by Steven Sanchez
My, oh my, this past October was an exciting month for events in the Central Valley. With the fall weather and the upcoming holiday season, everyone was excited to be out and about. There was a big selection of events to choose from, such as concerts, stand-up comedy shows, and sporting events. Most of those events were offered by The Big Fresno Fair. October is the month of Halloween, and the Valley definitely was given a major treat with events that were sweeter than candy.
FRESNO FAIR CONCERTS COVERAGE
The Big Fresno Fair is an annual event that takes place at the Fresno Fairgrounds during October. Kings River Life has had the privilege of being the go-to source when it comes to covering their concert series, and we’ve seen many of the acts that graced the Paul Paul Theater stage. This year was as great as the others. There was something for everyone, ranging from hip hop to country to comedy to punk rock. The eclectic mix made it a standout year. Here’s a recap of the shows we covered.
EN VOGUE & EXPOSÈ
The first show we covered felt like the good ol’ days, when Exposé and En Vogue performed at the fair on Thursday, October 5th. They played all the old-school jams. Both groups performed as a trio; they all looked beautiful, and they all sang their hearts out.
Exposé took the stage first. The Miami group is comprised of vocalists Jeanette Jurado, Ann Curless, and Gioia Bruno. They were big for most of the ’80s and early ’90s and became the first group to have four top-10 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 on their debut album, including their 1988 number-one single, “Seasons Change.” They retired in 1995 but in 2003 started touring again. Judging from the crowd’s reaction, they were grateful for Exposé’s return to performing.
Expose
The three ladies didn’t miss a beat as the crowd danced to “Point of No Return,” “Come Go with Me,” “Let Me Be the One,” and “What Do You Know,” to name a few. The crowd sang along with all of them, and it felt like a classic night out at an ’80s nightclub. Their set brought a lively energy to the night, which might be why Billboard magazine named Exposé the eighth most-successful girl group of all-time.
Then came En Vogue. The Oakland-based group consists of Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, and Rhona Bennett. Fans could tell by their singing and choreography that their intent was to put on an amazing show, which they did. What more can be said about them that isn’t already known? Their very name carries a legendary weight because of the hits they’ve had, the contributions they made to the genre of R&B and soul, and the accomplishments they’ve garnered through their careers.
En Vogue
En Vogue is known for classics such as “Hold On,” “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It),” “Giving Him Something He Can Feel,” and “Free Your Mind.” The crowd went wild when they played them. The group was without original members Dawn Robinson and Maxine Jones, but it didn’t matter. The audience became the fourth member of the group. and they sounded as good as they ever have.
En Vogue
With their bright, shiny, elegant outfits and their command of the stage, En Vogue performed like they were royalty. They’ve sold 20 million records worldwide and have won seven MTV Video Music Awards, three Soul Train Awards, two American Music Awards, and received seven Grammy nominations. Billboard magazine has ranked the band as the 19th most successful recording artists of the 1990s, the second most successful female group of the 1990s, and as the ninth most-successful girl group of all-time. With their expert choreography and soulful vocals, it’s no wonder why the group is still in vogue.
CARLOS MENCIA
Comedian Carlos Mencia tore through the Paul Paul Theater stage on Friday, October 6th. His in-your-face, brash, take-no-prisoners, no-holds-barred, telling-it-like-it-is delivery is what made him popular. His politically incorrect humor delves into issues like cancel culture, the educational system, and hilarious differences between Central Valley towns like Hanford, Tulare, and Visalia. He had the crowd rolling with his brand of stand-up comedy.
Carlos Mencia
The LA Latino comic, who is most popular from his sketch comedy series, “Mind of Mencia,” which ran from 2005-2008 on Comedy Central, didn’t mess around. He used everything at his disposal to get a laugh: hand gestures, mocking noises, goofy faces, and irreverent gags. Nothing was off limits. Mencia has ties to the Valley, which is why he makes jokes about it. Instead of taking offense, everyone responded with gut-busting laughs. Everyone who attended the show enjoyed it.
