Reno Aces Fans Attend Regular Season Finale with Dogs and Fond Memories

Even though the Reno Aces lost in their home regular season finale yesterday 7-6 at Greater Nevada Field, many fans, who came with their dogs, as it was also Dog Day, reminisced on another great season, which will take our Triple-A team to the playoffs.

Players, meanwhile, immediately hit the road to start the Pacific Coast League playoffs in Sugar Land, Texas, against the Space Cowboys Tuesday.

“The dog day has been great,” Jacob in first photo from top left said of Sunday's regular season finale game. “The dogs love it they’re out here hanging out in the sun enjoying a good game and having fun with all the dollar hot dogs.This season's been great to come out, and we’re having a blast.”

“I normally come to all the Reno Aces games with my mom, Colleen Cardger. I’m actually wearing a jersey from the first game the Aces ever played,” Kelsey Adams in top medium photo said. “It's our first dog day. We’re loving dog day. It's hard with an anxious great dane to bring, but we're into supporting locally as much as possible, because we're from Tahoe so we want to make sure we do what we can. We love the games, we love when they get the crowd involved. My mom’s favorite is the YMCA, just getting everybody dancing. Coming from Tahoe, we obviously don't have baseball, but we should have hockey soon which is great, more of a snow experience. But for the most part supporting locally as much as we can. Everybody who turns out is so enthusiastic. I'm wearing a pride hat, I love that we have pride nights, and dog nights, and Veteran nights. It's definitely been a great season.”

“My name’s Bruce Cherry and I come to every last game of the season. I think the Reno Aces are great for a Triple A team. I'm happy to come to their big stadium and enjoy the sights and sounds,” Bruce Cherry in right top photo said.

“I think this ball field is a great way to bring our community together,” Kristen Campbell, on left in middle column said. “ It just feels like our small town in our biggest little city, so it's amazing.”

“Dog days at the Aces are our favorite days because our dog gets to enjoy it with us. He’s a lab pitbull mix, and he loves the dollar hot-dogs too,” Nancy Falcon, from Reno, in middle photo said.

“My experience today is awesome, it's a nice crowd, beautiful weather, “ Dan in middle right photo said.

“We’re season ticket holders, so we’ve had a great season and just wanted to enjoy the last regular season game of the year. Very glad [for the playoffs] and very excited to see them in 1st place!” Jennifer Bascom in bottom left photo, from Sparks said.

“Love this whole 2024 season for the Aces, getting ready for the playoffs,” DJ Rachese in bottom middle photo, from Reno said.

“It’s been a great season, hopefully we can continue it next year, and there can’t be a more perfect day to be out here,” Brian on right of bottom right photo said. “I love to see all the interactive experiences for the fans and to come out here to eat some cheap hot dogs and [drink] some beer. So we’ll keep coming,” Phil Egan (left) said.

Photos and reporting by Dan Mariani

Rat Race Records Kicks Off New House Concert Venue with Summerween Bash

New up and coming local music label Rat Race Records held a “Summer-ween” concert this weekend in the backyard of a house near UNR with bands Mom Cars, FKA Fingers, and Unexplainable Cattle Mutilations.

Attendees sported Halloween costumes in honor of the last day before the Fall Equinox.

The Summerween concert was the first concert to take place in this new location. The house is occupied by three roommates who met while working at the Holland Project.

Many volunteers arrived to assist in the concert’s set-up with tasks like setting up the sound system and helping with ticket sales at the backyard’s entrance.

There were also tables set up where local vendors merchandised their art. This included handmade jewelry, screen printed tee-shirts, and crochet succulents.

Mom Cars came all the way from Grass Valley to play in front of this enthusiastic house party crowd. While on stage, their lead singer Brendan Le told the crowd Reno is one of the best cities to perform in.

After this successful kickoff, Rat Race is set to hold another concert at this location with Shauna Dean Cokeland, Orrral Fixation and again Unexplainable Cattle Mutilations.

Reporting and Photos by Kade Collins for Our Town Reno

Eco-Art Serves as a Warmup Act for a Dinner for the Revolution at Reno Food Systems

Ahead of final preparations for the Women on Fire Reno organized Dinner for the Revolution with Reno Food Systems on October 5th, Pax Robinson, a poet, teacher and barista has been holding weekly 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday eco-drawing classes.

During a recent edition, visitors were able to pick up some colored markers, fresh flowers and make their own eco-related art while relaxing in the organic surroundings of the non-profit’s farm at 3295 Mayberry Drive. 

Drawings from past editions had already been used to make up the flyer for the 5 to 10 p.m. October extravaganza, which will include a tour of the farm, a community-building workshop, a farm-to-table dinner, and an eco-themed variety show. Included in the musical line-up is rising Reno indie band, Doolittle Ladybug.

“I’ve been to a lot of rubber chicken dinners where you buy raffle tickets for prizes that you don’t really want,” Melissa Gilbert, who does community outreach for Reno Food Systems said of an approach her organization wanted to avoid.  

Tickets for the Dinner for the Revolution are priced at $100, but lower-income attendees may purchase their tickets for $50. There are also options for attendees to purchase $200 tickets in order to sponsor lower-income attendees.

”I only want to cook for the revolution,” said Gilbert, who is also the so-called Kitchen Mama at Reno Food Systems, coordinating the preparation of healthy donated food on a weekly basis.

Women on Fire recently hosted the “She’s on Fire” festival with a line-up of mainly female performers at Abby’s Highway 40 on 4th street, with its values aligning with Reno Food Systems.  

“I wanted to create an event that elevated women,” Robinson the founder of Women on Fire said, not wanting to perpetuate the vibe of “rough masculine entertainment venues.”  

Already looking for collaborators and assistance with Reno Food Systems events, Gilbert found Women on Fire to be an ideal match as both organizations pursue their growth and positive impact on the community. 

Our Town Reno photos and reporting by Kade Collins

Marliena Landeros: Smiles Make a Difference at Pangolin Cafe

“You have to be a hard worker.  You have to be willing to come to work on the hard days, and put a smiling face on for everybody,” Marliena Landeros says “of staying strong for everyone else, and working harder than anyone else,” when detailing her duties as the manager of the Pangolin Cafe on 955 S Virginia Street.

She’s been in that position for the past year, after working in other roles here, and a decade in the coffee industry with previous experience on the East Coast.

Pangolin Cafe is known for its quality variety of offerings from Turkish coffee to Cuban espresso to Matcha latte.  

“I had the Fall Fog and it was perfect nostalgic goodness. Probably the single best tea latte I have ever had. I love that it was not loud sweetness but just a gentle afterthought allowing the pumpkin spice flavors to be the center of attention to the palette. Best coffee experience I have had in a long time,” a recent visitor wrote on Yelp wrote. 

Landeros says community and service are prized at Pangolin Cafe.  

“What sets us apart is our service. I think more than coffee what we provide is community and a friendly face. We like to connect with everybody. It’s a big honor to serve this community and the people that come in here,” she said.  

“When I was a kid I loved coffee, I’ve been drinking coffee since I was two,“ Landeros says remembering how in middle school she thought baristas were cool.  

“One of the favorite things about working here is we’ve seen a lot of babies be born, and this year was the first I saw a kid go from infant to starting kindergarten and it’s been wild to see her grow,” she said.  

Future plans include partnering with UNR for its 150th anniversary next month and expanding for more people to enjoy the Pangolin Cafe experience.

Reporting and photo by Emily Hess shared with Our Town Reno

Film Trailblazer Sebiya Charukh Eagerly Awaits Results from 48 Hour Film Project

Sebiya Charukh waits anxiously for others on her filmmaking team to return as she’s trying to transfer materials. It’s late August and it’s the second day of Reno’s 48 hour film project competition, with minutes counting down towards the final deadline.

What was supposed to be a refueling pizza run is now a catastrophic time cost. “When they scanned the card, they saw it was a different person, and held him there,” Sebiya said of an ill-planned Costco run, and its tighter than hoped for membership security.

The 48 Hour Film Project is an annual competition, held in cities across the world, where teams are tasked with creating films from concept to finished production within two days.

The competition, which debuted in Reno in 2022, offers opportunities for aspiring artists, with the ultimate prize being a film screening at the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner. Sebiya has competed the past couple years locally, but this year took it a step further, creating her own production company Bluebird Films Production, and assembling a team of 30 talented team members before the big production event. 

In her first year in the competition, Sebiya served as just a writer and actress. This year, she added producer and director to her film roles. Not only did she juggle several responsibilities, but she felt the odds were stacked against her. “We were going up against professional teams that produce big movies,” she said of the competition. 

However, she discovered some professional talent of her own. “It was amazing I got Tomm Dauenhauer… he was working on famous TV shows like American Idol.” Sebiya praised his dedication, sharing how Dauenhauer stayed until two in the morning the first competition night, even though he had a two hour commute home. 

