Febuary in February

Recently I started diving into the new generations of hardcore, indie, emo and the like, but one specific band that caught my attention was this band Febuary. They’ve existed for quite some time and have already done one hiatus (pretty legendary). All their records have sold out at the time of this article written and are receiving lots of love fans and bands alike. I’ve yet to get in contact with these folks one day to do a “7” interview, but as of right now it’s hard to reach them if you’re a nobody like me. I’m going to try again in the next few weeks.

Other than that this bands first and current release has reeled me back into for this sound in this new generation which had me discover bands like “beforeyouleave_” and “Catalyst…” and even “Knumears”. But Febuary has something a bit special for some reason.

Before Febuary it was Beau Navire’s first record, demo cassette tape and the splits prior to the first record. The production was so different as it made it feel like I was at home hearing the band play in my living room. Normally I seek out bands who make records independently because the sound is so unique and most of the time the rooms that they write in are not sound proofed lol. I can definitely say my room is not proofed at all, but I could really give a shit about the aesthetics of my setup. I just want to record.

Beau Navire, Loma Prieta, iwrotehaikusaboutcannibalisminyouryearbook & Comadre were a huge staple to my ever growing youth of understanding punk/hardcore through melodicism and intricacies of being simple, straight forward, with a bit of arpeggiation sprinkled on top of what is already chaotically moving in their music. With these bands most of the time my mind gears towards that sort of process of using simple phrases, but figuring out ways to make them move and impactful.

I know that I’m saying a lot right now talking about a band that just started, but believe you me projects that start this way seem to age well. You’ll end up finding this band in peaple’s skramz/screamo lists because of the nature of the recording, the concept, the intent, the rawness that isn’t found in most records these days.

Febuary, I would say, is a screamo / skramz / emo-violence band that right out of the gate of the first track has them screaming their lungs out before entering their first official song “I’d Rather Burn Than Fall”. From there you hear songs such as “Brand New Shoes” that throws it back from that waltz-esque type of rhythm with clean guitars and vocals that are just belted away from the mic. It transits to “No Way…” that showcase their singing talent of lines “How I could I reach for you when you’re already on your way” or “So why should I be for you when I only ever needed me.” What makes this record so intriguing is the fact that the band sounds like the record live. And you don’t get that a lot these days and it just sucks to know that these types of projects or sounds don’t get appreciated as much. This project sort of brings me back to my youth and has me understand that the sounds that I remembered back then have never left and will continue to move on with this new generation of kids bringing it to the scene. It's so cool and I hope they get their flowers they so deserve.

Give this band a shot. I think you’ll appreciate it for sure.

Links:
Bandcamp
Instagram

Read more...

Social Media Platform Apartment Shopping

Already at the start of the year and things have been changing drastically. Tik Tok banned and unbanned in the span of days due to Trump (lol this dude was so against this platform), X (formerly known as twitter) users started to flee to Bluesky and Substack accounts are becoming popular as a blogging platform. Meanwhile I'm here in my little space with little to no traffic hahaha.

But you have to admit times are changing and especially with the social media space people are yearning for a platform that doesn't taint their feeds with political nonsense and trash can takes. It's almost as if you see a reboot of refreshed ideas until the platform becomes tainted again with political nonsense and trash can takes. I have you know I'm all for a platform that can help provide a safe and positive space, but the same stories seem to be written and read everytime there's some sort incentive that gains more wealth and control.

Bueno Power!! has been in operation close to 14 years and I can't imagine the fact that I was going to just lose this Blog in replacement of another one just because this space is no longer used to blog anymore. I have you know that this place is going nowhere until the platform "Blogger" decides it's going nuke all users. That'd be a sad day for sure, but for now lets keep it where it is and what it is. It's all that matters.

At the 3rd view its heart breaking seeing some of my favs having to just move on to other platforms. Its exhausting seeing the oppresion and prevention of what these viewers should see, but isn't because of coded themes in the algorhythm not allowing users to see some real shit. Sad all around, but the reality of it is that companies that provide these spaces have the right to control this stuff. Its unfortunate, but what can you do?

