New venue alert: Table Mountain Casino hosts Blake Shelton for inaugural show
Plus, Lamb of God returns to Fresno on Omens tour and a new EP from ex-Beastmaker bassist John Tucker
Quick note: BANDGEEEK is taking a week off. The newsletter will return July 31. Don’t freak out.
The surprise concert announcement of the week came from Table Mountain Casino last Monday when it announced Blake Shelton would be headlining its grand opening (or grand re-opening).
The tribe’s original casino, build in 1987, is being fully replaced with a new hotel, casino and event center, which includes a performance venue the casino is calling “state of the art.”
It can seat anywhere from 1,500-2,000 people depending on which press release you’ve seen.
The surprise here is that the casino landed Shelton for what will be a comparatively intimate show (the singer is used to Save Mart Center-level crowds).
It’s also surprising that the casino gave little lead time on the show, which happens Thursday.
That’s understandable; this is more about publicity and a grand-opening show of force than ticket sales, though as expected, it is already sold out.
It will be interesting to see how different this new venue is from the casino’s previous concert spot and whether Table Mountain will use the opportunity to expand beyond the heritage legacy acts casinos around the area are known for.
There is opportunity for the casino to bring in a full-season of solid mid-level acts that might normally by pass the area.
Lamb of God brings Omens tour to Selland Area
Speaking of venues, if you haven’t looked at the calendar for the Fresno Convention Center recently, you should.
The center, which includes the Saroyan Theatre and Selland Area seems be adding new shows all the time.
For instance, I somehow missed Lamb of God’s Oct. 4 date at the Selland Area, which was announced earlier this month. The concert is part of the metal band’s Omens tour with Killswitch Engage, Fit For An Autopsy and Animals As Leaders.
Tickets are $39-$79.50 with VIP packages available for those interested.
The band is touring on a news of its ninth album. The first single, “Nevermore,” dropped last week.
It’s been awhile since Fresno has seen a proper metal show at an arena level.
Also upcoming and worth note: Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons plays the Saroyan Theatre Aug. 20; comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is there Aug. 25 and Los Tigres del Norte will play there Nov. 22.
All tickets on sale now.
“The Sun and the Stars,” Sans Time
John Michael Tucker has been teasing Sans Time — and the metal band’s debut EP “The Sun and the Stars” — since last April, at least.
Tucker has his metal bona fides as a one-time member of both Beastmaker and Haunt and current member of the psych-rock band Sun Umbra (who’s debut single “La, La” is out now.
Sans Time is Tucker and his brother, David Tucker, channeling the new wave of traditional heavy metal, a genre that itself is channeling the new wave of British heavy metal, a genre that is 40 years old at this point.
The five songs are retro, certainly, and could get quick and easy comparisons to Haunt, especially the opening track “Eternal Spirits.” As whole though, the album carries early Judas Priest vibes (like pre-“Stained Class”) especially with the vocal work.
“The Sun and the Stars” was mixed and mastered by No Way Music Production and is out now on Bandcamp, with an full-length promised in the next few months.
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