The Record's LENS Blog | From the San Joaquin Media Group.

Facebook users urge Pavement to play Stockton

By Ian Hill | Published: March 10, 2010 | 0 Comments

The chances are pretty slim that influential indie rock band Pavement will perform in its hometown of Stockton for the first time ever as part of its reunion tour this year. But that’s not stopping local fans from urging the band to play here.

Yesterday someone started a Facebook page with the title “I want Pavement to come back to Stockton, CA and play for the people.”

“Thank you everyone for coming to take a look at this ridiculous page,” the page’s creator wrote yesterday. “You may be asking yourself, ‘Will this actually work?’ Rather than asking that question I encourage you to ask, ‘how awesome would it be to participate in bringing the best indie rock band of our time back to its hometown?!!!’”

Now I feel like a Negative Nellie. Anyway, the page’s goal is to attract 100,000 fans by June 25, when Pavement is slated to play the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. That number represents about a third of the total population of Stockton and a seventh of the total population of San Joaquin County (of course, the page will draw fans from outside of the county, but those are the numbers). So far the page has 32 fans, not too shabby for a little more than one day.

In a post today the page’s creator wrote that he or she called Pavement’s label, Matador, and left a message letting them know the page had been launched.

Alliance: O’Ryleigh’s opening Thursday in downtown Stockton

By Ian Hill | Published: March 10, 2010 | 0 Comments

UPDATE 1:26 p.m.: O’ Ryleigh’s also will be among the bars and restaurants participating in Saturday night’s St. Paddy’s Day Stockton Pub Crawl, organized by the Downtown Stockton Alliance. Also on the crawl: Bradley’s, Paragary’s, Davoli’s, Charlie’s Night Club, Blackwater Café, Misaki Sushi, Matinee and the Lexington Plaza Waterfront Hotel. Much more on the pub crawl tomorrow.

O’Ryleigh’s Tavern is set to open Thursday at 20 N. California St. in downtown Stockton (left), according to the Downtown Stockton Alliance. The bar’s opening – even if it happens later than Thursday – is noteworthy for a few reasons:

- It will be the second O’Ryleigh’s establishment; the first is located in Merced. Both are owned by the people behind popular downtown Modesto mega-club Copper Rhino. Running a nightclub or bar can be a tricky job that requires operators to maintain a safe environment and keep cops and city officials happy without scaring away patrons. Owners with experience in the business are more likely to know what it takes to succeed than those without. Having an experienced owner at O’Ryleigh’s bodes well for the bar’s future.

- O’Ryleigh’s Merced location hosts live bands, so the Stockton bar could become another much-needed venue for local performers. It also could become one of the few places in the city where you can have a beer and catch a band, as Stockton’s best known local music joints (except for the Blackwater Cafe) are all-ages venues that don’t serve alcohol.

- The bar’s opening could signal the start of a revival for what had been a burned-out city block into an entertainment destination for those 21 and older. O’Ryleigh’s is located adjacent to Taste Nightclub and around the corner from the Ruhl Building, which is undergoing renovations. See map below. (Post continues under the map.)

View larger map

(At left, the Ruhl Building.) The block is located a hearty walk from Janet Leigh Plaza, which revolves around City Centre Cinemas 16 and serves as the heart of the city’s entertainment district. On weekends the plaza draws mostly teens who drink coffee, chat and occasionally go to movies. As it’s regularly patrolled by police, it serves as a safe place for young people to hang out and have fun with their friends.

But the teens also make the plaza a bad location for bars or nightclubs. You don’t want 15-year-olds mixing with a large crowd of bar-goers.

It would be better to encourage more bars to open near O’Ryleigh’s or Taste or in the Ruhl Building, which is gorgeous after its facelift. If O’Ryleigh’s and Taste can be successful and create a buzz on the block, it might help attract more experienced nightlife owners willing to take a risk on Stockton.

Posted in Nightlife | Tagged Copper Rhino, downtown Stockton, Downtown Stockton Alliance, O'Ryleigh's | 0 Comments

Stay dry while you smoke.

By Robin Nichols | Published: March 10, 2010 | 0 Comments

Think you have to go to a restaurant to get great smoked meat? Well, it turns out you can do it right in your home kitchen. We have a story in today’s LENS section that describes techniques for smoking indoors, and here are a couple more recipes to get you started.

