Your monthly dump (of Fresno area concerts for May 2024)
Plus, how great was Tower Porchfest?
May is national moving month, which is an interesting tidbit that’s not necessarily related to this post, except to say that the May is the last month you can really enjoy being out and about in Fresno before it begins its descent into full summer and people start hunkering down with the A/C.
Annnnyway …. Let’s take a look at what’s happening music-wise in May with my curated, but also almost comprehensive list of the month’s concerts, broken up by week for sake of ease.
Short week 1 (May 1-4)
Zack Person, Let’s Get Loud tour, 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, Strummer’s. $17, all ages.
Unprocessed, Red Handed Denial and prawgdog, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 2, Strummer’s. $18, all ages.
For a decade now, Nolan Davis has been curating events and compilations under the moniker RAD Music (short of Recording Artist Distribution). He’s celebrating the anniversary with a trio of events at three separate venues. They are separated sonically, depending on your tastes.
The first, Sounds Heavy is for fans of loud, aggressive music. It features Fresno legends Goreshack, who do surf-inspired death metal. Show is 5 p.m. Friday May 3 at Strummer’s with a $15-$20 ticket.
The second is Sounds RAD, which hits on the eclectic nature of the types of shows Davis has been known to book. There are various subgenres of metal (new wave traditional, technical) along with with a bunch of posts (hardcore, punk, pop, etc.), plus some hip-hop and indie-rock. This one happens early to make room for the dozen-plus acts (1 p.m. Saturday May 4 at Tioga Sequoia). Tickets are $20-$30.
The last is RAD Night, an after-party with DJ performances from RAD Music, Teezzy Radio, Project Lo and Night Pulze. It starts at 10:30 at the Fulton. $5-$10 entry.
Read my QnA with Davis or tune in 8 p.m. tonight to hear us on the Homegrown show on New Rock 104.1.
Cash’d Out, a Johnny Cash tribute, 7 p.m. Friday May 3, Tower Theatre. $25-$33.
Agent Orange, Messur Chups and Cherry Auction, 8 p.m. Saturday, May 4, Strummer’s. $21, all ages.
Codiciado, Ando Enfocado US Tour, 8 p.m. Saturday, May 4, Save Mart Center. $39.50-$249.50.
Week 2 (May 5-11)
Ozomatli, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5, Tower Theatre. $29-$45.
Exhumed, with Skeletal Remains, Morbikon, Upon Stone and Cursed, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9, Fulton 55. $25.
Chris Tomlin, Holy Forever Tour, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 9, Save Mart Center. $25-$100.
Red Hot Tribute, 8 p.m. Saturday, May 11, Strummer’s. $10, all ages.
Boots in the Park with Sam Hunt and Jake Owen, Niko Moon, Dylan Marlow and Tyler Braden, noon, Saturday May 11, Woodward Park. $99.
Week 3 (May 12-18)
Rider’s in the Sky, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 12, Tower Theatre. $32-$45.
The Fall of Troy, The Number 12 Looks Like You, Heavy Heavy Low Low, Rhododendron, 6 p.m. Sunday, May 12, Strummer’s. $25, all ages.
Trophy Eyes, Rarity, House and Home, 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, Strummer’s. $20, all ages.
Local Launch, with South Sixth, Kutie, Out Of The Ring, The New Them, Darling and The Damned, 6 p.m. Thursday, May 16, Full Circle Brewing. $10-$13, all ages.
Tequila Fest, with T-Pain and Busta Rhymes, 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 17, Chukchansi Park. $25-$250.
Cedrick Burnside, 7 p.m. Friday, May 17, Tower Theatre. $30-$45.
Otep, with Red Devil Vortex, Exvamon and Fallen Elders, 8 p.m. Friday May 17, Fulton 55. $20-$25.
Jason Joshua, 9 p.m. Saturday, May 18, Fulton 55. $20-$25.
The Docksiders, a yacht rock experience, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, Tower Theatre. $25-$35.
Sleeping with Strangers, Mindless Society, Tyler Kidd / A Dream About Home, Devil Like Me, Sideprojects, 6 p.m. Saturday, May 18, Marlo’s. $10-$12.
