Controversy of the kid with the mohawk/ Norfolk rises in alt country - By N.L. Belardes
Why are you missing the controversy? Because you want to boycott band battles? Because band battles are pointless popularity contests? I see your argument. But you still miss out on the music, and yummy cheap burgers made by a delightful little Latino lady who puts as much care into each burger as my grandmother used to in the menudo and homemade tortillas she would make…
Week 1: May 5, 2005: Controversy abounded when a motley crew of fans ripped down the KRAB Radio banner from the stage. I caught one image as a next generation punk finished the job.
The banner went crashing to the floor amid rowdy cheers. Ahh, the rebelliousness of youth. Was that The War Days film director? Talk about controversy following a kid everywhere…a future big budget filmmaker getting rowdy at such an innocent young age...
Of course I missed the Hips and one other band that played. The Hips are a great band out of Bakersfield who tour around quite a bit. They’re politically conscious and one of the leading boycotting bands regarding the Jerry’s Pizza controversy. I really like the Hips, they’re one of my favorite local bands that I haven’t seen live. They have a great punk style captured on cd (includes live performances). If you haven’t heard them, please do.
Gramercy Riff followed up with a screaming performance that had nearly everyone in the band yelling lyrics that could tear a hole in just about anyone’s soul. Joel’s guitar style is masterful. He rips into these solos that just gouge your heartstrings. I see them any chance I can… the guitar work is that good. So full of energy and passion in a uniquely melodic hard-rocking style. Joel did tell me that they are making a new cd... I hope they finish it soon...
Broken Record Gospel, a bit dizzy from lack of practices recovered well and poured themselves into a rocking set where I saw local bohemians in the crowd dancing to their punk funk groove. For a moment I almost slipped into Bakersfield Bukowski mode. I tend to want to write about the dark bohemian drift that often accompanies this band. Bobby and Roseamber were in the crowd, hugging as usual. They enjoyed the richness of the music along with the darkness of such a literary moment that I often capture. Broken Record Gospel is one of those bands that when they hit certain notes you just can’t help but get into their new Bakersfield experiment in sound…
Week 2: May 12, 2005: More Controversy... At the end of the night Danny Spanks announced a tie. There was still one ticket holder in the crowd, a fan of Vesper. I think she may have been the girlfriend of the guitarist. There weren’t a lot of people in the crowd so it was easy to people-watch young couples… Although Vesper clearly was not the best band of the night, as I mentioned earlier, this is a popularity contest and so you know where the girl put her ticket. Of course the real controversy occurred not because of her voting for her favorite band, but because of a little boy. Probably around 4 years old with a Mohawk, his mom let him vote before hearing all of the bands. I saw him plop his ticket into the Vesper box… making for possibly the most random victory ever for a Bakersfield band battle. Where’s Paula Abdul when you need her? Oh yeah, sleeping with the contestants… silly me.
Late as usual I only caught a glimpse of the Night Crawlers. Not really sure what to think of them as I was busy buying a burger... Friend, Matildakay saw some dude she knew who was the parent of two twins in the band. I can say they were loud and rowdy and were slamming a bass on the ground in some loud funky way. I don't mind that at all... Seriously, these guys are a psychobilly band, very dark and spooky... Give them a listen on MySpace... they're kind of like Brian Setzer with a Munstered-out trip going on...
They were followed up with Pangolese, a power-pop rock band ala the Pixies. James Ratliff had passed me just before Pangolese took the stage and said, “This is the loudest band in Bakersfield.” He was right. Pangolese was so loud that I went and had an orange sherbet ice cream cone and listened from outside of the Latino dance floor. I think my ears are still ringing. I need to listen to them more... I'm a big fan of the Pixies... you know they're playing in LA, right? (Favorite concert of all time: Pixies and Sugarcubes opened for U2 on Achtung Baby Tour)
Vesper took the stage with pride. Tyler and the Wranglers old star, ‘Tyler’ was on board to play bass. Now let me tell you, these guys have great energy because they are in love with their own music. I swear they were going to kiss themselves the way Tyler swings that bass like he’s dancing with a cherub. But you know I’m just teasing. Self-love is not a bad thing; just shows their joy of performing. Now Enrique sure tried to stir up trouble with that top ten best and worst dressed list and Vesper was on it. I was waiting to see if their front man Chris was going to go ‘Flock of Seagulls’ as Enrique hoped. But no, it wasn’t happening. These are just a group of normal guys out to rock the town with fast tunes and even a rocking cover of “I wear my sunglasses at night,” but without the glam flash. I was kind of scared at first with the Corey Hart cover. Reminded me of a prom in the 80s. That’s what you might call, ‘back in the day’. Barf. But it was fun and they took the song to a new hard-rocking level…
Tyler and the Wrangvesps
Enter Norfolk. I picture lead man, James Ratliff waking up early, around 3am. He gets going for the day and drives a truck to Fresno. He heads through agriculture country, through the smells of cherry blossom freeways and almond orchard rows while tap-tap-tappin’ out new songs on the steering wheel. The soil along this route is as rich as any agricultural Mecca. And yet it’s just dirt, and that’s where roots grow. His songs take you back to roots. Clearly the cowpunk band of the city, Norfolk is not rockabilly, but rocking alt country with songs about love, loss, and humanness, and with a gritty full country sound that will grab and shake you.
