Eye Street Entertainment / 10-4-12

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, October 4, 2012

Eye Street Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com

Index First Friday................................................ 22 Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra............ 23 Arts Alive .................................................. 24 Fill the Bowl .............................................. 25 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 26 ‘Shout’ review .......................................... 27 Taft Rocktoberfest .................................. 31 Calendar .............................................. 31-33

Jewel of arts scene loses leader Herman announces retirement from BMoA BY JENNIFER SELF Californian lifestyles editor jself@bakersfield.com

Bakersfield Museum of Art Executive Director Bernie Herman has announced his intention to retire from the city’s premier arts organization after an eight-

year tenure that saw the museum flourish and grow, even as the economy has faltered. No timetable has been set for his departure, said Jason Gutierrez, the museum’s director of marketing. Herman declined to be interviewed by The Californian on Wednesday, but the museum released a copy of his letter of resignation, which states that he and

his wife, Joan, intend to move to Southern California to be closer to their adult children. “Having grandchildren is such a special treat, and we want to experience more time together with them as they grow,” Herman said in the letter. Susan Hersberger, chairwoman of the museum’s board of directors, said Herman informed the executive board of his decision

Monday and sent a letter to the full board on Tuesday. Hersberger called Herman’s contributions to the museum and community at large “enormous.” “During his tenure as president and CEO, he put the museum on firm financial footing,” she said. “In today’s economy, when museums and symphonies across the country are struggling, we’re in an enviable position at the

museum with the financial stability we enjoy. “He also expanded the artistic offerings of the museum, which at the same time has increased the number and diversity of our audience.” Though Hersberger was aware that Herman was considering leaving, the news came as a shock to several museum supporters Please see HERMAN / 29

Country rock in mellow vein SoCal group Poco hits town Saturday BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

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alifornia quintet Poco, which built a lasting reputation for crafting mellow country rock nuggets after bursting from the industrial hub of the Southern California music scene, is ready to softly rock Bakersfield on Saturday. On record and in concert, the band effectively mixed the traditional instrumentation of country music into rock ’n’ roll without the trappings of Top 40 radio formulas with hits such as “Crazy Love,” “Heart of the Night” and “Call it Love.” Original Poco member Rusty Young, who today leads the band after numerous lineup changes, said the blessing of being able to sustain a career has always been a matter of fans, not albums sales. Firmly committed to producing at a comfortable pace, the soft rockin’ quintet’s appearance is a fitting closeout to the 2012 River Walk Park Concert Series. “There’s three reasons the band has lasted this long,” said Young, 66, during a recent phone interview. “One, is the fan base is so great and so loyal, always there for us. Other bands from our genre are jealous because we have a hard-core constituency that’s stuck with us. Second, we’ve had great songs that stand up over the years. Third, is we’ve always had great musicians, and the band today is just as good if not better than any band we’ve had. I just love playing in this band now.”

Poco When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Bright House Networks Amphitheatre, 11200 Stockdale Highway Admission: $10 plus service charge Information: 852-7777 or ticketmaster.com Ice chests, outside food and beverages allowed. Temporary alcohol permits can be purchased for $1 on site. Valid ID will be required.

Young hasn’t always been the group’s front man. During the band’s early years, he was stationed near the back of the band, providing one of the group’s signature elements on the steel guitar. “You didn’t have synthesizers back then, so you had to play real instruments to get a variety of sounds in your band and your music. The Beatles had trumpets and clarinets in their music. We wanted to do the same kind of ideas, but with country instruments. We were using those instruments in a rock band to add color — mandolin, dobro, steel guitar — so that was always my job.” Co-founders Jim Messina and Richie Furay, who left Buffalo Springfield to form the first incarnation of Poco in 1968, brought Young in to continue pursuing Buffalo Springfield’s latter-day country pursuits. And while mentioned as one of the pioneers of country rock along with The Byrds, and Flying Burrito Brothers, Young views Poco’s role in the evolution of the subgenre much differently.

PHOTO BY KEITH MILES

Poco appears at the Bright House Networks Amphitheatre on Saturday. Pictured from left: Jack Sundrud, Rusty Young, George Lawrence and Michael Webb.

Inside Buck Owens saved Poco on weird day at Disneyland, 26

“We decided we wanted to carry out this notion of a more country rock band after Buffalo Springfield disbanded. Of course we weren’t the first that did it. A lot of people want to say Gram Parsons was the first to do country rock, and that’s all baloney. The Everly Brothers were country rock, Buddy Holly and Buck Owens was certainly country rock. He was the king of it, I thought. It was pretty natural for us to carry it on. The most diffi-

cult thing was finding the right five guys to do it. Over the years the band became a springboard for likeminded visionary musicians including Timothy B Schmit, who both later joined and replaced each other in the Eagles, and drummer Paul Cotton, among many others. The group’s horse logo introduced on its “Legend” album was also designed by late “Saturday Night Live” comedian Phil Hartman, whose brother managed Poco for a period. But for all Poco’s extensive history, they’ll forever be associated with their lone No. 1 single, “Crazy Love,” which Young also

co-wrote and originally sang in the studio. “I don’t know how the song came about. I was living in Los Angeles, working on my house one day, and of a sudden the chorus just jumped out of my mind. I always had a guitar close at hand. It took about 30 minutes to write that song, because it was all there. It was kind of a gift.” The band’s current lineup includes Jack Sundrud, bass; George Lawrence, drums; and Michael Webb, guitars and keys. “We do songs from all the eras of the band, some performed in different musical styles, but I do think we have the best new material we’ve ever had right now.”


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