s Tower Porchfest is shaping up to be a blessing and a curse.
The blessing: An amazing number of porch lineups, with new ones popping up every day it seems like. There were more than 100 bands at last count, playing on more than 50 porches (and some more traditional stages) across the Tower District (aka that large hip swath of Fresno from Shields to Belmont and Fruit to Blackstone).
The festival, which happens April 9, became a nonprofit this time around, and picked up a few official sponsors, a day-of info booth and commemorative T-shirts, because who doesn’t love swag?
The curse: Given the amazing number of porch lineups, with new ones popping up every day it seems like, the whole thing is beginning to feel overwhelming. It will certainly take a bit of planning to make the most of the day.
I spent some time going through the Tower Porchfest lineup to save you the time.
Here are some best bets:
The sponsor stages
Ragin Records, Spokeasy Public House and Hi-Top Coffee are all business sponsors for this year’s event and have each put together a pretty stellar lineup of acts.
This is easy access stuff for those unfamiliar with the Tower District.
Ragin Records is probably the highest profile of these venues, as it managed to land hip-hop heavy hitter Fashawn. It also might have the most eclectic lineup of the bunch. Its includes some grindcore (Elder Devil, who I’ve mentioned before), punk rock (Party Force from SF) and indie-rock (Bad Springs).
DJs and bands start at 10 a.m.
Spokeasy is doing a bit of double duty, as Porchfest happens to coincide with the bar’s 10th anniversary weekend (and also its eight and ninth anniversaries, the pandemic being what it was).
The whole weekend is going to be a party, but Saturday gets the bands.
The lineup includes Judah, Danielle Rondero and the Nitty Gritty, Bald Pony, Great Northern, Daze Baby and The Sleepover Disaster.
Of special note here is Great Northern. The Los Angeles band, which features guitarist Solon Bixler, recently relocated to Fresno. You can an unreleased new track from the band tonight on New Rock 104.1’s Homegrown show.
The Hi-Top Coffee porch will actually be around the corner from the shop, Hedges Avenue. The lineup is curated by Nick Kennedy, who some will remember from the band The Old Tire Swingers. Here, he will play with his new project Long Forgotten, along with Kenna, Deep Forrest Drive, O Henry, Amanda Hammit, RMS Olympic and Ted Nunes.
In the neighborhood
Looking at the actual porch lineups (the ones out in the neighborhood), things get a bit trickier. There is plenty of stuff that might pique interest (mariachi bands and African drumming, a Yoga Dj session, Brazilian trap and psychedelic cumbia).
Here are five I chose not quite at random (though with full respect to the rest of the lineups).
923 E Bremer Ave. … aka the Club Fred porch, because it is hosted by Fred Martinez, the one-time owner of the icon Tower District nightclub. Fred has managed a lineup that would be a draw on any night, at any venue; The Dying Suns, Don Heflin’s side project the Cleavers, Roger Perry and Friends, John Clifton Blues Band, Blake Jones and the Trike Shop Blake and the Santana tribute Heavy Weather.
This stage is sponsored by G7 farms.
1335 E. Olive Ave. … aka the ska/punk/reggae/funk porch. 1335 (the Fresno reggae rock band) took its name from this address on the corner of Olive and San Pablo and have played no shortage of shows there over the years. For Porchfest, they’ve brought in some friends; Out of the Ring, Beyond California, Life Jacket and MKC.
1223 N. Echo … aka the sucka free porch, aka the Puro Pinche Party. This porch will feature a live recording of Devoya Mayo’s famous Sucka Free Sunday podcast, followed by a Dj set from Ms. Soulflower herself.
The podcast kicks off at 3 p.m.
1360 N. Echo … aka the “attack of the cryptids” porch. This is where I will be at 1 p.m., performing a live version of Victim of Propaganda. First show alert!! The rest of the lineup is decidedly more punk, with Bigfoot Attack, The Sunnydales and Mantis Watch.
As a bonus, there will be stilt burlesque performances from Gale Force.
This porch is hosted by Laura Splotch.
525 E. Pine Ave. … aka the alternative porch. As in alternative rock.
The ’90 alt rock cover band 30 Minute Download kicks off the afternoon. They will be joined by Hazey Autumn, The Daring Lion, Stoneshiver singer Jesse Wilkin and The Stereo Hopeful.
You can do your own searching with the interactive Tower Porchfest online map and hear an interview with Tower Porchfest co-founders, 8 p.m. tonight on New Rock 104.1’s Homegrown show.
#FML Fest ‘22
Speaking of free music events in the Tower next Saturday, the Artourage is bringing back Kyle Gass, the not Jack Black half of the Tenacious D. Here, he’ll be playing as Kyle Gass and Electric in what is being billed as a “debut show.”
The event, dubbed #FML Fest 2 (that’s food, music, laughter) happens at 3 p.m. at the Tower Theatre with a lineup of local openers that includes Leather Serpent, Pryograph, For the Record, Iwanaga, Used Salesman and We Hunt Like Wolves.
Interpol, She and Him announced at Vina Robles
In more “awesome concert on Central Coast” news, New York indie-rock standouts Interpol is coming to Vina Robles Amphitheatre on its just announced Lights, Camera, Factions tour, which is actually a co-headliner gig with Spoon.
The band plays Sept. 14 on what looks to be tour’s sole California date. So, score (another) one for Vina Robles.
This week the amphitheater also announced a June 22 date with She and Him on its Melt Away Tour. The tour is a tribute to Beach Boy Brian Wilson and will feature the band doing Wilson classics.
Incubus will be at the amphitheater in October.
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