Hollywood 'Rock N Read' Features Bako Talent - By N.L. Belardes

Rock N Read: July 13: More Info

I’ve never had the chance to perform with my kid who is in the Bakersfield band Dirty Spanglish. No, I don’t mean me singing in a rock band, though I have dreamed of strumming the guitar a few times while my kid rocks out. Fat chance of that. Anyway, I mean just sharing the stage, which I will get to do down at the “Rock N Read” at the Virgin Megastore in Hollywood on Sunday July 13.

They’ll be rocking and I’ll be reading. I’m especially happy because organizer Stephanie Kuehnert, who is also the incredible author of “I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone,” and her cohort in the event, author of “Frenemies” Alexa Young, both dug Dirty Spanglish. What can I say, I love my kid’s music and that others dig them too. Their music is fun, catchy. It's a band with four kids who just like to be serious about having fun.

Sure, I’ve criticized Dirty Spanglish, recently publicly (and always privately) for not creating enough new music fast enough. But lately I’ve seen them go through a growth spurt that has taken them from their fun pop-punk origins into a more mature indie sound.

I like that, especially in a city that keeps seeing bands break up. Instead of giving up, they've stuck together. Here’s a bunch of kids who have been performing since the 8th grade (Seniors now at Bakersfield High School) and who have entertained their musical tastes long enough, which has allowed their sound to go through necessary evolutionary changes.

I haven’t heard their new material. Just whatever snippets Landen shares around the house: a chord, a lyric, sharing tempo changes, chord ideas. I’m happy with whatever I get to hear around the house.

Thursday, Dirty Spanglish is performing with Norfolk at the Gate, which is nearby to the ABC23 (KERO) Studios, across from Hall ambulance.



Both bands will be at the Rock N Read July 13. Norfolk, simply put, is one of my favorite Bako bands ever. Talk about an evolution of sound and bandmates...

Personally I’ve been toying with an essay that’s half written in my head, rather than read from my novel or from something else I’ve written (nlbelardes.com).

I was thinking an essay on the media…something both funny and serious that also richly describes Bakersfield while talking to an L.A. crowd. Hope to see you there...

Show Review: The Fast Computers Live at The Silverfox - By Jesse Rivera

Touring bands always sound great and they always look hungry. They sound great because because they are actually playing night after night and they are well rehearsed. They look hungry because their tours are usually self-financed and on a shoe-string budget. Although Portland area rockers The Fast Computers didn't really look too hungry (maybe their hosts Gerhard and Cortnie Enns treated them to some fine Bakersfield cuisine before the show?) they did sound great and it only took them one song to get the crowd's attention at The Silverfox for a rare Tuesday night show.

The Fast Computers give new meaning to the word quirky as they bounced through a set of Elton-John-inspired synth pop at its best. Touring as a three piece: Synth, Bass, and Drums, there was no shortage of sound and the beats were funky.


Lead singer Peter Dean did his best to get the crowd at the Silverfox into the groove and he succeeded. Dancing with audience members climbing onto barstools, he made sure the Silverfox crowd got their money's worth ...Oh wait, Silverfox shows are always free!!

A special treat during the set were two songs sat on by Gerhard and Cortnie Enns of Bakersfield-Fresno band The Dalloways who were also playing host to the traveling band.

The Fast Computers will be heading down to San Diego tomorrow night then jump right back on the I-5 and head north to San Fransisco to finish off their 8 day tour of California.

Kid, Youth, Teen Bands Set To Rock The Gate Aug. 1st - By N.L. Belardes

Photo: L.A.'s Wild Youth and Bako band Dirty Spanglish get silly at last year's Harry Potter Wrock fest at Vroman's Bookstore.

Kid bands, youth bands, teen bands. They’re everywhere, lurking in garages, living rooms and kid nights held at local record shops, right?

Not as much as you think. In fact, it’s a rarity to see a youth-oriented show with a really young band like Wild Youth, who is coming here to Bakersfield Aug. 1 (not July 1st!) after once rocking Vromans with Dirty Spanglish on Harry Potter night last year. (DS has another 'literary rock' event coming up July 13 in Los Angeles at the "Rock and Read" at the Virgin Megastore in Hollywood).

While the Bakersfield music scene is like a tide that comes and goes, kid bands are also among those fragile waters. I’m amazed every time I think that my kid’s band, Dirty Spanglish is still together. They tell me they’re transforming to a more indie sound. But I have no idea and haven’t heard any of their music lately. Their pop punk is fun. Let’s hope their indie changeover keeps that playful appeal.

Right now I think there’s an interesting mix of local Bakersfield high-school age bands and younger that’s culminating in an upcoming show that’s sounding pretty darn fun for kids 18 and a whole lot younger.

Nick from Dirty Spanglish has put together a show at the converted church across from Hall Ambulance called The Gate. It’s a great venue and I like that it has rules: no cursing.

