Your monthly dump (of area concerts for September 2023)

Plus, a Don McLean "American Pie" concert review.

Aug 27, 2023

OK, follow me down a rabbit hole here, for a bit of rock-n-roll trivia that I maybe knew but must have forgotten, because it seemed a revelation when I stumbled upon it recently.

So, Flogging Molly plays at Tioga next Sunday (with the Bronx opening, which is splendid, because their fourth album, IV, is one of the greatest rock records of all time, in my mind).

Here’s the trivia: Flogging Molly is fronted by Dave King, an Irish singer who first gained notoriety with … Fastway, which was a British rock band formed by “Fast” Eddie Clark after he left … Motorhead. UFO bassist Pete Way was also an original member.

There’s no point in that really, other than it being the kind of stuff music fans like me love to geek out on.

Really, though, here are the Fresno-area’s other concert happenings for Sept. 2023, which I’ve collected into a semi curated, and somewhat, but not entirely comprehensive list (grouped by week for sake of ease).

Week 1 (Sept. 1-7)

Let’s start with an untraditional booking for Goldstein’s Mortuary and Delicatessen.

Blake Jones and the Trike Shop have returned from the UK and will make their debut at the eclectic beer bar Friday, Sept. 1. As bonus, they’ll be joined by The World Record, who is coming up from Los Angeles. Show starts at 9 p.m. No cover.

Ana Barbara, Bandidos tour, 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, Saroyan Theater. $42-$152+
Warped Tour tribute night, on two stages, 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, Full Circle Brewing Company. $12.
Lost 80's Live, with Wang Chung, Missing Persons, General Public, Stacey Q, (Fresno’s own) Animotion, Naked Eyes, Shannon, Musical Youth, Trans-X, The Untouchables, 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, Woodward Park, Amphitheater. $65.
The Morenos, 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, Franks’ Place. No ticket price listed.
Mom’s Home, Minimall, Sycamore Stereo, and Gazey Lacey, 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4, the Great Room, $5, al ages.
(hed)PE, Dolores, Prey 4 Reign, Grudge Race, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, Strummer’s. $16.
Keep Flying, album release, with Sleeping With Strangers, For The Record and Lavish Youth, 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, The Fulton. Free, all ages.
Decayer, Saltwound, Inferious, Eternal Bloom, True Divine, 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, The Great Room. $12-$15, all ages.

Week 2 (Sept. 8-14)

Junior H (pronounced with the Spanish ha-tche) is leading a charge of young artists creating a new wave of Regional Mexican music (along with the likes of Peso Pluma). It’s tumbados corridos for sad boys.

The 19-year old recently went from playing theaters to packing out areas like the Crypto Arena, where he kicked of his Sad Boyz tour last month. He performs Friday, Sept. 8 at the Save Mart Center. Tickets are $59.50-$249.50 and on sale now.

Always Adele, 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, Tower Theater. $18-$30.
Dem2, 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, Fulton 55. $10-$20.
Boots in the Park, with Kane Brown, Tyler Hubbard, Locash, Leaving Austin, Luwiss Lux, 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, Woodward Park. This event is sold out.
Night of laughs and RnB, with comedians Alfred Robles, Narcizo Gonzalez and Monique Flores and music from Jase of Soul for Real, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, Fulton 55. $35-$200.
Blazed, Good Terms, FRND CRCL, Mindless Society, and Lucky Pebbles, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, Tioga Sequoia. Free, all ages.
Foxy Shazam, with Blade Trip, 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, Strummer’s. $23.
Jennifer Wharton’s Bonegasm, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, Fresno State Concert Hall. $10, free for Fresno State students.
Jakobs Castle, 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, Strummer’s. $13-$15.
Left to Suffer, Distant, Justice for the Damned, Cabal, Fire to the Throne, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, Strummer’s. $17.

The Red Pears play 2000s era New York indie rock filtered through the twinkling reverb laden cumbia-rock that’s been coming out of Los Angeles of late (thinking Tropa Magica for one).

The band came through Fresno last November and make a return trip to Strummer’s Thursday, Sept. 14. Tickets are $20. Mexican Slum Rats and 60 Juno open.

Week 3 (Sept. 15-21)

Super Diamond, a Neil Diamond tribute. 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, Tower Theater. $32-$42.
Hillblocksview, From Flowers to Flies, Augie, Exvamon, and Long Term Effects, 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, The Great Room. $5, all ages.
Carin Leon, Colmillo De Leche tour, 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, Save Mart Center. $49.50-$300.
I Want my 80’s Tour, with Rick Springfield, The Hooters and Tommy Tutone, 7:30 p.m Sunday, Sept. 17, Warnors Theater. $55-$75.
Calabrese, Haunt Me, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19., Strummer’s. $15.
Al Stewart with his Empty Pockets Band, 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, Tower Theater. $58.50-$68.50.
Gentlemens Club, with ION, Imposter and Gallo Blanc, 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, Fulton 55. $10.

Extended week 4 (Sept. 22-30)

Dengue Fever, 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, Strummer’s. $25.
38 Special, The Marshall Tucker Band and Molly Hatchet, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, Warnors Theater. $55-$125.
Life is Peachy, a nu metal cover night, 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, Full Circle Brewing Company. $12-$15.
Cupcakke, 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, Fulton 55, $29.50-$100.
Tropidelic with Kyle Smith and Joey Harkum, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, Fulton 55. $18-$22.

Fresno is looking to be a kind of home-away from home for the Korean pop band TAN. We were was one of three cities on its first-ever U.S. tour back in April and one of five on its second tour, which kicks off at the Tower Theater Sept. 29.

Tickets are $60-$150 and on sale now.

Dombresky, 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, Fulton 55. $40.
Mark E. Bassy, folk hero funk, 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, Strummer’s. $25.
Christian Nodal, 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, Save Mart Center. $65-$175.
Share

Review: Don McLean, Tower Theater, 8/25/23

Don McLean is a student of early American rock and roll, which seems obvious given his most famous song is an eight-plus minute ode to the era.

It was also obvious watching his performance Friday night at the Tower Theater.

The set, which ran nearly and hour and forty five minutes was peppered with McLean doing covers — his take on Elvis’ “That’s All Right,” Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” Roy Orbison’s “Crying,” The Skyliner’s “Since I Don’t Have You,” the Santo and Johnny instrumental “Sleep Walk,” and Ricky Nelson’s “Traveling Man,” which he pulled out as the encore.

That’s all well and good and actually quite satisfying if you (like me) are a fan of those songs and that era.

But it’s also a bit of a shame, especially for fans of McLean’s songwriting talents, especially his folkier tunes.

McLean has always been about paying homage. His recorded versions of “Crying” and “Since I Don’t Have You” put him back on the charts in the late 70s/early 80s and you could tell the man and his band (a group of pros he pulled in from Nashville) were most at home and in the pocket on those tunes.

But “And I Love You So,” “Vincent,” “Castles in the Air,” made for some of the best moments of the night and made me wish he’d have done a solo, acoustic set.

This was my first show at the Tower Theater since the new management took over and it was very much the kind of show I’d personally like to see continue to bring in.

Bandgeeeek!