Local bands play Bakersfield’s Boiler Room - By N.L. Belardes
I’d never been to the Boiler Room out at 23rd and O Street. There, two venues, the Gate and Boiler Room are hidden near the onramp to route 178. They’re part of the same building, an old converted YMCA gym, only the Boiler Room is just what its name implies: an old renovated Boiler Room/basement tucked away down a flight of stairs, only this one is complete with an espresso bar. It’s clean, boxy, sort of looks like the industrial sector has met a creepy mansion interior decorator with its almost macabre flavor and a smallness that borders on claustrophobia.
What I really found was its size accentuates camaraderie and closeness between bands and among people attending. Let’s just say there’s no hiding in the Boiler Room except when the lights go out and the stage lights come on. But even then, you can still see and feel the closeness of the room.
Matildakay kicks it with pal director of The War Days
What I discovered is the Boiler Room is one of the most interesting venues in town. Outside, kids hang out on a spacious well-manicured lawn. Inside, through a back entrance there’s another flight of stairs, this to another room where I saw band members from Norfolk, Johnny Come Lately, Liars and Thieves, From Ritual to Romance and Lost Ocean all milling about, talking, lounging on a couch, and getting their equipment ready to go onstage. There was quite a mix of snacks and coffees too. I didn’t try a mocha drink but probably will next time.
Last Tuesday was a perfect mix of bands. It’s more interesting for me to hear a wide range of music than to, let’s say, listen to music from three bands all from the same genre of music. I get bored too easily. By the third pop band I would surely need a Red Bull injection or Tobasco and toothpicks in my eyes.
Tuesday's mix ranged from Post-Hardcore Screamo in From Ritual to Romance, Alt Country in Norfolk, a visiting band from Texas who I missed called The Elliot Project, and Jazzy Dreampop in the newest Bakersfield experiment in sound, Lostocean.
Let me just say for a moment that Lostocean’s new CD, Douse the Choir is a must buy. I find myself listening to this perfect rainstorm music, so intense, yet with a jazzy mellowness and a smashing edge that seduces listeners. The music comes off a dizzying high in its intensity by finishing with a long overture, "Sotir La Musique: A Movement in Eb Minor", a wonderful piece of musical scoring that puts final touches selling listeners on the idea that young keyboardest Skyler is a sensation to be heard and seen. Although Lostocean played last, they were well worth the wait to see young Skyler work his vibrant keyboard magic.
I should say, although their CD is top rate, these youngsters are in a ‘live’ learning phase. Their raw musical talents, education in theory and performance has lent to some real engineering mastery in their CD mix. However their live performance had a few too many voice effects and some live mixing that didn’t quite match the perfection of much of their CD. Doesn’t matter, they’ve already come a long way from when I saw them perform at Gigantic. And even then I recognized Skyler’s genius. Although the entire band is filled with brilliance...
Most local bands have that one rock star quality performer, and Lostocean is example of that. If you want to witness a local sensation, go catch Skyler perform his magic. Lostocean is a really intense group and is sure to rack up a quick following.
Ruben Val Verde’s band, From Ritual to Romance just keeps surprising me. Not only did he tentatively invite me to a barbecue. We Mexicans can cook it up. You folks who have had my salsa can attest to that. Just go to willieboy.com for the recipe. Now, with that said, these guys have played the Whiskey-a-go-go and are going back for a second run. They were invited the first time around. Why? Bakersfield has its share of post hardcore bands who are further along in their careers. It could be just the raw power and energy in this mostly Chicano band. Raw newness, moldable, impressionable, honest and fun kids... why not bring them in? There’s no egos that I’ve discovered in this group. It could be Val Verde’s ability to hold a scream. I think it’s really a combination of all those qualities, especially their lead guitarist, Macario Guiterrez. This long-haired solo-skilled kid is an aficionado of old school Metallica, and has obviously watched his share of Eddie Van Halen tapes…
What else can I say about the alt country band, Norfolk? Lead man James has been educating me to some of their influences lately. While at work I have been digging the very tragic Elliot Smith, the cool sounds of the Thrills, and Old 97s. James has gone 3-for-3 busting strings which I thought was funny. Norfolk is a great band but does need to do something with dead air during tuning… Drummer Pablo, who I hear is one of the best all-around guitarists in Bakersfield maybe should have a mic to talk shop during such breaks. He let out a wail when James asked him to talk. Doesn’t matter. I’m never leaving. Soon as Norfolk tears into a song, such near meaningless moments as 'dead air' are all but forgotten...
