The Night Teens Rocked: Wild Youth, The Rozzes, Dirty Spanglish and Abduction in their Underwear - By N.L. Belardes

Dirty Spanglish/Wild Youth Reunion? Could It Be?!


A Slight Change From Their First Meeting

An exciting new band, Pepe LePew underwear, a possible Disney band reuniting with a seasoned teen band debuting a new indie sound? This was the Bakersfield show I had been waiting for.

The most exciting new band in Bakersfield? Let’s see, how would the mixture go? Take some Strokes and Fratellis, mix that with some Rolling Stones and teen angst rock star power, then pour in four Bakersfield cousins and you have The Rozzes.


The Rozzes Rock The Gate

“Most of our songs come from jams,” said lead singer Isaiah Navarro, 16. He’s also one of two shredding guitarists in The Rozzes and said their influences come from a lot of 70s and 80s rock. Blame it on the parents. We tend to turn our kids onto what motivated us as youth hooked on rock. I’m not sure if that’s the case with The Rozzes, but the older rock influences are there in a cool and hip new Bakersfield blended sound.

The Rozzes sounded tight, like they practice everyday. Either that or it was a great cover-up. Isaiah blamed their togetherness on familial bonds. “We’re cousins. We know each other so well,” he said. And they do. Not only are they tight, catchy and fun. They have rock star power and a catchy 3-song e.p., “Light In The Overcast,” a must for local music fans.


Nick From Dirty Spanglish Smirks; Isaiah From The Rozzes In Background

Whoever said there’s nothing to do in Bakersfield can once again politely ram their foot up their rear because The Rozzes were followed up by former members of the Dirty Pillows in the Bako band, Abduction! They actually do end their band name with an exclamation point.


Abduction! Pre-Pepe LePew Underwear Moment

If there’s an award for the funnest, goofiest, craziest pop punk band in Bakersfield, Abduction! wins hands down. Nick from Dirty Spanglish introduced them as “My favorite band in Bakersfield.” I can see why because Nick used to be the only bass player in Bakersfield who I’d seen perform in his boxers. That is until Abduction’s Jeff stripped down to his Pepe LePew boxers to perform as a birthday present for guitarist Jerry. And it wasn’t just for one song.


Abduction! Birthday Boy With Underwear Boy On Bass


Looney Tunes Clothes-Free Pop Punk


Dressed And Chillen' To Cheetos And Teen Angst

Pop punk will never die as long as these guys are around. Their lyrics are funny as is their bantering and their energy is endless. Jeff even swung his bass into a mosh pit. Pepe LePew would have been proud.


Future Disney Glam? Chloe From Wild Youth Belts Out "Hurricane"

It was a reunion for two bands as the 13 and 15-year-old rockers of Wild Youth came up from Pasadena to rock a show that also had Dirty Spanglish in the line-up. The last time both bands performed together was at Vromans during the Harry Potter book seven release (Read related Bakotopia article that has more than 40,000 views).


Did I Mention Guitarist Mac Attack can Shred?

Move over Hanna Montana. Wild Youth is filled with potential Disneyfied rock stars. They sounded much tighter than the first time I heard them in Pasadena. Chloe is Avril Lavigne meets Alanis Morrisette with her seductive breathy vocals. And Mac Attack is rock god enough for Jack Black to swoon over. But then, this Pasadena quartet has been working with some serious producers to hone their sound into the kind of band that can be pitched to Disney music executives. Currently on a phat Cali August tour that’s taking them from Hollywood’s Knitting Factory, the Egyptian Theatre and into the heart of San Francisco, Wild Youth are on their way to possibly being a mega commercial teen band.


Wild Youth, Dirty Spanglish, Ages? Try 13-17 Years Old

I spoke with Natalie Chaidez, mother of lead singer/bass player Chloe. She said while the band is working on getting a possible deal and strengthening their sound by working with music industry professionals, the band isn’t pushed too hard because they’re young. I agree. Who wants kids to be too serious? They have to have fun in what they’re doing. Although it still takes a record deal, or partnership with Disney or big sponsorship these days for such bands to hit the big-time, there’s still a lot of fun in bringing such talented kids into a small Bakersfield venue. Put Wild Youth on your “watch” list. They’re total School of Rock kids who could end up with their music in a Hollywood teen film or TV series.


Lando From Dirty Spanglish Readies To Rock


Just Do It!

“Dirty Spanglish blew us away,” said Isaiah from the Rozzes. He sat outside the Gate after he and a host of others listened to DS debut their new indie sound. Isaiah’s was a humble statement from an up-and-coming rock star. I’d say Dirty Spanglish blew fans away simply because their sound has matured and their fans love the change.

Their song “Tuesday” would be a hit on any indie pop album and is one of the best radio-friendly rock songs I’ve ever heard come out of Bakersfield. Lost Ocean’s recent new songs are top of that list. The Rozzes have the potential to be right there as well. Let me spin their demo at least two more times before I make that call.



Dirty Spanglish has more of a groove, more attitude, and more of a funky fun sound since busting out their Harry Potter wrock song "Hots For Hermione." Their indie songs are a fresh blast from a band who has migrated from the world of pop punk into a musical direction that is more meaningful for the four bandmembers. It's the Shins, Artic Monkeys, Wilco, Modest Mouse all wrapped into one. Where was Jesse from Illasever to hear all of this??

