Eye Street Entertainment / 7-19-12 by Matt Munoz

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, July 19, 2012

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

Index On the Town: Narducci’s Cafe.................. 16 Arts Alive .................................................. 18 Swingtime Under the Stars...................... 19 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz ............ 20 Lucky Ned Pepper .................................... 21 Third Thursday ........................................ 22 Pam Tillis ................................................ 24 Calendar .............................................. 26-27

“The trick is, Willie loves what he’s doing and he’s really sincere about it and loves his audiences. They’re really loyal fans. He doesn’t look at it like doing a show. He needs air and water, and he needs to play music.” — Mickey Raphael, who has played harmonica with Willie Nelson for nearly 40 years

Willie Nelson: Still smokin’ New song gives legend some buzz as he heads our way You won’t see no sad and teary eyes When I get my wings and it’s my time to fly Just call my friends and tell them There’s a party, come on by And just roll me up and smoke me when I die. — “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” by Willie Nelson

BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

hat do you do when you become the face of the fight for marijuana legalization in this country? If you’re Willie Nelson, you roll with it — literally. The icon of American music and champion of his herb of choice has been getting a rousing reception at recent shows with a new song, “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” which extols one of Nelson’s favorite pastimes. From his latest album “Heroes,” the song features Nelson pal Kris Kristofferson and a performer some might not associate with the Texas outlaw: rapper Snoop Dogg. Then again, considering both performers’ love of lighting up, the pairing might not be as odd as it seems, said Mickey Raphael, Nelson’s longtime harp player. “We were both playing in Amsterdam, and Snoop came over to Willie’s room and played dominos for about five hours. We went into the studio and cut one of his songs right after that. When it came time for Willie to record ‘Roll Me Up,’ it was natural for them to ask Snoop. That initial connection in Amsterdam set it off. He was a really great guy.” While it’s pretty unlikely Snoop will show up at Nelson’s concert Friday at Bright House Networks Amphitheatre, fans can expect a rollicking, unscripted set as the singer and his band return to Bakersfield. Raphael, who has been with Nelson for nearly 40 years, spoke with The Californian just hours after what has become a legendary date for the band: the annual Fourth of July picnic in Texas. “The shows have gotten a little bit more controlled, but back then it was crazy just trying to get into the place,” said Raphael, 60. “We either had to be dropped in by helicopter or deal with traffic for hours. So it was a challenge just getting there. Sometimes we might come in the night before and just camp out to be there early enough to play.”

ZUMA PRESS

Legendary musician Willie Nelson plays the Palladium in Dallas, Texas in 2011.

Not sounding the least bit fatigued from what has come to resemble a modern-day Woodstock, Raphael looked back fondly on how the patriotic tradition started. “Each year is different. Back then, it wasn’t a perfect science. They’d just find a field, put a flatbed truck with a makeshift stage and that was it, people would come. Next thing you know, 50 to 60,000 people would show up. Last night was my 39th 4th of July show.” Raphael first crossed paths with his future employer during an impromptu backstage jam session in 1973. In the decades since, the two have developed a

nearly telepathic technique, Raphael’s grace notes helping to make classics out of Nelson tunes like “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” and “On the Road Again.” Pretty impressive stuff, especially considering that Raphael was called to the instrument quite by accident. “I heard a guy name Don Brooks who became Waylon Jennings harp player. The first time I heard him, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I was struggling as a guitar player when I was a kid. I loved music, but I was just looking for an instrument I was comfortable with. When I heard the harPlease see WILLIE / 23

Willie Nelson with The Wichitas When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Bright House Networks Amphitheatre, 11200 Stockdale Highway Admission: $25 to $75 plus service charge Information: 852-7777 or ticketmaster.com

Thursday, July 19, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street Scott Cox CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

How Willie saved country music Believe it or not, there was a time in Nashville when guys like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson fell out of fashion. It was a dark time for the music business. Record companies weren't interested in real country anymore. They had faux country to promote, music made by people who were better looking, more marketable, and far less talented. Some of the old guard tried to keep up: They dyed their hair, got plastic surgery and bought fancier clothes. Some of them even ditched their art and started writing shallow, hook-driven pop-country. Like I said, dark times.

Fans of real country needed a hero, and fast. I’m not sure Willie even meant to be that hero, but it worked out that way. Willie had already moved to Austin, Texas. Austin was, and still is, the home of every hippie in Texas, and a lot of musicians sort of drifted out there looking to do their own thing. So when Willie showed up, he brought a huge amount of musical credibility with him. The outlaw country scene was already hopping, headed up by guys like Leon Russell, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, Joe Ely, Butch Hancock, Waylon Jennings, and others. They were

BY REBECCA KHEEL Californian staff writer rkheel@bakersfield.com

inding a parking spot for the Willie Nelson concert Friday at Bright House Networks Amphitheatre should be relatively hassle free after the city negotiated for 1,000 additional parking spaces at a vacant lot on the corner of Stockdale Highway and Buena Vista Road. That’s the good news. The downside is that the deal with Albertsons, which owns the lot, is a onetime-only fix to a growing problem: There’s just not enough parking available for the increasingly popular shows held at the outdoor venue at the Park at River Walk. Complicating matters further, a nearby retail center owned by Castle & Cooke and anchored by Target has had to hire security to ensure that concert-goers’ cars don’t clog the parking lot, muscling out shoppers. “For instance, if Panera (Bread) is only given 12 spots and they’re taken over by people going to the concert, Panera cannot service its customers, and it’s dead for the night,” said Darlene Mohlke, spokeswoman for Castle & Cooke, which connected the city with Albertsons. The Nelson concert is expected to be one of the biggest to date at the amphitheatre. Approximately 2,000 tickets have been sold. The amphitheatre has a capacity of 4,000.