What I really found was its size accentuates camaraderie and closeness between bands and among people attending. Let’s just say there’s no hiding in the Boiler Room except when the lights go out and the stage lights come on. But even then, you can still see and feel the closeness of the room.
Matildakay kicks it with pal director of The War Days
What I discovered is the Boiler Room is one of the most interesting venues in town. Outside, kids hang out on a spacious well-manicured lawn. Inside, through a back entrance there’s another flight of stairs, this to another room where I saw band members from Norfolk, Johnny Come Lately, Liars and Thieves, From Ritual to Romance and Lost Ocean all milling about, talking, lounging on a couch, and getting their equipment ready to go onstage. There was quite a mix of snacks and coffees too. I didn’t try a mocha drink but probably will next time.
Last Tuesday was a perfect mix of bands. It’s more interesting for me to hear a wide range of music than to, let’s say, listen to music from three bands all from the same genre of music. I get bored too easily. By the third pop band I would surely need a Red Bull injection or Tobasco and toothpicks in my eyes.
Tuesday's mix ranged from Post-Hardcore Screamo in From Ritual to Romance, Alt Country in Norfolk, a visiting band from Texas who I missed called The Elliot Project, and Jazzy Dreampop in the newest Bakersfield experiment in sound, Lostocean.
Let me just say for a moment that Lostocean’s new CD, Douse the Choir is a must buy. I find myself listening to this perfect rainstorm music, so intense, yet with a jazzy mellowness and a smashing edge that seduces listeners. The music comes off a dizzying high in its intensity by finishing with a long overture, "Sotir La Musique: A Movement in Eb Minor", a wonderful piece of musical scoring that puts final touches selling listeners on the idea that young keyboardest Skyler is a sensation to be heard and seen. Although Lostocean played last, they were well worth the wait to see young Skyler work his vibrant keyboard magic.
I should say, although their CD is top rate, these youngsters are in a ‘live’ learning phase. Their raw musical talents, education in theory and performance has lent to some real engineering mastery in their CD mix. However their live performance had a few too many voice effects and some live mixing that didn’t quite match the perfection of much of their CD. Doesn’t matter, they’ve already come a long way from when I saw them perform at Gigantic. And even then I recognized Skyler’s genius. Although the entire band is filled with brilliance...
Most local bands have that one rock star quality performer, and Lostocean is example of that. If you want to witness a local sensation, go catch Skyler perform his magic. Lostocean is a really intense group and is sure to rack up a quick following.
Ruben Val Verde’s band, From Ritual to Romance just keeps surprising me. Not only did he tentatively invite me to a barbecue. We Mexicans can cook it up. You folks who have had my salsa can attest to that. Just go to willieboy.com for the recipe. Now, with that said, these guys have played the Whiskey-a-go-go and are going back for a second run. They were invited the first time around. Why? Bakersfield has its share of post hardcore bands who are further along in their careers. It could be just the raw power and energy in this mostly Chicano band. Raw newness, moldable, impressionable, honest and fun kids... why not bring them in? There’s no egos that I’ve discovered in this group. It could be Val Verde’s ability to hold a scream. I think it’s really a combination of all those qualities, especially their lead guitarist, Macario Guiterrez. This long-haired solo-skilled kid is an aficionado of old school Metallica, and has obviously watched his share of Eddie Van Halen tapes…
What else can I say about the alt country band, Norfolk? Lead man James has been educating me to some of their influences lately. While at work I have been digging the very tragic Elliot Smith, the cool sounds of the Thrills, and Old 97s. James has gone 3-for-3 busting strings which I thought was funny. Norfolk is a great band but does need to do something with dead air during tuning… Drummer Pablo, who I hear is one of the best all-around guitarists in Bakersfield maybe should have a mic to talk shop during such breaks. He let out a wail when James asked him to talk. Doesn’t matter. I’m never leaving. Soon as Norfolk tears into a song, such near meaningless moments as 'dead air' are all but forgotten...
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Friday, May 27, 2005.
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