I’ve seen members of bands compliment Norfolk left and right. They are respected by the rock community. But put James in a white T-shirt and boots and these guys are playing at Mesa Marin raceway at the next big rodeo day concert as the ‘crossover’ band in town. Could this be the New Bakersfield Sound? Could this be, not a revival, but a reformation of a genre into an alt country rock scene that Bakersfield lacks? Who could be the first rock band to play the Crystal Palace…? The Crystal Palace gets a nation-wide audience, you know. And Norfolk does deserve to play there. You tell me, what should a band do to get noticed?
Do you folks know your history? Tiger by the Tail? Act Naturally? Buck Owens? The Beatles and Bakersfield? Red Simpson? The Blackboard? You know, part of the problem around Bakersfield is that this city does not understand its rich country music history. Doesn’t mean you have to like it. But to understand its influence, its power not just on country-western music, but on all genres of music…
I’m not sure Bakersfield understands the nation-wide influence of alt country. Who headlined Coachella with Coldplay? Wilco. Don’t underestimate the power of this movement long out of Chicago and Austin. The Jayhawks, Jay Farrar, Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo, Trailer Bride, Gillian Welch, Steve Earle… all big names in a big movement. Can Norfolk be one of them? I think so… they’re that good, and they’re out of Bakersfield, the Nashville West. That has clout. You better believe Jeff Tweedy would turn his head and wonder if Norfolk knew Buck, Merle and Dwight.
What an incredible night to hear Norfolk, even when James destroyed his guitar, or when he tore into song after song with incredible guitar work from Peter Prevost, and a bass that captured country moods in Jason Ford Turner’s powerful and energetic playing…
Why do you folks insist in missing these gems of bands?
There’s something good to hear in every one of them…
And like I said. The burgers are really good, and cheap!
Week 1: May 5, 2005: Controversy abounded when a motley crew of fans ripped down the KRAB Radio banner from the stage. I caught one image as a next generation punk finished the job.
The banner went crashing to the floor amid rowdy cheers. Ahh, the rebelliousness of youth. Was that The War Days film director? Talk about controversy following a kid everywhere…a future big budget filmmaker getting rowdy at such an innocent young age...
Of course I missed the Hips and one other band that played. The Hips are a great band out of Bakersfield who tour around quite a bit. They’re politically conscious and one of the leading boycotting bands regarding the Jerry’s Pizza controversy. I really like the Hips, they’re one of my favorite local bands that I haven’t seen live. They have a great punk style captured on cd (includes live performances). If you haven’t heard them, please do.
Gramercy Riff followed up with a screaming performance that had nearly everyone in the band yelling lyrics that could tear a hole in just about anyone’s soul. Joel’s guitar style is masterful. He rips into these solos that just gouge your heartstrings. I see them any chance I can… the guitar work is that good. So full of energy and passion in a uniquely melodic hard-rocking style. Joel did tell me that they are making a new cd... I hope they finish it soon...
Broken Record Gospel, a bit dizzy from lack of practices recovered well and poured themselves into a rocking set where I saw local bohemians in the crowd dancing to their punk funk groove. For a moment I almost slipped into Bakersfield Bukowski mode. I tend to want to write about the dark bohemian drift that often accompanies this band. Bobby and Roseamber were in the crowd, hugging as usual. They enjoyed the richness of the music along with the darkness of such a literary moment that I often capture. Broken Record Gospel is one of those bands that when they hit certain notes you just can’t help but get into their new Bakersfield experiment in sound…
Week 2: May 12, 2005: More Controversy... At the end of the night Danny Spanks announced a tie. There was still one ticket holder in the crowd, a fan of Vesper. I think she may have been the girlfriend of the guitarist. There weren’t a lot of people in the crowd so it was easy to people-watch young couples… Although Vesper clearly was not the best band of the night, as I mentioned earlier, this is a popularity contest and so you know where the girl put her ticket. Of course the real controversy occurred not because of her voting for her favorite band, but because of a little boy. Probably around 4 years old with a Mohawk, his mom let him vote before hearing all of the bands. I saw him plop his ticket into the Vesper box… making for possibly the most random victory ever for a Bakersfield band battle. Where’s Paula Abdul when you need her? Oh yeah, sleeping with the contestants… silly me.