Stoneshiver hosts its forth annual Jamboree Saturday May 18 at the Historical Park in Kingsburg. This is a rock-and-roll party-in-the-park kind of deal, with beer and food trucks, along with music from New Old Man, Macondo, John Clifton Blues Band, Stoneshiver and I Hate Kate (the solo project from Zebrahead frontman Justin Mauriello).
Not bad for a $15 ticket price and a drive down (or up) the 99.
Because it’s Stoneshiver, there will no doubt be some special surprises as the show gets closer to happening, so follow their social media.
Week 4 (May 19-25)
Sam Shackleton, Nick Hans, and Jonathan Low-Fi, 6 p.m. Sunday May 19, Tower Theatre Lounge. $20, all ages.
Ekkstacy, 60juno, 7 p.m. Sunday, May 19, Strummer’s. $20, all ages.
Emo Orchestra sounds like a total novelty, but also something that is like, “why hasn’t it been done before?” As the name suggests, it’s an orchestra playing emo music.
The twist here is the orchestra is backing an actual emo band.
In this case, it’s Escape the Fate. The band (+ orchestra) will play its hits, plus songs from New Found Glory, My Chemical Romance, Panic! at The Disco, etc.
The Emo Orchestra plays 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 at the Tower Theatre. Tickets are $35-$55.
He is Legend, with CodeSeven, Seafloor Cinema, Fire To The Throne and Hellheart. 7 p.m. Thursday, May 23, Fulton 55. $25-$30.
Living Legends, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 23, Tower Theatre. $25-$44.
One Drop Redemption, Bob Marley tribute, 8 p.m. Friday, May 24, Tower Theatre. $16-$23.
Gloria Trevi, 8 p.m. Friday, May 24, Save Mart Center. $35-$225+
Cruisin to the Souldies, with Joey Quinones, Adrian Carmine, Mariah Avila, Latasha Lee, Ernando Recendez, Napoleon Demp, Andre Cruz and Chris Lujan, Johnny David, 3 p.m. Saturday, May 25, Wood Park Amphitheater. $35.
SeeThru, Prey 4 Reign, The Beauty in Death, Gwynplaine, 6 p.m. Saturday, May 25, Marlo’s. $10-$12.
Week 5 (May 26-31)
Drums for Julian II, fundraiser, 6 p.m. Sunday May 26, Fulton 55. $20.
LustSickPuppy, Uniity, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 30, Strummer’s. $15, all ages.
Taste of Chaos tribute night 2, 7 p.m. Friday, May 31, Strummer’s. $10, all ages.
The Beatles Vs. Rolling Stones, 7 p.m. Friday, May 31, Tower Theatre. $25-$45.
Tower Porchfest: A quick review
It’s easy (probably unavoidable, really) for someone like me to get a bit starry-eyed and in-my feelings about Tower Porchfest.
Since year one, it’s felt special and unique and totally of the Tower District, brimming with a potential that seemed limited only by physical space. It’s the kind of event that those of us who has been around long enough hope beyond hope doesn’t implode on weight of its own success.
By virtue of the event’s design (and my own participation as an artist) I was kept within a few blocks this year and didn’t get anywhere near an immersive experience (if such a thing exists).
I did get to see Rademacher set up on some random porch, views blocked by bushes and trees, with dozens of musicians milling about chatting amongst each other, or documenting the scene, or just singing along.
It was just one moment, at one porch, early in the day, but indicative of the overall weight of the thing. Let me quote a post from Fresno author Steven Church (I hope he doesn’t mind).
“I’m still kind of buzzing from yesterday’s Tower Porchfest, which has quickly become my favorite local event alongside LitHop Fresno, both proof that Fresno is, indeed, really fucking cool.
“When a city of half a million can feel like a small town where everyone is your neighbor and you’re all listening to live music in someone’s front yard, that’s a good day.”
Which is the review, here really. Tower Porchfest was a good day.
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’m joined by Nolan Davis or RAD Music. 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