Banned From and By The Man

Subject: OH MY GOD!!!! I just saw BRIAN KENNEY FRESNO perform 
From: "Rick Walker/Loop.pooL" <GLOBAL@cruzio.com> 
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 04:01:12 -0700 

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I saw tonight what was one of the most hilarious and
entertaining sets of music that I've ever seen..............EVER!!!!

BRIAN KENNEY FRESNO.

I laughed so hard that my sides hurt. I haven't seen someone
engage an audience so ferociously and effectively in a long time.
The whole crowd of 'cooler than thou' twenty somethings out to see
the indie rock bands were singing, laughing, doing silly dances....
shouting the lyrics (which were being projected onto a little screen
with an overhead projector)........and everybody was into it.

His final song about Yngwie 'fucking' Malmsteen was worth the price of
admission.

He's insane........he's hilarious..........he's a pretty damned good
warwick string player (like a stick) and he's got a really good voice.

He's just so fucking hilarious that you almost forget that he is a really
talented musician to boot.

And, sports fans....................he's one of us.............a looper!!!

He has quite an itinerary of gigs on the west coast ahead of him.

Do go to his website and check him out.

Amazed...........just amazed...............

BRIAN KENNEY FRESNO.................wooooooooooo hooooooooooooo, eat a
raisin every time you hear that name.

yours, rick walker

The Stranger - Seattle, Wa  August 29, 2002

BRIAN KENNY FRESNO
(Mr. Spot's Chai House) Modestly self-described as "the most entertaining act in rock," one-man band Brian Kenny Fresno is that rare combination of progressive rock virtuoso, standup comedian, and outspoken chamber of commerce member. His chosen instrument is that geekiest of prog-rock devices, the Warr guitar, a 12-stringed guitar/bass hybrid that plays in stereo and encourages fingertapping. But rather than dry instrumental workouts, he specializes in what he likes to call modern-day folk songs, with an emphasis on all things Fresno-related. Past set lists have included a version of Charlie Parker's "Now's the Time" (with lyrics added about going to 7-Eleven to buy Slurpees and pornography), and a song involving a car alarm, in which he duplicates that annoyingly familiar series of alarm sirens and buzzers on his instrument. That he avoids descending into some unpalatably "zany" novelty shtick says something about his charm as an entertainer. WILLIAM YORK

(This same William York article also appeared in The Portland Mercury)

Eugene Weekly : May 30, 2002       

Brian Kenney Fresno

This guy's straight up hilarious. He's like Steve Martin meets Pee Wee Herman meets whatever shredder guitar player you know. You know like when someone's so talented at some obscure task that you have to say they're somewhat of a genius? Fresno's like that, except that the end result of his task isn't that obscure; it's getting you to laugh at his personal, trademarked brand of comedic music. Twelve string guitar/bass, electric crowd cheers, plastic flamingos and overhead projected lyrics for the audience. I wouldn't miss it for a free back-door pass to Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Thursday, Sam Bond's Garage.

North Coast Journal -  Thursday May 30, 2002

The Hum by Bob Doran

Saturday, June 1, Panache presents an all ages show at te D Streeet Center with Fresno's favorite Warr guitarist/musical satirist, Brian Kenney Fresno, singing tales of trailer trash and the troubles of a Mexican Restaurant owner, plus odd sounds from Booby Hatch Skiffle Klatch and dark sounds from Fortuna by the D.T.'s.

Tucson Weekly 10/3/01

STRUNG UP: By Stephen Seigel

Brian Kenney Fresno is a one-man band who plays the Stick, a five-string bass and seven-string guitar combo. I know what you're thinking: another virtuoso who needs 12 strings to show you just how kickass his licks are. Not so for Mr. Fresno. He is, instead, one of those performers who uses his chops as a springboard for rockin' comedic lunacy. 

The promo CD I received contains three live songs. The first is a song about getting drunk set to the tune of "The Star-Spangled Banner," which doesn't sound so funny right now, but hey, that's not his fault. The second, which I imagine is called "Bobby Salazar" (no track titles were supplied), is a slice of Zappa-esque, absurdist storytelling about a visionary restaurateur--an actual one, judging by the crowd reaction and attention to detail (the line "The salsa's outtasight" gets emotionally repeated three times)--who pulls an insurance scam, and ends with Fresno reciting the menu verbatim, pausing only to interject insider commentary. It's one of those rare inside jokes that translates outside the inner circle. 