Late as usual I only caught a glimpse of the Night Crawlers. Not really sure what to think of them as I was busy buying a burger... Friend, Matildakay saw some dude she knew who was the parent of two twins in the band. I can say they were loud and rowdy and were slamming a bass on the ground in some loud funky way. I don't mind that at all... Seriously, these guys are a psychobilly band, very dark and spooky... Give them a listen on MySpace... they're kind of like Brian Setzer with a Munstered-out trip going on...
They were followed up with Pangolese, a power-pop rock band ala the Pixies. James Ratliff had passed me just before Pangolese took the stage and said, “This is the loudest band in Bakersfield.” He was right. Pangolese was so loud that I went and had an orange sherbet ice cream cone and listened from outside of the Latino dance floor. I think my ears are still ringing. I need to listen to them more... I'm a big fan of the Pixies... you know they're playing in LA, right? (Favorite concert of all time: Pixies and Sugarcubes opened for U2 on Achtung Baby Tour)
Vesper took the stage with pride. Tyler and the Wranglers old star, ‘Tyler’ was on board to play bass. Now let me tell you, these guys have great energy because they are in love with their own music. I swear they were going to kiss themselves the way Tyler swings that bass like he’s dancing with a cherub. But you know I’m just teasing. Self-love is not a bad thing; just shows their joy of performing. Now Enrique sure tried to stir up trouble with that top ten best and worst dressed list and Vesper was on it. I was waiting to see if their front man Chris was going to go ‘Flock of Seagulls’ as Enrique hoped. But no, it wasn’t happening. These are just a group of normal guys out to rock the town with fast tunes and even a rocking cover of “I wear my sunglasses at night,” but without the glam flash. I was kind of scared at first with the Corey Hart cover. Reminded me of a prom in the 80s. That’s what you might call, ‘back in the day’. Barf. But it was fun and they took the song to a new hard-rocking level…
Tyler and the Wrangvesps
Enter Norfolk. I picture lead man, James Ratliff waking up early, around 3am. He gets going for the day and drives a truck to Fresno. He heads through agriculture country, through the smells of cherry blossom freeways and almond orchard rows while tap-tap-tappin’ out new songs on the steering wheel. The soil along this route is as rich as any agricultural Mecca. And yet it’s just dirt, and that’s where roots grow. His songs take you back to roots. Clearly the cowpunk band of the city, Norfolk is not rockabilly, but rocking alt country with songs about love, loss, and humanness, and with a gritty full country sound that will grab and shake you.
I’ve seen members of bands compliment Norfolk left and right. They are respected by the rock community. But put James in a white T-shirt and boots and these guys are playing at Mesa Marin raceway at the next big rodeo day concert as the ‘crossover’ band in town. Could this be the New Bakersfield Sound? Could this be, not a revival, but a reformation of a genre into an alt country rock scene that Bakersfield lacks? Who could be the first rock band to play the Crystal Palace…? The Crystal Palace gets a nation-wide audience, you know. And Norfolk does deserve to play there. You tell me, what should a band do to get noticed?
Do you folks know your history? Tiger by the Tail? Act Naturally? Buck Owens? The Beatles and Bakersfield? Red Simpson? The Blackboard? You know, part of the problem around Bakersfield is that this city does not understand its rich country music history. Doesn’t mean you have to like it. But to understand its influence, its power not just on country-western music, but on all genres of music…
I’m not sure Bakersfield understands the nation-wide influence of alt country. Who headlined Coachella with Coldplay? Wilco. Don’t underestimate the power of this movement long out of Chicago and Austin. The Jayhawks, Jay Farrar, Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo, Trailer Bride, Gillian Welch, Steve Earle… all big names in a big movement. Can Norfolk be one of them? I think so… they’re that good, and they’re out of Bakersfield, the Nashville West. That has clout. You better believe Jeff Tweedy would turn his head and wonder if Norfolk knew Buck, Merle and Dwight.
What an incredible night to hear Norfolk, even when James destroyed his guitar, or when he tore into song after song with incredible guitar work from Peter Prevost, and a bass that captured country moods in Jason Ford Turner’s powerful and energetic playing…
Why do you folks insist in missing these gems of bands?
There’s something good to hear in every one of them…
And like I said. The burgers are really good, and cheap!
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Saturday, May 14, 2005.
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