MIDLAND
It was a honky-tonk good time when Midland came to the fair on Wednesday, October 11th. All the cowboys and girls were out that night with the hats and boots and everything for some good ol’ American fun. The Texas band consists of the trio Mark Wystrach (lead vocals, guitar), Jess Carson (guitar, vocals), and Cameron Duddy (bass guitar, vocals). Those three stood front and center, under the spotlight, shoulder-to-shoulder, with their guitars and bass in hand, and proceeded to entertain the crowd at the highest level.
Midland
Being an agricultural area, the Valley loves its country and has built itself quite an audience for the genre of music. The audience dressed like they were in the film Urban Cowboy, which was fitting. Midland has seven charted singles on the Billboard country chart, including “Drinkin’ Problem,” “Burn Out,” “Make a Little,” “Mr. Lonely,” “Cheatin’ Songs,” “Sunrise Tells the Story,” and “Longneck Way to Go.” With each song they played, the night got rowdier.
Though Midland is a contemporary band, their sound is reminiscent of traditional country, very much a throwback sound. It didn’t matter if fans were into today’s country or classic style, there was something there for everyone. Fans came to drink beer and party the night away, and that’s exactly what they did.
THE BEACH BOYS
Everybody went “Surfin’ U.S.A.” when The Beach Boys performed at the fair on Thursday, October 12th. There were plenty of “Good Vibrations” going around. Hearing their classic songs was like attending a big beach party. Originating in Los Angeles, the Beach Boys were fronted by early members of the band Mike Love and Bruce Johnston. Even though the original members Al Jardine and founding member and music legend Brian Wilson were absent, the group performed like they were having “Fun, Fun, Fun.”
The Beach Boys
The band sounded great, and the older crowd, decked out in Hawaiian shirts or California vibe beach attire, would agree. They delivered a tidal wave of ’60s pop rock classics and career defining hits like “Good Vibrations,” “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “Don’t Worry Baby,” “California Girls,” and my personal favorite, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” They played with such soul and harmony that it felt like their songs were emanating from a jukebox.
With songs that transcend generations, the band’s impact on the music industry can’t be denied. Everything they’ve done is considered historic. The Beach Boys are one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful bands of all time, selling over 100 million records worldwide. They incorporate just about every genre into their music, influencing musical artists across the spectrum of music.
From the 1960s to the present, the group had 37 songs reach the US Top 40 (the most by an American band), including four that topped the Billboard Hot 100. They’re ranked number 12 on Rolling Stone’s list of the greatest artists of all time. Their albums are considered to be masterpieces, and the founding members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.Their show was nostalgic and captivating, and with their ever-growing accomplishments and their determination to keep touring, this is a wave that’ll never stop.
THE OFFSRPING
The Offspring bulldozed their way to the fairgrounds on Friday, October 13th, and showed the crowd what punk rock is all about. They were pretty fly, and the fans were alright, getting the chance to see them play live. The full capacity crowd were banging their heads and enjoying the fast-paced anthems that defined ’90s punk rock. Everybody that attended came out to play. If you’re as much a fan of their music as I am, you’ll understand the puns I’ve been using.
The Offspring
The Southern California rockers have been at it for 39 years. They had their heyday in the ’90s and 2000s, but they continue to rock on. They’re regarded in the same company as Green Day and Blink-182, contributors to the revitalization of mainstream punk rock in the 1990s. The ones that have kept the name going are lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Bryan “Dexter” Holland and lead guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman. They’ve had several lineup changes throughout the years, but those two remained. It doesn’t matter who else joins the band, because their sound is so distinct that The Offspring will always sound great.
They played songs from past and present, but their classic tunes are the ones that got everybody excited, ranging from, “The Kids Aren’t Alright,” “Self-Esteem,” “Come Out and Play,” “Why Don’t You Get A Job?” and my personal favorite, “Pretty Fly (For A White Guy).” It was entertaining to see the whole crowd singing to every lyric of all their anthems in unison. Everybody was jumping up and down and bouncing their heads to the beat of the music. If there’d been room for a mosh pit, believe me, the fans would’ve done that. Those were definitely memorable highlights of the night.
