Sizing up this year's Big Fresno Fair concert schedule
By now, we know what to expect from The Big Fresno Fair's annual concert series: A couple older acts that can still draw, some newer acts who are (or were) hot on the radio, some fair-circuit staples, a couple country, Christian and Latin acts, and something aimed at the kids.
Most of this year's schedule is out and said categories hold up, with some interesting acts on the list -- namely Chicago, Smokey Robinson, Gretchen Wilson, The Dream and Bret Michaels.
Here's what's scheduled so far,with what appear to be four open dates still to be filled. Tickets go on sale Aug. 1.
Oct. 1: Chicago
Oct. 2: TBA
Oct. 3: Gretchen Wilson
Oct. 4: Doodlebops (afternoon)
Oct. 4: Sean Kingston and Baby Bash (evening)
Oct. 5: TBA
Oct. 6: Earth, Wind & Fire
Oct. 7: Newsboys
Oct. 8: Tower of Power and Average White Band
Oct. 9: Smokey Robinson
Oct. 10: TBA
Oct. 11: Lloyd, The Dream and Colby O'Donis
Oct. 12: TBA
Oct. 13: Bret Michaels and Great White
THE GOOD: Chicago is a nice starter. I might have to sing along to some of my "Karate Kid" favorites. Bret Michaels should be a good draw for the older rockers, reality TV fans and would-be "Rock of Love" contestants. The Dream and Lloyd add up to a nice R&B night. Both are on the radio a lot these days. Wilson is a nice score for country fans -- certainly a step up from typical fair stuff. And Smokey Robinson just sold out Chukchansi, so there's demand for him.
THE SHRUGS: I literally forgot to put Tower of Power and Average White Band on this list at first, because I'm that used to seeing them on fair lineups that I just scan past their names. Sean Kingston and Baby Bash? Eh, Bash is out here a lot and Kingston will be even less relevant three months from now. And Newsboys? I think they come every year too.
OVERALL: My first inclination is to give the lineup a B-. There's not a huge show-stealer like Jonas Brothers, Daughtry or Chris Brown (like in the past two years), but there's still some really interesting choices. I think it needs another rock show, preferably something a little younger than Bret Michaels. That Friday Oct. 10 looks nice for such a thing, So I'm curious to see what's going on fill those open dates. Then I might have to revisit that grade.
YOUR TAKE? I've said enough. What do you think about this year's concert lineup. Better than a B-? Worse?
Comments:
Smokey and Earth, Wind and Fire are enough to make me risk my life going to the fair.
Assuming I have those days off..
Posted by: Alana at July 10, 2008 1:20 PM
LOL @ Alana. Why are you risking your life going to the fair? Don't tell me it's because gangbangers are going to knife you.
Posted by: mdub420 at July 10, 2008 1:32 PM
It's sort of wild to see the tail end of the 'baby-boomers,' having so much impact, --even in 'Christian' acts.
Newsboys really havn't been heavy hitters in CCM circles since, um, er, well... they were marginally big in the early nineties, and were sort of 'fluff,' at best...
I didn't even know that they were still playing or recording...
(What is weird?
By pulling them in?
They're going after Thirty-Something (and slightly older) church folks (who now have adolescents of their own and are like '...um, HERE we'll go see THESE folks...I remember THEM...'
---but it's still marketing to the same crowd who are now just 'grown up' adolescents.
NOT to their kids...(who are the ones actually buying the music. (otherwise they'd have pulled in 'Reliant K' or something.)
Christian acts and trends (music wise,) is so fast moving and so 'flash in the pan,' that it's become pretty obvious that they're not even trying to focus on new stuff (just 'old' new stuff.)
Sorry state of affairs,(especially with such a large local market.)
I did catch a little of 'Chicago,' a couple of years back,
--and they were still pretty tight, (at least tighter than Doobies, Little Feat, etc.)
-so they may be the surprise 'break out,'
If I was a bettin' man, I'd put my money on AWB or ToP... (maybe mix ToP with Chicago? -that might work, --or throw them behind Smokey? I'd pay to see that...)
Still?
Whole thing sort of looks like a convelescent home room temp chicken pot-pie with NOT a lot of chicken... (no comment 'bout the 'pot,')
Really wish I caught 'Black Crows' a couple of years ago, though... (still no comment 'bout the pot.)
Posted by: wet towel at July 10, 2008 2:20 PM
Don't forget there's still several days that have yet to be filled, so a big draw could be coming.
Posted by: Ernie at July 10, 2008 2:26 PM
I'm half joking. Not a fan of the crowds at the Fresno Fair but working where I work, I'm very aware of how gangs function.
Posted by: Alana at July 10, 2008 2:48 PM
Click on the link to Tower of Power. Their front page has a quote from the Fresno Bee. Now the music critic looks past them. Kind of funny.
Posted by: Ace at July 10, 2008 2:54 PM
Nice catch, Ace.
I did some sleuthing and found what they're quoting -- something from 1995, written by the homie Sam Diaz.
For anybody who cares, here's the story ...
Tower of Power still stands tall at Tower
SAT, 8/12/1995
Though some of the names and faces have changed over the years, a band named Tower of Power took the stage Thursday at the Tower Theatre to treat loyal fans and true music lovers to an evening of entertainment.
