Into the world of Karmahitlist... - by N.L. Belardes
Riley’s bar, one of those dark bars in downtown Bakersfield where literary ghosts lurk has changed identities more times through the years than James Bond actors. Not that Riley’s itself has transformed. It’s been around seven years or so. It was Chaos Coffee and Bottom’s Up, and I forget what it was before that… right now it’s a long lonely bar in the twilight hours. Shadows shoot off the glass and through beer glasses like a scene from an old black and white flick; subtle yet atmospheric. That’s when I wandered in. Who know who frequents the creaky wooden floors at all hours… I only haunt when a Bakersfield band is involved.
Me with a horrid cold, I walked in late this evening, coughing. In the shadows there sat a few movers and shakers of the Bakersfield music scene. The big guy of the writing scene himself sat at a table. He leaned against the wall and looked like he was ready to jam on a sax and down a few brews. In front of him a notebook sat on the table. I wondered what was in it. The secrets to Bakersfield’s downtown music scene universe no less? Two other guys leaned into the picture. One had a dark look about him. One too many beers the night before. He sported a Mohawk. His eyes looked tired but he had an agenda. He talked fast. The shadows were on fire. He leaned forward and began talking about Karmahitlist. The band had taken a turn. But it wasn’t the gossip-turn locals had been talking about. It wasn’t the demise of a great band. They weren’t dead. I never thought they were. Cesareo had been on the road. He’d been smacking the drums as a paid drummer, on hiatus from Karmahitlist. He was already a professional. But just like most Bakersfield bands. Getting paid is something else. It’s something most idealistic bands dream of. He came back transformed. The music industry became real, tangible. It took form. It wasn’t unreachable, but it was distant. There are contracts on the horizon, and not completely untouchable. So we talked. The big guy talked too. So did guitarist Jim Fendrick. His tattoos stood out beneath his shirt, creeped up his neck; his slicked back hair and bright eyes spoke volumes. Karmahitlist is not dead. Karmahitlist is about to tell all. Karmahitlist, with its rock star made-up frontman god, Seantastic, the ex-marine fist-fighter… Tim on bass… and Cesareo and Jim are about to speak out…
Developing…
Me with a horrid cold, I walked in late this evening, coughing. In the shadows there sat a few movers and shakers of the Bakersfield music scene. The big guy of the writing scene himself sat at a table. He leaned against the wall and looked like he was ready to jam on a sax and down a few brews. In front of him a notebook sat on the table. I wondered what was in it. The secrets to Bakersfield’s downtown music scene universe no less? Two other guys leaned into the picture. One had a dark look about him. One too many beers the night before. He sported a Mohawk. His eyes looked tired but he had an agenda. He talked fast. The shadows were on fire. He leaned forward and began talking about Karmahitlist. The band had taken a turn. But it wasn’t the gossip-turn locals had been talking about. It wasn’t the demise of a great band. They weren’t dead. I never thought they were. Cesareo had been on the road. He’d been smacking the drums as a paid drummer, on hiatus from Karmahitlist. He was already a professional. But just like most Bakersfield bands. Getting paid is something else. It’s something most idealistic bands dream of. He came back transformed. The music industry became real, tangible. It took form. It wasn’t unreachable, but it was distant. There are contracts on the horizon, and not completely untouchable. So we talked. The big guy talked too. So did guitarist Jim Fendrick. His tattoos stood out beneath his shirt, creeped up his neck; his slicked back hair and bright eyes spoke volumes. Karmahitlist is not dead. Karmahitlist is about to tell all. Karmahitlist, with its rock star made-up frontman god, Seantastic, the ex-marine fist-fighter… Tim on bass… and Cesareo and Jim are about to speak out…
Developing…
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Tuesday, May 03, 2005.
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