The even serve blended coffees--yum!


Photo: Dirty Spanglish

Mark your calendars early! The show on August 1st at the Gate features a host of local bands including several I haven’t seen. Abduction! Sounds fun and punky, while I’m kind of liking the attitude of The Rozzes on their MySpace.

Foiled! (Again) is also showing up. I believe they're local but haven't seen their MySpace yet...

We’ll see if Dirty Spanglish can wow me with their new indie sound. They’re promising some fun antics that night. Another fun band is a group of L.A. kids who I’m not sure are even in high school yet. They’re called Wild Youth and are just fun and talented kids who started as young as 11 years old...


Flier: The Gate Events

Punk, indie, rock pop. It’s all going to be at the show at the Gate on Aug 1.

I wonder if any of those GIRLS ROCK CAMP kids will show up?

Album Review: Coldplay's Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends - By Jesse Rivera

I was never much of a Coldplay fan but from the moment I heard the song "Viva La Vida" on the ITunes commercial I was hooked and found myself anxiously awaiting its release.

Prior to its June 18th release date, the album had not one but two songs -- "Viva La Vida" and "Violet Hill" -- receiving massive exposure in Europe and America.

The album takes its name from a Frida Kahlo painting. It's a fitting title to say the least, considering the ablum is as complicated, full of life and death, as a Frida Khalo painting. It is layered with sonic colours and textures you can never get tired of looking at it, or in Coldplay's case, you can never get tired of listening to it.

I also love the fact that the album is only 10 songs and comes in at just under 46 mins total. It's not too much and it leaves you wanting more so you have no other choice then to just listen to it over and over and over again. If the album were any longer it could get boring and over indulgent. Keeping it short and sweet avoids this downfall that many album have whenever their creators feel the need to fill all 73 minutes available on a CD. Short and sweet, baby -- that's how I like it.

The first four songs on the album: "Life In Technicolor"; "Cemeteries of London"; "Lost"; "42") just melt into each other one right after the other in one massive movement of sound. Brian Eno produced the album and does a great job of creating richly diverse songs that feel like you've known them your whole life after listening to them just once.

The middle of the album is made up of two songs taking up nearly 14 minutes of time. "Lovers In Japan"/"Reign In Blood" and "Yes" are the doors in between the first and second part of the album. As one closes, the other opens, and what we find is the rest of the album. The latter part of the album is made up of the songs: "Viva La Vida"; "Violet Hill"; "Strawberry Swing"; and last but not least "Death And All His Friends".

I cannot listen to this album and not think of U2's Unforgettable Fire and The Joshua Tree. This album is Coldplay's fourth and finds them at a place in their career where they are right in between their Unforgettable Fire and their Joshua Tree. A place in between greatness and legendary, a place in between rock heroes and rock gods... Like it or not, they handle it quite well.

I can listen to this album over and over. Every time I think I've found my favorite track on the album another one grabs my attention.

With 73 tour dates already announced in North America and the rest of the world, Coldplay seems about ready to conquer the planet.

They've just conquered me!!!

Still don't believe me? Head on over to Coldplay's Myspace and take a listen. Oh your more of a visuals type of person? Okay, head on over to their YouTube and take a look.

Weekend Music Scene Preview - By Jesse Rivera

Huge shows all over town this weekend, don't get left out of the fun!

First off without a doubt the biggest show in town this weekend has to be hands down, DJ Mikey, Seed, Mento Buru, Fishbone at...you guessed it Saturday June 21st at Fishlips. Three amazing eclectic bands providing a musical history lesson of California Ska/Punk/Funk/Golden Valley Stylee music all on one stage right before your eyes! Get your tickets early as this show is going to be off the chain!!

But first, Friday night's (June 19) music. We got the Punks out at Vinny's, The Iron Outlaws at Amestoy's and there's Velorio at Sandrini's! All this action is going on tonight.

Saturday June 20 Vecar and the Get Up Get Down are at The Gate (This is an all-ages show!!). I will personally be at Narducci's (622 E 21st St) for an Avant-Garde art show featuring several local artists (Travis Von Shriltz and Nyoka Jameson just to drop a couple of names).

The Art Show is all-ages from 7:00-10:00pm and then goes 21 and over from 10:00pm-1:00am. The show will also feature a very special performance by local Bakersfield rockers The Indians. They will be performing AC/DC's classic album Back In Black in it's entirety.

So don't tell me there's nothing to do in this town! Like I said, Saturday night I'll be chillin with the artists and rockin out to the Indians. As for Friday, I still haven't made up my mind, but I'm leaning toward Amestoy's and the Iron Outlaws. See you out there, Bakersfield. Support your scene!!