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PARKING

Parking along l ana residential ey C Vall s s streets Cro

Bright House Networks Amphitheatre

Aera Park

Bike path

KERN RIVER

What you need to know before you go There’s nothing worse than a long walk from your car to the gate, only to learn that you unwittingly brought along contraband, necessitating a long walk back and forth again. Before you head over to the show, take note of the following info. • No ice chests. • No outside drink or food. • Beer, wine, other beverages and food will be sold on site. • Ticket-holders for the lawn area may bring blankets, but chairs and umbrellas are not permitted. • Concert-goers may be subject to security search. Source: SMG

“I feel confident that we have a good plan in place,” said Scott Neal, general manager of SMG, which manages the amphitheatre. Concertgoers still will be able to park in the amphitheatre’s main lot at the Park at River Walk, as well as side streets near the venue and the Aera Park lot. The Albertsons lot will add 1,000 spaces to accommodate concert guests, and SMG and Bakersfield police will have staff directing people where to park. A bike valet provided by Bike Bakersfield will be available next to the Kern River for those pedaling to the event. Castle & Cooke will have security guards

LY ON

Park at River Walk

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A RET Parking along residential PARKING streets 1/4 MILE

BUENA VISTA RD

Amphitheatre dilemma: Great concerts, no parking

unveiled an 8-foot-tall bronze statue of the legend, at 301 Willie Nelson Ave. Willie did for Texas what Buck and Merle did for Bakersfield: He laid the groundwork for anyone who wanted to follow in his footsteps. And like Buck and Merle, he did it with a ridiculous amount of talent. While the Bakersfield Sound is not quite the movement it used to be, Willie's brand of outlaw country is thriving. It’s even picking up steam outside Texas. Americana stations like KPIG in the Bay Area, and KJUG in San Luis Obispo are bringing all this music to a growing audience. Give them a listen sometime, or check out americanamusic.org. We owe Willie a huge debt of gratitude for this whole scene.

DR CALLOWAY

Where to park? City offers temporary fix

all popular regionally, but when a guy like Willie shows up on the scene, attention, in the form of bigger audiences and record sales, comes with it. Willie also made other artists aware that there was this huge music scene in Austin, a place where you could make actual country music and you never had to fly around on wires over the audience. Next thing you know, there's a new breed of country acts, guys and girls who never even tried to conform to Nashville’s way. Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and a whole lot more acts were making great music without selling out. Willie’s contribution to the Austin music scene was immortalized in April, when they

Parking for Willie Nelson concert JE W ET T

f you go see Willie Nelson at Bright House Networks Amphitheatre on Friday — and you certainly should — you’ll notice that a few of us are clapping a little louder than the rest. It’s not just because Willie is a legend. It’s not just the singing, the epic songwriting, or the heads up about the cops in Sierra Blanca, Texas. No, some of us will be clapping louder out of our appreciation for how Willie Nelson almost single-handedly saved country music. See, once upon a time people liked something called country music. Many of you won’t remember it, or the people who made it. And that’s where Willie comes in: When Nashville set about killing it off, he and a few of his pals decided to keep it alive.

G IN Y W RK A P EH L L A I D CK STO

Parking available for Friday’s concert Valet bicycle parking on bike path THE CALIFORNIAN

monitoring its lot, though tickets will not be issued and cars won’t be towed, Mohlke said. Instead, concert-goers will be redirected to designated event parking spots. Target owns the spaces directly in front of its store, so it has control over those spots. The store has not yet put in place plans for Friday’s concert, said Sky Seaborn, one of the store’s managers. The only problem Target has had with concert parking was during a 2011 music festival sponsored by local alternative rock radio station KRAB, Seaborn said. “Teens parked everywhere,” she said. “They were taking our carts and rolling them into the lake. They were vandalizing our property.” Target learned from the experience, hiring security and blocking off its parking before the next KRAB Fest concert. The store is considering that option again for Friday’s concert, Seaborn said. When the amphitheatre was planned, the city thought it might be able to work out a parking arrangement with Castle &

Win Willie Nelson tickets today! Join the Eye Street crew on “Californian Radio” this morning for a chance to win Willie Nelson concert tickets. This is the hot ticket in town this weekend, so don’t miss your chance to score. Listen for the cue and call 842-KERN. The show airs from 9 to 10 a.m. on KERN-AM, 1180.

Cooke, said Dianne Hoover, director of the city’s Recreation and Parks Department. That hasn’t happened and “it doesn’t look good,” Hoover said. “It is their business, and they have to look out for their tenants,” Hoover said of the developer. For future large concerts, the city will approach parking on a case-by-case basis, she said. For now, the Albertsons lot is a one-time deal. “People,” Hoover said, “need to park in concert parking.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, July 19, 2012

Eye Street On the Town with Ashley Fischer CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Overdid it? Here’s where to go Narducci’s will get you full, or tipsy, in the a.m. Nothing beats a night out on the town with friends: Drinking, dancing, requesting your favorite song one (or 12) too many times. When you’re dropped off at home and your head sinks into that pillow — another epic night out under your belt — you sleep the dreamless sleep of a champion. But then you wake up. The headache, the nausea, the sinking feeling that you left your debit card somewhere. You’re down, out and hungover. But don’t worry, good people with your Tylenol and your Smart Waters, there’s hope. I’ve discovered just the place to recover — or simply begin to forget all over again: Narducci’s Café. The East 21st Street building is Old World charming and mercifully dark, most of the light coming from the orange glow of a neon sign unnecessarily advertising COCKTAILS. I’ll be the first to admit that after an evening heavy with libations, waking up any time before noon falls well within the lines of cruel and unusual punishment. But if you have the strength to roll yourself out of bed and make it to Narducci’s before 11 a.m., it’s certainly worth it. I went around 10:30 on a Saturday morning, and it was busy, but not overwhelmingly so. Nearly all of the guests crowded around the bar were men, kindly uncaring and non-judgmental, as they talked about work, women and weed whackers. Most seemed to be taking advantage of the $3 beer and wine happy hour served from 9 to 11 a.m., as well as the full-service breakfast the café offers all day, every day. The dress code? Kern County Casual: T-shirts, shorts and wellworn camouflage baseball caps with a pair of sunglasses perched atop the bill. In other words, you won’t get in trouble if you stagger in there with your shirt on backwards. In addition to the $3 beer and wine specials (for you “hair of the dog” types), they also have the $2 breakfast: Eggs, choice of toast (they’d probably let you switch it out for a biscuit if you ask really nice), and either hash browns or coun-

