N.L. at Russos and toys for tots at the bar on a somber night - By N.L. Belardes
Bakersfield has an organized music scene writer in Mike Generic from the 28s. This kid has endless energy and just kick-started B.U.M.S., a website devoted to the Bakersfield Underground Music Scene.
An organized scene writer? No, that wouldn’t be me. Anyone who has seen my desk knows I depend on others to help keep me organized. The way I attend shows is fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants reporting. I literally decide at the last minute where I am going to go, then beg for friends to go with me, usually matildakay or flower in the dale, and then we’re off to the races.
Saturday night I knew My October and American Standard were playing at Vinny’s for another round of Toys for Tots. I wanted to go but I was still catching up on sleep from sicknesses and what not. I went to Borders and poked around and met some cool dudes all into Anime with their supreme leader, Tony Damigo at the helm. But then I went home where the War Days director, not feeling well, was huddled watching Star Wars, and called it a night. I got up this morning to see another great write-up on Toys for Tots from Mike Generic who attended and helped promote the show.
Oh, I attended the night before (Friday) when Hit by a Semi was left on the side of the road and didn’t attend the big Vinny’s Toys for Tots show. And even though early on I was excited and told Rob Shock I couldn’t wait to see the Politicians, my energy waned and I disappeared into a dark corner of the bar with Matildakay, both of us half freezing and talking of punk music, writers, novels and such. I should also add we watched this kid jam up near the front of the stage—that was the youthful and exuberant Mike Generic, a kid you all need to get to know. We saw him wave his arms, dance and cheer on the Bakersfield rebellion in Punk Rock. I eventually left before the end of the Filthies set, having attended my own book signing earlier where a few local folks had come out to buy Lords: Part One…
This guy claimed to have been working on a fantasy novel
about blue dragons and midget pixies...
The same guy asked, "Where's the bathroom??"
Matildakay woke up from her nap...
The old man writer needs to dye his hair
skater kid wipes out just outside of Russos...
As an old-timer writer I quickly fell into observer mode Friday night after snapping a few photos of The Rumor. I sometimes refer to the dark side of my counterculture narrative writing that I slump into as Bakersfield Bukowski. I watched, sleepily myself, as one of the marines grew very tired—the other, a beautiful marine lady in full uniform, lit a cigarette and started talking to him. His eyes eventually popped open during a strong riff from the Rumor. Yes, the marines appeared out of their element—yet both very graciously accepted donations from the crowd, only to leave with money in hat, in full regalia and marching off into the foggy Bakersfield bar night. But then the marines had to be in a somber mood during the event as just the day before, 10 marines on a foot patrol just outside of Falluja, Iraq were killed in a roadside bomb detonation from two artillery shells that had been tied together. All of the killed marines had been assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force in Twentynine Palms, California. They were attached to a force from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and ranged in ages from 19-29. There was no mention of the attack from the punk rockers on hand; there was no buzz in the crowd that ten marines had perished and that perhaps these marines wanted to kick some serious insurgent ass.
I watched as Keith from the Rumor looked like he was about to head off to boot camp. Excited to be performing in such great company, he drank from his pitcher of beer in his Bud shirt, cheered on the crowd, rallied the punk rock troops, and got into his punk rock stance: grasping the microphone, muscles bulging, Mohawk gleaming, bandmates rocking the stage in rocker youth fashion—ready to take on the world and Anti-American insurgents with their music—and him marching about the stage in his rebellion.
Gus from the Filthies came over. “I really like these kids. The singer has that sublime style down.”
I agreed, but there was more. The Rumor’s front man, Keith (K-dub) can scream too and turn punk rock hardcore in a moment’s notice. That’s not totally a Sublime style though their punk reggae is certainly a fusion of such sounds.
Two girls rocked at the bar, danced with each other and really got into the groove when the Filthies took the stage. Jason from Ridicule fame and Rob Shock (3-Cent and Flabbergasted) both know every word of the Filthies music. These two guys are huge supporters as well as Rob’s wife, Liz who transforms from sweetie into wild punk rock dancer woman in front of the stage and always has a good time. Yes, rural rock punk was in the house and I even heard “Condorstown” again. I don’t get enough of that song as I’m so excited about this upcoming hockey CD I want to pee my pants every time I hear Kenny Mount yell “Skate! Fight!”