The Offspring
What I was most impressed by was the exuberant youth displayed in their performance. If you look at their past music videos and then see them now, you really can’t tell the difference. Dexter and Noodles were rockin’ out like it was the ’90s all over again. Their performance was proof that they’re still pretty fly.
2 CHAINZ
2 Chainz came to the fair on Saturday, October 14th, and true to his defining tune, “I’m Different,” he showed the Central Valley crowd why he was different by putting on an entertaining show. Just him and a microphone, no instruments needed, just some beats, and that’s all he needed to get the audience going. He had a 2017 jam, “It’s a Vibe,” and I would describe his performance as just that…it sure was a vibe.
The Georgia based rapper (real name Tauheed K. Epps) took command of the crowd with his rapping and had everybody standing up and moving to the music. If he threw his arms up in the air so did the audience, when he instructed the crowd to have a good time or dance or lose their minds, they willingly followed his demands. He was everywhere on that stage, and the crowd enjoyed it. He oozed coolness by flashing his bling. He was decked out in sunglasses, even though it was nighttime. You didn’t need to see his eyes, his demeanor and energy delivered.
2 Chainz
Hits like “No Lie” and “Birthday Song” show why he has received six Grammy Award nominations, winning one in 2017 for Best Rap Performance for his guest feature on “No Problem” by Chance the Rapper, along with three BET Awards from eleven nominations, as well as five BET Hip Hop awards from nineteen nominations. He’s collaborated with the likes of Kanye West, Drake, Lil’ Wayne, and Pharrell, just to name a few, highlighting how much respect he has in the rap game. A favorite amongst his fans is his collaboration with Wiz Khalifa on the song, “We Own It (Fast & Furious) for the Fast & Furious 6 soundtrack. With every song he played, the cheers of the crowd continued to grow. I’d say the crowd’s consensus would be that for that night, 2 Chainz owned it.
MICK FOLEY AT CHUNKO POP
Wrestling legend Mick Foley made an appearance at Chunko Pop on Saturday, October 7th, meeting with fans and signing autographs. What Mick did in the ring and his personality has made him beloved amongst wrestling fanatics. He made a career playing three characters: Mankind, Cactus Jack, and Dude Love, known as “The Three Faces of Foley.” My favorite persona would be Mankind, and I believe most of his fans would agree. But it didn’t matter, his devotees love him no matter what character he portrays.
Mick Foley
What he did in the ropes is unmatched. Just watch the match that defined his career, the “Hell in the Cell” matchup between him (as Mankind) and another wrestling great, The Undertaker, during the King of the Ring event on Pay-Per-View in 1998. This man put his body on the line for his craft, and this match proved it. First the Undertaker threw Mankind from the top of the cage. He fell through the commentators’ table but somehow managed to climb to the top of the cage again, where he was choked, slammed through the cage roof, and landed on the mat hard. Then he was choked again and slammed on a pool of thumbtacks. Then the Undertaker delivered a tombstone piledriver to pin him for the victory. It was considered one of the greatest matches in wrestling history, but it’s just a taste of what Mick gave to the business.
Mick is called “The Hardcore Legend” for good reason. He was a major contributor to what is famously known as the Attitude Era of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the late ’90s and early 2000s. It was a time where they pushed the boundaries of good taste with violent matches and adult content. My generation of millennial kids loved it. Crashing through tables and putting his body at the disposal of his opponent became a signature thing of his to entertain the fans. His highlight reels show what he put himself through for the sport. His love and passion for wrestling is why his fans adore him.
Mick Foley
Mick Foley signed anything fans who attended his appearance brought, ranging from action figures to posters to belt replicas. People of all ages were thrilled at the chance to meet a wrestling icon, and the store commemorated their memories by taking pictures of them with him. I was lucky enough to snag a photo, because Mick’s matches left an indelible mark on my childhood. I thank him for giving us the Attitude Era, a time of wrestling history that’ll never be replicated.