Narducci’s Café 622 E 21st St.; 324-2961 Hours: Kitchen and bar open at 9 a.m. every day. Restaurant hours vary through the week

Specials: Happy hour from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday, includes $3 wine and beer and $2 breakfast. $10 steak night on Thursdays: Includes a generous steak and a full Basque set-up (soup, salad, beans, salsa, pasta, and bread and butter). My friends all offered varying opinions on where this ranked as far as the many Basque options here in Bakersfield, but everything was tasty, and for 10 bucks, you really can't go wrong. This is by far their busiest night, so be sure to call ahead and get your reservation. General policy: If you ask for it, and they have it, they'll make it. Drinks: They're boozy and reasonably priced, so be careful. I highly recommend the Moscow Mule, which manager and co-owner Julie Shine described as “the signature drink of Old Town Kern.” It's made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime, and is served in the traditional copper cup (they will ask to hold onto your I.D. as collateral for the cup — apparently people are prone to taking off with them). The Bloody Marys here are no nonsense: housemade mix, peppery, but not too spicy, and delicious. They're garnished with a lime slice and an olive — no frilly celery stalk is there to slap you in the face and get in the way of your recovery. Music: They typically have bands from a variety of genres performing there on the weekends. Otherwise, auditory entertainment is provided by a jukebox hanging on the wall, but I'd think twice before playing anything other than Buck, Cash, Merle or some other classic country.

try potatoes. It’s tasty and substantial enough to get you through your morning, and well into your afternoon nap. Narducci’s also has the distinction of being my new favorite place for french fries. They seem to leave the skins on their potatoes, so both the fries and the hash-

CASEY CHRISTIE / THE CALIFORNIAN

Who needs Saturday night when Narducci’s has such great drink specials in the a.m.? Not these guys.

browns are, well, brown — and really delicious. But what I enjoyed most about Narducci’s, in addition to the fact that the atmosphere is about as salty as the rim of the bar’s Bloody Marys (quite good, by the way), was its unwavering sense of pride. Pride in the quality of the food and the drinks that it serves, sure, but also the pride and comfortable ease that comes with knowing exactly what it is and fully embracing it: A local bar and restaurant. Bakersfield is an inextricable part of Narducci’s, and everything about the place exudes it, from the signs of other city landmarks covering the walls (Arizona Café, Amestoy’s, the Pyrenees, etc.), to the Cash and Haggard consistently cranking from the jukebox, providing a soundtrack appropriately mournful for any of the sad tales you might be telling. This is a place that inspires loyalty; I’m pretty certain my group of friends and I were the only new faces there in the Saturday morning crowd, and probably the only diners who asked to see a menu. The most popular order here? “The usual.” Most everyone walk-

Chefs at Narducci's serve up the perfect cure for your hangover: a hot breakfast shrimp platter, omelets and biscuits and gravy.

ing through the swinging, saloonstyle doors was greeted by name, and that sort of comfort (accompanied by a healthy serving of biscuits and gravy or chicken and waffles) is something I think most anyone would find appealing, especially on a morning/afternoon when you’re left wondering just how many friends you have left in the world.

The most painful part of my experience? Leaving. It really does hurt when you finally decide to head back out to face the real world and step into the glare of that relentless Bakersfield sun. But fortunately, come Friday night, I’m pretty certain I’ll feel another Saturday morning at Narducci’s comin’ down.

Thursday, July 19, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Get up close and personal with diva of pro wrestling BY MIRANDA WHITWORTH Contributing writer

f you think your only chance of getting up close and personal with a professional wrestler might involve getting trounced in the ring, guess again. A rare opportunity to meet and greet a WWE diva is coming to Bakersfield, and it’s much safer than you think. SkyBar Lounge on Rosedale Highway will be hosting “An Evening with WWE Diva Kelly Kelly” on Friday. Kelly, a veteran not only of the ring but of Maxim Magazine as well, will be on hand to meet fans, take pictures and sign autographs. Marty Redstone, marketing manager for SkyBar, said it was time to get a WWE star to Bakersfield for something more personal than an arena event. “The WWE comes to Rabobank Arena and it does very well, but you don’t get to meet the wrestlers, so I wanted to do something different. We wanted to reach out to the WWE crowd here in Bakersfield and give them something more.” What wrestling fans will be getting is an experience more intimate than the normal wrestling atmosphere. Instead of being one of thousands of screaming fans, attendees of the SkyBar’s meet-and-greet will be among just 200 people who have the opportunity to pose for pictures with Kelly and get up to two autographs signed by the star. “I have a lot of avid wrestling fans shooting me messages on Facebook saying this is a really great thing that doesn’t happen very often,” Redstone said. “They are really excited to get to do this." There’s more to the night than just meeting Kelly Kelly. Redstone has organized an entire experience, complete with WWE-themed music and catering from Cafe Med. DJ Mickey Rock will be handling music for the evening and will be giving wrestling fans something special. "He’s a video DJ that will incorporate clips of matches and the stars with music,” Redmond said. “We have big flat-screen TVs, and the footage will be showed on them along with music. We really wanted

DAN WOZNIAK / ZUMA PRESS

An Evening with WWE Diva Kelly Kelly When: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday Where: SkyBar Lounge, 4208 Rosedale Highway Tickets: $60, which includes dinner, pictures with Kelly and up to two autographs from the wrestler. Tickets available at SkyBar Lounge, 4208 Rosedale Highway; Cigars and More, 4208 Rosedale Highway (next door to SkyBar); Brookside Deli and Mini-Mart, 4700 Coffee Road. Information: 496-5028

to give the fans something cool and different.” “An Evening with WWE Diva Kelly Kelly” kicks off at 6 p.m. with drinks and then dinner. Redstone said he’s excited about the evening and looking forward to welcoming Kelly to Bakersfield for the intimate affair. He hopes she enjoys herself as well. "I think it will be really cool. There’s a huge WWE crowd in Bakersfield, people love wrestling and it will be great to have her here in a smaller venue."

