Fresno Famous

This was a last-minute add for us, one of those a-band-dropped-out, can-you-play? Of course we said yes.

Our set: Short and sweet and well received from what I could gather. This was a poppy sort of punk show, so we pulled out a few songs we don't much play and they went over well.

Giddy-Ups: Another three piece (it was the theme of the night). Someone said Matt (singer) was having throat troubles. I couldn't tell (that's not a knock to his vocal style). I always like what they guys do.

Final Summation: A three-piece Sacramento band that I hadn't seen before. I'm a fan. the bass player's voice has this AFI high-end Danzig moan that I really like. As a band, they had some of the best stage presence I've seen in awhile, both while playing and with the between song-banter. See this band if you can.

Secretions: They were also a last minute add, taking the place of whatever band was touring with the Queers. Danny (the singer/drummer) jokes that its in the band's contract that any Fresno show has to have us and the Giddy-Ups on the bill. True enough. These guys make an obvious rip-off of the Ramones, but they do it really, really f'in well. The interplay from one song to the next (one-two-three-four!) is legendary.

The Queers: These guys are legends, but a band I mostly missed during my punk-rock education, which is probably why my excitement level wasn't higher. But they are great. It seemed like they actually turned the volume down compared to the Secretions, which is not a bad thing, and could be the first time I've ever seen that happen.

All in all a wonderful night of punk-rock at Audies.