Local Madera-based rock band Pyrograph, featuring two Fresno State alumni, is set to headline a historic Fresno Venue on Saturday, Aug. 31st at Strummers in Tower District.

Fresno State graduates Alex Bourdet and Lazarus Uribe cement the core of the band’s sound with blistering distortion and heart-pumping drums. Their 2024 self-titled album “Pyrograph” has created waves in the local scene, garnishing 50,000 total streams in April and upwards of 150,000 in June.

Going from Fresno State’s own Toons at Noon on campus to opening for big name bands like Basterdane, Dirty Honey and Doyle from the legendary punk band The Misfits, Pyrograph gets to see their name at the top of the marquee.

“I remember playing shows next to Strummers and wishing we could play there and now we can give the same opportunity to other bands as well” Bourdet said.

This Saturday’s local spotlight features bands War Scream, Blazed and Side Projects, most of which have never played at Strummers before.

Pyrograph understands the intimacy that the venue brings and the history of previous artists. Countless worldwide bands have played the same stage including Melvins, Soulfy, Dead Kennedys and even rappers like Xavier Wulf.

In the early days of Pyrograph, band members recalled their fond experiences playing in the pit on campus.

Toons at Noon, which has begun to see a resurgence this past year, is a half-hour set open to bands of students played during lunch. Covid put a stop to the types of crowds that would attend those free thirty-minute sets, and for many current students Toons at Noon is a distant memory.

Although classes moved inwards to the sanctuary of homes during COVID-19, so did the members of Pyrograph, eager to still put out music like their EP Creatures of Instinct released in 2018.

The road to official releases for the band began like most, sifting through an endless stream of ideas and choosing what to record.

However, they soon realized they could maximize creative efforts on their own by investing in equipment and building a studio for themselves, not being burdened with the nuances of owned studio properties.

“It started in the studio but we didn’t like how it was coming out. So we thought ‘Screw this’ we want total control so we moved to a garage,”Bourdet recalled when speaking on the EP.

Soon fixing the qualms with the EP on their own, they released “Creatures of Instinct” recorded completely by themselves with striking quality.

“What we heard from the studio felt really dead. Our sound when we record in the garage, even the ep, it feels like it’s breathing,” said David Alexander, lead vocal, keyboardist, and saxophonist.

Pyrograph isn’t interested in pumping out average material on a monthly basis and is more inclined to refine their music over time and produce something much more refined than what you’re used to for a DIY recording. With the release of the self titled album, Pyrograph is getting the chance to use their momentum to help other Fresno bands.

A successful trait shared by all the artists mentioned above is the creative spirit installed in all of us. Pyrograph shared their opinion on how to corral the creative nature by keeping the will to learn and grow regardless of success.

“Stay consistent,” lead guitarist Johnny Holiday said. “There are times where you’re going to feel lazy, but it’s in those times you push yourself.”

Pyrograph is set to headline this Saturday August 31st at Strummers bar and grill in Tower District. Tickets for the show can be purchased at Ticketweb.

Correction: This story was updated on Aug. 30; Blazed has played at Strummers before.