Fresno Fest '09

Just for the sake of having something to do, I thought I'd post some videos from Fresno Fest '09. Good times were had.

(This was how I mutilated my pinky nail.)







See what you missed out on? Shame on you. Say what you will about Fresno, but it's got one of the liveliest scenes I've ever come across. True, a lot of kids don't go out to shows very often anymore, especially just to see local bands, but those that do are passionate about seeing local DIY music and organizations thrive, and that's something to be rewarded.

SXR

Good Times

Fresno Fest was an absolute blast. Jeremy did a fantastic job putting it together and managing an event that took place in two different venues. I somehow managed to break my pinky nail almost right away, so now it's got blood underneath it and it's kind of messed up, but it's all good. I was already sore from working at the food bank on Friday, but now I'm even more sore. It's kind of good, though, to feel like I've been doing something.

I think that since I'll have time over the break, I'll do a sort of step-by-step picture blog of my screen-printing process. I know my prints aren't amazing, but maybe when people see what I'm working with, they'll understand why heh. At the very least, I should get some real mesh and stop working with curtains, but I have to do some shopping and find good prices first. I'll get better in time, especially once I can invest in some better materials.

On that note (sort of), I'm extremely proud of Fresno's DIY scene, especially because of the number of girls who participate in it. Since I started going to CYC, I've seen more girls involved in shows than I ever have before, and more and more of us are trying to start businesses or play in bands, which is great. The scene has always been dominated by males, and although I don't have a problem with that, necessarily, I think it's important that more women get involved and try to make it on their own. I just wish Madera had something like Fresno does. We have no venues, few bands, and few kids who can get leave a party long enough to realize that there's more to life than meat, drugs, and whatever religion their parents have forced them into. The world is an amazing place full of different ideas, and few of them have ever tried to explore it.

Now to plan a trip to Oakland on New Years Day...

SXR

FRESNO FEST

Today, I'll be at the sixth annual Fresno Fest, handing out 3SN buttons and probably being socially-awkward. It's what I do. Expect some sort of Fresno Fest recap at some point in the somewhat-near future.

SXR

Current Favorites for December

In an attempt to write something fairly interesting that doesn't sound hella thought-out or pretentious, I decided I'd post a few of my current favorite songs and bands, and just plug a few locals. (As if anyone on the internet cares. Then again, I tweet all the time, so whether or not people care is clearly of no consequence to me.)

Yeasayer's new single "Ambling Alp."

This is the first time I'm seeing the video, but it's pretty interesting. Certain aspects of it remind me of Gareth Pugh (strangely), The Mighty Boosh, and, for some reason, I want to say TV On The Radio. Sadly enough, I first heard the song at Urban Outfitters a while back.

Good Riddance's "Think of Me."

The fact that these videos aren't the same size is pissing me off. I would have posted a live version of this song, but unfortunately, none of the live videos are very good. I'm absolutely infatuated with Good Riddance lately, but this is definitely one of my favorite tracks.

Wolves and Thieves

Too fucking great. I love watching these guys whenever I can. Pick up their new self-titled album or snag a copy of their split with Bastards of Young!

Hudson Criminal

Another size, another great band.

The Martyrs' "Stay True Bobby."

These guys recently relocated to Hollywood, but they're originally from Fresno, and I've seen them play a great show more times than I can count. Nice guys, good musicians, et cetera.

I'm too lazy to look up anything else, as my wifi keeps coming and going, so I'm done for now. I'll have more useless favorites at a later date.

Embrace today.

Early this morning, Madera South lost one of its first valedictorians. I was never close with Landon Guglielmana, but I was around him a lot, seeing as I was a dancer and he was a football player. When we did "The Wizard of Oz" last year, he was part of the ensemble whenever he could be, and I remember seeing him every morning in Academic A, smiling and wearing his letterman jacket. When I found out about his accident this morning, I was shocked; a lot of us were. The entire school just seemed different. Half the students, mostly underclassmen, didn't know him, but everyone who did was in complete shock. I still am; how could a kid who was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" just suddenly die at eighteen? He was a Christian, an amazing athlete, a fantastic student, and an all-around great guy...

The more I think about the situation, the more it gets to me. I'm having a bit of an existential crisis tonight. They always say the good die young, but it hits you even harder when it's someone you knew. If it could happen to Landon, what about me? There's always a chance that someday in the near future, I could fall asleep at the wheel, too, or someone could hit me, and I'd be dead on impact, just like him, and it terrifies me. Life is incredibly short and incredibly fickle. I know that, but I really only think about it once and a while. I say this all the time, but after today, I really mean it: I'm going to do everything I can to live every day as if it might be my last. I'm done with regrets, I'm done with wishing for more, I'm done with thinking about the past. Whatever happens after tonight, tomorrow, high school, et cetera, I'm going to embrace it and make the best of it. If I never hear from most of my current friends again, I'll just have to be okay with that and move on. If life throws me a curve ball, I'll have to just accept it and make it work. As much as it sucks sometimes, life is precious, and I refuse to waste it, because I have no idea how much time I've got left, and before I die, I want to accomplish everything I can.

All I need to do now is remember to embrace this attitude for the rest of my life. It always seems to come and go, but I can't let that happen anymore. From now on, I'm going to live, really live, until I die, and that's that.

Rest in peace, Landon. I hope you realize just how much you've done for all of us.

SXR

You Need to Know

First off, I'd like to say that anyone who happens to be reading this should purchase a 3SN "Sink With California" tee from me so I can afford to go to college. None of your friends will have one, so you'll seem much more in-the-know. To get one, go to http://3sn.bigcartel.com or http://www.myspace.com/threesecondsnoticeowns. I'd be happy to take your money.

Secondly, I forgot what I had to say, but I believe it had something to do with bands you should check out. Assuming that was what I was, indeed, going to talk about, here are some links to some great bands.

Hallowed Ground- Hardcore/punk from El Paso, Texas and now East Bay, California. These guys are amazing. End of story.

Hudson Criminal- More East Bay hardcore/punk. Ex-members of Scattered Fall.

Wolves and Thieves- Even more East Bay hardcore/punk. Ex-members of Dispute.

SXR

J'ai besoin de plus d'argent.

These are hard economic times, as we all know, and I happen to live in a city where a high school senior has almost no way of getting a job unless they happen to know someone, (and I don't), so if I want to go to college, (and I do), I need to find some sort of creative way to make money. My business has been a dismal failure, so I'm moving on to other aspects of fashion for now heh.

Would anyone happen to need a creative director, wardrobe stylist, et cetera?

SXR