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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, December 8, 2011
Eye Street Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com
Index “Nutcracker” ............................................ 23 28th Annual Bakersfield Toy Run ............ 23 Museum of Art winter exhibitions ........ 24 Oildale Parade .......................................... 25 Arts Alive .................................................. 26 Pauly Shore .............................................. 27 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 28 Calendar .............................................. 33-35
Scott Cox CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST
Fishlips forever Radio host recalls best of times at downtown venue
T
he war in Iraq started about the time that I became a regular at Fishlips — appropriate, really, considering that the owners and I would eventually raise thousands of dollars for the troops serving over there. I just never expected that my favorite hangout would end before the war did. But the building has sold, and co-owners (and my good friends) Shawna Haddad-Byers and Andrew Wilkins are closing up shop — but not before seeing the old girl off in style, with a farewell rave-up weekend of entertainment, sandwiched by comedy tonight (Pauly Shore) and a blistering final music set Monday (Gary HoHo Hoey). I will never forget the times I had in that wonderful bar. And the best memories aren’t even about the artists or the shows necessarily. They’re about all the regular folks who went there to enjoy great live music. Those are my people. Not the richest or the fanciest or the best dressed — just the coolest. I’ll also forever be impressed by Shawna and Drew’s unequivocal, unwavering support for our troops. Every time one of Shawna’s Marines went off to fight, a yellow ribbon went up in the bar, and stayed there until their safe return. And I’m really proud of the fact that while a lot of people talked about supporting the troops, the crew at Fishlips is responsible for putting more than 20,000 care packages in the hands of men and women serving in Iraq. I thought that with the shows winding down at my favorite live venue, it would be an opportune time to recount some of the coolest, most memorable experiences I’ve had there (not in any particular order). Scottstock: I had this crazy idea that we could raise money for the troops without resorting to golf. We had guitars from Buck Owens (thanks much, Jerry and Mel), Merle Haggard, Joe Bonamassa and a few others. Grant Langston & The Supermodels, Paul Chesne and a couple of local bands played. I had no idea what I was doing, but Shawna did. We raised way more money than I thought we would for a great group, Operation Interdependence. Each year, we conned more and more artists into signing more and more gear, the crowds got bigger, and so did the value of the axes we raffled and auctioned. I’ll never forget the morning of that last Scottstock. At 11 a.m., we were still without the Metallica-autographed guitar, and I was freaking right out. But then the doorbell rang at 11:55. That guitar went for $7,500. Ray Wylie Hubbard: I was, and am, a huge fan of Ray’s. So when I heard that he
PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT COX
When Paul Chesne’s in the house — as the performer and his band will be Sunday for one last time at Fishlips — you’d be a fool to be anywhere else than front row at the show.
Autographed by Metallica, this guitar fetched a record-breaking $7,500 at the last Scottstock, the annual benefit to help troops overseas. But the guitar was delivered, in true rock star fashion, very late — which led to a very un-rock star reaction from yours truly.
was playing in L.A., I checked his schedule and saw he had an open date before that show. So I called Shawna and begged her to get him, and she did. I told everyone I knew about the show and hoped for the
best. I knew that a half-empty house would cost Fishlips money, and likely keep Ray from ever coming back. Worse yet, what if he went back to Texas and told other great artists that Bakersfield is a bad place to play. I was a nervous wreck the day of, but by 15 minutes before showtime, the place was packed. I’m pretty sure I cried a little at that point. Monty Byrom opened, and was predictably excellent. My son and I were in the back room with Ray, who was teaching my kid how to play the greatest song ever written, “Chocktaw Bingo.” So when it came time for Ray to play it, he got Brett up there to play along. That moment lives to this day on YouTube. Dick Dale: “The King of the Surf Guitar” played so fast during “Misirlou” that he actually melted a pick. I’m not kidding. He threw it to me and it was still hot. And that wasn’t even the coolest moment of the show; that happened when Mr. Dale, wire-
less transmitter on his belt, walked of the stage playing “Smoke on the Water.” And by that, I don’t mean after playing it — I mean in the middle of the song. He went out the front door, across the sidewalk, and stopped right in the middle of 18th Street, just cranking out the rock. Passers-by didn’t quite know what to think but must’ve sensed that they were part of something great. He continued right into the tattoo shop across the street before returning to the stage just in time to finish the song. I saw Buddy Guy do that trick at the Fox years ago, but he didn’t have to deal with traffic. Dick Dale is a force of nature. Gary Hoey ’09: Like we’ll do this year, we were going to make some cash for Operation Interdependence, and we had a custom-painted Stratocaster for the event. Gary and the band were killing it. Then, in between songs, he decided to show off the prize guitar. He put his strap on Please see 32