And if Tenacious D has written the best existing song about Ronnie James Dio, Fresno has beaten it to the punch on the best one about "Yngvie Fucking Malmsteen" ("Stravinsky, just step your ass aside!"). Should make for a pretty serious giggle-fest. 

Brian Kenney Fresno opens for the Larry Redhouse Trio at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3 at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. For further details call 798-1298. 



The San Francisco Bay Guardian 10/24/00 
Brian Kenney Fresno
Solo chaos

A couple months ago at the small downtown performance space known as the Luggage Gallery, I experienced Brian Kenney Fresno's bizarre one-man jamboree for the first time. Armed with a unique 12-string instrument (the Warr guitar, a relative of the Chapman Stick), an irreverent attitude, and a gaggle of gadgets and effects, Fresno embarked on a set of his self-described "modern folktales, urban legends, and epics of the absurd."

Decked out in cutoffs, a flannel shirt, a backwards baseball cap, and a wreath of plastic pot leaves, the enthusiastic singer came across like a supersize, hyperactive seventh-grade stoner. After passing around a bowl of "ceremonial raisins" (the city of Fresno's biggest economic staple aside from crystal meth, we were told), the troubadour launched into an anthem celebrating the trials of a Fresno taquería owner caught up in a car-theft insurance scam.

Simultaneously tapping out both bass and lead guitar parts on the wide fret board of his Warr guitar, Fresno rocked out like a mutant version of two-handed, hammer-on-happy jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan. He gamely tried to get the crowd to sing along at the song's bridge, using an overhead projector to cast a transparency image of his lyrics (taken verbatim from Salazar's Mexican restaurant menu) on a nearby wall.

Fresno set up an ominous bass loop on "Tujunga," a chanted ode to an abandoned dog that he found in the desert outside L.A. The singer really hit his stride with his more humorous material: "Dog Food" was a hilarious plea for someone in the audience to put him up for the evening and save the road-weary musician from another night sleeping in the cab of his truck. Fresno even managed a sweet melodic hook in the gut-busting chorus: "I got no place to heat up my dog food / No place to fill up my bong."

"Goatsucker" incorporated an echo-laden rendition of the X Files theme while clearing up some misconceptions about the Chupacabra. The singer brought the house down with "That's Who!," an inspired tribute to world-class wanker Yngwie "Fucking" Malmsteen. The ingenious sampling of metal licks from a Microjammer toy guitar ended Fresno's set with a ridiculous rock frenzy that would have done L.A.'s epic comedy rock duo Tenacious D proud. Brian Kenney Fresno plays Wed/18, 9:30 p.m., Kimo's, 1351 Polk, S.F. $5. (415) 885-4535. Also Fri/20 at the King Crimson show, 8 p.m., Fillmore (upstairs lounge), 1805 Geary, S.F. $35. (415) 346-6000. (Dave Pehling)

Brian Kenney Fresno, "that's who!"
By Naughty Mickie notymickie@earthlink.net

Editor's note: For a review of Brian Kenney Fresno's show at the Crooked Bar, see Keith T.'s Me Myself & I column in this issue of DaBelly.com.

I had traveled down the narrow stairs to the shadowy basement of the Coconut Teazer in Hollywood, California, to the Crooked Bar. As I looked for a seat, my eyes adjusting to the dimness, I knew one thing for sure-- I didn't want to sit next to THAT GUY. You know, the one who either needed to be arrested by the fashion police or was some kind of freak (who that thinks he's cool and chatters away at me aimlessly or hunts me down until I give him my number- yeah, right!). Luckily, a friend spotted me and waved me over to her table.

I tried to look at him, but not look at him, you know what I mean. That GUY had his long brown hair in ponytails and was wearing overalls with an assortment of buttons pinned onto them, two different socks, two different sneakers and a tie-dyed cape sort of thing across his shoulders which hid his backpack. He seemed friendly and harmless, but then, why do you think they call it "Hollyweird"?