From Ritual To Romance - By Jesse Rivera

Speaking of hard working bands. Another Bakersfield band: From Ritual To Romance is getting ready to drop a new EP entitled Plan A Disguised As Plan B. I was lucky enough to get a copy of the CD last week and give it a listen to a couple of days before the boys let me sit in on a Saturday afternoon rehearsal.

The CD is packaged nicely in a jewel case wrapped in cellophane and sealed with a bar code even!! These guys take themselves pretty serious...

I couldn't help but feel like Vince Vaughn in a scene toward the end of the movie Swingers. The scene is where Vaughn's character is so proud of the progress made by his best friend, played by John Faverea, that he jumps onto a table in a diner and begins shouting, "...cause you're all grown up and your groused up and your all grown up..." This is exactly how proud I felt of these boys, or sorry young men after the first listening to of their new EP.

Their sound has gone from power screamo pop to progressive hard rock. I swear some of these guitar riffs are almost Allman Brothers-esque. The arrangements are better. The vocals and harmonies are tighter; there is just a whole new sophistication to their sound and it is amazing. If you don't believe me then just buy a copy of the CD and see for yourself.

Like I said the CD sounds great but if you want to truly give yourself the full on From Ritual To Romance experience you need to see these guys live. They will be playing a CD release show Friday, June 13 at Jerry's Pizza (1817 Chester Ave) you should really make the effort.

The band has spent the better part of the last two years putting all their time, money and energy into getting their new CD recorded, mastered and packaged. No expense was spared. It is a quality product all the way down to the liner notes (..in which I'm not thanked I'd like to add...lol!). They spent over $6,000 of their own hard earned cash. "I can't remember the last time I bought myself something new," band member Macario Gutierrez said to me on the day I came over to pick up a copy of the CD.

Like I said, I'm really proud of these guys I hope they get what they deserve!

SEED: Hardest Working Band In Bakersfield? - By Jesse Rivera

I'm having a great time really just getting reacquainted with this wonderful Bakersfield Music Scene after being gone for a little while. I spent last week getting back in touch with bands I dug back in the day (I'm talking way back like 2004-2006 back!)

Most of the bands who were around then have broken up, their members splintering into a 100 new bands. Some of the members never even got back into bands. Some just play for themselves in garages with buddies. Bummer... Well lucky for me some of those old bands are still out there playing shows.

Tonight I'm going down to Sandrini's (1918 Eye St. Between 19th & 20th Streets) and get reacquainted with the reggae rocksteady, Californialiscious sounds of local Bakersfield band, SEED.

I remember I used to see these guys playing shows with all the local metal/hardcore bands doing all they could to spread their good vibe. Well most of those bands are gone now but SEED is still going strong. In the couple of years since I've seen them they have landed gigs and shared the stage not just with every local Bakersfield band who's ever played a show. But also with the likes Eek A Mouse, Pato Banton, The Mad Caddies, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Digital Underground, and Afroman, just to drop a few names.

I caught up with SEED recently and asked them 5 Easy Questions!:

JR: Hey man, who all is in SEED and how do they get down?

SEED: Gary Rink is on bass. His style is like nothing you've ever seen and he always blows people away with his live performances and antics. He also teaches bass at Stockdale Music. Joel Henderson is on drums and has been with SEED for 4 years -- very jazzy and bluesy. He teaches drums as well. Chris Taylor on vox/guitar -- mostly a singer/songwriter but can still rip a solo, too. Chris also writes most of the SEED material.

JR: Is it true, SEED is the hardest working band in Bakersfield?

SEED: Well I dunno if it's true but it definitely feels like it! We play just about every weekend, sometimes 2 or 3 shows a week. On one hand we don't want people to get sick of us, but on the other hand, we can't say 'no' if someone asks for some SEED.

JR: I noticed on your Myspace, you have songs for sale. If I was gonna spend five bucks on some good SEED which five songs would you recommend I buy?

SEED: Well, if you're gonna spend some money on some songs, you should wait till our full length album comes out (shortly!) but if you must...Get Low is probably our most popular, Trenchtown has that rootsy feel, and if you're mad at 'the man' then The System is for you! Flirty Girl and Runaround are some good ones too.

JR: I'm trying to talk a friend of mine into going to your show tonight at Sandrini's. What should I tell them to expect from SEED live?

SEED: I'd say that your friend better be prepared to dance! People love to groove and shake to our reggae-rock style, especially after a couple of drinks. They'll enjoy many of our original songs as well as the recognizable cover tunes we do. Of course they would also be surprised at the full sound and energy that a 3-man band can produce.

JR: What local band is your favorite. You can name more then one if you'd like.

SEED: Our favorite local band? There's definitely more than one. the Travis Byler Project is always fun. Backup Johnny is cool. And you gotta love Mento Buru

If you can't make it down to Sandrini's tonight you can catch SEED tomorrow night (Friday the 13th!) at Fishlips or back at Fishlips on Saturday June 21st with Mento Buru opening up for Fishbone!!!