Photo Tour Exclusive - Midnight Panic plays for N.L. at the Ranch - By N.L. Belardes
Last Friday night started out as a typical Bakersfield in November. I put in my eight hours at work, shrugged my shoulders at the end of one of those blue sky Bakersfield kind of days, then moved on to my next assignment: a photo tour out at the Ranch.
This wasn’t just any ranch. I headed out towards the outskirts of western Bakersfield, out past Renfro Road where the sun beats down even in the dusty sunset winters. Yeah, there were horses, rabbits, chickens…; I think there were chickens, and an old dog named Bear that was the nicest old yeller you ever met. Having lived a long life of survival, he’d been run over by a semi and once shot with a .22; and kids would ride him like an old Galapagos turtle. You don’t find dogs like that at just any old house on the Ponderosa. Besides, this was a rock and roll ranch, home of W.V. of ‘Through the Roof Records’, the label of Bakersfield band, Midnight Panic.
Just who is Midnight Panic? If you missed my article, “The coronation of Mark Chavez and Midnight Panic,” then you probably don’t know what’s been going on in the local scene with the former front man of Adema and his new band. Midnight Panic is formed of four professional hard-rocking musicians Marky Chavez, Mike Montano Jr., Peter Shubert and Matt Low.
A few months ago Midnight Panic had their Family Show out at Studio 99. It was one of those rare exclusive must-have-a-ticket shows just down the road from Buck Owens and his big Crystal Horse (You know the one. It’s where Elvis’ old car hangs above the bar). The Family Show was a great time to see a lot of people in the Bakersfield scene get together for the premiere of some new local/world class rock music to hit the scene.
Many Bakersfield bands don’t have the advantage that Midnight Panic has with a fanbase and marketing skills already developed by Marky Chavez’ past tango with Adema in the big rock and roll scene. Those rock star days have granted him status as not just an up-and-coming star, but as an experienced musician who has formed a band of great guys who all have the determination to follow Marky’s lead into a new phase of their rock and roll career. It’s a team effort, and that’s apparent. When you have the will to succeed, the marketing know-how, the established fanbase, and strong backing, then you have to succeed.
I entered the Ranch, walked through a large two-story home and into a wide backyard. Just past a large rectangular swimming pool I could hear the band practicing; their hard rocking sounds echoed into the November night, filtered across the pool, past the corrals and across the Bakersfield landscape at night. No, they weren’t performing outside but in a studio where they take the rock and roll business at a serious level that most local bands just can’t because of inexperience, lack of connections and marketing know-how, lack of a well-thought out game plan to get signed, and so on. Like Cesareo Garasa once told me, “There are bands on many tiers, and until they see what it’s like, they’re just aiming in the dark.” And that’s a tough part for any band with stars in their eyes… or a novelist for that matter.
The studio itself wasn’t huge, but fit the band and their equipment nicely. A lone picture of Elvis hung high on one wall, and several beer cans sat in various areas in a room packed with equipment, a sign of a hard day’s work in the studio.
Marky greeted me after W.V. showed me around a bit and he and the band got right to business. “Need earplugs?” he asked. I declined and he liked that. Midnight Panic wanted to perform their entire set for me, starting with an experimental song about Hurricane Katrina. They jumped right into it, and I dove deeper into my glimpse of rock and roll stardom. This was the former front man for Adema, newly coronated as the frontman of Midnight Panic, step-brother to a mega-rock star in Korn, but with a large following of his own that he and Midnight Panic were creating new music for.
Marky Chavez represents Bakersfield rock at one of its peaks. He may have slipped out of Adema, but there are always new projects to take hold of. It’s up to bands like Midnight Panic, Korn and Adema to pave the way and represent a city rich in rock and country music history; and I think they can and should do it.
And Midnight Panic is doing it right by embracing their hometown. You don’t see Korn and Adema written about much in the local paper or on nlbelardes.com, though I would love to write about those bands. But to reach rock and roll stars could be tough even locally. Maybe I should try that and see what happens? N.L. on the trail of Korn... In the meantime it’s an honor to have been out at the Ranch. And that’s because Midnight Panic didn’t try to make me feel like a small time Bakersfield nothing, but an artist just like all the other actors, directors, musicians, painters, writers in town who are looking to be embraced and accepted by fellow artists.
