Fresno Famous

Brad Baker has always been fond of Fresno's punk/underground scene -- remembers Plaid Retina opening a show for Victims Family back in the day, which is to say the early '90s. 

"And they were awesome," says Baker, whose band Toward Distant Suns play at Audie's Olympic June 15, with locals It'll Grow Back and Sawtooth. "So, cheers to you Fresno."

An excited Baker took time via e-mail to talk about the show, space colonization and why Rush is a better band than Hawkwind.

Give us the lowdown on the band (who plays with ya, where are you from, how long have you been playing etc.)?

Me, myself and I ... Brad Baker (bass, analogue keys, vocals, amps) along with Edgar Martinez (drums, drums and more drums, cymbals).  I am from Arizona, Washinton, California ... Edgar is from El Salvador and California.  I live in Long Beach and Edgar lives in Silverlake (amongst all the hipsters).  T.D.S. was orignally formed as a side project from our other bands - Gort and The Most Powerful Hand. I played drums in Gort, and Edgar played drums in the Hand.  His band played a show w/ us one evening in Hollywood ... and they kicked ass! I had been working on some bass riffs at my "beach-side overpriced studio apartment" and I approached Edgar about possibly playing some drums in a side project I was thinking about putting together called Toward Distant Suns.  He said "hell ya," and the future was born.  We had a guitar player for awhile who was also from Gort and things just didn't work out so we parted ways and continued on as a duo. We will be hitting our two-year anniversary this August. As a two piece it has been six months in the making.

Toward Distant Suns. That's some space-science-type stuff, right? T.A. Heppenheimer? Are you guys like, into books or something? Pt. II: What do you think about the US discontinuing its space missions? Are we ever gonna colonize outer space?

 Yes, T.A. Heppenheimer = Genius.  Space Colonization is mind blowing! As far as the U.S. discontinuing space missions, that is a complex subject. The end result is "$."  Space colonization may happen someday (hopefully) but certainly not in our life time.

Better "space-rock" band: Hawkwind or Rush? (If you don't have an opinion, you don't have to answer, though the correct response is Hawkwind).

Ohhh man ... You opened a can of worms with this one. I beg to differ. "The Holy Trinity" is by far the better "space rock" band. Let me tell you why. Geddy [Lee] has more talent than any musician alive. Period.  When you mix in a little [Alex] Lifeson and a little [Neil] Peart ... need I say more? My personal favs: "Hemesheres," "Permanent Waves," "Grace Under Pressure," "Signals." Hell even "Power Windows" and "Presto."  Incorporating the Moog synth to me added such an important, and yet sometimes overlooked element to Rush.

Hawkwind on the other hand, a great band. i have a few of their recods including a really great live record.  I like the 70's stuff, even when Lemmy was in the band. But musically and songwriting wise, they don't even hold a candle to Rush. Of course thats just my opinion.

I stand corrected. OK, progressive jazzcore. Is that just some shit you made up? Seriously though, where are you guys coming from musically? Obviously you dig the SST catalog (Minutemen, Black Flag, etc. There's hints of Fugazi too). 

Progressive Jazzcore, I wish I made up, but no. Bands that define the progessive punk, jazzcore or a combo of both would be: NOMEANSNO, Victims Family, Pigment Vehicle, Minutemen, Gang of Four, etc., of which all play a huge role in the make up of T.D.S. Also, the SST, ALTERNATIVE TENTACLES, AMREP catalogs for sure.  I grew up w/ thrash from the 80's: early Megadath (Mustaine is a shredder), Sacred Reich, D.R.I., Sepultura, Slayer.  Mix in a little Coltrain, Miles, John McLaughlin, Jaco Pastorious, Herbie Hancock. Edgar and I are also very fond of jazz drummers/percussionist: Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Cal Tjader. Also, the 70's - 80's trip: Tangerine Dream, The Cure, Joy Division, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, Samhain, JFA, Devo, Van Halen. The list goes on and on.  Love the FUGAZI comment. Great fuckin' band. Very original. (EDITOR'S NOTE: If you're interested, find your own links. Sorry.)

What can people expect from a TDS show? Sell people on why they should come out (cheap beer aside).

Not very good at selling our music. Not really my stlye. But if you come out to our shows you can see the custom speaker enclosures that I make and I'll sell you on one and help the arts. Here is the site: http://primitiveampwerks.carbonmade.com/

I guess I could say that you will leave with your head itching after you see us live, and not in an itchy scalp sort of way. We will crawl inside and hang out for awhile, especially after your ears stop ringing. We love to meet new folks and help keep the scene alive and kicking with original music for fresh ears.