$1 movie, $1 snacks: Fox the place to be THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

A family of four can’t expect much entertainment for under $20 these days, which makes a special movie screening at the Fox on Saturday pretty enticing. Admission to the 1993 feel-good film “The Sandlot”: $1 per customer. Popcorn: $1. Soda: $1. Air conditioning: Free. Spending time in Bakersfield’s most beautiful theater: Priceless. The 11:30 a.m. screening — and a block party that precedes it at 10 a.m. — is sponsored by the Bakersfield Professional Firefighters Association, the union that represents city firefighters. “The Fox Foundation came to us and asked if we wanted to be involved because

they’re trying to restore the seating and raise $10,000 to $15,000 for that project,” said fire engineer Steve Hamblet. “We donated $2,000 towards the goal and got to pick a movie. We were honored to be asked.” The event also represented a opportunity for the firefighters association to spread the word about safety, Hamblet said. “We might have a big ladder truck, an old fire engine, a new fire engine and some safety tables set up inside and outside the Fox. City Fire is donating the equipment. We’re doing this to encompass our mission, which is all about public safety,” Hamblet said. “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” will be screened at the Fox on July 28, sponsored by PG&E.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, July 19, 2012

Eye Street Camille Gavin CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Girl a self-taught mini-Mozart Though not a prodigy, teen’s gift impresses

n the past four months, 13year-old Mercedes Barcella has performed piano concerts for young patients at two different children’s hospitals — one in Madera, the other in Los Angeles. Aside from her age, this may not seem remarkable until you learn that she taught herself to play the piano and has been playing for less than a year. “It just comes instinctive to me,” she said. “The first piece I played was by Mozart.” For the record, I have spoken to Mercedes only by telephone and have yet to meet her in person. I have heard her play, however, by way of several short recitals available on YouTube. She plays with a concentrated vigor and is notable for the rapidity of her finger movements. Since discovering Mozart’s music, Mercedes, an eighth-grade student at Valley Oaks Charter School, has done research on the composer. She has incorporated her knowledge into a concert program in which she appears in a costume typical of the era in which he lived. “I like to play for the children — it takes their mind away from all their pain,” she said. “I start with the ‘Overture to the Marriage of Figaro,’ then I explain some things about Mozart’s life and after that I play a minuet and some of his other music.” Although Mercedes has yet to take lessons from a professional, she has been taking private instruction in the art of composition from Ken Fix, director of Stars School of Performing Arts. Fix has a bachelor’s degree in film scoring from Berklee College of Music in Boston, and has worked professionally in that field. “I wouldn’t use the term prodigy for (Mercedes), but she definitely has a gift,” Fix said in describing her talent. “For a 13year-old to write such coherent harmonies is very rare to find in children that age. She’ll come in every week with a new composition.” The young

GO & DO Discovery Well mural Dedication: 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday Where: 200 China Grade Loop Admission: Free Information: 399-9289

pianist, and Fix himself, affirm that he is not a piano teacher. Fix works with her strictly on composition and has urged Mercedes to seek professional piano instruction to perfect her technique. “She’s not polished; some of her fingering is incorrect, but she’s so motivated to do these things,” he said. “She needs direction and practice — if she has the right kind of training, in two or three years she could easily be a scholarship student.” Mercedes said her younger sister, Celeste, age 10, is teaching herself to play the violin and hopes they soon will be able to perform together. Both girls were born in Bakersfield and are the daughters of Ernst and Liliana Barcella who have lived in California for about 30 years and originally are from Argentina.

Looking good in Oildale “Discovery Well,” a new mural on the wall of a building in Oildale, commemorates — in artistic fashion — a momentous event that occurred more than a century ago and caused what arguably could be called the greatest economic boom in Kern County’s history. Local artist Patti Doolittle’s colorful painting depicts the two men who, using hand-held tools, brought in the first well that marked the birth of the Kern River Field. On Wednesday morning, one day short of the 113th anniversary of that discovery, the mural will be dedicated in a ceremony at 200 China Grade Loop. “It (the mural) was proposed by Citizens for a New Oildale and funded by Chevron,” Doolittle said. “I’m a native of Oildale and I am so honored that they chose me.” The 8-by-12-foot painting is on an exterior wall of a building on the north side of China Grade Loop, one block east of North

Camille Gavin’s “Arts Alive” column appears on Thursday. Write to her via e-mail at gavinarts@aol.com

HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

Mercedes Barcella helps her 10-year-old sister, Celeste, tune her violin. The girls are in costumes they wear when playing for children at hospitals.

