The dark-hearted intensity of Bakersfield band Blue Ruin - By N.L. Belardes
Oh I could easily say that every band in Bakersfield is intense. Bakersfield bands provide a dynamic blend of intense genres of music from intricate instrumental Rockabilly riffs to post-hardcore passionate screams; although I should mention I rarely find a Bakersfield band happy with getting placed into a genre. Genres are tricky little stereotypes in musical categories that can peg a band as being square or round musically; and since bands just want their music to stand on their own, many times a ‘genre’ to a band is like a big cactus patch they’ve fallen and got stuck in. Just talk to the guys in Throatshot. Even remotely say they sound like Korn and you might end up in the hospital. OK, I’m kidding. The guys in Throatshot are kind and extremely talented, but you get the point… But I do speak in genres on here just to provide potential new readers some kind of idea as to what they’re listening to.
Enter Blue Ruin, a Bakersfield band I recently saw at Azuls in the punk/Indie/hardcore genres (on myspace). Guitarist Chris Ybarra wrote to me a few days after I saw them, “I couldn't help but notice someone was taking pics of us during our set last night. And, I saw you with a camera before our set. So, will we be seeing these pics anytime, or on your website?”
But of course, Chris…
Let me begin here again by stating that Blue Ruin has one of the most intriguing names for a band, ever. It just rolls off your tongue, “Bluuuuuue Ruuiiiin...” I noticed months ago, before I ever stumbled onto this band that local graphic artist Marah Jackson had an interest in them and so developed a website. She had them linked right from her Niche magazine link page. This girl has skills in building websites—way better than my own—and built Blue Ruin a very nice looking site, although it needs more content. (hint: do a blog for Niche, Marah, so it can feed into thebuzzblogs.com)
I remember reading how Blue Ruin played a house party (I wasn’t there), and then I think Montgomery World Plaza some time after that (I wasn’t there either—but I do keep up and have been on their myspace site many times). Now they play all over Bakersfield and will be hitting Montgomery World Plaza tonight (Oct. 23) and again at the same venue on November 7th.
I saw Blue Ruin at Azuls. I wasn’t staying for long and had gone out to see the Neon Nazis debut, but I had to hear a few of their songs and take some pics. I didn’t even stay for one of my favorites, Pangolese who later probably blasted every ear drum into little dust particles…
Now let me bring you back to the intensity of Blue Ruin. The bearded frontman of the band, Kasey Kobdish is really one of the most intense singers I have seen around town. He’s intimidating the way he sings standing with his back to you, bending over, yes, as if in the throws of pain from his very lyrics and dark singing. Here is a singer who literally throws himself body and soul into his music and seems to transform into the very dark heart of his intensity… I don’t want to say he has a crazed look, just intense, and I just think the crazed part is his beard and hair and the intensity in his eyes as he screams his lyrics… The music itself Blue Ruin labels as punk/hardcore/Indie, and they do have Bill McCreary from punk band the Pine playing bass which adds to the intensity…
These guys are going to record an album soon and Underground Records is going to press 600 7" vinyl records. They plan on touring in summer 2006, and with veteran McCready from the Pine, I’m sure they will handle themselves just fine as they spread the intense gospel of Blue Ruin…
Enter Blue Ruin, a Bakersfield band I recently saw at Azuls in the punk/Indie/hardcore genres (on myspace). Guitarist Chris Ybarra wrote to me a few days after I saw them, “I couldn't help but notice someone was taking pics of us during our set last night. And, I saw you with a camera before our set. So, will we be seeing these pics anytime, or on your website?”
But of course, Chris…
Let me begin here again by stating that Blue Ruin has one of the most intriguing names for a band, ever. It just rolls off your tongue, “Bluuuuuue Ruuiiiin...” I noticed months ago, before I ever stumbled onto this band that local graphic artist Marah Jackson had an interest in them and so developed a website. She had them linked right from her Niche magazine link page. This girl has skills in building websites—way better than my own—and built Blue Ruin a very nice looking site, although it needs more content. (hint: do a blog for Niche, Marah, so it can feed into thebuzzblogs.com)
I remember reading how Blue Ruin played a house party (I wasn’t there), and then I think Montgomery World Plaza some time after that (I wasn’t there either—but I do keep up and have been on their myspace site many times). Now they play all over Bakersfield and will be hitting Montgomery World Plaza tonight (Oct. 23) and again at the same venue on November 7th.
I saw Blue Ruin at Azuls. I wasn’t staying for long and had gone out to see the Neon Nazis debut, but I had to hear a few of their songs and take some pics. I didn’t even stay for one of my favorites, Pangolese who later probably blasted every ear drum into little dust particles…
Now let me bring you back to the intensity of Blue Ruin. The bearded frontman of the band, Kasey Kobdish is really one of the most intense singers I have seen around town. He’s intimidating the way he sings standing with his back to you, bending over, yes, as if in the throws of pain from his very lyrics and dark singing. Here is a singer who literally throws himself body and soul into his music and seems to transform into the very dark heart of his intensity… I don’t want to say he has a crazed look, just intense, and I just think the crazed part is his beard and hair and the intensity in his eyes as he screams his lyrics… The music itself Blue Ruin labels as punk/hardcore/Indie, and they do have Bill McCreary from punk band the Pine playing bass which adds to the intensity…
These guys are going to record an album soon and Underground Records is going to press 600 7" vinyl records. They plan on touring in summer 2006, and with veteran McCready from the Pine, I’m sure they will handle themselves just fine as they spread the intense gospel of Blue Ruin…
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Sunday, October 23, 2005.
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