There have been a number of users who have their takes on TikTok and how it's helped them discover bands or had helped them thrive in the business they're currently working on. How "influencers" are not real careers and that having to depend on TikTok to generate revenue is the worst idea ever. The thing is this is how money and fame is now generated and the reality of it is that these platforms exist to help these folks promote and idea or a company that they can sell. Regardless this is the new and has been the new career for this generation

All in all I give props to those people who can advertise themselves in such a way that have found a niche or a collective of fans that buy their products and thoughts whenever they post. They're active 24/7 and makes them the most money. I'm unfortunately the worst at that lol, but why do I want to grind out something like this? These things are a pleasure and not a job and I'd hate to resent what I love just so I can make a buck. I realize that what I do isn't something that makes ends meet, but would hope that it could make a difference in someone's life

This year I have eliminated all assignments that are asked of me (this being I'm not taking pictures of sweet 16's and family gatherings). I've decided to go full "artist" mode this year and continue concentrating on the art of writing and the art of photographing. Being able to have the 9-5 job with having only an hour or so a day to write or photograph pictures is a practice that I've gotten used to. My aim is to collect and write as much work as I can before I turn 50. And during that time if there are opportunities to showcase work like photo galleries or performances I'm down to execute that.

So yeah.. that's pretty much it lol. You'll be seeing me here and there in the coming weeks. I'm still manifesting what to do this year so stay tuned.


- Art aRt arT ART

Read more...

7 w/Claire Evans

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marco Tovar (@m__tovar)

Photo by Marco Tovar

This is an ongoing series called “7” which asks seven questions to the artists I love. These questions were answered by Claire Evans.


1. There was a post from Nighted Life that I stumbled upon during my doom scrolling exercises and found "BIG BIG BIG". Curious I had looked a bit deeper and realized that this work you created documented the Big Fresno Fair. Hella proud to see Fresno, Ca representation here. What brought you to make this body of work and is there a bit of nostalgia for a yearly event like this one in Fresno?

Nighted had reach out to me and wanted to publish some of my work. I had met them through a zine fest in Sacramento and they got my first book, At The Hip. I felt like I didn’t have enough work coming off my first publication to make something, and the Fresno Fair was coming up so I pitched the idea of focusing on the fair. Nighted was game, so I spent multiple days documenting the fair. I definitely remember growing up and being in the rock/crystal area along with the animal exhibits. Those stuck out to me as a child. But it is a very different experience as an adult. It wasn’t as warm and dreamy as I remember. 

2. So far I was only able to find your instagram and some photos here and there when searching your work. The images I was able to review seem to have themes of religious billboards, dry and worn places, and friends and family in their vulnerable states. What was childhood like growing up in this city and what drives you to photograph these types of images?

Growing up in Fresno felt quite normal,
I think as an adult I have reflected more on some of the norms that may be obscure for other cities. Fresno summers as a child were filled with finding friends that had pools and constantly running through sprinklers and garden hoses to cool down. Not much to do in town so we would ride our bikes and scooters all over the neighborhood trying to see who the fastest person was that day. I think growing up in Fresno you really had to come up with the fun yourself. One thing that motivates me to make these images is Fresno’s landscape and the people in it. I’ve had to be more reflective documenting the city I grew up in and it was a whole new way to see things. I could walk down the same street 55 times and find something new or interesting almost every time. It has been a beautiful practice in being present. Nothing old mattered and I couldn’t be thinking about the future because all I had was right then and there. If I want a photo I have to be fully present.