And yet I know these rural rock punk Republicans support their president and the war, the war that many people have forgotten…
But once again, I was sleepy. I was crashing fast. I went out to matildakay’s car to get my coat and I thought I heard someone say, “Hi professor.” Maybe my head was swimming in sleepiness. I didn’t realize this was THE Mike Generic. I was just thinking, “Hey, it’s that kid having a great time, getting some fresh air from all the rocking I saw him doing.”
I mumbled something inaudibly and we parted ways, the kid disappeared back into Vinny’s to have a great time. I walked back inside and watched from my dark corner.
At one point, matildakay even asked, “Where’s the BUMS guy?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
Kenny Mount was on stage telling a Def Leppard joke at that point, “Hey what has nine arms and blah blah blah…”
I saw Gus light a cigarette. Kelly was into his beer. The Politicians rocked the back of the house, waiting for their turn to hit the stage…
The crowd had long since mumbled their woes about Hit By a Semi not showing up.
I have since realized who Mike Generic was that night: a writer/punk rock musician kid in the scene who has bought into the positive-force strategy: uplift the scene and it uplifts what you do. His writing is positive, upbeat, supportive, clean, and bands have quickly gravitated to his ability to organize profiles, provide support, provide show times, humor, and an outlet. He publishes band comments, and is already a great asset to the scene.
As for me, I sleepily slipped out when the Filthies weren’t looking, not long after the marines had done the same. I drove off into the cold; into the fog, only to hear back from Kenny a few minutes later, thanking me for coming out. I am certain he thanked Mike Generic as well. Kenny knows the power of the blog engine in the scene and he knows how to support the youth energy who only wants to illuminate the Bakersfield underground.
Yet I couldn’t help going to sleep knowing marines had again been killed and possibly their friends were on hand in an excited punk rock crowd in the Central Valley American landscape during a war that a lot of folks are just plain desensitized to…
* Read Rob Shock and the BUM report of the Politicians, Rumor, Filthies night
An organized scene writer? No, that wouldn’t be me. Anyone who has seen my desk knows I depend on others to help keep me organized. The way I attend shows is fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants reporting. I literally decide at the last minute where I am going to go, then beg for friends to go with me, usually matildakay or flower in the dale, and then we’re off to the races.
Saturday night I knew My October and American Standard were playing at Vinny’s for another round of Toys for Tots. I wanted to go but I was still catching up on sleep from sicknesses and what not. I went to Borders and poked around and met some cool dudes all into Anime with their supreme leader, Tony Damigo at the helm. But then I went home where the War Days director, not feeling well, was huddled watching Star Wars, and called it a night. I got up this morning to see another great write-up on Toys for Tots from Mike Generic who attended and helped promote the show.
Oh, I attended the night before (Friday) when Hit by a Semi was left on the side of the road and didn’t attend the big Vinny’s Toys for Tots show. And even though early on I was excited and told Rob Shock I couldn’t wait to see the Politicians, my energy waned and I disappeared into a dark corner of the bar with Matildakay, both of us half freezing and talking of punk music, writers, novels and such. I should also add we watched this kid jam up near the front of the stage—that was the youthful and exuberant Mike Generic, a kid you all need to get to know. We saw him wave his arms, dance and cheer on the Bakersfield rebellion in Punk Rock. I eventually left before the end of the Filthies set, having attended my own book signing earlier where a few local folks had come out to buy Lords: Part One…
This guy claimed to have been working on a fantasy novel
about blue dragons and midget pixies...
The same guy asked, "Where's the bathroom??"
Matildakay woke up from her nap...
The old man writer needs to dye his hair
skater kid wipes out just outside of Russos...