Although she successfully assembled her team of 30, this wasn’t a guarantee until a week before the competition began. “One week away I was missing people and without them I couldn’t complete it… it’s a small town,” she explained. Furthermore, there aren’t any incentives to offer, just camaraderie and trying to create the best possible film as a team.

 “You have to make a movie on 0 budget,” Sebiya explained.  

At the start of the competition, teams draw a random genre amongst other story elements. Sebiya drew her team’s genre over zoom, as her team anxiously waited for the direction they would need to go. 

“We drew comedy… then [we] were on the way to the writing desk,” she said.

To manage her large team, Sebiya delegated responsibilities to different groups, and this also allowed for more creative freedom. “I wanted to not only bring people together but give them creative freedom so they can use all their potential… I think that worked perfectly,” Sebiya said. 

However, in the final hours of editing, problems escalated, with the sound suddenly being messed up.  “We submitted it five minutes before [the] deadline. It was very intense,” she shared. 

Other challenges included having to change the shooting location last minute due to an UNR tailgate, and the need to call on the help of her friend, Galina Ohanian, the director of the Golden Domes dance ensemble. Not only did Galina provide her house as an alternate location after the tailgate snafu, she came to the rescue with another important element- costumes.

“During our brainstorm at 11 p.m. I called and asked if we could use clown costumes [she had]. Her husband was a clown in Reno for 40 years and I had to confirm, as he’s passed,” Sebiya said. Galina didn’t hesitate- “She was wonderful and said of course, of course!” 

Sebiya is confident in their finished production titled, “Next Clown Up” ahead of the awards ceremony in a few days.  

 “I think we should do well, we created a very good movie, and I feel like it could get some awards but as a team we already won,” she said.

All in all, the friends she made along the way and the creative release during the decisive two days made the month and a half she spent planning for the competition all worth it.

“Networking is a big part of the experience. You learn from each other, it’s a lot of fun. It’s an amazing experience to let all this creativity out… you just kind of like go on autopilot, [and] some kind of switch flips in your head…maybe it’s like a connection with the gods,” Sebiya shared with a laugh.

“I Know What You See” is a longer term film she’s finishing up where again she’s wearing many hats as director, actress, and producer. Filmed in Reno, Sebiya said “it’s a drama with a very sensitive story about a mother and daughter’s relationship… [about] how far a parent is willing to go for their child out of love. It’s a deeply emotional story, and I think it will resonate with the audience in a very different way.”

Local businesses supported the project, such as Reno Rescue, and locations such as the UNR Medical School provided a set. The film is currently in post-production and will be featured in film festivals both domestic and abroad soon. 

When Sebiya first moved to Reno close to nine years ago from Uzbekistan, she says the film opportunities weren’t as abundant. 

“Recently everything started to change… Hollywood [has] started to come to Reno,”  she joked. For aspiring filmmakers, Sebiya named the High Sierra Writers Group as a good community film resource in Reno, in addition to competitions like the 48 Hour Film Project. 

To get into filmmaking, Sebiya recommends to “learn from anywhere and anyone” and to “never stop” in the pursuit of learning and production opportunities, and you never know what might happen. 

A short film she made last year “Rudy Where Are You”(poster above) ended up getting an honorable mention at the Influx Film Awards, and was played at festivals in California. Sebiya used this as an example of why you should be relentless in pursuit of opportunity.

 “It was just an experiment… but you see you never know,” she said of its success.   

Final awards for the 48 Hour Film Project will be given at the Galaxy Theaters Legends in Sparks on September 14th.  

“I’m so grateful for my team… I really want to highlight everyone… It’s amazing how people with all this passion under this time pressure can produce so much,” Sebiya concluded, considering the experience was already a win whatever the result.  

Our Town Reno reporting by Dan Mariani, September 2024

Runners of Reno: Omar Gomez, Can’t Stop Running, Won’t Stop Running

After being done with community college classes at TMCC for the day, many of them in science, 19-year-old Omar Gomez laces up his running shoes, sets his watch, and hits the road with a new personal record in mind.

“I’ve always done sports when I was younger, and cardio has always been a part of playing, but it wasn’t until this May that I started taking it seriously,” he said.

When Omar first started to get into running, people would always ask him what he was training for.

Jokingly, he would respond with “Life training.”

Now on day 53, Omar realizes this small challenge has blossomed into more than he originally planned.

“This July I wanted to challenge myself, so every day I have tried to run, walk, or hike, and that has helped me to keep going,” he said.

Gomez is now preparing for his first-ever competitive race, as he will be competing in a 10-mile run this Sunday — the ‘Reno 10 Miler And Relay’ hosted by the Reno Running Company.

After this race, Omar hopes it will help prepare him for his next big goal, competing in the half marathon portion of the ‘Rock Reno Half Marathon, Relay & 5K’ on October 6th.

“I love to perform, but I am excited to complete it no matter what. I would love to complete it between an hour, and an hour and a half. If I have to push my limits to reach that goal I will, but my mindset will mainly be to pace myself,” he said.

Omar confesses that his mindset wasn’t always to pace himself.

“When I first started running, my mindset was to distract myself to channel my energy or anger, but now I would say it has become more of a love,” he said.

Reporting and photo by Matthew Means

Julia Flippo, a Reno Artist Regaining Control of Bunnies

Julia Flippo, 29, is a local artist who has been compiling a collection of her own renditions of various Playboy “bunnies.”

Whether they be rough sketches, stitch work, or detailed drawings and paintings, she has been churning out these bunnies for several years with the goal of bringing them all together for an eventual exhibit.

Each one of her bunnies is meant to depict an alternate perspective from those we are used to in Hugh Hefner’s iconic magazine. Flippo grants the control back to the women

Flippo wants her bunnies to “betray” their viewers and make them “uncomfortable” forcing them to rethink the ways in which they perceive women and their bodies.

She does this by highlighting the particular “desperation or sadness” in the bunnies she designs.

She’ll also exaggerate certain features of the women, often times their hands, adding an element of bodily horror to her work to further defy the perception of women as “objects of desire.”

On once having a pet bunny rabbit, Flippo says, “They’re not proper for the designation that we want them to be in. They’re skittish and they’re afraid, and while they’re so fluffy and cute, they’ll just poop anywhere.”

Meanwhile, the real-life Playboy Bunnies (who were also often referred to as pets) appear trapped into this role as display pieces.

Eventually, the bunnies will all be together as part of a larger exhibition. Until then, Flippo will continue to expand her ever-growing collection with her harsh, yet playful, defiance towards the sexualization and objectifications of women.

Our Town Reno reporting and photos by Cody Courtois

Food Truck Friday, the quintessential summer outing in Reno, Perseveres Despite Inflation Challenges

It’s been an up and down cycle for food truck vendors who saw huge popularity growth in recent years, but then inflationary pressures on them and their customers have created difficulties this summer.

Reporters Aimee Arellano-Adame, Camille Flye, Derek Raridon and Tony Yun look at the local cycle of food trucks through the popular arc of Food Truck Fridays.

Fifteen years ago, there were only a half a dozen food trucks dishing up food on a daily basis in northern Nevada, and incentives were meager to do so.

In 2011, Steve Schroder, an events manager and business marketer at the time, was hired by a company who had recently purchased a food truck. When that company was handed their ordinance from the city on how they could utilize the truck, it found that the ordinance was very restrictive. The company wound up scraping the idea of bringing their food out to the public due to this.

Through all of this turmoil, though, a light was sparked in Schroder, who now had the idea to bring a food truck culture like those in Portland, San Antonio and the Bay Area to the city of Reno. In that journey, Schroder said he had three goals in mind: to give locals a place to hang out on a Friday night, to make a place for families to have fun with their friends and to grow the food truck industry in Reno as a whole.

Schroder, now the owner of Reno Street Eats, has grown the food truck population from six trucks to over 200 and organizes over 8,000 people coming down to Idlewild Park every Friday during the summer to eat together, sit down, relax, and enjoy music, while vendors make money and offer delicious specialties.

“I’m just grateful this is happening,” Schroder said. “I love doing this every Friday, and I love seeing friends and family smiling and eating food. Food can transcend language, culture and religion. You see somebody with food and you ask them ‘where did you get that?’ It can turn into sitting together and having a conversation that you would never have before,” he said.

It’s a summer institution now in Reno, but Schroeder’s preparation for the festivities actually begin in January when the application to participate as a vendor becomes available for 30 days. In mid- February, he then files through the applicants to find the fifty best food trucks that offer the greatest variety of options. This year, one hundred food trucks applied, forcing competitors to prove their worth.

By March, they send out agreements, while April and May are dedicated to collaboration with REMSA, Reno PD, Washoe County Health and ten other city organizations to get the necessary permissions to run the event. Finally, after six months, Steve and his team see the fruits of their labor in June, as they begin to run Food Truck Friday from then until the end of August.

Weekly maintenance is required as well. The fifty food trucks require guidance on where to go, and at what time. To do this, Steve has a miniature model of Idlewild park which he uses to organize the food trucks for the week. Every Friday, his team goes out at 1 p.m. to mark all the spots with chalk, and within a couple hours, the designated food trucks will be in their proper places getting ready to serve the attendees for the evening.

