Rademacher
Stunts
Independent (2007)

by Nicholas Nocketback

What Happens When Music Gets Too Dangerous? …Cue the Stunt Band

Love Pollution
Lady Love Luck
Independent (2007)

In A World of Emo Pop, These Guys Chose To Rock

By Nick Nocketback

Rock in Fresno has been a fickle affair from the jump, with only a very few bands really making an effort to keep that traditional rock and roll resonance alive—The Same Shape come to mind. But with the release of their new EP entitled Lady Love Luck, Love Pollution is fast on the way to settling a score with the more nontraditional. The EP offers 6 tracks, all providing that classical gritty rock sound—like an amalgam of the Stones, Stray Cats and Jet.

Minus The Bear
Menos El Oso
Suicide Squeeze (2005)

By: Nicholas Nocketback

Approach With Caution, You Will Play This Album Out

Argyle Pimps
Invisible Jet Skis
Independent (2006)

By: Nick Nocketback

Fresno’s Own Geriatric Jurassic Duo Wax Metacognitive Self-Deprecatory Poetics with Flava!

Minus The Bear
Menos El Oso
Suicide Squeeze (2005)

By: Nicholas Nocketback

Approach With Caution, You Will Play This Album Out

Mason Jennings
Bone Clouds
Epic (2006)

By: Nicholas Nocketback

John Lennon + Jack Johnson = Mason Jennings

The Fresno Philharmonic began its 2007-2008 season on Friday, June 15, 2007 with “Intoxicating Energy,” the first segment of the “Basically Beethoven Festival” being held from June 15-17. The festivities began outside the Saroyan, where folks sporting their Philharmonic-going attire sat at tables eating German Potato salad and listening to polka music at a “German Beer Garden.” It was a slightly surreal start that Beethoven would enjoy. In fact, Beethoven certainly seemed to enjoy himself as he mingled amongst the potato salad with beer in hand.

The Tryst
Thirsty World
A Purple Kite (2006)

by Jessi Hafer

The Tryst is an indie band out of Tuscon, Arizona that will be performing in Fresno at Full Circle Brewing Co. on Friday, June 8 at 8pm, $5 per person. Their second cd, Thirsty World, was released in December 2006, and it is a lot of fun to listen to!

Yo La Tengo
I am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
Matador Records (2006)

Burn It

by Nicholas Nocketback

This trio out of Hoboken, New Jersey brings the funk on so many levels you’ll need an abacus to dissect it. Tengo’s been together since the 80s and is no stranger to the indie rock outfit. Their latest effort finds much of the same, but that’s not always a good thing. Each tune is an eclectic mélange of synthesized keys, bongos, guitars—in their myriad forms—and morose monotones.

It is difficult to assign the band Defiance, Ohio (based in Bloomington, IN) to one particular genre. They have definite punk attributes, including politically-oriented lyrics, vocal grittiness, and the straightforward and often up-tempo beat from the drums and guitars. However, in including a violin, cello, acoustic guitar, occasional banjo, whistling, harmonica, and alternating vocals between male and female singers, they also have folk-like qualities. They are also much less aggressive-sounding than what one typically associates with punk music. The result is quite fun to listen to!