Chester Avenue. The building is owned by Terry Delamater, who operates Anytime Fitness in a retail center immediately north of the free-standing structure. The mural is part of an ongoing effort by the citizens group and the county of Kern to make the core of Oildale more attractive and appealing for both the public and new businesses. “‘To change the face of Oildale,’ that’s our motto,” said Jan Gary, head of the citizens committee. “With the mural, the trees, the lights, people are seeing what can be done.” And, says Kern County Supervisor Mike Maggard — who represents Oildale — the improvements have begun to pay off. Dollar General, a discount grocery store, recently opened on the northwest corner of China Grade Loop and North Chester. Also new to the area are Kelly’s Cafe, which has relocated from Golden State Highway, and Covenant Coffee Shop at 1700 N. Chester, which employs young adults who formerly were foster children. “This all started with a charrette we held a couple of years ago,” Maggard said. “The whole idea was to create foot traffic and jobs.” Thus far, $1.2 million, funded by a community development block grant, has been spent on the project. The next phase of

PHOTO COURTESY OF PATTI DOOLITTLE

“Discovery Well” depicts the two men who, using hand-held tools, brought in the well that marked the birth of the Kern River Field.

improvements, budgeted at $300,000, is currently up for bid. Maggard said the additional money will come from discretionary funds available to him for his district. One focus of the upcoming phase will be the construction of a stage in a pocket park, a small lawn-covered area at the south end of a frontage road that runs parallel to North Chester Avenue between Norris Road and China Grade Loop. The stage will be equipped with electrical outlets suitable for lights and sound equipment.

Trees and benches also will be installed. Maggard envisions the park as a center for community gatherings. The genesis of the idea came during a recent visit he made to Prescott, Ariz. “They have a square in the middle of town where they have art fairs, concerts and other things,” he said. “And I thought that would be perfect for Oildale — a town square that would give it a sense of identity.” Several informal events already are being held in the park and on Please see ARTS / 22

Thursday, July 19, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Get into the swing of things and dance Bring picnic, family to museum Saturday

Swingtime Under the Stars

BY SUSAN SCAFFIDI

When: 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday; dance lessons at 7 p.m.

Contributing writer

he people at the Kern County Museum and Bakersfield Jazz Workshop think they can coax you off your couch for an evening of music and dancing. Called Swingtime Under the Stars, the event is an experiment to see if residents will support an old-fashioned evening of big band dance music on the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bandstand green. Museum director Randall Hayes said it was an idea whose time had come. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just thought it would be fun to have on a Saturday night,â&#x20AC;? Hayes said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And we teamed up with the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop and decided to do it.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done swingtime concerts in other cities,â&#x20AC;? Hayes said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are a lot of jazz concerts here, but nobody does swing music concerts.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to get people to get in the habit of just getting out of the house and doing something fun,â&#x20AC;? Hayes said. Swingtime Under the Stars will feature the Bakersfield Swingtime Orchestra, a group of local professionals who are also associated with the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop. Director Steve Eisen said the band will start as a sevenâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;

Where: Kern County Museum

Admission: $10

piece ensemble. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is our debut,â&#x20AC;? Eisen said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As the event grows, we will become a big orchestra.â&#x20AC;? The bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playlist reads like a juke box of swing-era hits, including â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the Mood,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tuxedo Junction,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jersey Bounceâ&#x20AC;? and many other tunes made famous by Glenn Miller, the Dorsey Brothers, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The idea is to really try to get the community back into swing,â&#x20AC;? Eisen said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to be doing swing, but we will do the occasional waltz.â&#x20AC;? For those who are uncertain about their swing dancing skills, Shari Fortino of Debonair Dancers will give a dance lesson at 7 p.m. Hayes is inviting whole families to bring picnics, plus chairs or blankets for seating, sit back and enjoy the music. Or, get up and dance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My experience is little kids love swing music â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they hear it and just dance up a storm,â&#x20AC;? Hayes said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seniors love it, too.â&#x20AC;? Hayes also said thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no

THE CALIFORNIAN

Steve Eisen, the driving force behind the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop, is also lending his talents to Swingtime Under the Stars on Saturday night at the Kern County Museum.

catch. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything has gotten to be a fundraiser these days,â&#x20AC;? he said, adding there wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be any kind of solicitation for money beyond the admission ticket. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We view this as a sort of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;friend-raiser.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Are we crazy?â&#x20AC;?

Hayes said the ticket price of $10, which is the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standard admission, will be split between the museum and the jazz workshop. Eisen said the workshopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s share of the money will pay the musicians a reduced fee and the rest will go to the

workshopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scholarship fund for music students. Both Hayes and Eisen hope the event will grow. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If it works, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to start doing more of these types of events,â&#x20AC;? Hayes said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope to be out there every month,â&#x20AC;? Eisen said.

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, July 19, 2012

Eye Street The Lowdown with Matt Munoz

Singer adapts in digital music age Messina keeps busy with mommy blog

f there’s one thing the digital age has shown Jo Dee Messina, it’s that you don’t need massive radio play or major-label hand-holding to have a career these days. “I talk to my 20-year-old nanny all the time about where she gets her music from,” said Messina, who broke out in the 1990s with a string of country power ballads like “I’m Alright” and “That’s the Way.” “She gets it from Pandora, Spotify, Facebook, and says, ‘I never listen to the radio. Everything is on my phone, my iPod. You plug it into the car and go.’ Radio used to be very personal, now it’s programmed. I dedicated a big portion of my life to getting to know people in radio, their families when I started. Now, it’s different. Anyone can sell 100,000 units online now without commercial radio. I think it’s just amazing. No one needs a major record deal to have a career now.” And how to get her music out there isn’t the only thing that interests the singer these days, as fans will learn Saturday at her show at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace. “I’m in the middle of a transition in my career,” said Messina during a phone interview from her home in Tennessee. “We do all the new songs live, but we haven’t recorded them yet. We get some bigger responses from the new material than the old songs, which is exciting. You normally get audiences that ask for only the old songs.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF JO DEE MESSINA

Country singer Jo Dee Messina appears Friday at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace.