Unlike most large-scale events, which typically last two days, Food Truck Friday operates on a nine-hour time frame. Despite the crunch, each week, they create a consistently well-run experience for Reno locals to enjoy every Friday every summer.

Challenges now also include rampant inflation, both for the vendors and customers.

Since the pandemic began, eateries have felt pressure to adapt to an evolving dining culture while food prices continue to climb, including at Food Truck Friday.

Vendors have had to get creative and persevere, and consumers have had to pick and choose more carefully where they want to spend their money.

“We’re trying to accommodate to the public and everybody the best way we can,” Kim Daniels, the owner of the Bone Appetit Shrimp said. “It’s a balance, you know, it’s very difficult with the price of goods and all that, but we’re making it work.”

Daniels said that her shrimp skewers priced at $20 a pop still sell through the roof every Friday. Due to sell-out successes such as this, Daniels says that they’re able to mitigate the prices of other menu items by running different specials, such as their $5 meal deal which includes a pulled pork slider and a drink, or their $25 meat lovers’ combo.

When asked how she felt about the increase in menu prices possibly resulting in fewer customers supporting her business, Daniels didn’t seem too troubled.

“People eat no matter what, that’s what we’ve discovered,” she said. “So, you know, whenever people complain about the prices, I challenge you to go to the grocery store and cook a meal and you’ll see that we’re right in line with everybody else.”

Throughout its 13 years of operation, Food Truck Fridays have become synonymous with the Reno community, both in the event itself and the vendors that attend. A vendor one might recognize at Food Truck Friday is “Crazy D’s”, locally owned by Daniil Fedunov. There are currently three locations scattered across the city, with two more on the way soon.

Fedunov opened the local chicken restaurant right before the COVID pandemic. While the shutdown might have caused some rethinking of business strategies, it did not stop the growth of the business as a whole.

Fedunov has been a part of Food Truck Friday for the last two summers. He says being involved in this type of event allows the franchise to become more known by the community and also allows them to have more exposure to individuals that might not go out of their way to stop by one of their current locations.

A regular attendee of Food Truck Friday is Tonya Flores, a Reno resident for over 10 years. She said that the weekly event is one of her favorite summer activities to partake in, as she loves to head down to Idlewild on Fridays with her family and try food from new places.

Although prices have seen an increase as of late and the lines are still long, Flores doesn’t mind either of the inconveniences, she says “usually if it’s long it will attract me, it must be that good if there’s a huge line”. She usually will order smaller things from the vendors she finds interesting and share it with her family, enjoying the time with her kids while being able to try all of the places that pique her taste buds.

Reporting by Aimee Arellano-Adame, Camille Flye, Derek Raridon and Tony Yun shared with Our Town Reno

Katarina Jackson, A Local Entrepreneur and Super Mom on the Go

With two kids and two businesses she owns and runs, Katarina Jackson, who came to Reno to study psychology at UNR in 2013, is seemingly always on the go.

"I've been here since 2013, so this is really home now. I love Reno.

Personally, I've lived in a lot of different places, but it's very diverse here. And there's a lot of things to do. Proximity to Tahoe, you can't really beat. We were just in Carson earlier today.

It's really easy to get from one place to another.

I own Lullaby Nursery out in Cold Springs, a preschool child care center.

And then I also own Paint Nevada, which is an arts and crafts studio towards North McCarran.

Once I had kids, I really wanted to be able to still make money and support my kiddos, while being with them.

I've also just generally always worked with children, so I knew that I would end up working with kids in one way or another. And that's my general main goal for the future is just to keep creating safe places for children, that's what I'm really passionate about.

With running a business, everything is just getting so expensive. I think that’s everybody’s challenge at this point. So, two businesses, two kids. It’s a lot at times, but we get through it.”

Photo and interview by Isaac Cancoby shared with Our Town Reno

Will Paris Be Special for Our Very Own Perris?

Another local 2024 Olympian will be Perris Benegas who got her start in freestyle BMX growing up in Reno and riding with her older brother Tyler and friends.

The 28-year-old Reed High alum finished 4th in the sport's Olympic debut at the most recent Tokyo games and recently qualified to get another shot for an Olympic medal.

Benegas got a score of 91.92 points, finishing second in the Women’s BMX Freestyle Final at an Olympic Qualifier Series event in Budapest in June, just behind now U.S. Olympic teammate Hannah Roberts.

Her qualification marked one year to the day after she got operated on her torn ACL, capping a remarkable recovery.

“I woke up and it was the most excruciating pain I’ve ever been in. I asked to go back to the hospital because I couldn’t control the pain. I had no idea where I’d be a year from now,” Perris said of the initial stages of her difficult comeback.

“Every day was a hurdle and hard work. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my girlfriend and close friends and family. It takes a village and I didn’t get here on my own. I’m pretty emotional. I’m so grateful. It’s an amazing opportunity. This is a huge one and I can’t wait.”

Perris got her first name after Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, and could give it new meaning in the French capital soon.

Women’s qualifying in BMX freestyle begins July 30th, with the final the next day at the iconic La Concorde venue.

Our Town Reno reporting, July 2024

Who is ShotbyTrevor?

When Trevor Castillo, now 21, was about seven or eight years old, his grandparents bought him a Cannon point and shoot camera. This was his first time experimenting with a creative medium and he became overjoyed with photographing anything and everything he could. His passion even led to him showcasing his work in art competitions at his elementary school. 

As Trevor grew older, so did his love for photography, evolving alongside new technology at his fingertips. With the gift of his first smartphone, he frequently experimented with different angles and compositions which led him to taking landscape photos. He also taught himself how to use different editing techniques to further enhance his work. “I made super bad over saturated photos for a while,” Trevor reminisces with a laugh. 

Through this period of exploration and learning, a friend took notice of his love for photography and recommended that he meet the photography teacher at their school. His friend, already in the class, encouraged him to enroll during his second year of high school. Embracing the opportunity, Trevor enrolled, marking the beginning of a journey that would shape his future in profound ways.

Guided by the wisdom and mentorship of his teacher, Trevor took the leap into buying his first  DSLR camera for his photography, finding solace and expression in the art of portraiture. "I think that was kind of my first creative outlet that I had because I've never been able to draw or play music…" reflects Trevor, acknowledging the significance of photography in shaping his identity and channeling his creativity.

For years, portraits remained Trevor's specialty, each frame evolving his skills and artistic visions. However, it wasn't until 2022 that his journey took an unexpected turn, throwing him into the heart of Reno's music scene.

It all began with a simple inquiry from a local music artist seeking a photographer for an upcoming concert. Despite having never experienced a local show before, Trevor seized the opportunity and found himself at The Holland Project, a local venue located in Midtown. 

A photo of Noah Linker at the Holland Project.

“That made me feel really cool and I really enjoyed taking the photos, even though it really wasn’t a show that I would go to normally” says Trevor after the music artist graciously thanked him for his photos. 

Intrigued by the music community and the joy of capturing moments in time, Trevor found himself drawn back to The Holland Project, this time not just as a photographer, but as a volunteer eager to immerse himself in new experiences that would help him improve and adapt his skills. 

For the next three months, Trevor frequented The Holland Project, attending every single show the venue announced. Armed with his camera and fueled by his passion for music and photography, he captured memories and moments unfolding on stage.

As Trevor's presence at The Holland Project became recurrent, he began to form deeper connections with the local music community, befriending musicians and bands who sought his creative eye. What started as a simple inquiry from a music artist blossomed into a symbiotic relationship, with Trevor becoming an integral part of Reno's vibrant music scene.

Through the friendships he made he gained new opportunities to travel outside of Reno and explore other music scenes, bands, and experiences. He toured with the local band, Charity Kiss, as well as others and took photos that would help launch him into another new opportunity, photographing music festivals. 

Photos of Charity Kiss.

“Getting to travel for it is really cool and getting to tour and meet other people and other photographers in other scenes is just…it's an awesome time and something I’ve really enjoyed doing these past couple of years” Trevor says. 

His journey reached a pivotal moment in May of 2023, when he attended his first music festival as a photographer. Entranced by the environment and sounds, Trevor knew he had found his calling. Eager to continue his newfound pursuit, he set his sights on photographing more festivals, beginning with Sacramento's Aftershock.

“I figured that one was close enough. It was an easy drive” says Trevor as he immediately began looking for smaller music artists he could photograph in the small fonts that were posted in Aftershock flyers. He first read over the names, in search for one that sounded familiar when he stumbled upon a band from Colorado named Fox Lake. 

Surf Curse band.

He enjoyed listening to their music and had discovered them only a few months prior. Motivated to fulfill his goal of photographing another music festival he found their Instagram and sent them a direct message asking if they needed a photographer for their upcoming gig. Sure enough, they did, and Trevor drove two hours to Sacramento to get his “artists pass.” This pass would give him access to the smaller stages at Aftershock as well as the opportunity to photograph multiple live bands. However, he wondered if his pass could get him into the bigger photo pits. 