Alder-smoked Scallops with Fennel Salad
Note: When buying scallops, look for “diver” or “dry-packed” scallops; these scallops are fresh with no added liquid, and their flavor is noticeably sweeter. This recipe calls for a commercial stove-top smoker; a heavy-duty roasting pan with a rack and lid can be substituted. This recipe uses small hardwood alder chips; the chips are available at select cooking stores and are widely available online.
Ingredients
• 1 large head fennel (with fronds)
• 2 teaspoons minced shallots
• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
• Coarse salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 large scallops, about 1 pound
• 1 blood orange
• Small hardwood alder chips
• Toasted slivered almonds
Instructions
Trim the fronds from the fennel and mince. Measure one-half teaspoon and place in a medium bowl (discard any remaining fronds, or save for another use). To the medium bowl, add the shallots, lemon zest and juice, one-fourth teaspoon salt and pepper to taste. Whisk in the olive oil slowly to emulsify and form a dressing. Taste, and adjust the seasoning as desired. Trim the fennel and quarter it lengthwise. Slice the fennel lengthwise into paper-thin strips; if possible, shave using a mandoline. You will have about 3 cups. Place the fennel in a large bowl and toss with enough dressing to lightly coat. Taste and add additional dressing if desired. Cover the fennel salad and any remaining dressing with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Remove the scallops from the refrigerator and set them out to warm slightly while you slice the orange. Supreme the orange: Slice the top and bottom from the orange. Using a sharp paring knife, slice lengthwise between the flesh and rind to remove the peel, rind and outer membrane. Slice the flesh of each segment from the center membrane, so each segment is “skinless.” Season the scallops with a good pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper on each side.
Prepare the smoker: Spread about 2 teaspoons wood chips in the center of the base of the smoker, directly over the burner. Place the drip pan (if using) over the chips, and a rack on top of the drip pan. Place the scallops on the rack (place them off to the side, not directly over where the chips will be smoking), leaving enough room around them so all sides smoke evenly. Place the lid on the smoker, leaving about 2 inches uncovered. Place the smoker over medium heat just until the chips begin to smoke. Cover the smoker entirely with the lid and reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue to smoke the scallops just until they firm up slightly and are barely opaque in the center, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and uncover the smoker. Divide the fennel salad between 4 chilled plates. Place a few orange segments over each salad, and top each portion with 2 smoked scallops. Sprinkle a few almonds over each, and drizzle any extra salad dressing around each plate. Serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings.

MAPLE-BOURBON HOT-SMOKED PORK BELLY
Note: Pork belly can generally be found at Asian markets. Make sure the rind (skin) is removed before marinating. This recipe calls for a commercial stove-top smoker; a heavy-duty roasting pan with a rack and lid can be substituted.
Ingredients
• 3 pounds pork belly, rind or skin removed before weighing
• 2 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon toasted and crushed mustard seed
• 2 tablespoons bourbon
• Black pepper
• Small hardwood apple-wood chips
Instructions
Wash and dry the pork belly. Place the pork belly in a large, sealable plastic bag. In a small bowl, combine the salt, maple syrup, mustard seed, bourbon and several grinds of black pepper to form a marinade. Pour the marinade in the bag, massaging it into the pork belly. Seal the plastic bag, pressing out all of the air. Refrigerate the pork belly for 3 days, turning it once every day. Remove the pork belly from the marinade, wiping off any excess and cut it in half.
Prepare the smoker: Spread about 3 tablespoons wood chips in the center of the base of the smoker, directly over the burner. Place the drip pan (if using) over the chips, and a rack on top of the drip pan. Place the pork belly in the center of the rack. Place the lid on the smoker, leaving about 2 inches uncovered. Place the smoker over medium heat just until the chips begin to smoke. Cover the smoker entirely with the lid and reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue to gently smoke the pork belly until a thermometer inserted in the center reaches at least 150 degrees, about 1 hour. Remove from heat and uncover the smoker. The pork belly is fully cooked. Slice the pork belly and serve immediately, or cool to room temperature, then cover tightly and refrigerate (or freeze) until needed. The pork belly will keep for 3 to 5 days, refrigerated, or up to 3 months frozen.
Makes eight to 10 servings.

Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Celebrate the arts in schools

By Robin Nichols | Published: March 9, 2010 | 0 Comments

Stockton Unified will be presenting a visual and performing arts event at the Arena on Wednesday night, showcasing the talents of numerous area students. Here is the complete schedule:

Stockton Unified School District
Visual and Performing Arts Showcase 2010

Cesar Chavez High School winter percussion unit
“A Tribute to Michael Jackson Trilogy”

Opening ceremonies

Welcome by Steve Vaczovsky, interim superintendent
Pledge of Allegiance by combined high school bands, music students and audience
“Star Spangled Banner”
Presentations of Medallions by mistress of ceremonies Linda Luna, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction

Elementary intermediate bands
“Siyahamba,” a traditional South African tune

Elementary choirs
“Sing For Joy”
“We Are The World”

Elementary Intermediate Orchestra
“Two Finger Fantasy”
“Dragon Hunter”

Elementary dance
Lines and Curves, “Four Seasons – Spring”

Elementary advanced orchestra
“Andante Grazioso”
Songs of Stephen Foster

Elementary advanced band
“March for Megan”
“Inferno”

Chavez mariachi band
“Le Negra”

High school orchestra
“Brandenburg Concerto, No.5,” first movement
“Violet’s Tango”

Chavez show choir
“Little Shop Of Horrors”

High school jazz band
“Mel Won’s Opus”

High school dance
“One Life”

High school concert choir
“The Awakening”

High school concert band
“The Incredibles”

Combined bands, orchestras and choirs
“America the Beautiful”

Posted in Entertainment | 0 Comments

Video: French Cassettes, Genius and the Thieves, Filbert and more

By Ian Hill | Published: March 8, 2010 | 0 Comments

French Cassettes, which includes frontman Scott Huerta, above, was the headlining act for a great night of indie rock Saturday at The Plea for Peace Center.

Here are photos and video of some of the highlights, including footage of what was for me the evening’s best moment – Genius and the Thieves closing out its set with its fans on stage. It was a great way to end a fun, high-energy performance. Post continues below video.

Brooklyn’s Wild Yaks was in Stockton for a tour stop. The band’s blend of sing-along choruses, indie rock sensibility and punk rockin’ blew me away. Their album “10 Ships (Don’t Die Yet)” definitely is worth downloading from iTunes.

It also was great to see Stockton rockers Filbert among the opening acts. I love the band for its willingness to be independent and take risks in a town where the mainstream typically rules. Post continues below video.

Still, despite the number of great acts on the bill, French Cassettes was the band most fans were there to see. I heard more than one person say they were at the Plea for Peace Center because of the “buzz” around French Cassettes, which was kinda weird but definitely cool to hear in Stockton.

Below are two videos showing in part why the band is generating so much interest. The first shows the band’s rootsy garage rock boom, while the second highlights its quieter, more creative side. Post continues below videos.

I have at least six other videos from the show in the hopper – including footage of a performance by The Rhythm Kills. You’ll be able to find those posted here in the next few days.

Finally, here are some photos I shot of the bands and their fans at the show.

Posted in Music | Tagged Filbert, French Cassettes, Genius and the Thieves, indie rock, Plea for Peace Center, Wild Yaks | 0 Comments

Picks for the picky.

By Robin Nichols | Published: March 7, 2010 | 0 Comments

In the LENS section today, we have a story discussing how to deal with picky eaters. If you’re feeling adventurous, give these recipes a try.

Browned and Braised Brussel Sprouts
Author Matthew Amster-Burton says he once ate nothing but Cheerios without milk, macaroni and cheese, pizza and white meat chicken, cut into small pieces. Now, he eats almost everything, and his favorite vegetable is Brussels sprouts. This recipe is from his book, “Hungry Monkey” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009).
Ingredients
• 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
• 1 ½ tablespoons butter
• 2 cups frozen Brussels sprouts, thawed and halved lengthwise
• Salt and pepper
• ½ cup water
Instructions
In a large skillet, heat the butter and oil over medium-high until the butter foams. Add the Brussels sprouts and cook until lightly browned, turning once or twice and sprinkling with salt and pepper, about 5 minutes. Add the water, cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook 10 minutes or until sprouts are tender but not mushy. Uncover, boil off any remaining water and serve.
Makes two servings.

