Support system activate: Spokeasy, the Labyrinth + how you can help
Also, new music drops from T.A. the Handful, Paris on Fire.
Spokeasy Public House is the kind of place that is essential to a music scene.
Aside from serving as an occasional performance venue, the craft-beer bar is run by music/band types, employs music/band types and is frequented by music/band types.
And it exists at Van Ness Village, a block of businesses with similar operations (Sour Milk, the LAByrinth Art Collective).
So, it was noticed when a fire broke out in the alley behind the bar earlier this week. While the fire didn’t gut the building, it did effect the power, which is something one needs to run a business. Which means, Spokeasy (and LAByrinth and Jazzy Jeans) will be closed for the foreseeable future.0
Already, the community has shown its support in helping Spokeasy while it figures out next steps. The bar sold out of both its selection of coolered canned beers and on growlers fills for the beer it had remaining on tap.
And several other fundraisers are in the works.
There is a straight-up donation campaign happening. Money will go toward covering remaining operating costs and lost wages.
Resistance Tattoo (which sits just across the street from Van Ness Village) is hosting a 2X2 flash special until closing today. Tattoos are $60, with all proceeds going back to the businesses.
Panned Fresno is hosting a slice night benefit, Oct. 4 on the backyard of Sour Milk. The pizza makers will cover their food costs and labor from 5 p.m. until they sell out.
Tower District Record has teamed up with Fulton 55 for a benefit concert and fashion show Oct. 11. The event will have DJs, bands, food trucks and raffle prizes. Tickets are $15.
Brandon Freeman (Cloudship, etc.) is spearheading a benefit Oct. 13 at Tioga Sequoia. Lineup, ticket prices, TBA (I’ll update, here).
Paris on Fire, “I Don’t Care”
Last week, Paris on Fire dropped “I Don’t Care,” three new tracks of indie post-punk sleaze rock. The EP sees the Exeter band building off (and growing from) its last release “It’s Alright,” with a collection of songs that seem a little darker, perhaps, but no less fun.
Kay Noelle’s vocals to really do their work, here.
T.A. the Handful, “7 Summers”
T.A. the Handful is an original Grizzly City Boy, one of a loose collection of rap collaborators that includes Fashawn and Otis Reed (among others).
The rapper has been busy as of late, releasing the Fashaw produced freestyle “Onslaught,” and featuring on “Data Surprise,” the single from Kevin Hill’s group the Freznens.
Earlier this month he released “7 Summers,” via vault records. The seven tracks (one for each summer?) are a showcase of Handful’s word play and flow. There are also features from Latoya Lain and K Fisher (on “No Love” and “Trap,” respectively).
Good stuff here for fans of Fresno hip-hop bangers (via Fashawn’s production on “Stony,” for example).
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. Tonight, I’ll have new music from Ben Went West, Motel Drive and more. Follow my other writing at The Fresno Bee. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com