Two nights at Azuls, Another Year impresses... - By N.L. Belardes
I hung out two nights in a row at Azuls. The problem had been not getting out enough to see shows. I even saw Blue Ruin briefly last week. Those guys are hardcore, angry, loud in a rebellious sort of way, intense...
My night started out Tuesday night after I talked James Ratliff of Norfolk into going to hang out at the Gate. I ended up at his pad and got suckered into editing through his college English essay. Of course I don’t mind. I love helping young writers. I sat and red-inked his paper until he started crying to allow a couple of clichés to stay in the paper. “Read Politics and the English Language by Orwell,” I said. “It’s going to open your eyes to the non-use of clichés.” I sifted through his essay while he and Mike from Johnny Come Lately, a now defunct Bakersfield rock band, both played some spontaneous country tunes on guitars.
Luis at Azuls talks about brews...
James and Mike chose a beer...
That was followed up by James tinkering on the piano playing Norfolk tunes. I begged for him to sing but there would be no serenading of me grading the essay, so I just tidied up his prose and we were out the door...
We headed out to the Gate where we were going to catch a show. Empty. Not a soul in sight...
“Hey, did you know Leonard Nimoy had a Jewish-themed exhibition at the Bakersfield Museum of Art?” Mike said as we headed toward Wall Street.
“No way!” I said.
“Yeah. He thought I didn’t recognize him.”
After several Star Trek jokes we were in Azuls (the only ones) sitting at one of the wooden tables where we debated the ethics of fiction, World War Two ghettos, and film… It was one of those kind of nights. I saw AJ and Mike from the Soulsteppers chowing down on some grub. AJ offered me some bread which I almost ate, but snapped a picture instead.
The next night I tore on down to Azuls again. The room was packed. Talk about word of mouth shows. I couldn’t find any online info about shows at Azuls…
When I arrived I saw a new band that I am unsure of the name. If anyone knows, please let me know. I heard they are Order 66. But I might have heard wrong about the name. It was their first band gig and they didn’t seem to have any jitters. They tore through their set and I came away with some pics. More information? I should have stopped and talked to the lead singer. He seemed busy so I just quickly introduced myself…
Another Year was up next. Tony B., J Wolf and the Dale are a perfectly rocking 3-man band with some serious influences by the Police. I cold have sworn I heard snippets of Outlandous d’ Amour. The guitar riffs were a melodic hard-edged flavor of yesteryear with a rocking blend of rhythms that really uniquely makes Another Year a Bakersfield band like no other. Seed comes the closest, but they’re really far different in their stylistic approach to the reggae/Indie rock genre.
I hung out at one of the tables and listened in, but ducked out to the patio to snap some shots. These guys will be out at Brews in the Village… check them out if you have the chance. Another Year is one of the best up-and-coming acts out of Bakersfield…
My night started out Tuesday night after I talked James Ratliff of Norfolk into going to hang out at the Gate. I ended up at his pad and got suckered into editing through his college English essay. Of course I don’t mind. I love helping young writers. I sat and red-inked his paper until he started crying to allow a couple of clichés to stay in the paper. “Read Politics and the English Language by Orwell,” I said. “It’s going to open your eyes to the non-use of clichés.” I sifted through his essay while he and Mike from Johnny Come Lately, a now defunct Bakersfield rock band, both played some spontaneous country tunes on guitars.
Luis at Azuls talks about brews...
James and Mike chose a beer...
That was followed up by James tinkering on the piano playing Norfolk tunes. I begged for him to sing but there would be no serenading of me grading the essay, so I just tidied up his prose and we were out the door...
We headed out to the Gate where we were going to catch a show. Empty. Not a soul in sight...
“Hey, did you know Leonard Nimoy had a Jewish-themed exhibition at the Bakersfield Museum of Art?” Mike said as we headed toward Wall Street.
“No way!” I said.
“Yeah. He thought I didn’t recognize him.”
After several Star Trek jokes we were in Azuls (the only ones) sitting at one of the wooden tables where we debated the ethics of fiction, World War Two ghettos, and film… It was one of those kind of nights. I saw AJ and Mike from the Soulsteppers chowing down on some grub. AJ offered me some bread which I almost ate, but snapped a picture instead.
The next night I tore on down to Azuls again. The room was packed. Talk about word of mouth shows. I couldn’t find any online info about shows at Azuls…
When I arrived I saw a new band that I am unsure of the name. If anyone knows, please let me know. I heard they are Order 66. But I might have heard wrong about the name. It was their first band gig and they didn’t seem to have any jitters. They tore through their set and I came away with some pics. More information? I should have stopped and talked to the lead singer. He seemed busy so I just quickly introduced myself…
Another Year was up next. Tony B., J Wolf and the Dale are a perfectly rocking 3-man band with some serious influences by the Police. I cold have sworn I heard snippets of Outlandous d’ Amour. The guitar riffs were a melodic hard-edged flavor of yesteryear with a rocking blend of rhythms that really uniquely makes Another Year a Bakersfield band like no other. Seed comes the closest, but they’re really far different in their stylistic approach to the reggae/Indie rock genre.
I hung out at one of the tables and listened in, but ducked out to the patio to snap some shots. These guys will be out at Brews in the Village… check them out if you have the chance. Another Year is one of the best up-and-coming acts out of Bakersfield…
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Thursday, September 08, 2005.
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