Your monthly dump (of area concerts for June 2023)
Plus, Matchbox Twenty finally makes it to Fresno. A review.
As pointed out by Melissa Montalvo at the Fresno Bee, the city seems to be major stopping point for Latin music acts. That’s historically true, but more visible recently, as regional Mexican music has its moment on the global stage.
See: Peso Pluma, who wasn’t even the headliner when he played Chukchansi Park back in April, just days before he made his debut on the Tonight Show.
The Fresno Convention Center/Warnors Theater in particular has its calendar booked up with regional Mexican acts in June.
The Latin American boy band CNCO was scheduled to bring its brand of “Reggaetón Lento,” to the theater June 2 as part of its“Ultima Cita” tour. That show has now been cancelled. Tickets have been refunded.
Still happening:
The Texas norteño/Tejano band Intocable will be at the Saroyan Theater the following evening, June 3 on its Evolucion tour. Shoe starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39-$99.
Grupo Frontera plays the theater June 15 as part of its “El Comienzo,” or the beginning tour. The band has 36 million monthly Spotify listeners and a million Instagram followers, no doubt buoyed by its song with Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, who they joined on stage during his set at Coachella. The show starts at 8 p.m. Only a few tickets remain.
The following night (June 16) Mexican actor and singer Carlos Rivera will be at the theater doing “Un Tour a Todas Partes.” Rivera started his career in theater with lead roles in “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast” in Mexico. He also won season three of the Mexican TV competition series “La Academia.” The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39-$179.
Here is the rest of the Fresno-area concerts for June, in a semi curated, and somewhat, but not entirely comprehensive list (grouped by week for sake of ease).
Week 1 (May 29 - June 4)
CupcakKe, 8 p.m. Sunday May 28, Strummer’s. This show is sold out.
Nascar Aloe, Hey Asshole! plus Deathproof Inc., 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, Strummer’s. $16, all ages.
Bling Bling, a Y2K inspired event featuring covers from live band Who is Gene, alongside a 2000's DJ set from Rekwel, 9 p.m. Thursday, June 1, Strummer’s. Free, 21 +
Sidepiece, 9 p.m. Friday, June 2, Fulton 55. This show is sold out.
Musical Mimicry, with the Tower Quartet, 7 p.m. Friday, June 2, University Presbyterian Church of Fresno. $10 donation.
One Trick Pony, Paul Simon tribute, 7 p.m. Saturday June 3, Tioga Sequoia. Free, all ages.
Tanner Usrey with The Lowdown Drifters, 8 p.m. Sunday, June 4, Strummer’s. $16, all ages.
Week 2 (June 5-11)
Secrets, Outline In Color, Of Virtue, Nerv, Running With Scissors and HillBlocksView, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, Full Circle Brewing. $18-$23, all ages.
Oh Geesy, GW2 tour, 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, Rainbow Ballroom. $29.50.
Vincent Neil Emerson, Logan Ledger, 8 p.m Wednesday, June 7, Strummer’s. $17, all ages.
Strummer’s hosts back-to-back nights of sold out shows.
Virginia indie-rock band Turnover plays Thursday June 8 with Riki and Keep. Its latest album “Myself in the Way,” was released on Run For Covers Records last year.
The following night, the club hosts Sacramento poet/rapper/singer (and one-time viral sensation) Hobo Johnson on his Hobo Johnson Loves The West Coast tour.
809 Olive Avenue LLC officially takes over management of the Tower Theater June 1 and we’re already got a glimpse at the potential in its new partnership with Good Medicine Presents.
It’s first show is the western swing band Asleep At The Wheel, which plays 8 p.m. June 10. Tickets are $38-$53.
The Witch Hunt tour with Scoundrel, Red Keep, Fire To The Throne and Dear Distance, 7 p.m. Sunday June 11, Strummer’s. $10-$15, all ages.
Sunday Afternoon Blues party w/John Clifton Blues Band. Roger Perry opens, 2 p.m. Sunday June 11, Locked In Sports Bar.
Week 3 (June 12-18)
The Freeks, with Westing and Style Like Revelators, 8 p.m. Thursday, June, 15, Fulton 55. $12-$15.
Yachtley Crew, 8 p.m. Friday, June 16, Tower Theater. $39 - $49.
Otep, 8 p.m. Friday, June 16, Fulton 55. $20-$25.
Haunt frontman Trevor Church presents his Frozen in Time Festival. It’s two days of traditional heavy metal from across the world. The bill includes Haunt obviously, along with Canadians bands Traveler and Spell, Savage Master, Icarus Witch, Nite, Knight and Gallow, Saber, Intranced, Crossed Hearts, Leathürbitch, and Fresno’s own Elder Devil.
The festival happens June 16-17 at Strummer’s. Tickets are $60, for both days.
Black v Neck, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 17, Fulton 55. $15-$30.
Southern Culture on the Skids, Long Forgotten, 7 p.m. Sunday June 18, Strummer’s. $18, all ages.
Week 4 (June 19-25)
Ridgeway, Citrus, Pure Hex, Motherbull, 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, the Great Room. $8-$10, all ages.
The Dirty Nil, with Daniel Romano’s Outfit and Tower Rats, 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, Strummer’s. $15, all ages.
Resist and Bite, 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, Fulton 55. $17-$20.
MySpace night, with Ambers Wake as A Day to Remember, Hyacinth as From First to Last and Dance Gavin Dance, A Dollar Underwater as Senses Fail and All American Rejects, Forgotten Faces as As Blood Runs Black, Buckle Up as Bring Me the Horizon, 6 p.m. Friday, June 23, Full Circle Brewing. $10-$15, all ages.
Sun Kissed Summer Festival 2023, 8 p.m. Friday, June 23, Chukchansi Park, $30.
Not Opposite Day w/ Sagey, Citrus, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 24, Strummer’s. $10, all ages.
Bonus week (June 26-30)
Arce MX, Big Gangz, El Finesse, TJ Jal, Mr.Marro, 8 p.m. Thursday, June 29, Strummer’s. Free, 21 +
Johnny Rawls, 8 p.m. Friday, June 30, Fulton 55. $30.
Review: Matchbox Twenty, Slow Dream tour, Save Mart Center Fresno, May 24, 2023
It took three-plus years, but Matchbox Twenty finally made it to Fresno for fans who held on to their tickets through the pandemic (and two date shifts).
Those wholly unfamiliar with the Rob Thomas fronted band probably weren’t at Wednesday night’s concert, which ran two-plus hours and featured opened Matt Nathanson.
Matchbox Twenty was good, even with a fill-in bass player working on four-hours notice. They played 21 songs from across their full catalog, including several from a just-released new album.
Not being a way-back fan and having never seen Matchbox Twenty before, I can’t say how the set came off compared to what they might have done in the hey day, but my assumption would be that the band is tighter and more polished than it’s ever been.
Nathanson was a show stealer, here. He’s a showman with good crowd control (and sense of comedic timing) who also makes interesting music. See: “Bill Murray.”
You can read my full review (and see photos and video) over at The Fresno Bee (every click helps if you want to see me do of this kind of content).
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