“I felt like I was going to try to push those boundaries a little bit” he said as he anxiously tried to think of a way to convince security to let him in. His main concern was having to push past thousands of people waiting to see bigger bands in order to get to the very front. However, Trevor got lucky and with only ten minutes until showtime he found a spot next to the barrier and waited there. Security saw his artists pass and allowed him to enter the designated media area. 

Photos of local clothing entrepreneur Bella McMinn.

There, he got to work alongside other experienced photographers and capture breathtaking moments only ten ft away from some of his favorite bands. One of those bands being Turnstile. He was grateful that his luck allowed him to push the boundaries of his media pass and gave him the opportunity to expand on his skills. Trevor says that’s what you have to do, push the limits and chase after your aspirations. 

When he first started sharing his work with the community he created the Instagram username, shotbytrevor which was inspired by his friend who was also a photographer at the time. He says the social media account initially started as a way to post his pictures and tag them for potential clients to see. “It’s something that’s sort of turned into a brand” Trevor says with a shocked expression.

He never would have imagined that his username would become a title of recognition around Reno. Trevor says that people may not know him directly, but once someone mentions his Instagram handle, it sparks recognition in the community because so many people are familiar with his hard work. 

“I think it’s really cool that people can recognize my work outside of recognizing me,” Trevor says. He says that Reno has been a real home to him. It has fostered him throughout his passion and allowed him to grow into the photographer he is today. While many people are eager to leave Reno in pursuit of bigger cities such as New York, or Los Angeles, to help grow their art, Trevor says that he is more than happy to stay in the Biggest Little City.

Dog Dog

This is because Trevor believes that there is a lot of untapped creativity in the local community. He says that there is an abundance of creative and talented people who, if they worked together, could eventually put Reno on the map as a space that can produce incredible music, photos, digital art, really any creative medium you can think of.

Reno has significantly influenced his creativity because of the unique art style the city holds. “There’s no pressure and there’s no real style to where we’re at” Trevor says. He further explains how you can tell if an art piece is from Los Angeles or a bigger art city but Reno is far more eccentric. Trevor says that a lot of people in Reno do their own thing. Meaning they create art that’s individual to them leading to an undefined art style in the community. Therefore allowing a breath of fresh air for anyone seeking inspiration for new and creative masterpieces.

Trevor’s photos can be different from others but still appreciated for that very reason. When he first began his photography journey he didn’t pull a certain influence or style from anyone around him. He experimented and created until he found a style unique to him and his visions.

Trevor has also started more and more work in video, including working on music videos for Worm Shot, helping produce a vibrant pink-themed video for the band’s new hit song, “Dream Girl.”

He expresses that videography is very different from photography but nonetheless he wanted to give it a try.

It’s been a super big transition from photos to film Trevor shares, but he says teaming up with talented and experienced people certainly helped. 

As far as other local bands go, Trevor says he owes a big thanks to Charity Kiss for being some of his first real friends in the band scene as well as Wyatt Ziegler from the band, Dog Dog, who is also an audio engineer. “We’re not in it for the money, but for the passion of it” Trevor says. Which is why Trevor is happy to be a part of Free The Youth. A D.I.Y. music collective that aims to give smaller music artists a chance at sharing their talent to the world. 

Behind the scenes of a Worm Shot music video.

The collective originally started in California. Specifically in Santa Cruz and Los Angeles but it reached Trevor’s radar about two years ago. He met the guys who ran it because they had booked a show for Charity Kiss. Trevor was intrigued and said that he really liked what they stood for as well as their D.I.Y. approach to music as a whole. He started collaborating with them and began making “tiny desk concerts.” 

Essentially, videos of live music in places you wouldn’t typically expect to see a band perform. This gave viewers and fans a more intimate one on one experience with the band they were viewing. However, Trevor eventually grew bored of this idea and pitched something new and refreshing. He talked to the band Mom Cars, who agreed to play music on the side of the highway. Initially Trevor wasn’t sure if this idea would pan out, but he says it came out a million times better than anyone could have ever imagined. 

He shares this story with pride as he is happy to help Free The Youth’s mission statement of helping small bands, such as Mom Cars, with 20.9k monthly listeners on Spotify and 59.8k followers on Instagram, share their music and personalities with new people and music scenes. 

Trevor encourages anyone who is curious or interested in getting involved in the photography scene to just do it. Go shoot pictures and videos of anything and everything. Bring any camera you have access to, whether that’s your phone camera, a disposable camera or a more professional one, and have fun. He also says that local shows are a great place to adapt your skills. Just remember to be respectful of the band that's playing and the people that are there.

When immersing yourself in local shows Trevor also recommends talking to the people around you. Approach other’s with a camera and ask for advice. Really take advantage of the resources the biggest little city has to offer. “It’s a very welcoming community, I've found out. Even though it seems a little intimidating and standoffish, I promise it’s not” says Trevor who shares that the community is always welcoming new people who want to create the same art that they do.

Reporting by Saurabh Chawla with writing by Lauren Juillerat and photos by Trevor Castillo

Danny Lopez, Documenting Reno's Emerging Musicians with his Camera

At just 19, Daniel Lopez is already creating buzz in the world of photography, but his journey into this art form began long before he even realized it. Born and raised in Reno, Daniel's passion for capturing moments started at a young age, nurtured by the influence of his father and surrounded by the creative energy of his relatives.

Growing up, Daniel remembers his father with a camera bag slung over his shoulder, ready to capture important family memories. This constant exposure to photography instilled in Daniel a deep appreciation for photos and sparked his curiosity to explore it further. 

It wasn't until high school, however, that Daniel took his first step into photography. Encouraged by a photo class offered at his school, he decided to give it a try. To his surprise he enjoyed the class far more than he had anticipated and when his aunt gave him a red Nikon D5300 camera, he took the opportunity to pursue his newfound love.

Daniel found inspiration in one of his favorite films, Spider-Man 2, whenever he lost his spark. “I grew up watching Spider-Man and I just loved seeing Peter Parker take pictures as a kid,” Daniel says.

He’s now also started videography. While he acknowledges that photography and video work are very different mediums, he can’t help but combine the two when it comes to his innovative ideas. “I just like movies, where if you pause it at any moment, it’s still a beautiful frame” similar to a photo, says Daniel.

He says that movies such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse motivate him as well. “With Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, I know for a fact that, the creators of that film mentioned that, oh if you pause the movie at any frame it will look like a comic book panel, and I just always found that so inspirational,” Daniel says.

A breakthrough for him and his creative work happened when he got an in into the Reno band scene through a close highs chool friend, Nico Villalobos, the bassist in the local band Faded Shawties.

Through Nico he heard about the show Silly Fest, which was a free event that was hosted at West Street Market in September of 2023.

This show was his very first, and Daniel brought along his beloved red camera and decided to give live music photography a shot. With an assignment due in a couple of days for his photography class, this event provided the perfect atmosphere to try out his skills.

“It was very fun, and I think it inspired me because at the time, I was taking a break from music as well…I never really found my stepping in music, so when I went to Silly Fest it just brought something out of me,” Daniel says. 

He says that in both worlds, music and photography, this event reignited his passion for capturing candid moments. After taking a lot of photos, and being shocked at just how much he enjoyed it, he decided that the Reno music scene would become something he’d capture more frequently. 

One challenge when it comes to documenting the live music scene is lighting.

“I don’t take a lot of photos with my flash on, because I don’t like to disturb the artist that's playing at the time. I try to stand still and take those pictures” says Daniel.

Despite these challenges, Daniel says that live music photography is one of his favorite mediums. “I always like the look of candid photos, that’s where I get a lot of my candid photos from,” he says. 

Daniel also believes that candid photos are more interesting to look at. They capture the vibrant moment in a way that is almost as vivid as the experience itself. He also says that people love pictures of themselves, friends, or surroundings so it brings forth a positive community as well as positive feedback when he posts his photos online. 

His absolute favorite location in terms of venues is West Street Market. When it comes to his favorite collection of images, he makes reference to The Holland Project’s 2023 Halloween show. 

Daniel had recently bought a 35 mm lens at the time of the festive event, which he claimed truly lent life to the genuine moments he captured on film. Although he has not yet published these photos, he intends to edit and do so in the future.

Daniel says one aspect he likes to bring to his photos is the saturation of hues and colors. He says that he alway tries to add more life to his photos which help differentiate his style from others. “That’s a big part for me. I always try to differentiate my photos from other photographers…especially recently, because there are more photographers in the scene I’ve noticed,” Daniel says. 

With most of the shows in the music scene being later at night, Daniel says he prefers to edit his photos immediately after the event while the adrenaline and music are still vivid in his mind.

