Another N.L. descent into Jerry’s Pizza, the cavern of Bakersfield rock and roll - By N.L. Belardes
I was on a mission last Thursday to see three Bakersfield area bands: The Dives, Throatshot, and Stereotactic. I showed up too late with Flower in the Dale and her big purple broken arm to see The Dives but was in time to check out one of Throatshot’s last performances for a while and Stereotactic's tour kick-off.
Where was I?
Oh yes I did.
Here’s Jerry’s mug to even prove where I was.
Counting the change...
You can even see the dragon game (*mortal combat), guardian to one of the entrances to the treasured pit beneath the pizza parlor (check out the dude flipping me off! Cool!)
Check out the guy flipping me off... funny...
It was hot, it was humid, and the Pizza-a-go-go was waiting for me to make a descent into its cavernous subterranean bosom.
Now I heard the local cops shut down an art show of some type just down the streets from Jerry’s Pizza. They said it was a fire hazard. Maybe because Jerry’s dim basement has two exits there’s less of a chance to burn into a fiery heap if the building caught fire. I don’t know. Maybe the pizza is just that good and the local cops don’t want to piss off Jerry who might shut down and open a new joint in the Marketplace for all those spoiled rich kids to come and hear music for the first time.
OK I’m joking. Have a sense of humor. Jerry's Pizza isn't going anywhere. I saw the Kerouac of Kmart, said a few polite words to each other. I tried to snap a photo of him but he wasn't interested in his mug shot going on nlbelardes.com. No problem. Now for the show...
Throatshot is an incredible punch to the neck with industrial sounds, vibrant keyboard work from Videodrone’s old guru, Rohan, Darin’s incredible guitar work and Brad’s delightful skip-through-the-briar-patch lyrics that makes you want to put on a bonnet and suck your thumb. Yeah I’m kidding again. You should know any Throatshot concert is like living through horror movie film, and soundtrack, and Brad will scream into your ears like your worst nightmare. And let me tell you, the chicks dig the way he sways, swings from the rafters and jumps around stage, literally sweating on concert-goers. And yet he's so bashful in an interview...
You ever see Rohan flip his hair with those mad eyes staring and that impish grin on his face as he works his keyboard rig and tunes in samples of babies crying and electronic hisses, etc.?
Bakersfield music history is always alive in the cavern of rock and roll, superheated in the dim basement darkness… Look for Throatshot to have a video made by Hectic Films in horror movie fashion. Oh yeah…
I also had a nice sit down talk with Brad for the Buck City Podcast. He told me lots of good news about the band, about his writing, and what can be expected in the months to come.
My other interview of the night was with local band Stereotactic who were kicking off a summer tour to help promote their album, The Dawning. Kyle was quick to let me know that fans could catch them in Fresno on July 9th on the Warped Tour. Sounds like a blast of a time.
I noticed Stereotactic may have a few changes in the band. Missing was the guitarist with the huge fro pompadour. Where’d he go? Not sure. The music was just as satisfying as always. Stereotactic tore it up and even laid two new tracks in the laps of those at the pizza joint. Rocking? Yes. Fast-paced rock that’s as swooshing as a light saber tearing through the basement darkness. And Kyle was all over the stage as usual… with his counterpart, Todd tearing into some of the lyrics too.
Yeah, I even snapped a photo of the audience—several girls in the Jerry’s darkness shot me glances like they were the Harpies of the underground cavern, ready to fly at me and rip my head off…
But they didn’t and tucked in their talons and got back into Stereotactic’s jams as if I’d never been in the crowd, in their cavern, down in the flaming depths of the pizza-a-go-go…
*I don't know what I was thinking. This game I originally called a pinball machine. What the heck? That was no pinball game. Thanks Rob Shock...
Where was I?
Oh yes I did.
Here’s Jerry’s mug to even prove where I was.
Counting the change...
You can even see the dragon game (*mortal combat), guardian to one of the entrances to the treasured pit beneath the pizza parlor (check out the dude flipping me off! Cool!)
Check out the guy flipping me off... funny...
It was hot, it was humid, and the Pizza-a-go-go was waiting for me to make a descent into its cavernous subterranean bosom.
