Watching out for: Underlord, new metal from ex-Newsted members
Plus, Fresno fair announces is first round of performers and your weekly concerts list.
It was five years ago this week that Jason Newsted released “Heavy Metal Music,” the first (and only) full length album from the ex-Metallica bassist’s self-named solo project.
It is notable here because Newsted brought in two Fresno musicians — Jes Farnsworth and Jesus Mendez, Jr. — to fill out his band. They would later be joined by Staind guitarist Mike Mushok and embark on a worldwide tour that included a spot on Dave Mustaine’s Gigantour before the project disbanded in 2014.
It’s also worth note because Farnsworth has started teasing his follow up project, Underlord.
Farnsworth reunites with Mendez for the three-piece metal band, which spent several days in the studio in June working on six songs for an upcoming release.
Underlord is the “bastard child of Motörhead and Sabbath raised by Maiden and Priest,” according to the Instagram bio.
Joining Farnsworth and Mendez is bassist Kevin Thomason.
Farnsworth and Thomason played (along with Wade Kraus) in the retro-punk band The Backstabbers in the late 2000s. Their 2012 album, “Full Blast” is worth checking out if you are a fan of late ’70s hard power pop (or the raunchy kind of stuff Alice Cooper was trying for on “Eyes of Alice Cooper” album).
Get updates on Underlord @underlordmetal on Instagram.
Fresno Fair lineup is … pretty classic Fresno Fair
On the topic of metal bands, the Big Fresno Fair announced Anthrax will kick off its 2021 concert series, Oct. 6 at the Paul Paul Theater. Tickets on sale Aug. 18 with presales starting Aug. 10.
Excited.
Anthrax ain’t a bad get for the fair.
While the band is arguably the least successful of America’s Big Four, the impact of their music and overall aesthetic cannot be underrated.
Anthrax’ collab with Public Enemy no doubt introduced a generation of metalheads (or at least this one) to hip-hop and laid the groundwork for nu metal (for what that’s worth).
Also, Metallica never got a cameo on “Married with Children.” Just saying.
The band is celebrating its 40th anniversary and was is featured in Revolver Magazine’s summer issue in an interview from Chuck D.
The rest of the fair’s first round of performers is a pretty good selection of pop rock, country, Christian and rap music — as has become standard for the fair. It needs to offer something for everyone who might walk through the gates.
So far the lineup features Anthrax (Oct. 6), Young the Giant (Oct. 7), Chris Tomlin (Oct. 12), Midland (Oct. 13) and Nelly Blanco Brown (Oct. 14).
Events list Aug. 8-14
Scoundrel has its EP release, 7 p.m. Friday Aug. 13, at Fulton 55. Tickets are $8-$13.
Singer Niki J Crawford performs 8 p.m. Aug. 13, at Painted Table event center, 5080 N. Blackstone Ave. Tickets are $45-$55.
Full Circle’s Brewery District locale has a weekend of local acts.
Javon Davis’ King Daweed/Scars and Stripes performs a free show 7 p.m. Friday.
Carlos Montano plays 7 p.m. Saturday with rapper MC Wicks. This is a free show.
Englemann Cellars has two-nights of tribute acts. Hollywood Roses performs Friday. Boston tribute Long Time plays Saturday. Shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20, or $30 for a weekend pass.