Big Show at the Gate with Vendetta Red - By N.L. Belardes
What a night I just had over at the Gate. This old YMCA, now a church building and music venue, along with the Boiler Room with its great mocha drinks and small stage is quite the happening venue. Tonight more than 200 people showed up to see Vendetta Red, American Eyes, Liars and Thieves, Lost Ocean, and This Plain Morning.
When I arrived, This Plain Morning was just finishing up their last song. I was able to snap one quick picture before they started breaking down their equipment. Right afterwards I ran into Simon from Myndsick. We had a stimulating conversation about poetry and writing, his lyrics, blog traffic and a killer hockey song. He introduced me to his cousin Zack, lead singer for Vendetta Red. They gave each other a big hug and I soon got ready for Liars and Thieves, who I hear used to play with some of the members from Vendetta Red.
I snapped a few pictures during the Liars and Thieves sound check. “Hey! Whoooahhh!” Sal yelled in his typical sound check warm-up. Of course Sal was quick to say, “This isn’t going to work,” and began calling for all the kids who were outside to come inside. He wanted a crowd. He always does and isn’t shy about rounding up wayward youth for a big show. Soon the kids started pouring into the room.
I should add I also met some nice folks related to the Lost Ocean band who I promised some of my salsa as they claimed they were salsa aficionados…
I have to admit when Liars and Thieves started playing I was really impressed with the sound at the Gate. They quickly tore into Don’t Stop, followed by Evil Ways and Dance Riot. They then played a new song titled Newby, and finished off with a rousing rendition of their fiery song, Rock n’Roll, which always gets the crowd pumped… Rahl was confident on the bass. Nick/Tyler had a rousing rock star drummer set and Sal… what can I say, he was playing his guitar fast, ripping into each song… even his trademark hat went flying…
LA band American Eyes was on next. They were hard-rockin’ and their lead singer grabbed some drumsticks and started wailing on the drummer’s instruments for some military-style percussion.
After their set I needed a break and got me a killer mocha down in the boiler room next door where Stacia put some extra chocolate in the blender… oh yeah…
If you haven’t heard Lost Ocean you missed a real treat. These guys are on the road to success, and watching Skyler play the keyboards… well you’re missing out if you haven’t seen him perform. He’s energetic, he’s richly talented, he compliments his bandmates’ intense musicianship with a passionate blend of classical style meets rock and roll meltdown on the keyboard samples. Did I forget to mention he’s an all-around approachable person? Go talk to Skyler… he can handle it.
I hadn’t heard Vendetta Red perform. Many of you know I don’t watch TV, so I was way out of the loop with this rocking band. How do I describe? Led Zeppelin meets Post-modern rock and roll from the New Millennium grunge? This Zach guy is a performer. He can sing and scream. He has the crowd in the palm of his hand with the confident swagger he sways in each song.
The crowd was pumped. I saw Nick/Tyler from Liars and Thieves hanging out with Pangolese. I saw Tyler from Vesper. I saw Joey from Seven to the Right. Vendetta Red has quite a following and Bakersfield is no exception. They came out in force in a night of great music, great sound, great times… and I even heard some secret information from Tyler in Liars and Thieves, that, well, didn’t surprise me, though Tyler is always about surprises…
When I arrived, This Plain Morning was just finishing up their last song. I was able to snap one quick picture before they started breaking down their equipment. Right afterwards I ran into Simon from Myndsick. We had a stimulating conversation about poetry and writing, his lyrics, blog traffic and a killer hockey song. He introduced me to his cousin Zack, lead singer for Vendetta Red. They gave each other a big hug and I soon got ready for Liars and Thieves, who I hear used to play with some of the members from Vendetta Red.
I snapped a few pictures during the Liars and Thieves sound check. “Hey! Whoooahhh!” Sal yelled in his typical sound check warm-up. Of course Sal was quick to say, “This isn’t going to work,” and began calling for all the kids who were outside to come inside. He wanted a crowd. He always does and isn’t shy about rounding up wayward youth for a big show. Soon the kids started pouring into the room.
I should add I also met some nice folks related to the Lost Ocean band who I promised some of my salsa as they claimed they were salsa aficionados…
I have to admit when Liars and Thieves started playing I was really impressed with the sound at the Gate. They quickly tore into Don’t Stop, followed by Evil Ways and Dance Riot. They then played a new song titled Newby, and finished off with a rousing rendition of their fiery song, Rock n’Roll, which always gets the crowd pumped… Rahl was confident on the bass. Nick/Tyler had a rousing rock star drummer set and Sal… what can I say, he was playing his guitar fast, ripping into each song… even his trademark hat went flying…
LA band American Eyes was on next. They were hard-rockin’ and their lead singer grabbed some drumsticks and started wailing on the drummer’s instruments for some military-style percussion.
After their set I needed a break and got me a killer mocha down in the boiler room next door where Stacia put some extra chocolate in the blender… oh yeah…
If you haven’t heard Lost Ocean you missed a real treat. These guys are on the road to success, and watching Skyler play the keyboards… well you’re missing out if you haven’t seen him perform. He’s energetic, he’s richly talented, he compliments his bandmates’ intense musicianship with a passionate blend of classical style meets rock and roll meltdown on the keyboard samples. Did I forget to mention he’s an all-around approachable person? Go talk to Skyler… he can handle it.
I hadn’t heard Vendetta Red perform. Many of you know I don’t watch TV, so I was way out of the loop with this rocking band. How do I describe? Led Zeppelin meets Post-modern rock and roll from the New Millennium grunge? This Zach guy is a performer. He can sing and scream. He has the crowd in the palm of his hand with the confident swagger he sways in each song.
The crowd was pumped. I saw Nick/Tyler from Liars and Thieves hanging out with Pangolese. I saw Tyler from Vesper. I saw Joey from Seven to the Right. Vendetta Red has quite a following and Bakersfield is no exception. They came out in force in a night of great music, great sound, great times… and I even heard some secret information from Tyler in Liars and Thieves, that, well, didn’t surprise me, though Tyler is always about surprises…
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Tuesday, June 14, 2005.
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