Oh, and two notes I forgot regarding the lineup:

1. Heavy Weather dropped out of the festival (see: the flier) and Ron Thompson is taking HW's place.

2. A battle of the bands that ends Tuesday night at Crossroads will decide the 10th band on the bill. I know The Supressors are in the battle, as is another anonymous band who just texted me with a number I don't recognize.

Flight 409, definitely...and btw they are also part of the Crossroads battle tomorrow night, so let's hope they win so they can represent. Flight 409 is one of the best bands from Fresno, ever. They are my featured artist in the July issue of Fresno Magazine too, so pick one up!

If I recall correctly, Mike and Greer from Rademacher are subbing for some members of El Olio Wolof while they're on tour across the states which effectively puts Rademacher out of action until they return.

Adam:
That's true -- and while I understand they can't actually play the show, guys who are on the DL still get voted onto the all-star team, they just don't play. Get me?

Danielle:
I'm being told that Flight 409 isn't playing tomorrow night in the finals. The final three are, according to Alice 96.7, JJ Brown, Suppressors and Flywright.

Go to Crossroads and show your support for The Suppressors!
These guys are pretty darn awesome!

Hmmmm...they just bulletined a bunch of shows and they have tomorrow night listed. I'm checking with Kyle right now :)

Underground but still pretty awesome....

http://www.myspace.com/mundobasura

where's Chuck Dimes?

Does the DL Frequency still gig? They'd be my choice.

The top 5 you listed are certainly in anyone's top-5 here in Fresno. After that, it's kinda 'eh.'

It's tough to include Ron Thompson, no matter how talented he is, because it's SO easy to see him play just about once (or more) a week. I think part of a band's interest is in the desire to wish to see them. It's what keeps Sippy and Ol' Guzzler viable as they play the near-same show over and over (for over 11 years now).

OH! And Straight-Up Sinners should be on anyone's list, methinks.

Easy, "The same shape".

Mike is right, it's not a bad lineup. But what really sticks out is the lack of a local indie-rock band. Fresno has a deep pool when it comes to that.

Since it's been established Rademacher wouldn't have been able to, my picks would be any of these:

Tokyo Death March
It's an Icicle
Circles and Circles
The Sleepover Disaster
Elmo Marconi

Outside of Indie:
The Kid's International
Murdoc
HateFX
The Overdubs
Victory Jump
Something From Planet Hell

Also, where the hell is the hip-hop act?

[Great angle for posting about this show Mike, I may have to steal it.]

Fresnan: Yeah, indie rock and hip-hop definitely seem lacking. But you have to consider that this was put together by the owner of Crossroads, where there's not a whole lot of indie rock.

I know Kids International were in the battle of the bands series, but didn't win. I like them, though.

And I think 40 Watt Hype is there to represent both hip-hop and Latin, though I would have liked to see Fashawn (or Chuck Dimes, or someone) on the bill.

Israel: A year ago, I would have agreed with you, but Same Shape doesn't seem to play a lot anymore.

haha...man..this is so fire if people catch on to this post..i'll put up a bulletin and start some controversy..

I "personally" think(which doesn't mean much)

eva scow
fashawn
rademacher
Flight 409

These acts all have a strong draw that would bring diversity to the festival.

but I think people have to remember..Crossroads is essentially putting this together..and I think some of the bands on there are deserving because have the ability to draw in large numbers(especially at Crossroads)...This festival is a good thing for our music scene, even if all "the best" aren't playing, some of them are..

playing the "who's the best" game is gonna change depending on the individual....who has packed a theater or nightclub? is not really up for opinion, ..in my opinion

ps. I've been hearing alot about the suppressors lately..I need to check'em out...

The best of Fresno concept is a nice concept if you actually include the best of Fresno now. Six Ounce Gloves, 40-Watt Hype, Patrick Contreras, and Trey Tosh are excellent choices. Let's Go Bowling is glaringly missing off of this list. The Patton brothers and BlackBird should probably be there as well. They are making some major strides with their album. Another musician, that is lesser known but could be a darkhorse to win this title, is Nino Morschelli.(very talented) Also, The Dead Garden's music should be heard. Great songs, great stage presence, and a good band to see live

Fresnans love their metal, punk, ska, and hip-hop. I'll probably get some grief for saying this but, the Fresno Indie-Rock scene belongs in the coffee houses. Ask any club owner with a venue and most of them will tell you indie-rock nights are empty houses.

Where is the punk rock bands such as A.D.T., Benny and The Vett's, and Final Threat. Even though punk rock is Fresno dirty little secret, they do bring the crowds in.

After talking with one of the members of Rademacher, I was surprised to get out of our conversation that this band gets more coverage from the local press than it gets people out to see them for their shows. One band that is overlooked here that is back in Fresno is The Supreme Love Gods(remember when MTV played videos?)