A normal night of work for Daniel typically spans from 8:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. “I want to get the photos done now. So I’ll sit at my desk until like four in the morning and edit them. Then I'll have the google doc done and everything and then I can sleep. I fall asleep at my desk sometimes,” Daniel says with a laugh.

After he’s done he sends his work to the bands he photographed before he falls asleep. He also posts his work on his Instagram account aethenee.

Daniel says that he is very grateful for the audience he has built up so far on his Instagram photography account. He also appreciates the support and welcoming nature of the Reno music scene.

He says this support is especially meaningful because there are times where he lets his inner critic get the best of him. “Any artist can relate to this. It doesn’t matter if you take photos, make music, or you draw, you are your worst critic. You're always going to see the flaws in the photos you take. Someone might say, ‘oh this is one of the best photos I’ve ever seen in my entire life!’ and you can see the little flaws,” Daniel says.

Despite this challenge, he says that he owes a thank you to the local scene for allowing him to step out of his comfort zone. He encourages anyone who is interested in the local Reno scene to get involved. No matter what gear you have, just go for it, he says.

Daniel says that he has seen people take photos with old film cameras, point and shoots, phone cameras and more. As far as his own future, Lopez hopes to keep taking pictures of those around him, bringing their stories, experiences, and music to life as Reno’s friendly local concert photographer. 

Our Town Reno reporting by Lauren Juillerat

The Growth of Charity Kiss, Still Reno-Based and Recommitting to the Dream

It’s been two years since Our Town Reno met with Charity Kiss to learn about their music, their story, and their perspectives on the Reno music scene.

Since then a lot has changed. Nate Drum, Charity Kiss’s drummer and Patrick Hansen, the bands vocalist and rhythm guitarist, spoke to music reporter, Lauren Juillerat, about the differences two years make.

Charity Kiss first formed in 2021 and by 2022 was composed of five members: Hansen, Noah Linker, Drum, Cole Hendriks, and Wyatt Ziegler. Since then, Patrick Hansen and Nate Drum recruited Cooper Conway as a bassist and welcomed back Cole Hendriks as their lead guitarist. Hendriks had been pursuing an education in Montreal, having Ziegler fill in for him during his absences. James Pizzo from the local band, Flamingos In The Tree had also filled in for Hendriks when needed. 

With Hendriks back from college, Ziegler left Charity Kiss to pursue his own band called Dog Dog. Meanwhile, Linker said his goodbyes as he left to follow his own passions. The band now faced a new challenge. Readapting to Hendriks return and dedicating time to teach Conway songs they’d been creating and performing for years.

Hansen and Drum had known Conway since high school but it wasn’t until they saw him perform with his band, Spiteful Mourning, that they approached him with an offer to join their band. Significant amounts of time were dedicated to teaching Conway their melodies and with his fast learning, and the other three’s patience and commitment, Charity Kiss was reborn.

From there, Hendriks, Hansen, Drum, and Conway began creating new music. When reflecting on their progress, Drum says that they have significantly developed their songwriting process. “Before it was a lot faster, kinda. I feel like we spend more time on each song now.” regarding song structures and dynamics, Drum says. 

Hansen agreed saying that prior to 2022 they would write songs and think they were good but now they aim on being more deliberate with their music. “In the past we thought our ideas were good but now we want them to be great,” says Hansen.

A huge contribution to their faster songwriting process in the beginning was credited to the fear of being known as a cover band. They eagerly wanted some original songs to showcase their talent and creative minds. So, writing songs became a frequent practice and covers soon dwindled out of the band's set lists. Eventually songwriting became easier than recording and distributing their songs onto streaming platforms. “We didn’t have a studio, we didn’t have anybody. It was like Noah and Wyatt for a bit, it was just like circumstantial recording,” Hansen said. 

Photo with permission to use from Madison Taylor Photography.

With time they did find an audio engineer and Drum and Hansen shared some fun memories from some of their more recent recording adventures. From their 2023 album, Victor Riley’s a Coward, one of their songs, Destination Double Bridge, features the sound of a dog barking during one of the “la, la, la, la” sequences in the song. 

“We all got in a big circle, we got our recording engineer’s mom, and girlfriend, and all that, all in one circle while we’re yelling ‘la, la, la’s’ and the dog did not enjoy that” Hansen says. Whether Cane, the dog that often hung out around the studio, disliked the singing or simply wanted to join in on it, will never be clear.

However it is clear that the barks only added to the depth of the song. Bringing forth a more collage like sound that encapsulates the listener in a world of nostalgia. The album, Victor Riley’s a Coward, was actually recorded in a matter of three days Hansen shares. The band had been on a big tour but regardless, they pushed through and recorded every song in just 72 hours. 

You would think that after a big tour and three days of nonstop recording that Charity Kiss would take a break. However, you'd be very wrong. The four men jumped straight into a new gig after just barely finishing their new album. 

Touring has become an important part of the band’s life. In the beginning of their touring, the band would often go over the hill to San Francisco or Sacramento. Since then, they have started touring for extended periods of time, making Costco their go to spot on the road, where they typically eat two to three meals a day. 

In the fall of 2023, they embarked on a multi-state tour of the Pacific Northwest that included five cities in California, four cities in Oregon, as well as Boise, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah. “It started off with quick runs through California. Now, the last one we did was 20 something days and it was through five states,” Hansen says. 

Just recently Charity Kiss performed three shows in Oregon and Washington April 19th-21st which have become beloved touring spots. Drum says that Davis, California, has become one of his favorite places to perform because of the crowd's vibrant energy. Whereas Hansen has found a fond place in his heart for Vista, California. This is owed to the memorable venue Charity Kiss played at. A cliffside stage that overlooked the mesmerizing orange, pink, and yellow hues of the sun setting against the iconic desert rock music Charity Kiss plays so well.

A recent favorite has been the city of Corvallis, Oregon. Hansen says that when he feels discouraged or loses motivation he reminds himself and the other members of their dream; an important reminder that they are actively pursuing their passions. “This past weekend when we were in Oregon, we had people show up to that show and say they remembered us from last time, and wanted to see us again,” says Drum with a smile. 

Being in a band that is constantly touring, creating, recording, and performing music is no easy task. Burnout can be inevitable. “Re-committing to the dream, it’s a lot,” says Hansen. However Hansen, Drum, Conway, and Hendriks could not be more grateful to pursue their passions and be so welcomed by other music scenes across the United States. “Understanding that, at least for me, that this is the dream. We are currently living the dream,” Hansen says with a grateful smile. 

Drum and Hansen shared how surreal it was to hear people singing their lyrics and packing out venues just to see them perform a couple weekends ago in Oregon.

“It’s hard to measure if you've done anything, but to have people show up and be like ‘yes you have,’ and to be so excited to see us…I mean that’s a really big achievement,” says Hansen.

The last two years have certainly yielded big changes for the band. From new members, to new opportunities, tours, and new music, lifestyle changes have also been a huge challenge as well. Especially for Hansen who recently got married and had his first child. “So that I think really changed my commitment to it. It’s put a lot more pressure on me, but it's also made the payoff more rewarding,” Hansen says. 

Hansen now has to balance his family life with his work life and music life. It can be very time consuming and adapting to these changes hasn’t been easy. “I’m sacrificing time with my family and honestly a better life you know? Because I take jobs so I can play music. They don’t pay the best so that’s rough but I’d say that’s been a drastic change,” Hansen says. Despite how difficult all of these things can be on their own, let alone together, Hansen smiles throughout. A sense of pride and gratefulness is definitely present with the hard working father, husband, vocalist, and rhythm guitarist. 

With new changes comes growth. The band feels that their understanding of the music world has changed a lot since their start nearly three years ago. Drum says that initially they went about music from a more innocent point of view. They had thought if you were good at what you did, that’s all you’d need but that unfortunately was not the case.

After years of experience, as well as trial and error, they realized a few crucial points that make all the difference in the music world. Touring taught them the ideal venue spots allowing them to reach more fans and new listeners. “What I really love is the West Coast. I feel like we understand what the happening spots are. So now we know, oh we're trying to get into so and so; whereas before I was like, Google maps, live music, and then we’d get a weird ass bar,” Hansen says. 

Another crucial point Charity Kiss emphasizes is being persistent with your passions. Hansen recalls people thinking that there was some sort of magic trick to the band getting gigs at venues in the Sacramento area. In reality, Hansen had to send over 40 emails just to get one response back.

While the band tours constantly, they stay based in Reno, Nevada. Two years ago past Charity Kiss members Noah Linker and Wyatt Ziegler expressed their hopes to relocate to Los Angeles, California, expressing that the Reno music scene was too small and they wanted to reach more people.

Upon asking Drum and Hansen if they too think Reno is too small to thrive in, they disagreed with the past statement saying, “I would say the idea of moving for success is overrated and outdated. Especially with social media,” said Hansen. 

It appears that Charity Kiss isn’t planning on relocating from the Biggest Little City anytime soon. Hansen shares how shocked he is at how big the Reno music has become in just a few years. Hansen and Drum started playing music in high school and can only recall a handful of bands that were active in the scene back then, whereas now it’s hard to keep track of how many new bands are being created.

