Bakersfield novelist floats in to see the IN-Denials at the Silver Fox Bar - By N.L. Belardes

Rob Shock, Heath Dobbler and L.A. Rick of the IN-Denials

Recently I went out on a busy Saturday night. I don’t get paid to get my blog on. That means no managers, supervisors, etc. So sometimes I just float around depending on whims or where friends are going. Originally I set out to hopefully catch both Swag 667 and the IN-Denials, both performed at two different venues. I was caught in one of those situations where I couldn’t be everywhere at once and was hoping time schedules would work out. It was Swag’s big return to the scene. Billy Von and the boys were excited to be rocking Bakersfield again… I know they’re having more shows, so I’ll be catching them soon.

I also heard Hayesfield was having a CD release party the same night, and Jerry’s Pizza was hosting Stereotactic. Hell, if I could cut myself into quarters and melt into all four music zones…



In the end I had a long-running promise to myself to see the IN-Denials. After I arrived at Backstage I realized Swag was performing last. I was bummed. Once again I missed Stitch too as I found out they were performing first. Everything was running late. It was 8:40 and the gig was supposed to start at 8. Not that I cared that the gig was running late. I just wanted to squeeze in one band before the IN-Denials. Wasn’t happening.

Regretfully I bailed and headed over to the Silver Fox and hung out with some punk friends: Rob Shock, his wife, Gus McFuss, Matildakay, Mike Generic and others. I grabbed a margarita and hung out, waiting for the music to start shakin’.


Matildakay and Gus McFuss

That’s when Dobbler arrived. He’s a mean SOB punk singer with glasses thick as mine. Only he looks like he’d beat someone’s ass for saying he’s got Coke bottle lenses. I’d read Heath’s take on the punk scene a few weeks ago. It wasn’t too uplifting, though there was a lot of truth to what he had to say. Is punk dead? Hell no. Is it dying? Fuck no. Go check out what Heath has to say in his article "What happened to the punk scene?" Maybe there's just a limp dick wilt to the scene and the support it gets...


Rocking Bakersfield's Silver Fox Bar

Like I was saying, Dobbler is a son of a bitch and he knows it. He talks shit, means well, and has a really fucking cool band with songs that are catchy as hell. Almost as soon as he arrived he geared up his bass beast for some punk grinding by the jukebox.


Needs ketchup

That’s when Donny arrived. He’s a punk fan, a bit tipsy, very annoying, a big fan, a scene stealer, microphone grabber; a low-pants wearing punk lover who came to show the audience what it means to worship punk music. He grabbed The IN-Denials’ microphone more than once and screamed, “This is a song about Bakersfield!” Then he went into a maniacal rant that I can’t even remember. Dobbler dedicated at least two songs to him and Rob Shock was sure to say just as often: “Leave the microphone alone!” (Click here to read Dobbler's report on the gig and see a pic of Donny!)

My favorite song of the night? “The Iraqis Win The Pennant.” Damn if that wasn’t a catchy fucking tune. They could have played that song three times back to back and I wouldn’t have thrown one empty glass at Heath’s head.

I did have a second margarita. But since Donny had his hand down his pants and grabbed my glass, I suddenly lost my taste for salt.

Back to my story.

Yeah, I know I’ve given Dobbler some shit. But his band the IN-Denials has some foot-stompin' tunes. I’m half deaf and couldn’t hear Rob Shock’s guitar licks well enough, but that’s OK. I heard the vocals pretty well; and that’s not something you always hear in the ol’ Silver Fox Bar.

The IN-Denials are a great addition to the Bakersfield punk scene. They add a sense of sarcasm and rock and roll that makes you realize liberals and conservatives can get together, rock and sing about issues as only punks can... I'll break bread with them again that's for sure.


Rob Shock writes a blog. Read it.

I should add that the 28s were also in the house. I made sure to get a CD of the 15-song album What A Joke from Clay Pigeon which I have been spinning at work… I’ll hold off talking about them and give you a report…


"Let go of the fuggin' mic, Donny!"

Oh I should add that the IN-denials are in the studio recording a joint album with The 28s. Sounds like a killer plan. I wish they’d hurry their shit up. But if you know Heath, he’s probably too choked up from his Steelers performing like shit to get his vocals straight. In the meantime, the IN-Denials are performing with The Filthies at B Ryders January 19th for the Your Turn CD kick-off. Go see them. You won’t regret a great evening in Bakersfield. What else are you going to do? Masturbate to American Idol?

This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on Tuesday, January 16, 2007. You can leave your response.