Messina, 41, has a lot to sing about these days. Not only has she proved her talents can withstand the changes overtaking the music industry, but she’s become quite the online entrepreneur, running her own mommy blog — fumblingmom.com. “It’s really neat and amazing that people can make a living blogging. I never thought something like this was possible for me. I enjoy posting daily and finding new opportunities on the web. I always think about the future, like that quote from the movie ‘Moneyball’: ‘Adapt or die.’” But Messina isn’t prepared to abandon the old way of doing things just yet, despite the ongoing slump in physical CD sales. “I still love radio, but it’s interesting. One of my friends in the business was telling me that we as artists aren’t getting paid for radio play as much because advertisers are heading to the web. It’s crazy how all that’s working. I study all of that and follow the trends. Country music is a very grass-rootsy type of genre. People are sticking to the radio all over, but they’re also on their computers all the time.”

Messina hasn’t set a firm date for recording her new material; until then, she said fans will have to catch sneak previews at live shows and the occasional YouTube video leak, which she doesn’t mind. “I used to get upset thinking about it, because the sound quality is usually going to be bad, but it’s all free web promotion and good fans will always want the official tracks. It’s like I said before, ‘Adapt or die.’” Saturday’s showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $32.50 to $41.50, Buck Owens Crystal Palace is located at 2805 Buck Owens Blvd. For more information call 328-7560, or visit Vallitix.com.

Thee Midniters at The Nile As the world embraced the Beatles and other British invasion acts of the 1960s, the barrio bands of East L.A. were busy carving out their own niche with young people. Brown-eyed and bushy-haired, they adopted similar styles to their Brit counterparts with the hottest fashions of the day and a slick image to match. Leading the way was Thee Midniters, a group of young musicians who became heartthrobs and tastemakers after forming in 1964. Their sound was hip, happening, full of shimmy shakin’, brass-powered arrangements, and balanced with silky smooth vocals. Original bassist Jimmy Espinoza remembers it as a bittersweet time when voices of unity filled the air together with psychedelic sounds. Kids were testing their freedoms on the street amid the civil rights movement. The group appears at The Nile Saturday. “We were a magical mystery, sizzling ’60s, Liverpool sister city,” said Espinoza of East Los Angeles during a recent phone interview.

Matt Munoz is editor of Bakotopia.com, a sister website of The Californian that devotes itself to promoting Bakersfield’s art scene. Matt’s column appears every Thursday in Eye Street.

PHOTO BY KRISTA KAHL

Chicano rock pioneers Thee Midniters appear Saturday at The Nile. Pictured is original bassist Jimmy Espinoza.

“What was happening in England was happening with us simultaneously. It was fashion, music, art, entertainment. East Los Angeles was not all MexicanAmerican, it was also Anglo, Russian, very mixed. We had a young middle-class Latino population. It was a very exciting time.” With a reputation for packing dance halls two to three times a night every weekend, performing mainly covers of radio hits plus some originals, Espinoza says their ability to reinterpret was their key to success. “The talent of Thee Midniters was the ability to play note for note what they heard. We were the best cover band and there was a lot of charisma, and we were destined to become who we were. We had a van and would travel all over the city, then the county, and eventually all across the state.” More than just a cover band, the group helped pioneer a new sound referred to as “Chicano rock” that blended American rock ’n’ roll, R&B, with a big dose of

Latino spices. They released only a few recordings, among them many obscure soul ballads like “The Town I Live In,” and “Giving Up on Love,” but it’s their originals “Love Special Delivery” and “Whittier Blvd.” that have become standards of the subgenre. Today their legacy can be heard through bands such as Los Lobos, Tierra and Ozomatli. Many Bakersfield bands have been touched by Thee Midniters’ lasting impact. Plus there isn’t a traditional Latino wedding that doesn’t get at least one request for their version of the lovers’ classic “That’s All.” “To know we’ve been influential is just one of those blessings that comes along with it after all these years. I’m proud and appreciate it.” Opening acts are the Brothers of Latin Rock and The Press. Saturday’s showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $25 and can be purchased at the Nile or at Vallitix.com. VIP tables also available. The Nile is located at 1721 19th St. For more information, call 371-1434.

Thursday, July 19, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Ex-’Dillos feeling Lucky Duo from popular ’90s band try new direction BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he adage “When one door closes, another door opens” fits Bakersfield country duo Lucky Ned Pepper. Guitarist Josh Graham and singer Rick Russell, of the defunct Bakersfield group Smokin’ Armadillos, are about to take the plunge back into the business of making music after parting ways with their bandmates seven years ago. Curious fans will get a chance to check out their new musical direction when they take the stage at the National Day of the Cowboy concert at the Springville Rodeo Grounds on Saturday. “We’re just so happy right now,” said Graham, 39, of the new project. “This is like our baby, and we just want to get it out there.” This marks only the second official appearance of the pair, following their February 2011 debut at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, the venue where the Armadillos took their final bow. “We all went our separate way after the farewell show, but Rick had always said he may possibly do a solo project,” recalled Graham. “A few months later, he called me to see if I could help him out. At the time I was just doing some sound engineering around town.” The two began recording early demos in 2005 with no plans other than to keep things on standby. “It started out as me just helping, but then it turned into, ‘Maybe you can do a little more of this.’ I think we just got so used to working together that the idea of doing a solo project was a little daunting,” Graham said. “I think he just thought it would be better to have the two of us, and maybe it would be a little more comfortable. We just fiddled around in the studio.” After recording a couple of songs, the pair have decided to get down to business. They record at American Sound Recording studio, which Graham formerly co-owned, under the name Lucky Ned Pepper, the character played by Robert Duvall in the 1969 classic “True Grit,” starring John Wayne. “We got the name the same way we got Smokin’ Armadillos. You sit there and go through hundreds of them. One night I was sitting around throwing names around with my wife on the back porch. For some reason, my son, who was 4 at the time, loved watching ‘True Grit’ and John Wayne. I think we just mentioned it as a funny possibility. We went online and checked the domain name to see if it was available. Rick and I have always liked cowboy stuff, and we just decided to go with it.” Background vocalist Joy Sampson

PHOTO COURTESY OF LUCKY NED PEPPER

Former Smokin’ Armadillos members Josh Graham, left, and Rick Russell return to the music scene as Lucky Ned Pepper.

National Day of the Cowboy concert with Lucky Ned Pepper and Jason Cassidy When: Gates open at 5:30 p.m. show at 7 p.m. Saturday Where: Springville Rodeo Grounds, 34754 Highway 190, in Springville Admission: $15 Information: 559-310-4596 or rodeo49.com

was recruited as a third member. “The whole Lady Antebellum thing was happening and it just seemed to be more interesting and fun,” Graham said. “We went back to cut four more songs. She added so much we decided, ‘Why not keep her?’” While the sessions were wrapping up, they’d also been plotting a return to the stage selling out their Crystal Palace appearance mostly through word of mouth. But just as things were heating up, Sampson announced she was expecting. “Even at the time we’d been recording, she had already mentioned she wanted to have another child. We said, ‘OK, we’ll deal with it when we get there,’ and there we were. We all met and she decided she’d better just pull away from this thing all together. She’s a great person and a great friend.” After finishing up all 14 self-produced new recordings, Graham and Russell cut the collection to 11, before choosing “I Remember the Music” as the lead-off single for independent release Aug. 27, through a partnership with Nashville record label Nine

North Records. The release will be followed by the full-length debut, “Get Lucky,” in late September. “People were always telling us to go independent, since there are only four major labels left, but now several of these labels work as a buffet. You can hire their promotion, marketing staffs or legal departments just for you. That’s the way the Zac Brown Band did it.” No previews of the single were available for review, but the two have been making the radio rounds on a few stations, namely KUZZ in Bakersfield and KJUG in Porterville. “Half the interview is usually about what we’re doing now, and about what happened to the Smokin’ Armadillos. I work with Darren (Kirkindoll) at the church I work at, Scott (Meeks) and I chat every once in awhile, Jason (Theiste) plays bluegrass with some guys I know, and Aaron (Casida) lives on the coast now.” Even though the guys remain on good terms, Graham said fans shouldn’t hold their breath for a ’Dillos reunion any time soon. But, then, you never know. “Rick and I committed to each other to try and do at least one Smokin’ Armadillos song live. Honestly, to do another show, I don’t know, maybe when all the planets are aligned and everything falls into place at the right time. I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t. I think someone’s just gotta say, ‘Let’s do it.’ We used to have so much fun.” Joining Graham and Russell on stage will be: Jarred Pope, drums; Dennis Hamm, keys; Jimmy Pettis, guitar; and Jason Gill, bass. Also appearing will be country singer Jason Cassidy.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, July 19, 2012

Eye Street Enjoy some summer music at Third Thursday in the park The Bakersfield Californian

Third Thursday

et the night to music with Julyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Third Thursday celebration tonight at Central Park in Mill Creek. Along with the usual suspects, a number of bands and dance groups will provide â&#x20AC;&#x153;Music at the Creek,â&#x20AC;? this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme. Latin Fuzin will keep things

When: 5:30 p.m. today Where: Central Park at Mill Creek, 21st and R streets Information: 325-5892

lively near the main staging area by the bridge and the beer gar-

The Who: Loud and legendary Tuesday

akersfield movie theater audiences will get a dose of rock history Tuesday evening with â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Who: Quadrophenia â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Can You See the Real Me?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Story Behind the Album.â&#x20AC;? Beginning with a special welcome message from lead guitarist Pete Townshend, the event will give fans an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look into one of rockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most influential bands: Roger Daltrey (lead vocals, harmonica and guitar), Townshend (guitar, keyboards and vocals), John Entwistle (bass guitar, brass and vocals) and Keith Moon (drums and percussion), and the creation of their celebrated album,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quadrophenia,â&#x20AC;? originally released in October 1973. Packed with never-beforeseen stories, including the well-known onstage collapse of Moon during the tourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first show, the evening will feature additional performances of songs from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quadropheniaâ&#x20AC;? including chart topper, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Love Reign Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;er Me.â&#x20AC;? Rolling Stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s David Fricke said in his review: â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Quadrophenia,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; released in 1973, was a superior tale with more-taut songwriting; it was grounded in (Pete) Townshend's memories of growing up angry, anguished and mod in the early Sixties, and produced with the panoramic tension of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

den, across from El Toroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mechanical bull. Also bringing a Latin flair to Third Thursday is Grupo Folklorico, which will also perform at the edge of the park close to 19th Street. Chelsea Connely, winner of American Sound Recording Studiosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; patriotic karaoke contest earlier this month, will also per-

form in the same area. Along with music and dancing, there will be a patriotic costume contest for adults, kids and pets. Judges include Colin Jackson, meteorologist for KERO Channel 23; Bonnie Tomlinson, owner of Biscuit Boutique & Doggy Spa; and Thomas Rockwell, who manages Troutâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Done-up dogs will strut their stuff for a contest at 6:30 p.m., with prizes courtesy of Biscuit Boutique & Doggy Spa. People will compete at 7:45 p.m. with prizes including a pair of Pam Tillis concert tickets (for first place), four passes for Maya Cinemas (second) and a $25 gift certificate from Kukaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (third).

After playing piano for just nine months, Mercedes Barcella brings the music of Mozart to life on a $100 spinet piano her family bought at a thrift store. She has played for children at the Children's Hospital of Central California in Madera.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Who: Quadrophenia â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Can You See The Real Me?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Story Behind the Albumâ&#x20AC;? When: 8 p.m. Tuesday Where: Edwards theater, 9000 Ming Ave. Admission: $12.50; available at the theater box office or at FathomEvents.com.