To those hoping to form a band, or to those already in a newer band, Drum and Hansen recommend playing any shows you can, which has become much easier to do in the Reno music scene. There are currently more than a half a dozen local venues offering places for bands to play, including The Holland Project, West Street Market, Cypress, Fort Ralston, The Empire, Station 9, The Cellar Stage, Pignic Pub & Patio and The Bluebird. “Don’t limit your experience. Don’t let your fears or doubts limit where you play, how you play or what you play,” says Hansen.

While Charity Kiss loves a variety of cities all across the United States they still say that Reno has been one of their favorites. Hansen says Reno was his preferred scene back when they were super active in it. “The Reno scene, we have toured all over, a lot of these bands and I think a lot of people in Reno shit talk Reno. But Reno’s badass. It is in the perfect place to start a band,” Hansen says. 

This is because the city is so close to other popular music spots, such as Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Sacramento and San Francisco. “You’re in a central spot for the West Coast. There’s great D.I.Y. venues. The Reno music scene is about to explode I think,” Hansen says. 

Our Town Reno reporting by Lauren Juillerat

An Authentic Taste of Balanced and Savory Korean Cuisine in Sparks

The unctuous aroma of rich broths fills the air and sizzling rice crackles in stone bowls at Step Korean Bistro in Sparks on McCarran Blvd.

“I really want to introduce Korean food to the local people,” said owner Jeonju Lee better known as Jay Jay. “Korean food is a good balance of everything.”

Reno has many greasy, cheap, and lackluster-tasting Asian options. Step Korean Bistro offers the exact opposite, delivering authentic and delicious home-cooked meals that don’t sacrifice quality or integrity.

“I was twenty years old when I started learning cooking skills in a Korean casual restaurant,” Lee, a native of South Korea, says. “Then I went into the army and that’s when I really wanted to learn more professional things about food.”

Lee went to a culinary school in South Korea, focusing on French techniques. Even though he was learning to cook in Western ways, his love for Korean cuisine remained.

“I usually worked at non-Korean restaurants but in my mind, I always knew I wanted to cook Korean food,” says Lee. “So when I had time, I tried a lot of Korean dishes and tried to make them myself.”

Lee then continued to work as a chef in hotels and restaurants, in both Korea and America.

In 2016, Lee opened his first offering of Korean food to Reno, with Bab Cafe located in the city’s downtown.

“When I opened Bab Cafe I realized a lot of local people didn’t know that much about Korean food but I kept explaining and selling it,” said Lee. “Then when they tried it, they really liked it.”

Bab Cafe focuses primarily on the classic Korean dish of Bibimbap, which translates to mixing rice. Vegetables, meats, and sauces are served on top of warm rice.

With the success of Bab, Lee had now opened up Reno’s taste buds to more Korean food. He wanted to further this, knowing his next business venture had to be different.

“A lot of people are moving here from California and the population is going up, so now these people already know Korean food,” Lee explains. “I knew this time I had to open a more traditional restaurant.”

“Step specializes in JJIM (dishes made by steaming or boiling meat, chicken, fish, or shellfish which have been marinated in a sauce or soup) which encompasses both stews and braised meats, featuring a diverse range of popular Korean dishes,” explains a sign inside the restaurant.

Step Korean Bistro has only been open for about several months now but is quickly finding its footing.

“We’ve had a good amount of business come through. It was very slow at first because not many people know that we’re open,” employee Lydia Doan said at the time of this reporting. “Technically we haven’t done a lot of advertising yet nor have we done a true grand opening with a grand opening sign outside. But as word of mouth has been spreading, we’ve slowly been getting busier and busier.”

Doan said they look at Yelp and Google reviews closely, and take any complaints or suggestions they receive seriously, all the while remaining true to their mission.

“We do want to become a staple for Korean food here since the things that have been popping up are more fusion and less traditional. We definitely want to bring those traditional flavors from Korea,” Doan explains.

Reporting by Elijah Dulay for Reynolds on the Record shared with Our Town Reno

Next Question, Local Teenagers Going for that High Desert Emo Vibe

“Next Question!” Jack Lucian said in an attempt to move on to another topic, to which Malcolm Critchley enthusiastically replied, “that’s really good!” and thus an unexpected phrase turned into a newly formed band's name. 

“I personally kind of wanted to get the naming of the band part out of the way. It kind of sounds fun, but picking a band name is like a monster,” Jack says. No pun intended, because the band initially wanted to name themselves after a character in the mobile game, My Singing Monsters. There’s a fuzzy white humanoid monster with no neck in the game called a Mammott. Jack debated the name, The Mammotts, but Malcolm had other plans. 

Next Question was initially formed in June of 2023 after four friends finally reunited at Jack’s birthday party: Tenzin Shae, (bassist and vocalist), Jack Lucian, (guitarist and vocalist), Sam Wilhelm, (drummer), and Malcolm Critchley, (guitarist), initially met in elementary school, and were good friends before going in separate directions.

During their time apart, each member discovered their love for music. Teaching themselves how to play at least one instrument in their spare time. It was mere luck and coincidence when Jack and Tenzin reunited around sixth grade and later re-friended Sam and Malcolm. 

Eager to catch up with one another, they discovered that each of them had wanted to take their musical passions further and finally Jack asked, “why haven't we formed a band already?”

One week after the birthday party, they had a rehearsal and a cohesive sound ebbed and flowed out of each instrument, a sound which Tenzin describes as High Desert Emo music. His mother initially came up with the genre name and since then Tenzin has convinced the band to use it as a descriptor when it comes to their music. 

Since their formation nearly a year ago, the band has written five original songs. The first one they wrote together was called Astigmatism, a song they wrote in only 72 hours. After the creation of the song, the band decided that they needed more originals under their belt. Jack had created his own song the summer prior called, Along The Dotted Line, which had been a solo project turned band favorite. 

Then came the song, Cut, which the band credits as Tenzin’s idea. Jack also pitched some song ideas, experimenting with bass and guitar, to which he created the song Lighter Nights. Their newest song is called, Do You, which takes on a more emo approach, influenced by Tenzin’s favorite music genre.

“With our newest song, we’re leaning into the High Desert Emo genre in an irreparable way” Jack says before turning to Tenzin and jokingly saying, “...now it’s too late to not be emo because you made us play that song!” Jack says with a laugh. 

They debuted this song at Fort Ralston on April 13th and the audience loved it. While they are married to the original they just created they aren’t married to their genre name. Tenzin shares their viewpoint on labels, saying that genres are pretty fluid. For instance, their music leans into many musical genres including shoegaze, punk, rock, and emo. 

That’s the beauty of it. Their wide range of sound allows the listener to decide on a label for the music without being confined to a box. For example, Along The Dotted Line is inspired by early emo, late 90’s, slow core music, Jack explains. Which would typically fall under the emo category. However, some people may hear the song and perceive it in a completely different way. 

“The best part about genres is the fact that if we don't fit under an umbrella, we can create one. The reason there's so many sub genres of music is because everyone just makes up their own,” says Sam. 

At the end of the day the band says that the genre label doesn’t really matter. It’s more so about marketing and building a brand. “Ten years ago we had modern baseball, now we have Next Question!” Tenzin says with a laugh. 

They are hoping to demo their songs soon and release them on streaming platforms but until then, you can catch their originals at any of their shows. Or listen to Along The Dotted Line on Spotify. 

The four members express their gratitude to the fellow bands they’ve had the pleasure of playing with so far at different local venues and thank them for their advice. All of them besides Malcolm, who is 17, are just 16 years old.

“I think about 70% of our listeners assume we’re a couple years older. I know from actual interactions,” Jack says with a laugh.

Despite their young age, the four have found the older music artists in the scene to be very accepting and encouraging. For Sam, he greatly appreciates the feedback local drummers have given him at their shows. “Every drummer I’ve met in the local scene has been cool. They’re always like, ‘hey man nice set!’ or ‘you play good patterns!’ Everyone is just really kind,” Sam says with a smile. 

However it’s not just older artists in the scene that have made an impression of the four teens. They express how they have been the youngest in their music pursuits the last couple of years but now, “...we’re finally at the age where there's a batch of musicians, music lovers, and makers that are a little bit younger than us,” Jack says; expressing how cool it is to feel a bigger sense of community in their age group. 

Younger musicians are not only providing a greater sense of community but also looking up to the four teens in search of advice. Tenzin describes how people barely younger than him, have approached him asking advice on how to keep a band stable. “That’s such an interesting feeling. As someone so young, to have somebody barely younger than you be like, how do you do it?” Tenzin says.

That's been one of the more heartwarming accomplishments for the band amongst other things. “Collectively, a really big milestone for us is that people enjoy us enough that they want to have us back again,” Tenzin says with a smile. The young band could not be more thrilled by all the love and support they have received from the community since their start.