Now I heard the local cops shut down an art show of some type just down the streets from Jerry’s Pizza. They said it was a fire hazard. Maybe because Jerry’s dim basement has two exits there’s less of a chance to burn into a fiery heap if the building caught fire. I don’t know. Maybe the pizza is just that good and the local cops don’t want to piss off Jerry who might shut down and open a new joint in the Marketplace for all those spoiled rich kids to come and hear music for the first time.
OK I’m joking. Have a sense of humor. Jerry's Pizza isn't going anywhere. I saw the Kerouac of Kmart, said a few polite words to each other. I tried to snap a photo of him but he wasn't interested in his mug shot going on nlbelardes.com. No problem. Now for the show...
Throatshot is an incredible punch to the neck with industrial sounds, vibrant keyboard work from Videodrone’s old guru, Rohan, Darin’s incredible guitar work and Brad’s delightful skip-through-the-briar-patch lyrics that makes you want to put on a bonnet and suck your thumb. Yeah I’m kidding again. You should know any Throatshot concert is like living through horror movie film, and soundtrack, and Brad will scream into your ears like your worst nightmare. And let me tell you, the chicks dig the way he sways, swings from the rafters and jumps around stage, literally sweating on concert-goers. And yet he's so bashful in an interview...
You ever see Rohan flip his hair with those mad eyes staring and that impish grin on his face as he works his keyboard rig and tunes in samples of babies crying and electronic hisses, etc.?
Bakersfield music history is always alive in the cavern of rock and roll, superheated in the dim basement darkness… Look for Throatshot to have a video made by Hectic Films in horror movie fashion. Oh yeah…
I also had a nice sit down talk with Brad for the Buck City Podcast. He told me lots of good news about the band, about his writing, and what can be expected in the months to come.
My other interview of the night was with local band Stereotactic who were kicking off a summer tour to help promote their album, The Dawning. Kyle was quick to let me know that fans could catch them in Fresno on July 9th on the Warped Tour. Sounds like a blast of a time.
I noticed Stereotactic may have a few changes in the band. Missing was the guitarist with the huge fro pompadour. Where’d he go? Not sure. The music was just as satisfying as always. Stereotactic tore it up and even laid two new tracks in the laps of those at the pizza joint. Rocking? Yes. Fast-paced rock that’s as swooshing as a light saber tearing through the basement darkness. And Kyle was all over the stage as usual… with his counterpart, Todd tearing into some of the lyrics too.
Yeah, I even snapped a photo of the audience—several girls in the Jerry’s darkness shot me glances like they were the Harpies of the underground cavern, ready to fly at me and rip my head off…
But they didn’t and tucked in their talons and got back into Stereotactic’s jams as if I’d never been in the crowd, in their cavern, down in the flaming depths of the pizza-a-go-go…
*I don't know what I was thinking. This game I originally called a pinball machine. What the heck? That was no pinball game. Thanks Rob Shock...
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Sunday, June 25, 2006.
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Oh the joy's of Jerrys pizza. The pungent smells of sweaty punk rock ass an beer.
Tear.....
it's always fun to read about your adventures into the dungeon...
As a gamer, I am mortified that you would refer to a game cabinet, that obviously contains one of the most influential fighting games of all time Mortal Kombat, as a pinball machine.
fixed it...
Stereotactic rocks! Thanks for reviewing them.
Support the local scene and buy Stereotactic's record!
You gotta love Stereotactic. I still love JR's old quote from illpressed.com: "Honestly I was expecting a screamo band. What I got was a heavy dose of 80's metal sounding rock and roll!"
Classic.
"Kerouac of Kmart"-Great line dude! Who is it that you refer to in such a snarky way?
I must get out and check this nightlife out. Someday...
The 'Kerouac of Kmart' is self-proclaimed show promoter Jon Coley. He's a big guy, with big hands, and a big attitude... But somewhere in that montrous frame of his is a literary supporter in his own way, who, though he watches me out of the corner of his eye, is mutually respectful in person and appreciates the music scene and works hard for its success at the pizza-a-go-go...
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