And the people came out... - By N.L. Belardes
What a weekend for music in downtown Bakersfield and the surrounding communities. After hearing about a dismal turnout at Montgomery World Plaza last Thursday night I suddenly got a little skeptical about not only Gramercy Riff’s last show down at Jerry’s Pizza, but the big Norfolk/Mento Buru show over at Fishlips just down the street from the Pizza-a-go-go and the Filthies over at the Rooster.
First off I know the Pizza-a-go-go had a major party going on. Just check out JR’s pics of the raucous time had in the cavernous basement. Makes me wonder… is the boycott over? Dare I declare unity in the scene? This must be explored further in a future article…
I saw Joel from Gramercy Riff on Chester Avenue and 19th. While I rounded the corner he looked as if en era just ended…
I helped promote the Fishlips show and the night ended up being a packed house. This was an incredible scene compared to what I had been experiencing as of late at the MWP. Not only were the tables and booths all filled. People mingled and danced during Mento Buru’s big set.
Of course that was after Norfolk’s huge debut at Fishlips. Here was alt country at the fish fry tearing it up in a host of rocking country tunes. Their set was well received by the boys in Mento Buru who all had great admiration for Jason Ford Turner’s country blues bass playing and the entire blend of rocking pop country sounds. As a part of the celebration, Norfolk changed things up after their set. Front man James Ratliff moved from guitar to drums while their brilliant drummer, Pablo Alaniz moved to guitar and back-up vocals on three kicking Tom Petty covers that included Mary Jane’s Last Dance and Into the Great Wide Open.
I must say that Peter Prevost and Pablo Alaniz both have quite the presence on stage. What an enjoyable time for all to see these great rock songs played by such a talented mix of musicians. I hear this was Prevost’s first time singing to more than just his bandmates…
As for Mento Buru what can you say? Ska King Matt Munoz just upped his showmanship a notch by bringing an incredible set from their reservoir of eighty or so great Latin-based ska songs. His percussion, singing and tenor sax are some of the most incredible rock musicianship you can ever see produced here in Bakersfield. And the supporting band? All incredible musicians with a long history of greatness, and all connected in unique ways to the community.
More on Munoz... Wow—this crooner belted out my name like it actually meant something incredible in espanol. My great grandfather, fighter with Poncho Villa could hear his name on angel wings the way Matt sung it...
Mento played two or three sets and Matt cramped up and had to call it a night (not that he told the audience that included Delores Huerta and her entourage).
The weekend didn’t end there. I heard that Tyler from Liars and Thieves filled in as drummer for the Filthies over at the Rooster. Rumors claim that Guppy was quite perturbed about this cool rock star kid filling in. But what can you do? The show must go on, right? There are some entertaining drummers in this town. Cesareo from Karmahitlist for one, and Tyler being another. These guys are straight up rock star material and two of my favorite people in town...
Kernville also had a packed house with Prone and Exithead playing to hundreds of kids who all poured in from the mountain communities to hear some great music. Paul wrote a little piece that JR posted. Go check it out.
Of course the weekend ended with a great BBQ. I cooked up some salsa, carne asada and chicken for members from about five bands. There were artists, writers and musicians over in the Oleander Arts Collective all uniting for the cause of camaraderie and for the excitement of being in a music scene that is really headed somewhere… Thanks to my downtown muses who showed up and all the incredible people who came to enjoy some moments at the little house of an unheard of novelist…
First off I know the Pizza-a-go-go had a major party going on. Just check out JR’s pics of the raucous time had in the cavernous basement. Makes me wonder… is the boycott over? Dare I declare unity in the scene? This must be explored further in a future article…
I saw Joel from Gramercy Riff on Chester Avenue and 19th. While I rounded the corner he looked as if en era just ended…
I helped promote the Fishlips show and the night ended up being a packed house. This was an incredible scene compared to what I had been experiencing as of late at the MWP. Not only were the tables and booths all filled. People mingled and danced during Mento Buru’s big set.
Of course that was after Norfolk’s huge debut at Fishlips. Here was alt country at the fish fry tearing it up in a host of rocking country tunes. Their set was well received by the boys in Mento Buru who all had great admiration for Jason Ford Turner’s country blues bass playing and the entire blend of rocking pop country sounds. As a part of the celebration, Norfolk changed things up after their set. Front man James Ratliff moved from guitar to drums while their brilliant drummer, Pablo Alaniz moved to guitar and back-up vocals on three kicking Tom Petty covers that included Mary Jane’s Last Dance and Into the Great Wide Open.
I must say that Peter Prevost and Pablo Alaniz both have quite the presence on stage. What an enjoyable time for all to see these great rock songs played by such a talented mix of musicians. I hear this was Prevost’s first time singing to more than just his bandmates…
As for Mento Buru what can you say? Ska King Matt Munoz just upped his showmanship a notch by bringing an incredible set from their reservoir of eighty or so great Latin-based ska songs. His percussion, singing and tenor sax are some of the most incredible rock musicianship you can ever see produced here in Bakersfield. And the supporting band? All incredible musicians with a long history of greatness, and all connected in unique ways to the community.
More on Munoz... Wow—this crooner belted out my name like it actually meant something incredible in espanol. My great grandfather, fighter with Poncho Villa could hear his name on angel wings the way Matt sung it...
Mento played two or three sets and Matt cramped up and had to call it a night (not that he told the audience that included Delores Huerta and her entourage).
The weekend didn’t end there. I heard that Tyler from Liars and Thieves filled in as drummer for the Filthies over at the Rooster. Rumors claim that Guppy was quite perturbed about this cool rock star kid filling in. But what can you do? The show must go on, right? There are some entertaining drummers in this town. Cesareo from Karmahitlist for one, and Tyler being another. These guys are straight up rock star material and two of my favorite people in town...
Kernville also had a packed house with Prone and Exithead playing to hundreds of kids who all poured in from the mountain communities to hear some great music. Paul wrote a little piece that JR posted. Go check it out.
Of course the weekend ended with a great BBQ. I cooked up some salsa, carne asada and chicken for members from about five bands. There were artists, writers and musicians over in the Oleander Arts Collective all uniting for the cause of camaraderie and for the excitement of being in a music scene that is really headed somewhere… Thanks to my downtown muses who showed up and all the incredible people who came to enjoy some moments at the little house of an unheard of novelist…
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Monday, June 13, 2005.
You can leave your response.
leave a response