Shaun Alaniz really impressed me not only with his rendition of “Tuesday,” but also with singing an incredibly fun song called, "The Taco Stand Specialty." A song about a stomachache that had people dancing? Why not, it had the most catchy chorus of the evening: “Oh boy...geez loueez, don’t do this to me...” Haha, get the Peptol.


Catch Me If You Can...

I think that’s much of the old Dirty Spanglish influence on the new indie version. The catchiness and hooks are still there, but it’s a sound that can appeal to more people. I’m really looking forward to their next show and upcoming recording sessions. Rock it.

Dirty Spanglish at media-crazy Harry Potter Book Release in Pasadena's Vromans - By N.L. Belardes

Who has the "Hots For Hermione"?

You could say that Dirty Spanglish is the perfect band to write the Harry Potter song, “Hots For Hermione.” Pop culture influenced? Likely. “Harry Potter came out when I was in the third grade,” says vocalist/guitarist Landen Belardes.

He’s 15 now, and like the rest of Bakersfield punk band Dirty Spanglish, was more than ready for the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at Pasadena’s Vromans: the oldest and largest bookstore in southern California.


Vromans: a bookscape of Potterness and wiz-rock

For Dirty Spanglish, it was all about Harry Potter fans. They even brought their new song “Hots For Hermione” just for all the fanatical book lovers dressed as their favorite black-robed wizards, tie-loving students, and one-eyed prestidigitators. “We wrote it just for the event; for all the book fans,” Belardes said. He’s also a big fan of the Harry Potter books and films.

What was the book release party like?


Dirty Spanglish talks to L.A. media


Dirty Spanglish talks to more L.A. media



Wall-to-wall screaming fans of all ages were dressed in their best Harry Potter themed garb as representatives from KTTV Fox News 11, KNBC Channel 4, KABC Eyewitness News, the Pasadena Star, and me from ABC 23/Noveltown/Bakotopia were in the Vromans house to watch the excitement build to earth-shattering levels. There couldn’t have been a better time for a Bakersfield band to hit a scene filled with wild young fans and a media frenzy.


Dirty Spanglish: Kris Smith, Shaun Alaniz, Landen Belardes, Nick Alvarado

Dirty Spanglish latest song is a catchy Harry Potter pop punk piece that’s part of the new genre of rock called wizard rock, or ‘wrock’ songs. Believe it or not there are nearly 200 bands around the world who sing exclusively Harry Potter themed songs. Although Dirty Spanglish isn’t a full-fledged ‘wrock’ band, they don’t feel so bad. The entire genre started off that way: one ‘wrock’ song by a rock band. I won’t get into details. It gets complicated.


Posing with fanatical fans







Anyway, Dirty Spanglish has been on a wild media ride lately as a result of their new song. They were mentioned in the L.A. Times story, “Harry Potter, the guest of honor: Booksellers are enlisting Snape debaters, wizard rockers and more to make the launch an event.” I found their ‘wrockiness’ media worthy and wrote a piece for ABC 23 titled, “Local Harry Potter Song 'Wrocks': Youth Band Takes Potter Pop Culture To Their School Of Rock”.

Their song was even on KTTV Fox news L.A. as can be seen by the cameraman Sean Patrick Lewis filming these two ‘wrockerettes’ wildly dancing to “Hots For Hermione”. Band members made several attempts at interviews with KABC Channel 4 and L.A.’s Eyewitness News. It made for good schmoozing from these young teenage rockers.

The party was already well underway by the 10 p.m. start of LA kid band Wild Youth. They’re Disney friendly with a bit of Alanis Morissette meets Avril Lavigne mixed with a dash of 1990s band, the Sundays.


Wild Rockers: Dirty Spanglish meets the Wild Youth

Interesting band connection: Wild Youth’s self-taught keyboardist, Hank is the grandson of Bakersfield music legend, Tommy Collins, one of the fathers of the old Bakersfield Sound. Landen Belardes, guitarist/vocalist for Dirty Spanglish grandfather once did a photo shoot of Collins and Buck Owens. A portion of a street in downtown Bakersfield was closed to shoot the cover for Collin’s album, “Callin’”.



Dirty Spanglish headlined and rocked the house with an 11-song set. Girls and boys danced, although I noticed many wizard girls grooving. Their song “Hots For Hermione” was off the hook as every Harry Potter fan within earshot energized to frightening wizrockish levels. They performed their Harry Potter themed song twice. Their final hurrah was a rousing encore that led right up to the midnight book frenzy.











While Dirty Spanglish signed autographs I wandered in the store to capture the historic first purchase. Hilarious, the girl who bought the book refused to talk to media and ran off, disappearing into the crowd.


The moment of truth. A 'must see' video. Girl runs away with book!

Outside, Dirty Spanglish talked to young wizards while people literally poured out of the store, some with arms filled with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.


I popped in the store to follow a cameraman and the lines as they were let in.


Chaos in the book store...


More organized chaos...


The moment of truth. First book sold at 12:01 a.m.









Harry Potter fans can purchase “Hots For Hermione” on a special collectors $5 CD that Dirty Spanglish made for the book event. Supplies are limited.

Contact Dirty Spanglish for CDs or to book shows in your area: www.myspace.com/dirtyspanglish

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows/Bakotopia promo video tease - By N.L. Belardes

There's more to come on the Dirty Spanglish gig at Vromans (Pasadena) on the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows... Watch for the kid in the Superman costume.

Bakersfield represented!