"This Hurricane Katrina inspired song", Chavez discussed just before beginning, “is the most political song I’ve ever written. I don’t normally write political songs, but Katrina really affected me because there were a lot of people who wouldn’t do anything to help in the disaster.”
The song was exciting, moody, darkly woven and tightly sung, as were all the songs in their set, including both “Give Me One Chance,” and “Celebrate,” from their myspace page. I purposely didn't take notes. I just came to experience the music, to submerse myself in it; and I did. I like where Midnight Panic is headed. Their music has that radio-friendly hard rocking edge that is hard to come by and great to listen to... look forward to my next article on the band where I get more in-depth here...
For me, I was happy to be at the Ranch, happy to hear such great music, and happy sit out by the W.V. pool to have a heart-to-heart talk with Midnight Panic where Marky talked about his days in Europe and missing home. “When you’re out on the road, sometimes all you have are the people around you to depend on in a strange country far from home. That can get to you. And I think it did to me.”
But Marky Chavez has learned from his hardened touring experiences and moved on. He’s giving it all a second chance because he loves music, loves to create, and loves the challenge. “It’s been a long workday,” he said. “We’ve been on the phones with distributors all day to get this CD out to the people. It’s tough, but we’re getting somewhere.”
And I believe that. Every member of his band has a past of hard-working devotion to music. Drummer Matt Low, an old surfer/musician originally from the Californian coast, tore through practice with commitment and devotion to the band’s goals, even with a sore shoulder. “I just want a music career,” he said in our lengthy conversation about his past over on the coast as a kid growing up obsessed with music and then eventually moving to Bakersfield… “I practiced every day for hours on end. Drumming has just been what I’ve wanted to do even as a kid… I came to Bakersfield to find work. I already had family here.”
And that devotion is in all the eyes of Midnight Panic.
In the end, I left the Ranch with some good conversation, great music, and happy to be a part of a music and art scene that helps each other...
The CD Release Party is likely on Tuesday, December 13. Soon as I find out where, I will let you know. Get ready for another big band to fly out of Bakersfield into the big rock and roll scene. I just hope I’m there to help cover it…
This wasn’t just any ranch. I headed out towards the outskirts of western Bakersfield, out past Renfro Road where the sun beats down even in the dusty sunset winters. Yeah, there were horses, rabbits, chickens…; I think there were chickens, and an old dog named Bear that was the nicest old yeller you ever met. Having lived a long life of survival, he’d been run over by a semi and once shot with a .22; and kids would ride him like an old Galapagos turtle. You don’t find dogs like that at just any old house on the Ponderosa. Besides, this was a rock and roll ranch, home of W.V. of ‘Through the Roof Records’, the label of Bakersfield band, Midnight Panic.
Just who is Midnight Panic? If you missed my article, “The coronation of Mark Chavez and Midnight Panic,” then you probably don’t know what’s been going on in the local scene with the former front man of Adema and his new band. Midnight Panic is formed of four professional hard-rocking musicians Marky Chavez, Mike Montano Jr., Peter Shubert and Matt Low.
A few months ago Midnight Panic had their Family Show out at Studio 99. It was one of those rare exclusive must-have-a-ticket shows just down the road from Buck Owens and his big Crystal Horse (You know the one. It’s where Elvis’ old car hangs above the bar). The Family Show was a great time to see a lot of people in the Bakersfield scene get together for the premiere of some new local/world class rock music to hit the scene.
Many Bakersfield bands don’t have the advantage that Midnight Panic has with a fanbase and marketing skills already developed by Marky Chavez’ past tango with Adema in the big rock and roll scene. Those rock star days have granted him status as not just an up-and-coming star, but as an experienced musician who has formed a band of great guys who all have the determination to follow Marky’s lead into a new phase of their rock and roll career. It’s a team effort, and that’s apparent. When you have the will to succeed, the marketing know-how, the established fanbase, and strong backing, then you have to succeed.
I entered the Ranch, walked through a large two-story home and into a wide backyard. Just past a large rectangular swimming pool I could hear the band practicing; their hard rocking sounds echoed into the November night, filtered across the pool, past the corrals and across the Bakersfield landscape at night. No, they weren’t performing outside but in a studio where they take the rock and roll business at a serious level that most local bands just can’t because of inexperience, lack of connections and marketing know-how, lack of a well-thought out game plan to get signed, and so on. Like Cesareo Garasa once told me, “There are bands on many tiers, and until they see what it’s like, they’re just aiming in the dark.” And that’s a tough part for any band with stars in their eyes… or a novelist for that matter.