Much appreciation to the Chunko Pop store for putting on the event. Located in downtown Fresno, they sell an assortment of Funko Pop toys. Hopefully, they will put on more appearances like this one. Mick is popular for saying the catchphrase, “Have A Nice Day,” and for those that got to see him in person, I’d say they did.
CHEAP TRICK
The classic rock band Cheap Trick performed at Warnors Theatre on Wednesday, October 18th. Everybody was “alright” when they took the stage and rocked the joint. The band has the majority of the original lineup with guitarist Rick Nielsen; bassist Tom Petersson; and lead vocalist Robin Zander. They were without drummer Bun E. Carlos, whose role was filled by Daxx Nielsen, and they were joined by Robin’s son, Robin Taylor Zander, as a touring member and additional guitarist. The kid is making quite a name for himself in the industry. With or without a member here or there, it didn’t matter, it sounded like Cheap Trick.
Cheap Trick
The Illinois band and Rock Roll Hall of Famers graced the stage with their familiar, humorous attire. The group has always prided itself on its goofy “don’t take things so seriously” image, but they still can rock out. Robin wore a white suit jacket with a top hat; Tom looked cool with a black hat, jean jacket, and sunglasses; Rick’s look is one of the most distinct in rock history which he established back in the ’70s with his baseball style cap, suit jacket with artwork and pins, and his famous glasses, accompanied by his multi-neck guitar with a cartoon face on the body. The crowd erupted when he brought it on stage.
Cheap Trick
They played their career-defining hits, which have become staples on classic rock radio: “I Want You to Want Me,” “Dream Police,” and a favorite of mine and a signature of theirs, “Surrender.” It’s been featured in movies and TV shows, and most recently in Marvel’s, Guardians of The Galaxy: Volume 2. People of different generations know that song. What stood out for me was their vibrant performance. Though they’ve aged in years, they were still excited to play. There was no difference from the recorded albums and their performance; it was high quality throughout the night. They wanted the crowd to want them, and they sure did.
Cheap Trick
TACO TRUCK THROWDOWN
On Saturday, October 21st, the 12 Annual Taco Truck Throwdown took place at Chukchansi Park. It’s the home of the Fresno Grizzlies, but this time people didn’t show up for baseball; they came for tacos. As with years past, Taco Truck Throwdown filled the entire ballpark with live music, vendors, and taco trucks. Included in this year’s entertainment was Lucha Xtreme wrestling, the 3rd annual Michelada Throwdown, a brand-new Salsa Throwdown, and much more.
Taco Truck Throwdown
The festivities started at 5 p.m. and were attended by over 10,500 fans. One of the largest Throwdowns in recent memory, it’s been calculated that attendees consumed over 60 gallons of salsa, 3,000 micheladas, and 40,000 tacos throughout the evening. All the action took place on the field, where there was also a music stage. The lines to the taco trucks were long, and it required patience to get a taco. The party lasted till midnight.
Taco Truck Throwdown
There was so much variety that it was hard to choose, but that made it exciting. I was entertained by the people wearing taco hats and costumes, getting into the spirit of the event. It was like a pre-Halloween party, but instead of celebrating trick-or-treating, it was about tacos. I was able to have Guadalajara’s tacos, and they were delicious. The music and the wrestling were fun, and the people were really into it. Seeing everybody have a good time with the community out and about was mesmerizing.
