So long as we’re all still here, right?
1. SAY HAPPY 15TH TO KUPPAJOE
All-ages music club Kuppajoe celebrates its 15-year anniversary tonight with a hard rockin’ show featuring Phinehas and many others. Check out my feature on Kuppajoe’s anniversary. [More]
In addition to watching the daredevil dude jump all those semi-trucks at the Spokes ‘N’ Rods festival, seeing the new offering from Woodward Shakespearse Festival or getting risque with Fresno Filmworks .
1. GO TO A PARTY FIT FOR ROYALTY
The Soulflower Group hosts its popular annual Prince tribute at Audie’s Olympic on Saturday. It features a handful of DJs dipping into their stashes to play Prince gems. A movie will shown and, if I know The Soulflower Group, there’s some more cool stuff planned too. [More]
Other than buying me a Lexus
1. GO SEE SOME CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
OK, so maybe some thugs ruined Christmas Tree Lane for ya this year, but there’s still the great display at Cindy Lane (below, my personal fave), the synced light displays (I’m mapping it out for you later today), Zoo Lights, Holiday Fun in the Tower or just whatever’s in your neighborhood.
Tonight, fallen rapper Notorious B.I.G., who died 13 years ago Tuesday, will be remembered in a tribute show at Audie’s Olympic. DJs Hecktik and Lace will be spinning, and a live band featuring Eva Scow and Armen Nalbandian will bring new flavor to some of B.I.G.’s gems.
The music of Gang Starr, whose emcee Guru is recovering from a recent heart attack and coma, will be saluted as well.
Word is there will be a special guest emcee in the house, somebody who’s doing BIG things around here lately. Hmmm.
ALSO
The Hub — the name for the weekly hip-hop night at Audie’s — has unveiled its schedule for the next few weeks.
It includes a March 24 show with U-N-I and El Prez, and a March 31 date with Dilated Peoples, which oughta be huge.
YET ANOTHER UPDATE: Austin’s is now going three-day-a-week with the live music at lunch. Starting today, the incomparable Ron Thompson will play during lunch on Thursdays. If you’ve never seen him, he’s great. He also plays every Thursday night at Babylon.
UPDATE, 2/2: Starting today, Austin’s live music lunch buffet is expanding to Tuesdays, when you catch Rudy Parris performing 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you like blues guitar, then be sure to check him out. Again, it costs $10 and that access to the lunch buffet and the music upstairs.
Also worth a note for blues fans, Austin’s has L.A. band The 44′s playing on Friday night. The group was in Fresno a few weeks ago playing MoFo Party Band’s 21st anniversary party at Audie’s Olympic.
Other than walking Christmas Tree Lane …
1. HAVE A TASTE OF BRAZIL
Local music wunderkind Eva Scow has brought her most recent band to Fresno (seriously, she’s in more bands than probably even she can keep count of). This one is the Brazilian Jazz Collective and it’s playing Saturday night at Hero’s. You can also try the under-new-ownership Hero’s and report back to us.