The band I came to see finished and THAT GUY started setting up an even stranger assortment of gear. He had an overhead projector, strands of "marijuana" leaves wrapped around the microphone, a bowl of raisins, a child's toy guitar, one drum (hanging from the rafter), the largest pedal board I've ever seen, hand puppets and more. Instead of leaving, I hung out in the back to see what would happen.

Pulling out a weird-looking guitar thing, THAT GUY introduced himself as Brian Kenney Fresno and launched into a set of music, comedy and truths that forced me to scramble for a front row seat. He was unlike anyone I had ever seen before and better than just about anything Comedy Channel, VH1, MTV and the rest of the cable crap has to offer. I knew this was a man with a story and an artist who deserves more attention. Fresno is currently touring, so we conducted our interview via the Internet, read on...

NM: How did your act start/come about?

BKF:  Act? I moved to fresno in 1969 and the rest is just a chain reaction from that single act.

NM: Were you musical as a child?

BKF: Well, I started on the snare drum, back in the days when they had music programs in the schools. I played the trombone before that and discovered guitar and rock music in the summer after 5th grade.

NM: Were you funny-- the class clown for example?

BKF: No, I was just a dorky kid. I just wanted, (as always) to meet girls.

NM: What was your family like?

BKF: My dad was a repo man, my mother a secretary for one of the major crime syndicates of the day. I have a sister who is my exact opposite, yet uncomfortably similar, (for her).

NM: When did you first begin singing?

BKF: Again, there was a day when they had music programs in the schools, and I had choir from about the 4th grade. Also, my mom used to sing to me all of the time. So it never seemed like an unusual thing- to be singing.

NM: When, why and how did you come to play the Chapman stick? (The Chapman Stick is a 12-string instrument that allows each hand to play independently, simultaneously producing bass, melody and chords.)

BKF: I think '82 is when I started- I was 19. There was a band called Kittyhawk that came through Fresno and blew everybody's mind! Tony Levin also played it in King Crimson, but mostly as a bass instrument, so it was kind of a shock to see it as a bass and guitar at the same time, with the singer playing it. I knew then, that was for me. I play the Warr guitar now, a custom version of that same concept.

NM: What kind of education do you have?

BKF: I learned everything I know today by the 6th grade; junior high and high school were a waste of everybody's time. I studied music under some incredible people at Fresno City College for the next 12 to 17 years.

NM: What's your day job?

BKF: Day job?

NM: What are your hobbies other than music?

BKF: Hobbies?

NM: Your resume is pretty impressive, tell me a little bit about how you've managed to play with so many artists and how that has affected your act? Also who was your favorite person to play with and why?

BKF: Well, that's a long story soon to be addressed on my Web site www.bonghitrecords.com those are people that I OPENED for, or performed on a sidewalk for etc. Stanley Jordan was somebody I actually jammed WITH, backstage at that.. I've been playing this crazy instrument for a long time, trying to turn people on to it and me, sometimes that included going to local concerts early and setting up near the backstage, getting word into the performers, etc. This was the case with David Crosby and Graham Nash, when they toured with Michael Hedges. Michael Hedges was also an early influence on breaking possibilities, so it was an honor to have played for him before his untimely death. He was the nicest guy.

As far as influence on the show, just seeing what entertains people and what doesn't.

George Barati gave me a sense of history and place in time. He was a Pulitzer Prize winner in composition that congratulated me when I had a residency at the Fresno Art Museum. (Before I was banned from playing in Fresno.) His brother told me who he was, and I nearly fell out of my chair when I looked him up on the Internet ;international composer/performer/conductor- his portrait was by Ansel Adams...

NM: What do you think of today's music scene, both local and national, as well as radio?

BKF: Well, again, there was a time when they had music in the schools, and I think people are just willing to settle for a little bit less because these days, the act of making music seems so far away. I'm embarrassed for the people that buy the stuff, but I don't hold their lack of sophistication against them, after all, it IS AN EVIL PLAN that has been very effectively waged to get them to consume without question.

As far as the "artists" that churn out crap and get paid millions of dollars, they are only filling a need, and good at it, like a dog is good at barking; like a child is good at scribbling.

NM: What do you think of the Internet?

BKF: It's incredible! How else can one communicate instantly with thousands of people for free?

NM: How do you write-- the actual process?