Here’s a list of the competition:
Salsa Throwdown: Lola’s Salsa, Miguel’s Salsa, Simon’s Salsa, Javier’s Mexican Restaurant,
Papi’s Mex Grill, Guadalajara Restaurant
Michelada Throwdown: Miche Firme, ProMix 559, Michelada Mix El Ceas, Aguas Las Rancheritas, Dab’s, Howie’s Micheladas, Spicy Yummy Cummys, Michelada Loca
Taco Truck Throwdown: Anthony’s Tacos, Ruta Cayefera, Beto’s Tacos, Taco Pinto, Coculas Taqueria, Tacontento, Garrafa, Tacos AmaTacos Don Chicho, El Taco Macho, Tacos El Palmar,
Guadalajara, Tacos Jacinto, Los Toritos, Tacos La Vaporera, Mariscos EI Salvavidas, Tacos Las Salsas, Mariscos Las Brisas, Tacos Osuna Estilo Mazatlan, MZ Taqueria, Tacos Sinala, Ortega’s,
Tacos Tepa, Yasss Fish Tacos
Here are the results, courtesy of Fresno Grizzlies:
On the taco side of the event, Tacos La Vaporera brought home the People’s Choice Award for the third year in a row, while the Judge’s Choice Award went to Tacos Jacinto, which won for the first time at the event. Both winners were presented trophies for their accomplishments and now have their names etched in history as champions of the 12th annual Throwdown. For the third Michelada Throwdown, Miche Firme swept the competition, winning both the Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice awards for the third year in a row. Eight competitors squared off in the first-ever Salsa Throwdown with Javier’s Mexican Restaurant coming on top of the People’s Choice Award voting and Miguel’s Salsa taking home the Judge’s Choice Award.
The music brought the house down, with multiple acts ranging from iconic West Coast duo Tha Dogg Pound (“Doggy Dogg World,” “Let’s Play House”), and trending rapper That Mexican OT (“Johnny Dang,” “LA Cobra”). There was a Prince tribute band, The Purple Ones, and the party was bumpin’ with the popular DJs from Teezzy Radio. Leading the stage was hip-hop giants Cypress Hill (“Insane In The Brain,” “Illusions”). They for sure set the night ablaze, it looked like it and smelt like it. You didn’t need to be under the influence to enjoy their late-night set.
Another great community event from the Fresno Grizzlies organization and Chukchansi Park. This Throwdown will be one for the ages. A shoutout to Jonathan Bravo for facilitating our coverage of the event. Looking forward to the next one.
FRESNO STATE FOOTBALL
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team played in a Mountain West Conference home game showdown with the UNLV Rebels on Saturday, October 28th. It came down to the wire, but the Bulldogs pulled through. It was an exciting game, since the teams were evenly matched. The Bulldogs are having a good season, currently with an 8-1 record, while Las Vegas is having their most impressive season with a 7-2 record, making this their first winning record and being bowl eligible since 2013.
Fresno State Football
Mikey Keene, the quarterback who suffered an ankle injury the week before, went 27/41 throwing for 256 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The Runnin’ Rebels had a chance. They led at halftime, but errors in the second half gave the Bulldogs enough momentum to take the lead. The Rebels almost came back, but senior captain Levelle Bailey came away with a game sealing interception with just three seconds left in the game to seal the victory with the score 31-24.
Fresno State football
The community turned out for this game, with a capacity crowd of 41,031 people in attendance. It was their homecoming, which made it more special. The significance of the game was enhanced when they inducted former head coach Pat Hill into the Ring of Honor during halftime. Coach Hill was surrounded by family, friends, a huge group of former players, and people that he impacted through his career as a Bulldog. It was very moving to see his emotions when his accomplishments and what he meant to the Valley was expressed. He told the admiring crowd, “I wasn’t born a Bulldog, but I became one. I wasn’t Bulldog bred, but I had the pedigree. And I’ll be a Bulldog till the day I’m dead!” His sentiment was met with thunderous applause.
Fresno State football
The win was important, since it was a conference game. All that’s left on Fresno State’s schedule is San Jose State, New Mexico, and San Diego State. If they win out, they’re looking at possibly being repeat conference champions and going to a good bowl game. Head Coach Jeff Tedford has them focused and playing good football on both sides of the ball, so at this point in the season, they control their own destiny. Go Dogs!
All photos by Steven Sanchez.
0 Comments