And what an entertaining performance it was.
For almost two hours, the band members let loose with an energy-filled show that left a sellout crowd on its feet, dancing in the aisles and applauding with feeling for a band it's loved for more than 25 years.
Led by the vocals of newcomer Brent Carter and founding member and saxophonist Emilio Castillo, Tower of Power filled the theater with sound.
From the moment the 10-member band took the stage, a feeling of excitement took over. From its newest - and 15th - album, Tower of Power left arms swaying to the ballad "Sexy Soul" and feet dancing to an upbeat tribute to the Godfather of Soul, "Still Be Digging on James Brown."
And though the album won't even be released until next week, fans cheered and whistled and applauded as if its songs were the 1970s hits that made Tower of Power famous.
That is, the old Tower of Power.
Since its founding days in 1968, Tower of Power has replaced all but three of its original members. Regardless, the new guys hit every note as if they were original members and added a unique flavor to each of the songs - old and new.
Carter sang an excellent "You're Still a Young Man" and "So Very Hard to Go," combining his voice with the accuracy of the brass and baritone sax that likely sent the 30- and 40-somethings in the audience back to their 1970s high school days.
During "What Is Hip?" Carter's voice - and the song itself, of course - brought the audience to its feet. To increase the energy of an already bustling crowd, he roamed the theater, putting the microphone to the lips of a select few to give them a moment to sing along.
But that is what Thursday's show was all about - singing along, hearing every note of every instrument and reaching deep inside to feel the music - deep inside the Tower of Power soul.
In an era when the term "soul" has been replaced in the music industry by "urban" or "R&B," there are still those who remain true musicians - those who can take their God-given talents onto a stage and give 100 percent of their heart and "soul."
And after 27 years of Tower of Power, the fans can still feel it.
Posted by: Mike Oz at July 10, 2008 3:03 PM
i'm going for the doodlebops. after their set, i'm rushing right over to the pig racing where i'll be betting on winners.
Posted by: ed at July 10, 2008 3:34 PM
...hmmm, seeeeeee.
ToP, (though the lineup has changed, and will, forever,) are also really something in that they can be part of a back up (they've done tons of session work,) AND can headline.
--And some of the stuff that they've done (Little Feat: Waiting For Columbus (arguably,) one of the tightest live albums EVER,) --has them playing everything from dixiland to funk --all the while backing a delta-blues-rock band (with one of the greatest slide players ever (RIP Lowel George.)
What is so cool about them is you can throw them behind anything, and suddenly there is a great alchemy and enhancement that you just don't find much anymore, and they are just dripping with professionalism and authenticity.
You really want to blow the doors off a place?
Throw them in with Patrick Contreras and the keyboard player from PopLord or Nalbandian..
now THAT will dance all over the place like Godzilla on Tokyo,
(it doesn't sound like it would work in a way,
but it's a gumbo that totally would -because of the level of the musicianship of the groups (as well as) that they have always been able to blend styles (without,) going into some lame vague mush that compromises their own styles...
(I'd pay to see that too... such as at Art De Americas (sp?) on a hot night... Just an idea.)
Posted by: wet towel at July 10, 2008 3:36 PM
B+
ACTUALLY THE LINE-UP IS GREAT, AND VARIABLE, SO COUNTRY, POP, HIP,OLD SCHOOL,CHRISTAN, ROCK & FOR THE CHILDREN. SEEMS IT WAS PRETTY WELL THOUGHT OUT! I WILL PROBABLY SEE SMOKEY, AND BABY BASH. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THE ROCK FOLKS, BUT B/C OF $,I CANNOT. I TRULY BELIEVE SMOKEY IS A GREAT TALENT, I HAVE SEEN HIM BEFORE, AND VERY GOOD IN PERSON. B.BASH HAS LOCAL ROOTS, SO I BELIEVE IN SUPPORTING A POSTIVE EFFORT. HE HAS LOTS OF FAMILY IN FRESNO (COULD BE WHY HE IS OUT HERE).I ENJOY BASH'S, AND SMOKEY'S MUSIC,BOTH HAVE A MELLOW AFFECT. OH,AND THIER NOT BAD ON THE EYES.
SPEAKING OF EYES, MIKE O. HAVE U EVER THOUGHT OF CHANGING UR PIC?
Posted by: stella at August 4, 2008 2:40 PM
Because my ugliness scares you?
Posted by: Mike Oz at August 4, 2008 2:46 PM
IT DOESN'T SCARE ME, I MEAN U ARE NOT AS GOOD LOOKING AS BASH OR SMOKEY, BUT U ARE NOT UGLY. THAT PIC IS ONE U HAVE BEEN USING FOR YEARS, HA HA KINDA LOOKS LIKE A MUG SHOT, THO.
I SEEN A RECENT SNAPSHOT OF U ON THE WEB, IT WAS VERY NICE.
Posted by: stella at August 5, 2008 2:39 PM
What about me? Does my ugliness scare you stella?
Posted by: Michael at August 5, 2008 2:48 PM
Post a comment
(read the comment policy before posting)