Music News & Reviews

Two famous musicians’ kids each book Fresno concert. Who else is coming to town?

With tribute acts, accuracy is a selling point.

But there’s also something to be said for proximity.

Such is the case with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening (or JBLZE), which last month announced additional dates on a North American tour that now stops through the Valley and the Central Coast. The band plays Fresno’s Warnors Theatre on Aug. 20 and the following night at Vina Robles Amphitheater in Paso Robles. Tickets for both shows are on sale, with prices starting at $53.15 and $72.75, respectively.

Bonham, the son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, has a massive resume of his own material and also performances with Foreigner, Little Steven, Joe Bonamassa, Paul Rodgers, Sammy Hargar and ... Led Zeppelin.

In 1988, Bonham sat in for his father on a Led Zeppelin reunion for Atlantic Records’ 40th anniversary. It was televised. He also drummed for Zeppelin at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at London’s O2 arena in 2007.

JBLZE has been performing since 2010, recreating Led Zeppelin classics such as “Immigrant Song,” “Kashmir” and “Whole Lotta Love.” Last year’s tour featured the band playing 1975’s “Physical Graffiti” double album in its entirety. The current tour has them running nearly two dozen songs including “Houses of the Holy” and “Stairway to Heaven” (because how could they not).

JBLZE was just one of the concert tours announced for the Fresno-area in recent weeks.

We’ve also seen tour stops announced for:

  • Machine Head. For fans of Heavy. Metal. Machine Head is currently on a large-scale package tour with Killswitch Engage, Iron Regean and Havok through June. In between those dates, the band peels off to Fresno for a one-off show at Strummer’s on June 26. Tickets are $25-$28, plus fees
  • Lukas Nelson and Molly Tuttle. Nelson is the son of country legend Willie Nelson who made a name for himself as a musical companion of Neil Young and with his own project, Promise of The Real. Last month, he announced a short run of California dates on a co-headling tour with Tuttle. The pair play Warnors Theatre on Sept. 30. Tickets start at $47 and are on sale.
  • Boys II Men. Not to date anyone, but here’s a flashback to high school graduation. R&B group Boys II Men will be at Tachi Palace on July 9 as part of its outdoor concert series (which also includes Kings of the West tour, Aaron Lewis and the Stateliners, and the Gypsy Kings). Tickets are $50.44-$133.
  • Atmosphere. Tioga-Sequoia seems to be ramping up bookings at its downtown Beer Garden; a large outdoor space ready-made for mid-level touring acts (see: Durand Jones & The Indications). Hip hop duo Atmosphere (Ant and Slug) are back at the brewery Aug. 15 with friends The Pharcyde, DJ Abilities, Abstract Rude and Plain Ole Bill. Tickets are general admission and $39.50, plus fees.
  • The Frights. San Diego’s the Frights helped usher in a movement of up-tempo surf-punk doo-wop in the late 2010s, with a series of albums including 2016’s “You are Going to Hate This.” The band is celebrating the album’s 10th anniversary with a tour. It stops Sept. 24 at Tioga-Sequoia. Tickets are $30, plus fees.
  • Sonic Live. It’s unclear how many instances it takes for something to become a trend, but it certainly feels the idea of bringing video game music into a live setting is not something that is new. In this case, we get music from across Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, including the Genesis area. The tour plays Oct. 2 at Saroyan Theatre. Tickets start at $54.60.
  • Fog Hat and Molly Hatchet. ApCal recently did a brand overhaul to become ApCal Rock’n Ranch. It’s a change that reflects a move toward full utilization of the outdoor concert venue. That includes bringing in national acts such as Fog Hat, which just announced an Oct. 3 date at the ranch. It’s a classic rock team-up with Molly Hatchet. Tickets are on sale Friday.
  • Mom Jeans. To get a sense of what Mom Jeans has going on, Tioga-Sequoia announced the emotional pop-punkers would be playing a Halloween night show at the beer garden around the time the band showed up on the lineup for this year’s Riot Fest in Chicago (listed right there beside The Pixies, Bright Eyes and Elvis Costello). The band was also on last year’s Aftershock Festival. For some Fresno trivia: Guitarist Bart Thompson is a local. Some will remember from his band Meet Me in Montauk. Tickets for the Fresno show are $35, plus fees and will sell out.
  • Post Modern Jukebox. Warnors Theatre landed a Dec. 2 date with Post Modern Jukebox on its Future is Vintage World tour. True to its name, the band reimagines contemporary pop and rock hits through a historic lens. Think: Taylor Swift via Ella Fitzgerald or U2 done as James Brown. For more Fresno trivia: Drummer Ray Moore spent some time touring with the band and had a viral moment singing and drumming on a version of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” in 2022. Tickets start at $34.10.
JT
Joshua Tehee
The Fresno Bee
Joshua Tehee covers breaking news for The Fresno Bee, writing on a wide range of topics from police, politics and weather, to arts and entertainment in the Central Valley.
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER