A FILTHY night of cops, thrashing, and punk - by N.L. Belardes
Friday night, March 25th is a day that will go down in Bakersfield punk rock infamy. Three punk bands packed the house down at Kosmos: Empty Handed and 40 to 1, with the final band of the night being the Filthies. All bands tore up the house, which isn’t always the case when you’re seeing multiple bands play.
Matildakay, the Filthies and a Next Generation Punk
When I arrived Kosmos was already packed. The tables were crowded; the bar was full; there was hardly room to get a drink and then slink along the dark wall to see the bands. I finally made my way to a spot behind a table to watch Empty Handed from Tehachapi tear into a rockin’ set. Although they classify themselves in a punk category, there were certainly traces of metal and just plain hard rock in these guys from the Southern Sierras. They started off the night rocking hard and didn’t let up until their beers were gone.
Originally all I heard was their song on the KRABland bands cd, Trigger-happy lullaby, a driving song with knifing riffs and a grinding chorus mixed with tempo change-ups that are really quite impressive. Vocalist Jess has a voice as raw as a Bakersfield fist-fight and comes right at you, pounding away through the rhythms of their hard rocking music. Check out these guys if you get a chance. Their latest song, The Attraction is a fast-moving love ballad that is a testament of their tight-ripping guitar work. Apparently they’re playing all over the US and even did a tour of the Roxy. If you like good fast rough music, go see them.
40 to 1 played some fast-breaking punk songs. I wish they played more. They seemed to enjoy bantering quite a bit between songs. It’s Ok, their fans were into it. And when they played, man were they into a mainstream punk groove that’s popular these days. Their lead singer commanded the stage with his antics and played a hard punk set to their devoted crowd. That’s one thing I have noticed about Bakersfield bands. They all have their own particular followings. Even the exceptions to the rule have a devoted clientele. I have to admit it does take a toll to be out on the streets several nights a week to catch a glimpse of so many exciting bands. Before last night I had never even heard of 40 to 1, but they’re a band worth listening to. A demo guys? Myspace? I tried a few variations of their band name on myspace but only came up with hip-hop.
And then came the Filthies. Gus, on a war path to get some phone number was especially driven as he jumped at least four times onto the speaker to rip his guitar and watch as Temperd front man moshed it up in the crowd. This temperd guy—he even put me in a brief headlock. I saw stars, or rock stars, or was it Van Gogh Starry Nights as my head spun from his rock-like grip. He must shatter two mics a night with that power. None to worry. I used my hockey skills to break loose along the boards and skate up to the front row, where he followed me after thrashing a next generation punk a bit. Finally security had to shanghai him. But who could blame him? The Filthies were playing and he needed to release! I saw him singing along as fists were flying. It was that rockin’.
Kenny Filthy poured his heart into each song and even paid tribute to Guses family in an ode to his leftist member (real Commies, those guys). It wasn’t quite as good as his audio ode to me, slamming me like the bitch I am for not going to watch Kenny as he peeked through bushes to watch a guy eat pizza while another guy nibbled on his ear. Oh, you didn’t hear? Well listen to the Filthies audio blog from March 24th where he talks up two great shows: the Double Down Saloon and The Montgomery World Plaza Irish Day clog-stompin’ Filthies tribute to red-headed Americana and ShamROCKPUNK shakes. No fries with that.
Just after the show, cops began infiltrating Kosmos. Had beer somehow made it into the hands of minors? I don’t know. I was busy making a big get-a-way with Guppy and his next generation punk. We tore through Bakersfield streets and today all are living to rejoice in a great night of thrashing and punk…
In a liner note. I can’t wait to see War Days. I hear the Filthies crowd favorite, Embalm You is going to be laid down as THE track to the finale battle scene where war heroes die, and Viet Cong shatter like fireworks. Dig it.
Matildakay, the Filthies and a Next Generation Punk
When I arrived Kosmos was already packed. The tables were crowded; the bar was full; there was hardly room to get a drink and then slink along the dark wall to see the bands. I finally made my way to a spot behind a table to watch Empty Handed from Tehachapi tear into a rockin’ set. Although they classify themselves in a punk category, there were certainly traces of metal and just plain hard rock in these guys from the Southern Sierras. They started off the night rocking hard and didn’t let up until their beers were gone.
Originally all I heard was their song on the KRABland bands cd, Trigger-happy lullaby, a driving song with knifing riffs and a grinding chorus mixed with tempo change-ups that are really quite impressive. Vocalist Jess has a voice as raw as a Bakersfield fist-fight and comes right at you, pounding away through the rhythms of their hard rocking music. Check out these guys if you get a chance. Their latest song, The Attraction is a fast-moving love ballad that is a testament of their tight-ripping guitar work. Apparently they’re playing all over the US and even did a tour of the Roxy. If you like good fast rough music, go see them.
40 to 1 played some fast-breaking punk songs. I wish they played more. They seemed to enjoy bantering quite a bit between songs. It’s Ok, their fans were into it. And when they played, man were they into a mainstream punk groove that’s popular these days. Their lead singer commanded the stage with his antics and played a hard punk set to their devoted crowd. That’s one thing I have noticed about Bakersfield bands. They all have their own particular followings. Even the exceptions to the rule have a devoted clientele. I have to admit it does take a toll to be out on the streets several nights a week to catch a glimpse of so many exciting bands. Before last night I had never even heard of 40 to 1, but they’re a band worth listening to. A demo guys? Myspace? I tried a few variations of their band name on myspace but only came up with hip-hop.
And then came the Filthies. Gus, on a war path to get some phone number was especially driven as he jumped at least four times onto the speaker to rip his guitar and watch as Temperd front man moshed it up in the crowd. This temperd guy—he even put me in a brief headlock. I saw stars, or rock stars, or was it Van Gogh Starry Nights as my head spun from his rock-like grip. He must shatter two mics a night with that power. None to worry. I used my hockey skills to break loose along the boards and skate up to the front row, where he followed me after thrashing a next generation punk a bit. Finally security had to shanghai him. But who could blame him? The Filthies were playing and he needed to release! I saw him singing along as fists were flying. It was that rockin’.
Kenny Filthy poured his heart into each song and even paid tribute to Guses family in an ode to his leftist member (real Commies, those guys). It wasn’t quite as good as his audio ode to me, slamming me like the bitch I am for not going to watch Kenny as he peeked through bushes to watch a guy eat pizza while another guy nibbled on his ear. Oh, you didn’t hear? Well listen to the Filthies audio blog from March 24th where he talks up two great shows: the Double Down Saloon and The Montgomery World Plaza Irish Day clog-stompin’ Filthies tribute to red-headed Americana and ShamROCKPUNK shakes. No fries with that.
Just after the show, cops began infiltrating Kosmos. Had beer somehow made it into the hands of minors? I don’t know. I was busy making a big get-a-way with Guppy and his next generation punk. We tore through Bakersfield streets and today all are living to rejoice in a great night of thrashing and punk…
In a liner note. I can’t wait to see War Days. I hear the Filthies crowd favorite, Embalm You is going to be laid down as THE track to the finale battle scene where war heroes die, and Viet Cong shatter like fireworks. Dig it.
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Saturday, March 26, 2005.
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