Punk band the 28s in the debate of rural rock punk - By N.L. Belardes
As I try to help bring attention to the Bakersfield scene, I couldn’t help but to try to help Bakersfield punk. I came up with ‘rural rock punk’, a term to help do just what all bands hate: categorize. Feathers get ruffled, musicians get defensive, yet everything and anything in the world has a label, whether cigarettes, types of airplanes, or ethnicity, we all fit into categories. And that’s regardless of whether folks want to be unique or not. I admit I have to categorize my own work: literary fiction, counterculture fiction, true-to-life fiction; Central Valley author, California author, and so on. Just depends who I am talking to on which labels I use to help give folks a quick understanding and attention-getter to my work.
I haven’t heard the 28s(Clay Pigeons, Mike Generic and Doug as F***), but in the realm of Bakersfield punk, I’m expecting with all their energy, experience, and camaraderie with other punk bands, they’re going to be a smash hit locally. A fellow punk of the 28s and original bass player, Heath Dobbler, did a big write-up on them after their premiere show (Rob Shock wrote about them too). Heath was quick to point out that he and his mates didn’t like the rural rock punk monicker. It’s meaningless to them. They don’t seem to understand I’m trying to help bring attention to the scene, and to movements in music genres, such as punk rock. But that’s OK. Debates are good and in and of themselves, they bring attention. Heath even re-published a comment of mine that has a lot of great (and raw) comments.
There are music experts everywhere, and I don’t claim to be one. I’m just a novelist who narrates about the Bakersfield art and music scene. And in my inexperience, if someone were to ask me about punk music in Bakersfield, I would first inquire, because I am a historian, “Do you know anything about Bakersfield?” And that’s an important question. Because I believe people and music are products of their environment and environmental influences: nature, culture, language, etc. If someone didn’t know anything about Bakersfield, I would describe the area, its natural settings, its agri-business influences as a hydraulic society, and its working class oil town ethics and conservatism. I would then describe some of its history in music…
This is just how I would do it. Others would do this differently and perhaps just focus on the music. I’m a professor and I wouldn’t expect others to describe music the way I do, or to relate music to culture and regional influences the way I might. That may piss off a punk band and punkers; but then I’m an academic who can’t help to speak or write the way I do. It’s just how I am. Can’t change that. ‘Rural rock punk’ came out of the need, I believe, for folks to be proud of this area. I get tired, like JR of illpressed, of people/musicians not being proud of Bakersfield, or even being aware of their unique region and its history rich in music and resources. I write a very pro-Bakersfield blog. There are a lot of people in the world who love the idea of Bakersfield rock. So I write about it in a way that relates Bakersfield rock to regionalism. The rural rock punk theme is no different than the ag themes in Buck Owens history and music, or the ag-name, Korn.
I enjoy that the idea of rural rock punk is debated, and I don’t mind that it is even hated or despised by some. I am just not happy with always saying, ‘Bakersfield punk’, although such is synonymous with the idea of ‘rural rock punk’. I would rather come up with fancy genre titles that are only meant to regionalize and let people know there is a punk movement out of the Southern Central Valley... and don't worry, I am not setting out to 'ruralize' every genre: rural emo, rural screamo, rural cowpunk blah blah...
With that said, I am happy to announce the beginning of the 28s era. They are the first band that I haven’t seen but have spent a lot of time writing about. You can read my comments to Heath Dobbler on his site. I already know I’m going to enjoy their music and I am jealous that illpressed has seen them both times they have performed (check out his pic of the band).
You can read even more on the new Bakersfield Underground Music Scene site (B.U.M.S.):
We support those who support the local music scene. Here you will find reviews, news, and updates, from some of the local bands and music writers in town. Finally! a single place where you can read the stories about the underground music scene. People, let us hear from you! ( BUMS661@yahoo.com )
Enjoy the ongoing debates and appreciate the 28s for being a three-piece punk band that is both experienced at their art form, and all nice guys I’m sure…
*footnote: as of November 16th, 2005 I gave up in my debate and unlabeled the 28s as a 'rural rock punk' band... (although secretly I will consider all punk bands from Bakersfield to have a set of influences peculiar to the area. I believe the influences are still there, label or not).
I haven’t heard the 28s(Clay Pigeons, Mike Generic and Doug as F***), but in the realm of Bakersfield punk, I’m expecting with all their energy, experience, and camaraderie with other punk bands, they’re going to be a smash hit locally. A fellow punk of the 28s and original bass player, Heath Dobbler, did a big write-up on them after their premiere show (Rob Shock wrote about them too). Heath was quick to point out that he and his mates didn’t like the rural rock punk monicker. It’s meaningless to them. They don’t seem to understand I’m trying to help bring attention to the scene, and to movements in music genres, such as punk rock. But that’s OK. Debates are good and in and of themselves, they bring attention. Heath even re-published a comment of mine that has a lot of great (and raw) comments.
There are music experts everywhere, and I don’t claim to be one. I’m just a novelist who narrates about the Bakersfield art and music scene. And in my inexperience, if someone were to ask me about punk music in Bakersfield, I would first inquire, because I am a historian, “Do you know anything about Bakersfield?” And that’s an important question. Because I believe people and music are products of their environment and environmental influences: nature, culture, language, etc. If someone didn’t know anything about Bakersfield, I would describe the area, its natural settings, its agri-business influences as a hydraulic society, and its working class oil town ethics and conservatism. I would then describe some of its history in music…
This is just how I would do it. Others would do this differently and perhaps just focus on the music. I’m a professor and I wouldn’t expect others to describe music the way I do, or to relate music to culture and regional influences the way I might. That may piss off a punk band and punkers; but then I’m an academic who can’t help to speak or write the way I do. It’s just how I am. Can’t change that. ‘Rural rock punk’ came out of the need, I believe, for folks to be proud of this area. I get tired, like JR of illpressed, of people/musicians not being proud of Bakersfield, or even being aware of their unique region and its history rich in music and resources. I write a very pro-Bakersfield blog. There are a lot of people in the world who love the idea of Bakersfield rock. So I write about it in a way that relates Bakersfield rock to regionalism. The rural rock punk theme is no different than the ag themes in Buck Owens history and music, or the ag-name, Korn.
I enjoy that the idea of rural rock punk is debated, and I don’t mind that it is even hated or despised by some. I am just not happy with always saying, ‘Bakersfield punk’, although such is synonymous with the idea of ‘rural rock punk’. I would rather come up with fancy genre titles that are only meant to regionalize and let people know there is a punk movement out of the Southern Central Valley... and don't worry, I am not setting out to 'ruralize' every genre: rural emo, rural screamo, rural cowpunk blah blah...
With that said, I am happy to announce the beginning of the 28s era. They are the first band that I haven’t seen but have spent a lot of time writing about. You can read my comments to Heath Dobbler on his site. I already know I’m going to enjoy their music and I am jealous that illpressed has seen them both times they have performed (check out his pic of the band).
You can read even more on the new Bakersfield Underground Music Scene site (B.U.M.S.):
We support those who support the local music scene. Here you will find reviews, news, and updates, from some of the local bands and music writers in town. Finally! a single place where you can read the stories about the underground music scene. People, let us hear from you! ( BUMS661@yahoo.com )
Enjoy the ongoing debates and appreciate the 28s for being a three-piece punk band that is both experienced at their art form, and all nice guys I’m sure…
*footnote: as of November 16th, 2005 I gave up in my debate and unlabeled the 28s as a 'rural rock punk' band... (although secretly I will consider all punk bands from Bakersfield to have a set of influences peculiar to the area. I believe the influences are still there, label or not).
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Sunday, November 13, 2005.
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