Make your own Fresno-band playlist. Here's five releases to look out for

New music from Cosmic Space Bunnies, Agave, Gazey Lacey, Blackwater Baptized and Zach Schuh.

Sep 24, 2023

I’ve always felt keeping up with new music to be a bit overwhelming.

Artists can be prolific. Even your favorites can bog you down with new material. Widen that to the number of artists operating in a specific area (Fresno, let’s say) and it can be hard to keep up, particularly if you’re not being genre specific.

A better music journalist, or one more hip to the times, would put out an adjustable playlist (on Spotify or some such). Maybe I’ll get there, someday.

In the meantime, here is a quick list of five new or upcoming releases to look out for (in no order).

“Gray Is Not A Dress Code Color,” Cosmic Space Bunnies

Cosmic Space Bunnies have already released a pair of peppy in-your-face rock singles fitting of a band whose driving force is an 11-year old (or is she 12, now?).

The duo (Ellen plays guitar and sings. Her dad Jimi is on drums) have finished work on a five-song EP, slated for release next month (Oct. 5 if you wanna put it in the calendar).

The EP is a counterpoint to the live shows the band has been playing for the past year or so, Ellen says.

“I really love performing live, but I wanted to make something that you could listen to whenever you wanted. I also have a lot of friends and family all over the country who don’t get to experience our shows, so I wanted something they could listen to.”

You can hear selections from the EP, plus an interview with Ellen and her dad tonight on Homegrown on NewRock 104.1.

“In Her Hands,” Agave

“In Her Hands,” is the follow up to Agave’s 2021 album, “American Originals: A New World, A New Canon,” which was recorded at Fresno’s Big Red Church.

That work earned the band a Grammy nomination for Best Classical Compendium (it was up against the San Francisco Symphony and jazz legend Chick Corea).

“In Her Hands,” continues with the band’s goal of recording of music by underrepresented composers; this time working with the classical singer Michele Kennedy.

“This new record celebrates four centuries of music by women,” says Kevin Cooper, who helped found the group in 2008 and currently leads the guitar program at Fresno City College.

“The exquisite songs of Florence Price weave through a diverse program of music ranging from 17th-century instrumental canzoni and solo madrigals, to the powerful music of 20th-century master Margaret Bonds.”

“In Her Hands,” is out now on the classic music label Acis.

“91 Pickup,” Gazey Lacey

“91 Pickup” is the latest single from bedroom songwriter/rock band leader David Ramos, aka Gazey Lacey. Ramos holds to his lo-fi bedroom pop aesthetic, but takes a more acoustic, indie-rock approach with this one.

There’s a ‘70s-era Neil Young-ish quality in it to me, but it could just be the opening line.

“91 Pickup” was released on digital platforms on Friday.

Sidenote: Shoutout, to the Ford Ranger, which some consider the quintessential pick-up truck.

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“All Around You,” Blackwater Baptized

Jeremy Logan formed Blackwater Baptized after the breakup of We Hunt Like Wolves, mostly for the sake of recording the songs that make up this debut album, which was released last week on digital platforms (CDs are also available).

“All Around You,” is nine tracks of retro-tinged blues rock. Read: Lots of solos and a riff or two. Logan’s soulful locals anchor the trio, which also includes Greg Fernandez on bass and Shawn Van Wyhe on drums.

Per the band’s press: Blackwater Baptized is tribute to God, family, and, in the case of the band’s name at least, growing up in the south.

You can listen to Logan’s interview on NewRock 104.1’s Homegrown show from last weekend.

“Blurry Pictures,” Zach Schuh

Some may remember Zach Schuh (the face and/or voice if not the name) from his time as frontman/songwriter for the alt-rock band Sea of Sound. The band had a buzz-worthy run about a decade back (Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino had them as one of the top three bands in the Central Valley at one point).

Schuh took time away from music to do some farming and to heal from some health issues (including a recent spine surgery).

He’s returned as a solo artist.

Schuh has release several singles from a his bedroom studio, including the track “Sugar,” which just dropped on Friday.

“Blurry Pictures” is three-minutes of dance-y electronic synthpop that feels perfect for summer playlists. Take the opening line: “Summer sweat feels so good when it falls down from your shirt.”

For my tastes, the bouncy acoustic number “Sunflower,” is where it’s at.

Follow Schuh @zachschuhmusic.