Sicilian Sweet and Sour Tuna Pasta
Nancy Tringali Piho, author of “My Two-Year-Old Eats Octopus” (Bull Publishing, 2009), advocates serving your children the same meal you make for yourself and skipping the highly processed foods marketed for children. Here’s a recipe her family enjoys.
Ingredients
• 1 (1-pound) box penne or fusilli pasta
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 (5-ounce) cans tuna, well-drained
• 1/3 cup capers, well-drained (if not available, substitute 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar)
• 1 (15.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 cup golden raisins
• 1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley, or chopped basil
Instructions
Cook pasta until firm (al dente). Reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water, and then drain pasta and return to pot. While pasta is cooking, warm olive oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until golden, about 7 minutes. Stir in tuna, capers, tomatoes, raisins and reserved cooking water. Stir well to warm and combine. Stir pasta into tuna mixture. Top with parsley, stir well and serve immediately.
Makes 6 servings.

Turkey-Spinach Casserole
Chef Cecilia Green prepares two snacks and lunch daily for about 75 children at Christots Country Montessori Day School in Shawnee. This recipe — despite the spinach, or maybe because of it — is one of the kids’ favorites.
Ingredients
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of celery or cream of mushroom soup
• 1 pound frozen spinach
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 pound shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown ground turkey and onion, and then drain. Stir insoup and bring to a simmer. Blanch spinach until tender, and then drain. Add salt, pepper, garlic and eggs to spinach and mix well. Lightly coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Spread meat mixture on the bottom of the dish. Top with spinach mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Makes 8 servings.

Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Rummage sale today and Saturday

By Jo Ann Kirby | Published: March 5, 2010 | 0 Comments

Looking to do a little bargain shopping? Check out a great rummage sale taking place today and Saturday.

The Central United Methodist will host its women’s annual rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 6 at The Central United Methodist (corner of Pacific and Fulton across from University of the Pacific), 3700 Pacific Ave., Stockton.

There will be jewelry, clothing, furniture, a nearly new booth and lunch.

Information: (209) 477-9500.

I always find the most interesting things scouring rummage sales. My favorite finds are paperback books, jewelry and gently used jeans and cargo shorts.

This rummage sale supports a good cause. The women’s group uses proceeds to help out various worthwhile projects.

Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Video: The faces of the McKee Student Art Exhibition

By Ian Hill | Published: March 5, 2010 | 0 Comments

Today’s myRecord includes a photo of Hannah Mulbarger, a second-grader at St. Anne’s School in Lodi, who is among the young local artists to have her work featured in The Robert T. McKee Student Art Contest and Exhibition at the Haggin Museum. Each of the young artists brought different influences and inspirations to the work included in the show, which continues through May 2. Still, many of those works share a characteristic that can be seen in Hannah’s piece.

They each include a subject with a face.

Some of those faces are colorful and happy, others are primal and aggressive. I focused on some of those faces in this B roll from a video I shot last month. The B roll has no sound. Works featured earlier in the B roll are by younger artists; pieces by older artists are towards the end.

Posted in Art | Tagged Haggin Museum, McKee Art Show | 0 Comments

Concerts and nightlife around the 209, March 4-7

By Ian Hill | Published: March 4, 2010 | 0 Comments

About 4,000 students attend classes at University of the Pacific in Stockton. Together, they’re a sleeping giant in the city’s entertainment scene. If a good promoter could wake them up and get them off campus more to attend and spend money at local shows and events, they could provide a huge economic boost to the city’s efforts to become a nightlife destination.

It’s happened at least once before, in 2006, when students made up a large portion of the sold-out crowd for the Common concert at the Bob Hope Theatre. They brought incredible energy to the venue that night and helped make it one of the best concerts Stockton has hosted in recent years.

Now Cali Junkiez is reaching out to students at Pacific and other local colleges with its I Love College Thursdays party at Taste in Stockton. Admission is free with college ID to the weekly series of parties, which kicks off tonight and offers $2 well drinks and $2 kamakazis, among other drink specials. Whether or not you’re a student, it’s a good deal. It remains to be seen if the event and similar parties can draw students south of Harding Avenue. Click the flier for more info.