The studio itself wasn’t huge, but fit the band and their equipment nicely. A lone picture of Elvis hung high on one wall, and several beer cans sat in various areas in a room packed with equipment, a sign of a hard day’s work in the studio.
Marky greeted me after W.V. showed me around a bit and he and the band got right to business. “Need earplugs?” he asked. I declined and he liked that. Midnight Panic wanted to perform their entire set for me, starting with an experimental song about Hurricane Katrina. They jumped right into it, and I dove deeper into my glimpse of rock and roll stardom. This was the former front man for Adema, newly coronated as the frontman of Midnight Panic, step-brother to a mega-rock star in Korn, but with a large following of his own that he and Midnight Panic were creating new music for.
Marky Chavez represents Bakersfield rock at one of its peaks. He may have slipped out of Adema, but there are always new projects to take hold of. It’s up to bands like Midnight Panic, Korn and Adema to pave the way and represent a city rich in rock and country music history; and I think they can and should do it.
And Midnight Panic is doing it right by embracing their hometown. You don’t see Korn and Adema written about much in the local paper or on nlbelardes.com, though I would love to write about those bands. But to reach rock and roll stars could be tough even locally. Maybe I should try that and see what happens? N.L. on the trail of Korn... In the meantime it’s an honor to have been out at the Ranch. And that’s because Midnight Panic didn’t try to make me feel like a small time Bakersfield nothing, but an artist just like all the other actors, directors, musicians, painters, writers in town who are looking to be embraced and accepted by fellow artists.
"This Hurricane Katrina inspired song", Chavez discussed just before beginning, “is the most political song I’ve ever written. I don’t normally write political songs, but Katrina really affected me because there were a lot of people who wouldn’t do anything to help in the disaster.”
The song was exciting, moody, darkly woven and tightly sung, as were all the songs in their set, including both “Give Me One Chance,” and “Celebrate,” from their myspace page. I purposely didn't take notes. I just came to experience the music, to submerse myself in it; and I did. I like where Midnight Panic is headed. Their music has that radio-friendly hard rocking edge that is hard to come by and great to listen to... look forward to my next article on the band where I get more in-depth here...
For me, I was happy to be at the Ranch, happy to hear such great music, and happy sit out by the W.V. pool to have a heart-to-heart talk with Midnight Panic where Marky talked about his days in Europe and missing home. “When you’re out on the road, sometimes all you have are the people around you to depend on in a strange country far from home. That can get to you. And I think it did to me.”
But Marky Chavez has learned from his hardened touring experiences and moved on. He’s giving it all a second chance because he loves music, loves to create, and loves the challenge. “It’s been a long workday,” he said. “We’ve been on the phones with distributors all day to get this CD out to the people. It’s tough, but we’re getting somewhere.”
And I believe that. Every member of his band has a past of hard-working devotion to music. Drummer Matt Low, an old surfer/musician originally from the Californian coast, tore through practice with commitment and devotion to the band’s goals, even with a sore shoulder. “I just want a music career,” he said in our lengthy conversation about his past over on the coast as a kid growing up obsessed with music and then eventually moving to Bakersfield… “I practiced every day for hours on end. Drumming has just been what I’ve wanted to do even as a kid… I came to Bakersfield to find work. I already had family here.”
And that devotion is in all the eyes of Midnight Panic.
In the end, I left the Ranch with some good conversation, great music, and happy to be a part of a music and art scene that helps each other...
The CD Release Party is likely on Tuesday, December 13. Soon as I find out where, I will let you know. Get ready for another big band to fly out of Bakersfield into the big rock and roll scene. I just hope I’m there to help cover it…
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Thursday, November 17, 2005.
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amazing:)
Nice article.
Who is going to be the new singer of Adema since Luke left?
Have there been any Ty Elam sightings recently?
Wow great article!!! I can't wait for the cd! Midnight Panic ROCKS!!!
Midnight Panic rocks! This is an amazing article. :)
Thank you so much for the article.
This band rocks non-stop.
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