By Royce Dunn

A unique night of food, craft beers and psychedelic tunes drew in a lively crowd at the hyper-local Peeve’s Public House on Saturday as two regional bands performed experimental reggae. Fresno’s The Notones along with Extra Classic ”” on tour from San Francisco ”” played with heavy melodic energies that complemented the relaxed atmosphere.

Both Extra Classic and The Notones are five-member bands that would be hard to define by a single genre such as reggae. The Notones merge several different styles and influences from great performers such as Miles Davis and Black Sabbath with a little hip-hop and Motown mixed in. Their variations of style transition seamlessly and keep the audience actively listening to their diverse sets.

“This was a good opportunity with all these changes to be like ‘Can I make a pretty melody fit over this and at the same time be rhythmic?’ ” said Casey-John Burton, the band’s lead singer and songwriter.

“I really dig this band. It’s really cool how they have this jazz theme to them. The trombone was excellent,” said Andrea Mandy, a Fresno State student.

The Notones’ performance was something that everyone ”” no matter what their musical preferences are ”” could appreciate.

“The cool thing about this group is that it’s very easy to appreciate from a listener’s standpoint. Like it grooves really hard, but it’s also a musician-friendly group, “ said Spee Kosloff, the band’s bass guitarist. Kosloff is also a psychology professor on campus.

This was also Extra Classic’s second performance in Fresno ”” the band’s final stop on a four-day tour.
“We wanted to fill in the gaps, because when you get your band together and you’re on a road trip, you want to play as much as you can, not just one show,” said Adrianne Delanda, Extra Classic’s lead singer and percussionist. “You try to make the most of it.”

Although it’s been about two years since the band’s last Fresno performance, the musicians were happy to be welcomed back.

“It’s really great to play Saturday night at a place that’s still ‘getting going’ but has a good thing going on right now,” said Aaron Deer, the band’s keyboardist.

Craig Scharton, Peeve’s owner, is a local entrepreneur who advocates revitalization of the Downtown Fresno area, offering an inviting venue for people to experience.

“Peeve’s Public House is exactly that. It’s a place where you can come and be welcomed,” said Vilaphanh Chanthauisouk, a Peeve’s employee.