On Saturday the party for Stockton hip-hop fans will be at the Brickhouse, which hosts J-Stalin and The Black Party. J-Stalin is a relentless hustler of his music online; if he brings the same energy to the stage it should be a great show. The bill also includes Shady Nate, L-Capone, Knowledge Bone and L’Jay, who’s been working hard to get the Brickhouse established as a reliable Stockton nightspot. Click the flier for more details.

The Modesto party scene also will be busy this weekend, as it is every weekend. It kicks off Friday with the “Alice in Wonderland” premiere party at Clayton’s. Rick Preston of Kolony is the headlining DJ, and party-goers will get in free if they come dressed in “Alice in Wonderland”-themed attire. Ladies, get those skimpy blue-and-white dresses ready; click the flier at left for more information.

The weekend’s biggest party goes down Saturday, when Rock-It! Scientists will be on the turntables at Aqua. The Bay Area collective mash up techno and hip-hop into a sound that just had me shaking it like a fool in my cubicle. (Club Ian! From 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily in the Record newsroom.) It should be one of those events you never want to end. Click the flier at right for more information.

And the party doesn’t have to stop when Aqua closes its doors early Sunday morning and the bouncers kick you to the street. You can head to Clayton’s at 10:30 a.m. for one of my favorite 209 party events: Club Brunch. God bless promoter Darrel Wilkins for bringing together DJs, dance music and the greatness of country-fried potatoes. DJ Greg Yuen will hold court this Sunday at the event, which also offers a variety of brunch entrees and bottomless Mimosas with a $10 food purchase. Click the flier at left for more information.

The list below includes more noteworthy concerts and nightlife events being held this weekend and in the future around the 209. If you want your event featured on this list in the future, you can send me a Facebook invite, post it as a comment on www.myspace.com/ianhill or Tweet your info with @209Vibe. You can also leave it as a comment on this blog.

For more local entertainment news and information, head to www.recordnet.com/entertainment.

Tonight:

Stir it Up reggae Thursdays at Bacchus in Modesto.
Flyboys’ House Party at Copper Rhino in Modesto.
Thursday Thursday party at Banana Joe’s in Modesto.
“I Love College” party at Taste in Stockton.
Open Mic comedy with Joe Rivera at the Blackwater Café in Stockton.

Friday:

The Creepshow at Hero’s in Modesto.
Wet and Wild party at Copper Rhino in Modesto.
Moonshine Bandits with DAM at Fat Cat in Modesto.
Alice in Wonderland premiere party at Clayton’s in Modesto.
Tara Tinsley at Firkin and Fox in Modesto.
The Glamorous Party at Banana Joe’s in Modesto.
Chasm of Illmen, Remains of the Tyrant and other at the 180 in Lodi.
Random Freqz party at Taste in Stockton.
209 All-Stars in the King’s Room at Stockton Arena.

Saturday:

Pato Banton and the Now Generation at Hero’s in Modesto.
Jolly Kryger at the Pizza Factory in Modesto.
And All Was Lost, Cursed, Nothing But Losers and others at Modesto Virtual.
Rock-It Scientists at Aqua in Modesto.
Paparazzi party at Fat Cat in Modesto.
Hennessy Black release party at Copper Rhino in Modesto.
Acoustic open mic at the Bean and Leaf Café in Manteca.
J. Stalin at The Brick House in Stockton.
The Rhythm Kills, Filbert, French Cassettes and others at the Plea for Peace Center in Stockton.
Chinese New Year’s Parade in downtown Stockton.

Sunday:

Club Brunch with Greg Yuen at Clayton’s in Modesto.
Chevelle, Sick Puppies and Dazeafter at Stockton Arena.

Upcoming:

March 12: Druglords of the Avenue at Hero’s in Modesto.

March 12: Kid Mud and Tigers Can Bite You at Deva Café in Modesto.

March 12: The Fold, Until June and Lady Danville at the Gathering at Northside Assembly, Turlock.

March 12: Bless the Mic poetry at Bear Creek Community Church, Stockton.

March 12: The Mike Torres Band at Fat’s in Stockton.

March 13: Braata at Hero’s in Modesto.

March 13: Tropical Relief fundraiser for Haiti at Guru Indian Cuisine in Modesto.

March 13: Thrashocalypse featuring Defiance with Kranial Damage at Pizza Factory in Modesto.

March 13: Big Tone, Davine, Sav it Out and others at Banana Joe’s in Modesto.

March 13: Azucar Night Party at Club Max in the Doubletree Hotel in Modesto.

March 13: Supersplash Saturdays Model Mixer at Rookie’s in Manteca.

March 13: L’Jay’s Thick Girl Party and St. Patrick’s Day Bash at the Brick House in Stockton.

March 13: WWE at the Stockton Arena.

March 13: St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl and Celebration, downtown Stockton.

March 13: Xerx Dance Comedy Jam at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Stockton.

March 14: Voodoo Glow Skulls and others at Plea for Peace Center in Stockton.

March 17: Flyboys St. Patrick’s Day House Party at Copper Rhino in Modesto.

March 17: St. Patrick’s Day Beach Party at Tommy’s Beach Bar in Manteca.

March 17: The Icarus Jones Collective at Rocko’s in Manteca.

March 18: College Night in downtown Stockton series kickoff.

March 19: not an Airplane, Filbert and others at Deva Café in Modesto.

March 19: Slackenloader at the Pizza Factory in Modesto.

March 19: War of the Words competition at the Podesto IMPACT Teen Center in Stockton.

March 19: Salsa Night with Montuno Swing at Chitiva’s in Stockton.

March 20: 209 Indie Fest III at Hero’s in Modesto.

March 20: Virtuaawesome gaming tournament at University of the Pacific.

March 20: Lupe Fiasco at the Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton.

March 20: Blues on Ice in the Stockton Arena King’s Room.

March 21: Battle of the Bands at the Podesto IMPACT Teen Center in Stockton.

March 25: Mike Betancourt comedy at Envy in Stockton.

March 26: The Ying Yang Twins at Fat Cat in Modesto.

March 26: Final Summation seven-inch release party at the Plea for Peace Center in Modesto.

March 26: Indigo Girls at the State Theatre in Modesto.

March 27: Hemlock and others at the Pizza Factory in Modesto.

March 28: Greg Ginn and the Texas Regulators at the Plea for Peace Center in Stockton.

March 31: Los Lobos at the Gallo Center in Modesto.

April 2: Static Thought at the Plea for Peace Center in Stockton.

April 2: enjoi house music party at the American Legion Hall on Plymouth Road in Stockton.

April 9: Travis Vick, Nick Jaina and Rosie Droll at Deva Café in Modesto.

April 10: Embryonic Devourment at Pizza Factory in Modesto.

April 11: Jazz in the Mile in Stockton.

April 14: Moonshine Bandits with David Allan Coe at Fat Cat in Modesto.

April 16: Who Cares, Random Abilideze, DefEye and others at the Plea for Peace Center, Stockton.

April 25: Cancer Sucks! Benefit featuring Slackenloader at Fat Cat in Modesto.

Posted in Entertainment, Music, Nightlife | Tagged Around the 209 | 0 Comments

Photos, Video: French Cassettes

By Ian Hill | Published: March 4, 2010 | 0 Comments

UPDATE 1:48 p.m.: Check out more photos at the bottom of this post.

Tony Sauro’s column today looks at French Cassettes, one of the area’s most inventive and engaging rock bands. (Click here for more about the band’s show Saturday at the Plea for Peace Center in Stockton; photo at right shows French Cassettes frontman Scott Huerta performing at the Haggin Museum in 2008.) The band members also are a great group of guys who I’ve enjoyed working with over the last two years.

In early 2008, the band was the subject of the first-ever video I shot for the San Joaquin Media Group, below, which also was the first 209Vibe video. It’s interesting how my terrible voice-over contrasts with the band’s maturing creativity. (Post continues under video).

A few months later French Cassettes headlined the only show that was booked and promoted entirely by 209Vibe (specifically, it was booked by 209Vibe street team member Jill Roda for her senior project at Middle College High School). There’s a lot that can go wrong at a concert, and I was a nervous, hyper mess.

French Cassettes helped put me at ease; the band members were laid-back, easy to work with and they drew a good crowd for the concert, held at Valley Brew. In this video from thw show you can also see how, in just two months, the band had refined its sound and was doing more to reach out creatively. (Post continues under video.)

By late 2008, French Cassettes had really come into its own. The band had built a strong rhythm and rock base that it used as a starting point for its sonic explorations. Here’s a final video of French Cassettes performing in November, 2008 at the Haggin Museum in Stockton.