I have been out in the Fresno music scene researching the scene. I did sell out Audie's Olympic Tavern last friday, and I filled The Starline to about 90% capacity for The Ditch Bank Okie's last weekend by putting bands together that drew people out to watch them perform.

Fresno does have some great musician's here but it is a matter of opinion. I think this will be a great venue. I just hope that the people who go and support this bill will stay and watch all the acts, not just go and see their favorite band and then go home.

good line-up.
I agree with earlier post'r
Same Shape is missing.
This is a wrong thing.

Though I've seen them perform only a handful of times, EACH was electrifying, you just don't see bands play that tight and show such guitarwork and singing.
HOW they've escaped national notoriety is beyond me.
Once they get going, it's like a locomotive.
Even once when they were playing at Crossroads and had sucky sound and mixing?
-they STILL were amazing.

How they got left out?
Dunno.

Wrong thing.

Great posts...all of them have some really good suggestions. Let me give you a little background on how we came up with the idea and line ups:

The festival was born from a visit to Xfest last year, and, Mike Oz's Best of Fresno articles. I've always been a big fan of Fresno's music scene and have promoted it as well as this old man knew how to do.

I just couldn't figure out, why a downtown area in Modesto, could pull in 20,000 people, and, Fresno..even without a viable downtown...couldn't.

We looked long and hard at bringing some of the more popular 80's hair bands back, but, they were very expensive and for the most part, were already booked. So, we made the decision to do the all Fresno show.

All band invitations went out via myspace. Every band that Mike Oz and I, along with some others, knew..got an invitation. For the record, Mofo was invited. John and I tried every way we could to make it happen, but, they're playing in Hollister this weekend and we just couldn't make it work.

Rademacher, at Mike's suggestion, was invited....never answered. (Good note to all bands to keep an eye on myspace more than once or twice a quarter)

Indie bands were invited. Either they didn't reply, or, their history of not pulling decent numbers, made it tough to bounce a band like Patrick Contreras or Super Lucky Catz. Love the music...and..this won't be our last rodeo. Our hope is to be able to do this again next year...with new bands...and..even expand it to include others from the Central Valley.

If this works, we're already in conversations with Redbull and Jagermeister which will allow us to compete with the XFest's of the world a bit better, bring in bigger headliners and new local groups to give them an opportunity as well. We'll also plan it a bit earlier in the year when it's not so bloody hot!!

One last note on the comment about indie groups and the Crossroads.....my email address is pobob1@aol.com. I've got open nights available. Love to have you come in. It'll be a weeknight at first. However, all you have to do is show that you can bring in 30+ people and I'll get you onto a weekend show. Prove you can bring in a constant crowd and I'll book you every month..just like we do Six Ounce, Mofo, Patrick, Super Lucky Catz...etc.

I don't like every band we have here. I don't have too...you do!! I'm not a big fan of screamo..but...we do book it. I wasn't a big fan of Country til we started doing line dancing on Wednesdays....I am a fan now!!

This has the makings of a really good thing for the Fresno music scene. It's also hosted at a beautiful location that everybody in Fresno ought to see...at least once. If you're a wine drinker, Brett's is as good as some of the more popular central coast and other California wineries.

Hope this helps!!! I'll look forward to seeing you all out there!!

Bob

Tonight's Alice 96.7FM Battle of the Bands consists of JJ Brown, Flywright, and us... The Suppressors.

Win or lose, we'll be drinking beer.

I'll be drinking beer and passing around a petition to not get kicked out again!
Everyone better sign it.
I love Crossroads and I love The Suppressors.

Mike: I do agree that they havn't been playing as much lately, but I just saw them perform this past week-end here in Fresno and they still rock just as much, not to mention that some acts tend to be more suitable for certain fresno venues and it seems like the ones picked fit right in.

Thanks to The Fresnan for suggesting my band (Murdoc).

ALTHOUGH THEY MAINLY PLAY PRIVATE GIGS, THE LIVE BAIT BAND IS ONE OF THE MOST VERSITLE, TIGHT AND VOCALLY SOUND BANDS IN THE AREA, CLASSIC ROCK, BLUES, JAZZ, COUNTRY AND 60'S MUSIC IS A MAINSTAY OF THIS DYNAMIC LOCAL BAND. CHECK EM OUT AT www.myspace.com/livebaitband

I'm glad that Bob state he wrote Rademacher, and no response. I've written them at the very least two times, but I know its been more than that. No response..ever. I thought trying to do a show with them ..or work with them was a good idea..1. because i am a fan of their music, and 2. because yes they have a set indie crowd, but I thought by doing a show with them..it would get them expose them to a new audience(which is always a good thing for good bands). But maybe, they don't need it or don't want it.

Um, A Current Affair! They're totally AMAZING! Their live show is a rockfest!

Where are the women? Eva Scow...Karen Marguth.... women like that who can perform in a variety of genres at a world-class level?