Tenzin also shares that this interview was another big milestone for them, “this right now, is a really really big deal to me.” Sam also expresses the same, saying that it felt nice to feel like someone cared.

Sam also shares that conflict resolution is another crucial part to maintaining a stable band. An analogy Sam uses compares a band to a relationship. Meaning, you need to talk out your problems before they fester and allow yourselves to become stronger because of them. “It’s about keeping up a healthy dynamic,” Tenzin says.

The band also acknowledges how important it is to be friendly towards others in the music scene. Everyone is bound to run into people or bands that they don't jive with and that’s completely okay. Next Question says to keep your distance, be kind, and never be-little others for making their art. “Motivation for your music should not be made with the goal of being antagonistic towards other music makers,” Jack says. 

Sam agrees by saying, “If you’ve been wronged by music makers, don't become a music maker that then wrongs other musicians.”

Support can be a driving factor in success and Next Question credits a huge amount of their support to Tenzin’s parents. They frequently supply the band with a practice space, food, and encouragement. “The fact that I have two parents that are able to support me and never put me down. I know there’s a lot of people who are in less fortunate situations,” Tenzin says.

As the band pursues their musical journey, anticipation fills the air as they eagerly await the opportunity to share their sound with the world through streaming platforms and locally at upcoming shows.

As they forge ahead, their love for what they do shines through, promising exciting developments and memorable tunes for audiences to enjoy.

Our Town Reno reporting by Lauren Juillerat

Taking a Tour of Art by Kristina in the Basement

“Always be sure to do what is in your heart, because then the art you make will be you. It will be the most important thing you do,” says Kristina Simkins, a local watercolor painter, pyrographic artist and business owner. 

Simkins has been running her shop located in The Basement in downtown Reno for the past nine months, after having sales locations at Old Town Mall and Meadowood Mall.

Her latest space is an eclectic mix of painted gourds, nature inspired watercolors, air plants and moss balls. There is even a corner for her to continuously create art and work on new projects throughout the day, while she waits for customers to walk in and peruse. 

Simkins sources her painted gourds from her own garden. She in fact has a barn full of the dried vegetables waiting to be decorated with stunning watercolors and a layer of hand-painted sealant. 

“Painting gourds became natural after painting flat for so long.” Simkins reflected, “You get tired of painting flat, so about 20 years ago I decided to start painting on what I grew in my garden.” 

She has been making art since the third grade, when she had her first and only art class. The natural world has always been a main inspiration in her art, and she remembers being brought out to draw studies of birds and plants by her science teacher when she was nine. 

In addition to creating art of plants, Simkins is well versed in the care and keeping of botanicals. She operated a plant nursery for years with her mother, and has a wealth of knowledge to offer customers on how to keep their plants thriving. 

Plants and art are what Simkins loves, and she chooses to go into work every day because of this. 

“I will never stop working,” she said. “It’s the kind of job I get to play all my life.” 

This isn’t a simple walk into work either. Simkins lives out in Yerrington, and has to drive two hours into work each day. On the weekends she stays overnight in casinos to cut the drive shorter and give herself time for paperwork. 

Do what you have a passion for, so that every day feels like play. That is Simkins motto, and what she hopes to inspire people young and old to do as well. 

Her shop is not only full of wondrous art but also a fountain a wisdom.

Reporting and photos by Em Tomeo for Our Town Reno

Station 9 Fears the End of its Historical, Musical Gathering Spot in Sparks

Station 9 Nevada is facing the loss of their storied location, the historic building at 599 Nugget Ave. in Sparks just south of I-80.

It seems the building will be taken over for storage of shipping containers, and then possibly demolished for parking, despite community efforts to keep the space going as a cultural gathering place. 

“We are Station 9, a community center here in Reno/Sparks that strive for the betterment of our community, offering a safe space for all individuals to come and express themselves through their art,” they wrote to us this week, while sharing photos of some of the great events which have recently taken place there.

“We are based out of one of the most historical buildings in the Reno/Sparks area and are being threatened to leave our space nearing the end of this month by the railroad. We are looking to reach as many people in hopes to share our story and save our community we have built.”

A new TV series called “Shadow Unit” has also been filming in the building, with the film crew hoping their own work could build up more awareness and support to save the building.

“We here at Station 9 have used this building to build community amongst local young musicians and artists. This building is perfect for art and music, and can function as a premier venue for Sparks area,” Station Nine wrote Our Town Reno.

The former Machine Shop built about 120 years ago with three million bricks was once used to repair trains and is key to Sparks history, as its most significant railroad building.  Many Sparks residents made their livelihood working there. 

“This is history. This is living and breathing history. The City of Sparks was founded on the railroad,” Sparks City Councilman, Donald Abbott said about the building. 

Previously owned by Southern Pacific and then Union Pacific, the building was then sold to Robert Hardy, with U.P keeping the land.

Union Pacific has indicated Hart broke his lease on the land by subletting the building. The company has also indicated they need more space in Sparks to operate.  

“Our growing operations require additional space in Sparks to help meet local and regional economic demand,” a U.P. spokesman indicated. 

U.P. has given Hart until May 31, 2024 to get everything out of the building.  Besides Station 9, elected officials including Mayor Ed Lawson, historians, activists and officials from the nearby Sparks Heritage Museum had also been trying to save the building.   There was even a city resolution to save the old building from demolition as appears will happen now. 

An employee with the museum told Our Town Reno that their efforts had been rejected, even though there had been an initiative to take statements in favor of the building continuing as a community space.  

Our Town Reno reporting May 2024

Faded Shawties: Redefining Reno’s Music Scene with “Swagcore”

Formed nearly two years ago by Nico Villalobos, Daniel Davis, and Eduardo Alonzo, Faded Shawties emerged from a previous musical endeavor. The trio's journey began in the halls of Hug High, where they first crossed paths as members of the school's jazz band. Despite occasional reprimands for not paying attention in class, their shared love for music forged a lasting bond.

Initially, Daniel and Nico embarked on their musical journey when they formed their band, Post War Era. However, after the band disbanded, Eddie and Daniel regrouped, inviting Nico to join them once more. Thus, Faded Shawties was born, a name that would eventually become known in the Reno music scene. 

Balancing school commitments with their musical aspirations was not easy, especially for Daniel, who was still a high school senior when the band took shape. Their shared passion kept them motivated, and the trio persevered, supported by the guidance of a familiar face – their former jazz band teacher who attended one of their recent shows.

Faded Shawties has built up an impressive fan base within the last couple years by performing a dozen times at a variety of local venues. “It was crazy cause we were not really supposed to get a show in the first place, but it kinda just happened,” says Eddie the guitarist of the group.

Apparently when they initially brainstormed band names, Eddie had pitched the idea Homies Inc to which Daniel responded, “EWWW WHAT?” Daniel explained that it didn’t sound like their name or music would be serious, so he pitched the comical name Faded Shawties, which Eddie surprisingly liked. “When Eddie told me about the band, my first reaction was, EWWW cause that was the nastiest, most vile name I’d ever heard” says bassist Nico. 

In the beginning, they didn’t think that their band would turn into anything serious. They jammed and experimented with different sounds but didn’t intend on performing anywhere. However, as time went on, they realized that they did want to pursue a local venue gig. When they reached out to venues, they were met with no response or disinterest. It seemed no one really liked the name Faded Shawties. Despite this, the band's name, initially met with raised eyebrows and skepticism, became a defining aspect of their identity.

In the face of ridicule and skepticism, Faded Shawties remained undeterred, viewing their name as a conversation starter rather than a hindrance. Their band name has been the subject of ridicule at times. Venues, music lovers, and even other bands have declined to take them seriously. They’re too hung up on the fun name to give their music a listen or even converse with the members. This doesn't discourage Faded Shawties though. “It’s…its own marketing thing, you know? One of the first things we thought about with the name existing was that, people are going to hear it and be like, oh. What the hell do you guys even sound like?” says Eddie. 

They call their genre of music “swagcore” or as Daniel says, alt rock with a little bit of rap influence. They currently have three songs on their EP, “Daniel’s Mixtape", which was produced by BenderWorld’s drummer, Jack Barrington also known as MatreeBeats. They also have a song called “GTFO” which can be found with the rest of their music on SoundCloud and YouTube. However they’re hoping to move it to Spotify in the future. “You know when they pass that law, to get a cent per each play, we can get gumballs and everything” Daniel says through a laugh. 

You can hear their music at local venues, West Street Market, Fort Ralston, and The Bluebird. Their favorite gig to date, Silly Fest, stands out as a highlight—a packed out event featuring local acts Evangeline, BenderWorld, and Meat Blanket. Inspired by its success, Faded Shawties aims to host more free shows in the future, fostering a sense of community within Reno's music scene.

Every Faded Shawties show is different. From the silly outfits the members decide to wear, to the new lyrics Eddie freestyles quite frequently, and guest appearances from Willow, their shows are a must see. 