BKF: From situations, words, and in my head. That's where my songs come from. I usually only take it to the instrument when everything sounds as it should in my head. Then it's just a matter of figuring out HOW to do it, otherwise the possibilities overwhelm the intent.

NM: Where do you get your ideas?

BKF: I live in Fresno, which pretty much everything in the world is about in one way or another.. I also smoke pot, and write down all my ideas with the over-riding sense that I'll never be able to do all of them, so I better get going and produce. Also, I have workshops and focus groups, film studies and do lots of cultural television   research.

NM: On "That's Who!", live, as well as on your CD, you "play" a child's guitar toy, how did you learn to make it sound so good?

BKF: Again, there was a time when they had music classes in the schools, and one of the three big things they stressed was practice. The other two were practice, and practice, (in that order!)

NM: I've always heard that Newark, N.J. is the armpit of the universe, but you said nearly the same thing about Fresno, what gives Frenso this "distink" honor?

BKF: Well, where we're kickin ass these days is in the meth-lab production. They had us beat in car theft for awhile, but they can't even approach the numbers we've got goin' here these days in both industries. You see Fresno is very isolated betwixt two major cities, and the sheriff is powerless to enforce anything when confronted with oceans of space. It's always been this way- lawless.

NM: What are your plans for the future?

BKF: Dying.

NM: Where can people find your merchandise?

BKF: The best place is at my shows, because there's always something new and different. For my CDs online http://www.clamazon.com and for all Bonghit Records related merchandise, check out my Web site, see above.

NM:  Is there something that I haven't asked you and I should? Please feel free to discuss any topic that you feel is important that I may have missed.

BKF: I will think about this........  I'm playing Monday open mike and Tuesday 11 p.m. slot at the Crooked Bar Aug. 20 and 21. I'm doing a national tour in September ending at Mr. T's on Saturday, Oct. 6 and the Knitting Factory (lil' room) Sunday, Oct. 7th.

So as you see, I ended up chatting with THAT GUY and giving him both my phone number and my e-mail address. THAT GUY, Fresno, was so nice, that I also gave him a hug!

Check out Brian Kenney Fresno's Web site www.bonghitrecords.com and find out when he's coming to your town.

Me Myself & I

By Keith T  keitht@dabelly.com

This month's Me, Myself And I is a little bit different. For August, I would like to talk about an artist that I caught last month while playing at the Crooked Bar in the Coconut Teaser in Hollywood, California, Brian Kenney Fresno from Fresno, California. He is doing  things in a very unique way, both from a musical standpoint and also from a business/marketing angle.

First, musically, he is a one-man act that is a cross between Frank Zappa and weird Al Yankovic! He is a very talented musician as he plays a sort of  custom version of a Chapman Stick (that is not the brand of the instrument) that is a combination of a bass guitar and electric guitar which is played simultaneously. He plays the instrument very well and has some very funny and interesting songs, but has a audiovisual stage show that is awesome! He combines sound effects, lighting effects, overhead projectors and several other instruments, all controlled by him or a member of the audience, that is a visual show for all the senses that makes you rock, laugh and even think a little. Everyone in the audience had a great time and he made a huge impact, selling at least six CDs to an audience of about 20 people (not a bad selling ratio).

His show and music is a lot about his hometown, which he makes out to be a dull, but interesting city. I must give Fresno a lot of credit for his ingenuity and his creative showmanship. The CD was also entertaining in that it was a live recording of a show much like the one we all witnessed. I believe that he is worth keeping an eye on because, if he ever gets some money behind his antics and great audiovisual show, you may see a lot more of him! I particularly like the song based on the "Gilligan's Island" episode where Gilligan's head turned into an AM radio. The effects and echo use were great!

As for his business approach, I give Fresno just as much credit. First of all, he takes his one-man show on the road constantly, playing all over the Pacific Northwest (and I think the country) loaded up in a pick up truck and promotes them very well through the use of e-mails, the Internet, and lots of handouts. He genuinely loves what he does and has a lot of enthusiasm and originality. You just have to see him to believe him. I'm not sure what he is on... but I'll take two of them!

You may e-mail him at bkfresno@attitude.com to get on his mailing list and he will keep you well informed on where you can see him. His Web site is www.bonghitrecords.com. I really enjoyed his show and his fresh attitude toward this trying and difficult business, so check him out if you get the opportunity. Keith T.