Old Diamonds

I'm deleting my old myspace blog. I found some old gems there though that i dont want to be forgotten about...

POPSMEAR + CLUB TYRANNY + MEATBALL MAGIC IN GET OUT

Good times
A guide to hanging out on a thin budget

By Shawn Gadberry

Heather Marquez busts a move on the dance floor at Meatball Magic at the Red Langer. Photo: Vance Kim.

The holidays are over and, with the exception of the change you've scrounged out from under your car seat and the Christmas card money you got from Aunt Martha, you're broke. Get Out! has compiled a list of free or inexpensive things to do around town while your wallet recovers from the holidays.

Clubs

Don't let a lack of cash keep you home at night. Fresno has had a growing number of night events happening at various venues, with no cover charge. Meatball Magic, Club Tyranny and Popsmear are all bi-monthly happenings that offer an alternative to the typical top 40 most clubs play.

Meatball Magic at the Red Lantern, first and third Friday of the month, 4618 E. Belmont Ave.

Word has definitely gotten out about Meatball Magic, which will be celebrating its first anniversary in February. The bi-monthly event was started by three friends who were tired of having "nothing to do" here in town.

"We realized that the only dance clubs in town cater to the top 40, R&B, hip-hop and house crowd," says DJ Miss Coco. "People who were into more of a big city indie, underground, electro-thing really had no place to go, except an occasional live show or two."

The three, who had no previous DJing experience, started Meatball Magic.

"That first night was incredible. People just came out of the woodwork. It's like they'd been waiting for us their whole lives and suddenly they materialized there, ready to dance and have a good time," Miss Coco says.

Miss Coco, along with co-DJs Heinz and Cuddles, spin a mix of electroclash, '80s dance and ironic pop. They also try to get in requests.

"Anyone who hasn't been there before can expect good music, big cheap drinks and, basically, the most fun you can legally have in Fresno," Miss Coco says.

Club Tyranny at The Lucky 13 Bar, first and third Wednesdays, 4113 W. Swift Ave. at Ashlan Avenue and Highway 99, next to Diamond Billards.

Club Tyranny was started by Tom Johnson, who goes by the name Deviant, and his DJ friend, Butcher Knievel.

"I got the idea for Club Tyranny while spending time in San Francisco. I liked the harder edge feel of the S.F. industrial clubs. I've always longed for that feel here in Fresno," Johnson says. "It's our opinion that the punk and industrial scenes are a perfect match for each other."

Johnson says that The Lucky 13 Bar offers a pub-like feel that makes for a very friendly environment, but it's the music that brings the people in.

"Although we stick to punk, psychobilly, garage trash, gothic, industrial and ebm, primarily, we do pay attention to requests and throw in music like The Dandy Warhols and New Order," Johnson says.

Popsmear, various venues, second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Details: myspace.com, search popsmear.

"We want to do something in Fresno that is not being done. We want a good alternative night in Fresno," says Popsmear co-founder Dave "Joymode" Pelletier.

Pelletier and co-founder Matt "Destructomatic" Davis had been DJs for years, but noticed that Fresno was lacking a place for alternative music. The duo started Popsmear as an after party for Nine Inch Nails last September at Citron, and have been going ever since. They play indie, electro, modern rock, new wave -- anything that's a bit on the edge. Currently, they are using On The Rocks as their venue, but there is no set home for it.

"We're just trying to do a fun thing in town," Pelletier says. "I'm constantly scouring the Internet for bands to play. A lot of the bands I play haven't even been signed yet."

Night life in Fresno is fun, friendly and free.

"The nice thing is, with Meatball Magic, Club Tyranny and Popsmear, between the three of us, there's always something to do in Fresno," Pelletier says.