Rural rock punk debate rekindled amid documentary discovery and In-Denials scandal - By N.L. Belardes
The Filthies rural rock punk Bakersfield T-shirts
I might as well let the cat out of the bag that in the upcoming weeks (Turkey Day weekend: November 24-25) there’s going to be another installment of the Bakersfield Independent Film Festival (BIFF! 2.0) And that at the film festival I’m planning on turning loose a documentary titled “Rural Rock & Roll” that I think lends credibility to the rural rock punk label I’ve slapped on some of the punk music in this agricultural island of Bakersfield.
No, I didn’t film it.
Jensen Rufe out of Hollywood, California did (check out homeboy’s MTV credits)
He released a documentary about bands in rural Arcata/Eureka, California. It’s an hour long and gets into a wider range of music than just punk, and documents why good music gets lost in rural towns. I think the movie is also humorous and bands just might see a little bit of themselves. Rural Rock & Roll really gets you where it counts when you realize that one of the folks interviewed died during the editing of the film.
Jensen recently wrote to me after I viewed the video:
On a related note: maybe we can get some of those Eureka bands to come through Bakersfield next time they're on a little tour. I know the Ravens are set to come down here in early March. Vice versa, it would be a cool thing if Bakersfield bands knew they were always welcome in Eureka/Arcata to play the Alibi (bar) when they hit the road...
Mike from the The Ravens also contacted me (They're in the documentary). He considered their band’s music, “Buttrock”. I just think it’s sort of grunge-oriented, though rural-influenced for sure. He wrote to me about possibly performing at the Mint in downtown Bakersfield. That’s what started off me exploring the documentary: Mike’s willingness to reach out to Bakersfield and to talk about rural rock.
I think there’s some overlap to the argument of rural rock punk and the rural rock & roll documentary: small agricultural towns with great punk music reflecting the angst of living near the rural promised land. I know, it’s ambiguous, and it’s a label. But Jensen Rufe’s documentary lends to the idea that small town music often deserves to go big places.
Jensen is going to hopefully come and talk about his rural rock flick at BIFF. And just maybe old Heath Dobbler would be on that panel. I haven’t asked that S.O.B. yet. Or his counterpart in crime, Rob Shock. Oh wait, did I say counterpart? Yes, here’s the scandal: looks like ex-3 Cent Nickle, ex-Flabbergasted, and ex-Box Jumper guitarist has entered a new realm of Bakersfield punk within his sphere of pals: The In-Denials. Yes, he joined the band! And if you don’t think that’s scandalous enough, The 28s and the In-Denials are putting their dual rural rock punk bands together for one phat CD.
Scandalous.
Past Rural Rock Punk articles:
Rural Rock Punk? Punk? Gimmick? What's this?
Punk band the 28s in the debate of rural rock punk
Author flabbergasted at all the 'Rural Rock Punk' drama
Rural rock punk band, RidiKule faces setback with injury to guitar player
The 28's at Studio 99
Azul’s Electric Holliday and the Filthies Rock a Doodle Doo
Let's talk about "Rural Rock Punk"
Reagan Leslie, Kevin Truelson and Dirty Spanglish are stars of the game
C-BLO AND SKINNY C...
The Shock's take on Rural Rock Punk...
KOOKOONAUTS/USA
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Tuesday, November 14, 2006.
You can leave your response.
I've always liked the 'Rural Rock Punk' label. I think it describes Bakersfield punk music well. I know some bands don't like the label, but it would be interesting to see this documentary and see how other bands have embraced the label of Rural Rock.
The music scene should flock to BIFF 2 and watch this documentary out of curiousity!
The In Denials and 28's are by far the best two punk bands in Bakersfield!!! They are more creative than the rest. There is nothing "pop" to what they bring. I can't wait for the album.
Hi Nick:
Shoot, I don't think I'll be able to come up on the 24th or 25th. I had
thought from your prior email that it was going to be on Sunday the
26th, which I COULD come up for. Those prior days, my family is doing a "belated" Thanksgving in San Diego, and I'll be returning to L.A. on Sunday (if I skipped out on my family's Thanksgiving, I'd be disowned).
So, you're more than welcome to show the movie, but unfortunately, I won't be able to come up in person on Friday or Saturday, which bums me out, 'cause I was looking forward to it and would have really enjoyed a
"discussion panel" about rural rock and roll. And by the way, I really
appreciate the blurb on your "Paperback Writer" blog about the "Rural Rock" doc (although I'm embarrassed that your readers now know which crappy shows that I work on to pay the bills! Hee hee!).
Talk soon,
Jensen
Hmm... What if we sent you a few questions. Would you be willing to have yourself interviewed and we can
show that at BIFF?
Sorry I got my dates wrong. I suck.
sure, i'd be happy to answer any questions. whatever you would like to do.
thanks for all the attention and publicity...
p.s. is the dvd that you have sufficient for your BIFF screening?
talk soon,
jensen
So there you have it. If anyone has any questions for Jensen about being a filmmaker, rural rock, or working on MTV, post them here or send in an email to me.
oooh! I hope you do a Zowietown interview!
Nick, always the sensationalist. Me joining The In-Denials a scandal? Seems more like a matter of it was going to happen sooner or later.
You know I'm joking. I think it's great that you're rocking with the In-Denials
Anonymous said...
The In Denials and 28's are by far the best two punk bands in Bakersfield!!!
You need to get out more often!
Just go with it Rob... tee hee. Sex and scandals SELL.
I don't have the energy to argue the labeling anymore.
Yet, when one asks what I claim, I will still say "punk influenced rock n roll" baby.
Heath Dobbler
Damn, We sure had us one hell of a retarded debate over the labeling thing... I just ran through some of the links you had and... Aaaahhhh to reminisce feels peachy.
I really need to start taking anger management classes.
We both grow and evolve... I hope. :) heh.
How come no one mentions Slim The Drifter with respect to punk, and the birth years around here? That guy was right there hangin with The Germs back in the day. Just wondering...
You're right, DW. Slim the Drifter is in there too. I have only seen him once. He recited a poem before Active Ingrediants performed...
I played a few riffs with slim at a guitar shop a quite a few years ago... I was pretty well blown away by the guy.
Hi, I would just like to say a few words about the man known as Slim the Drifter.
I was in a band with him for a short period of time, down in long beach, Ca. called The Genre Bend.
The guy took me under his wing, and taught me so much about not only making music, but feeling it too.
If you ever have a chance to talk to him, take it. He will blow your mind.
pJust want you all to know that, Slim isn't doing well. :( He needs our prayers and best wishes. He is my friend and brother. He called me today, he's keeping his chin up. Remember Slim the Drifter is a Punk Rock Icon!!! Please don't let him ever be forgotten. Keep Rockin!
Slim is gone. He died around May 11th. We found out Sunday, May 27.
He was in one of the seminal punk bands of Bakersfield, 97 Tears.
His songwriting output was prodigious, as was his appetite for weed, booze, and women, but his heart was the biggest part of him.
We miss you Slim. We love you with all our hearts. It was an honor to know you, to play music with you, to laugh with you, to drink from the same bottle, and you graced us with your presence. Sometimes it wasn't easy, but you made us stronger with your example.
Life is never easy. You proved that. But you made yours into a story that will long be talked about and cherished.
Brad, Alex, Matt.
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