3. Tell me how photography started for you?

I started shooting in 2022 with a little point and shoot as most film photographers do. I had never heard of street photography until I saw the work of a local photographer David Richard. He mostly documents the environments around him. I fell in love with it and really resonated with the work because it was things that always caught my attention on walks or bike rides. The Central Valley has little to no outside influence when it comes to art. So most of my inspiration comes from my environment. Of course it was also the trendy thing to do, shoot film, but as I continued to shoot I began to grow in my own practice. I discovered a YouTube series called Walkie Talkies by Paulie B, which is based in New York City. He would interview street photographers in the city and document their process. I would day dream of living in a bigger city and getting the shots the New York photographers got. Yet my reality was in Fresno, CA. I’d try and shoot the way they did, flashy and abrupt. But it didn’t sit well with me, nor was Fresno the place to stick a camera in someone’s face and get away with it. Fresno forced me to slow down and take my time with images. I had to be patient and open to whatever the streets gave me. My camera never leaves my side, because in a place like Fresno you never know what’s going to happen or where. I had a new approach and mindset that my own city taught me. It was more gentle. I couldn’t hide and therefore it has become a more intimate process. Most photos are also conversations had between me and my subjects and I have grown to love it. I have always loved Fresno. Born and raised and very proud. Which I think shows in the work, as all of my photos are made here. Going back to daydreaming of a bigger city, while also loving mine, I felt like there were so many beautiful people and places here that deserved a spotlight. Storytelling takes many forms and mine has been through images. What you see is what you get around here. Not too much sugar coating or fluffing the scene. Due to the valleys general lack of resources I have always admired our resilience and ability to create with whatever we have in the environment. And I wanted to tell this story. To prove to Fresno and to myself that we are worth documenting. That the stories here matter just as much as they do in LA. And if I can freeze time and reflect a glimpse of someone’s life or environment I can preserve the life we have here. For me a photo is an act of justice. It means that no matter what state and local government do with the valley, I hope to capture it in an honest way. As politics shape our city as they do most, there is much anger and frustration with the lack of resources and investment in local and community care. Rather a focus on outside investors and businesses that wipe out mom and pop shops and our oldest neighborhoods. Our DIY solutions don’t get recognition for what they stand for, which is a lack of community investments. As much as we are proud of paving our own way we still fight for basic human rights and the support of local government. As pushes for outside investors continue my small contribution to the community is to preserve the Fresno we know and live in. No one can say we didn’t exist if I have proof, at least that’s my thought process behind it. As my journey with photography has grown I’ve gain a stronger sense of why I do what I do. That is to keep stories alive in the Central Valley.

4. It's crazy seeing these photos from someone I don't know in a city I spent most of my years through the scene. Could you highlight some places or times about Fresno that you keep dearly?

One story I hold dear to my heart and that really solidified why I do what I do was the time I photographed an older man getting elote from a bike vendor. I was walking in a neighbor that I don’t usually walk in and asked if I could take a photo of him with his elote. He was very excited about the experience he was about to have that he said he’d offer me some if it wasn’t for his frail teeth. We laughed and I took a few shoots. I thanked him for his time and we went about our separate ways. Two years later I was visiting some friends and saw Felix across the street sitting on his porch. I was excited I found him again that I printed out a copy of his photo to give to him the next day. He remembered me and was happy to have his own photo. We talked for a while on his porch while also trying to fix his thermostat remote. A few months later his neighbors contacted me to let me know Felix had passed away and that the family would appreciate the photo I took of him. I assured them that there was a copy in his home, and would be happy to print more if needed. I’ve always thought about the life of a photo and how it keeps a story alive. Knowing that Felix’s family has his photo as well as myself, really put into perspective how important it is to document who and what is around us. You never know when you’ll see that person again or when the city decides to tear down a historical building. It gives me much pride to honor the lives and places in the Valley.

5. What cameras are you currently using these days?

I use a Pentax k1000 for 35mm and am borrowing a Yashica 24 mat from a friend, for medium format stuff. One day I’ll purchase a good quality camera but for now I heavily rely on the camera community in the valley to lend me various cameras. I owe them big time.

 6. At some point will you have a website available to preview finished (and unfinished work) and what kind of body of work could you tell us that you're working on right now?

It’s funny because I’m currently working on getting a website up. So yes, it’s on its way! I’m currently working on a newspaper project. I don’t want to speak too much on it as it is in the works. But the focus is on what it looks like to live in a “sacrifice zone” which is an area deemed by higher powers whether that be government or private investors that claim an area for experiments or development for the betterment of sources outside the environment. I like to say that agriculture is god in the Central Valley, as we feed America, yet we have high rates of respiratory diseases and bad air quality due to pesticides that fill the air and poison the very people who grow the crops. This is one example of living in a sacrifice zone. For Fresno natives it’s a very norm experience yet an injustice way to live. I hope to highlight various ways we endure slow violence through my photos. As well as making it approachable. The art world is intimidating and can be very difficult to navigate. So I hope to make my work interactive in a way that resonates to all not just the gallery goers. With having a newspaper it can be accessed by anyone. I hope to have it travel around Fresno from liquor store to outside the laundry mat, etc.

***noted on a insta dm***
Claire recently launched her new website below:

www.ClairEvans.com
7. What was the best advice you received from someone that sticks with you to this day?

To trust my gut. It’s really easy to try and crowd please with photos, yet I know which ones I really love. You know what you like and to always trust your eye.

Thank you Claire for providing me your time on this questionnaire. And with that being said you can find Claire in the following links:

Insta: @claireevanns
Website: clairevans.com


I'm getting back into this series and hope to do more of these this year. It was refreshing knowing a local Fresno artist is getting some flowers.

- Artie B.

Read more...