Central to their band brand is collaboration and inclusivity, exemplified by their partnership with Willow on their song, "Sunset Divide.”  Willow wrote the lyrics for the fan favorite and often comes on stage to sing it at live performances. They met her through Instagram and local jam sessions which eventually led to more serious songwriting. Willow has since formed her own band called Votary.

Besides Willow (pictured below at West Street Market) singing “Sunset Divide”, Eddie usually sings or raps on the rest of their songs. Each member brings their unique perspective to the creative process, resulting in a dynamic fusion of styles and sounds.

 For example Nico wrote the baseline in their song “Showoff”, Eddie came up with the song “Swag”, and Daniel used daw software for the first time to add drums and bass to his guitar in “Sunset Divide.” 

While there is some community in the Reno scene, with local artists collaborating and supporting one another, there is also a lot of toxicity within it. For Daniel, Eddie, and Nico, the toxicity within the band scene is a persistent issue. Drawing from their collective experiences, they shed light on the underlying tensions and challenges that plague the community. Whether it's baseless animosity or disputes fueled by money and hearsay, the trio recognizes the urgent need for change.

“I feel…the scene can be very welcoming at times. But there's also this dark side of the scene with people who are just in this weird clique. You can sort of see that with the straight edge scene a little bit” Daniel says.

Some bands contribute to the damage in the scene by destroying local venues in an attempt to elevate their stage presence. “I think it’s insanely ridiculous and disrespectful to vandalize a local venue. Like that’s lame. That’s just straight up, that’s lame” says Daniel. While some venues, like Fort Ralston, embrace bands by allowing them to leave their mark, others fall victim to vandalism, damaging both their equipment and reputation in the process.

Amidst all the recent toxicity within the band scene, Faded Shawties says that they started their band with two main goals. One of those being to foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment within the scene. Eddie and Daniel, in particular, were driven by a desire to dismantle the exclusive cliques and unfounded rumors that often hinder collaboration and stifle creativity.

“That’s one goal we had mainly, when me and Daniel were Faded Shawaties, was to have the scene become more welcoming. To anybody. Because going to a show by yourself is scary already. If you don't know what you're doing, or if you don't know anybody” says Eddie. 

Eddie said that their other goal is, “to get all the people that live in our area to go to stuff.” They’ve noticed that the majority of venues or band shows are in nicer parts of Reno. They want to expand that and open it up more so everyone can have an opportunity to play and get their music out there. “There needs to be more community in Reno,” Daniel says.

If you’ve been nervous about entering the band scene, consider going to a Faded Shawties show. Their music provides the perfect atmosphere for a fun night of inclusion, community, and creativity. 

It’s rare to find a truly welcoming band in Reno but Faded Shawties is one of them. The community comes together to aid them in their pursuits. Their merch is even hand drawn and made by Dakota or _.str4wb3ri._ on Instagram. They hope to give back and make a change to the ever expanding Reno scene.

Reporting by Lauren Juillerat for Our Town Reno with photos by Daniel Garzon

Noah Dane, Keeping a Musical Family Tradition Thriving, Releases Dookie Dog

While Noah Dane, 31, has been making music for nearly twenty years, his journey into the world of music began long before he could even grasp drumsticks firmly in his hands.

Growing up in a household filled with creativity, Dane was surrounded with music. His father, a drummer himself, instilled in him a love for beats, while his three older brothers, all musicians in their own right, surrounded him with melodies and harmonies. It was an environment filled with inspiration, where Dane's passion for music took root and flourished.

When he was eight years old his dad bought him his first drum kit. As Dane became older, he found a platform for his newfound talent within his childhood church. 

It was there, amidst the hallowed halls resonating with prayer and praise, that he first showcased his musical talent.

Dane shares his gratitude for everyone who supported him in the start of his career. “I couldn't do any of it without the help from so many people,” Dane says.  He crowdfunded $12,000 to make his first album Favorite Son.

While Dane says that he specializes in playing the drums, he also enjoys playing other instruments. “My line that I usually give people when they ask me what I play is that I really play drums, but I can fake it on a bunch of stuff,” Dane says. 

 Dane looks forward to releasing his upcoming album, Favorite Son, a collection of songs that he has been working on for a while. He got the opportunity to play the guitar and drums and a plethora of other instruments on the songs and shares his enthusiasm with how it turned out. 

“I made this record a while ago but it’s about a lot of things; such as growing up and losing my brother, and then being diagnosed with my autoimmune disease,” Dane says. He has gone through a lot of life altering events the last decade and turns to his music to speak about it all. 

He initially released his first single, There Goes, in 2019 as a way to help promote his full length album.

Dane went on an unexpected five year break after the release of his single, There Goes, dealing with an autoimmune disease that severely impacted his health. “I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that my health has gotten in the way a lot the last five years. I’ve struggled but I’ve been doing a lot better recently. Even if I got sick, you know, if I flared up tomorrow, I think I just realized how relieved I would be to put this record out,” Dane shares with excitement. 

Dane is releasing his third single May 10th; a song that highlights how we lash out at the people we love the most when we’re afraid. It was created with someone dear to his heart, Forrest Dunn, a trombonist who brought beautiful melancholy magic to the track. 

Dane in his spare time is an audio engineer. He got the opportunity to intern for Stephen Price, who Dane refers to as his “sound dad.” Price and him made the record together. However Dane had more than one close friend aid in the creation of his album. His friend Tori, from the band Victoria Victoria is also featured on a few tracks.

Some of the songs varied as far as where they were recorded. From Dane’s cramped apartment to Price’s beautiful studio in High Point, North Carolina, the record varies in atmospheric sound. “When I first made the record, I was kind of self conscious about the ones that I produced myself,” Dane says.

However with age and time, Dane now looks back on those songs that he made on his own with fondness. “I kind of love them. They’re like colors and textures and I just feel my expression through music,” Dane says. 

Dane says his music falls under the genre of Indie Rock / Alternative, or more specifically, Neo Folk. Growing up in North Carolina, he frequently attended bluegrass jams in barns as a little boy, developing his love for acoustic guitars. More recently, he has developed a love for synthesizers and drum machines which are present in his upcoming single as well as his full-length album. 

Dane decided to leave North Carolina and move to Reno, Nevada six years ago when his then girlfriend, now wife, got a job offer she couldn’t refuse. Excited for a new adventure, they embraced the Biggest Little City with open arms and fell in love with the high desert country. “Reno is a wonderfully odd place,” Dane shares with a laugh.

Here Dane got to follow another one of his passions, acting. He shares one of his proudest moments, saying he acted in the film Get Away, a campy horror film available on Amazon Prime. 

Another notable accomplishment was with his close friend Manuel Crosby, who had a film show at Sundance a few years ago that Dane, Crosby and their friend Kevin Kentera made a music score for during COVID.

On Sundance’s website, Dane recalls reading a list of names, crediting composers for the films.

“And then I read my name. I read the names of some people that I would just poop my pants to meet in real life that I respect so much. Like Questlove and the Dessner brothers from the band National. Just a lot of my favorite producers and artists,” Dane shares, saying that seeing his name only a few commas away from Questlove was surreal.

“I’m very grateful for anybody that takes the time to listen to my music,” Dane says, expressing gratitude to those that connect with his sound. He looks forward to the release of his upcoming single, Dookie Dog, May 10th.

Our Town Reno reporting by Lauren Juillerat

Dog Days with the Reno Aces (Includes Audio Feature)

With dog days becoming increasingly popular at the Greater Nevada Field, the Reno Aces will now hold six of them this season, with the next one April 28th starting at 1 p.m.

As fans entered with their canine companions earlier this month for the first dog day of this season, Craig Etem, came in with two of them.

“I had dogs when I was a kid but then I didn't have them for a long time or when our girls were young, but after having dogs, I can't imagine living without them. They’re just so in-tune, it's just awesome. And coming to the games, it's our favorite day at the ballpark. We have season tickets. We come to games all the time, but our favorite is dog day afternoon,” he said.

Fans gathered with their dogs before the start of the game in the grassy part of the stadium behind the right field wall, where water bowls and treat stations were set up along the outskirts of the field.

Enjoying the sun and meeting furry friends, Reno Aces General Manager Chris Phillips explained why adding Dog Day to the early part of the season is so important.

“You get to bring your best friend out to the ballpark and we've added the number of dog days that we had from last year, it was such a hit,” he said. “It's part of our goal to transform this whole outfield area, it's a perfect spot to be able to have your dogs out here and have a great day.”

For Aaron Mead, it was a last minute decision he didn’t regret. 

“I like the fact that we get to gather with the dogs, it's just fun, it makes you smile,” he said. “I actually got the tickets last night, just because I was like it’d be interesting to hang out here and everyone’s super friendly. It’s just so fun, dogs are just entertaining and always happy and to be around a lot of dogs is just phenomenal.”

The team won the first Dog Day game 6-4, leaving all home fans in attendance extra happy with the experience, and believing their dog might have been the good luck charm the team needed.

Reporting, photos and audio feature by Daisy Gomez