As an old-timer writer I quickly fell into observer mode Friday night after snapping a few photos of The Rumor. I sometimes refer to the dark side of my counterculture narrative writing that I slump into as Bakersfield Bukowski. I watched, sleepily myself, as one of the marines grew very tired—the other, a beautiful marine lady in full uniform, lit a cigarette and started talking to him. His eyes eventually popped open during a strong riff from the Rumor. Yes, the marines appeared out of their element—yet both very graciously accepted donations from the crowd, only to leave with money in hat, in full regalia and marching off into the foggy Bakersfield bar night. But then the marines had to be in a somber mood during the event as just the day before, 10 marines on a foot patrol just outside of Falluja, Iraq were killed in a roadside bomb detonation from two artillery shells that had been tied together. All of the killed marines had been assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force in Twentynine Palms, California. They were attached to a force from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and ranged in ages from 19-29. There was no mention of the attack from the punk rockers on hand; there was no buzz in the crowd that ten marines had perished and that perhaps these marines wanted to kick some serious insurgent ass.
I watched as Keith from the Rumor looked like he was about to head off to boot camp. Excited to be performing in such great company, he drank from his pitcher of beer in his Bud shirt, cheered on the crowd, rallied the punk rock troops, and got into his punk rock stance: grasping the microphone, muscles bulging, Mohawk gleaming, bandmates rocking the stage in rocker youth fashion—ready to take on the world and Anti-American insurgents with their music—and him marching about the stage in his rebellion.
Gus from the Filthies came over. “I really like these kids. The singer has that sublime style down.”
I agreed, but there was more. The Rumor’s front man, Keith (K-dub) can scream too and turn punk rock hardcore in a moment’s notice. That’s not totally a Sublime style though their punk reggae is certainly a fusion of such sounds.
Two girls rocked at the bar, danced with each other and really got into the groove when the Filthies took the stage. Jason from Ridicule fame and Rob Shock (3-Cent and Flabbergasted) both know every word of the Filthies music. These two guys are huge supporters as well as Rob’s wife, Liz who transforms from sweetie into wild punk rock dancer woman in front of the stage and always has a good time. Yes, rural rock punk was in the house and I even heard “Condorstown” again. I don’t get enough of that song as I’m so excited about this upcoming hockey CD I want to pee my pants every time I hear Kenny Mount yell “Skate! Fight!”
And yet I know these rural rock punk Republicans support their president and the war, the war that many people have forgotten…
But once again, I was sleepy. I was crashing fast. I went out to matildakay’s car to get my coat and I thought I heard someone say, “Hi professor.” Maybe my head was swimming in sleepiness. I didn’t realize this was THE Mike Generic. I was just thinking, “Hey, it’s that kid having a great time, getting some fresh air from all the rocking I saw him doing.”
I mumbled something inaudibly and we parted ways, the kid disappeared back into Vinny’s to have a great time. I walked back inside and watched from my dark corner.
At one point, matildakay even asked, “Where’s the BUMS guy?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
Kenny Mount was on stage telling a Def Leppard joke at that point, “Hey what has nine arms and blah blah blah…”
I saw Gus light a cigarette. Kelly was into his beer. The Politicians rocked the back of the house, waiting for their turn to hit the stage…
The crowd had long since mumbled their woes about Hit By a Semi not showing up.
I have since realized who Mike Generic was that night: a writer/punk rock musician kid in the scene who has bought into the positive-force strategy: uplift the scene and it uplifts what you do. His writing is positive, upbeat, supportive, clean, and bands have quickly gravitated to his ability to organize profiles, provide support, provide show times, humor, and an outlet. He publishes band comments, and is already a great asset to the scene.
As for me, I sleepily slipped out when the Filthies weren’t looking, not long after the marines had done the same. I drove off into the cold; into the fog, only to hear back from Kenny a few minutes later, thanking me for coming out. I am certain he thanked Mike Generic as well. Kenny knows the power of the blog engine in the scene and he knows how to support the youth energy who only wants to illuminate the Bakersfield underground.
Yet I couldn’t help going to sleep knowing marines had again been killed and possibly their friends were on hand in an excited punk rock crowd in the Central Valley American landscape during a war that a lot of folks are just plain desensitized to…
* Read Rob Shock and the BUM report of the Politicians, Rumor, Filthies night
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Sunday, December 04, 2005.
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