Next.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? The Who formed in England in 1964. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quadrophenia,â&#x20AC;? the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sixth studio album, reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard album chart. The albumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s title is a variation on the popular usage of the medical diagnostic term schizophrenia and exemplifies the four varying personalities of the band members. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Information taken from a Fathom Events media release

HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

ARTS: CONTINUED FROM 18

the frontage road, he said. A farmers market is held each Tuesday night and the North of the River Chamber of Commerce is planning to have a car show soon. For the past three years the area has been the site of a Halloween party called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trunk-N-Treats.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;People point their cars inward and open up their trunks or hatchbacks; they decorate them and fill them with candy for the kids,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybody wears a costume â&#x20AC;&#x201D; last year I went as a

cowboy sheriff.â&#x20AC;? The first year, he added, only a few children came to the event but last year there were about 1,200. He anticipates at least as many if not more will attend the one planned for the coming Halloween season in October. Meanwhile, as an outgrowth of the citizens committee, an organization called the Oildale Foundation has been formed and has achieved its nonprofit status, Gary said. Steven Esselmen of ICF International is the president.

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Thursday, July 19, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street WILLIE: CONTINUED FROM 14

monica I started following Don and his career. I always had a harmonica, but until I heard how it could be played by Don, that was it. I knew that was it for me.” What Raphael learned from Brooks was how to find a way into a song without overblowing. The key, he said, is to hold back and listen until the music extends the invitation. “What I’m good at is knowing when to play and not to play. That’s what they pay me for, not necessarily for my skill on the harmonica. It’s knowing when to place the harp in a song. That’s actually more important then what you actually do with it.” Developing an ear is essential while playing with Nelson, revered for his jazzy phrasings, spontaneity and propensity to play behind the beat. “It’s give and take, but it’s kind of a living, breathing thing. What we play is not written in stone. It’s a stream of consciousness. It flows, it’s alive and it changes every day.” One thing that never changes, though, is Nelson’s unique voice. His soulful, nasal delivery crosses genres and styles with ease, even at the age of 79. All things considered, Raphael finds himself marveling at his friend’s enduring musicality. “I don’t know what Willie puts his vocal cords through. I’m surprised he’s got a voice left, because we work. We do 130 cities a year and he doesn’t warm up, he doesn’t do anything. It’s in his genes; he’s just lucky.” Joining Nelson and Raphael onstage will be the Family band: Nelson’s sister Bobbie on piano; brothers Paul and Billy English on drums; and new member Kevin Smith,

THE WICHITAS SCORE ANOTHER PRIME GIG The last time we heard from elusive Bakersfield country act The Wichitas was two years ago when they opened for Oscar winning-singer/songwriter Ryan Bingham at B Ryder’s. For the uninitiated, The Wichitas are local country roots rockers who made a big noise in the 1990s, performing around town for a few years before going on hiatus, resurfacing now and again. Over the course of the band’s nearly 20-year existence, the guys have opened for Johnny Cash, Los Lobos, Buck Owens/Merle Haggard/Dwight Yoakam (a legendary 1995 show at the fairgrounds), and Willie Nelson at the Fox in 1999. The current lineup features lead vocalist and guitarist Olen Taylor; Bruce Jones, drums; Chris Goodsell, bass; and Ernie Lewis, sitting in for original ax man, Marc Lipco. stepping in for longtime bassist Dan “Bee” Spears, who died in December. Though Nelson maintains a punishing tour schedule, Raphael said his boss wouldn’t have it any other way. “The trick is, Willie loves what he’s doing and he’s really sincere about it and loves his audiences. They’re really loyal fans. He doesn’t look at it like doing a show. He needs air and water, and he needs to play music. Food might come after that. It’s just natural for him. No set list. You’ll just know it when you hear it.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, July 19, 2012

Eye Street

Spending her b-day with Bakersfield Two chances to see Tillis and potentially be on TV The Bakersfield Californian

C PHOTO COURTESY OF PAM TILLIS

Pam Tillis will be in town for two shows next week.

ountry singer Pam Tillis is celebrating her 55th birthday in Bakersfield next week with two concerts. The acoustic shows, announced late last week, are Wednesday and Thursday, the first at the Fox Theater and the second, a more intimate affair, at Trout’s in Oildale. Both will be taped for a local television show called “The Rockwell Opry,” named for host Thomas Rock-

Pam Tillis Wednesday: 7:30 p.m. at the Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Tickets: $30.50-$55.50. Available at Trout’s or Vallitix outlets. July 26: 7:30 p.m. at Trout’s, 805 N. Chester. Tickets: $75. Available at Trout’s.

well, who also manages Trout’s. “We’re evolving, setting up a new concert series. This is our first show at the Fox and, so far, it’s been a wonderful learning curve,” Rockwell said in a phone

interview Wednesday. For next Wednesday’s show, Rockwell has arranged for 30 dancers to perform in the Fox’s orchestra pit. Opening for Tillis that night will be local performers Noah Claunch, who will do a set of original music, and Whitney Wattenbarger, singing a mix of originals and covers. Accompanying Wattenbarger will be Terry Houston. But big fans of Tillis might want to wait for the Trout’s concert. Only 150 tickets will be sold for the performance, on the club’s Blackboard Stage. “There will be opportunities for a lot of pictures and a meet

and greet,” Rockwell said. “We’ll bring in snacks and a cake.” Opening for Tillis that evening will be local performer Keaton York and Wattenbarger. Tickets are still available for both appearances. Footage from the shows should be featured within 30 days on “The Rockwell Opry,” airing at 6 p.m. Sundays on Bright House, Channel 10. Tillis, the daughter of country favorite Mel Tillis, enjoyed regular chart success in the 1990s with hits like “Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life),” “Don’t Tell Me What to Do,” “Shake the Sugar Tree” and “Maybe It Was Memphis.”

Bakersfield Sound doc needs $upport Film about influential musician at critical stage

undraising for Joe Saunders’ documentary about his grandfather, Bakersfield sound performer Billy Mize, is nearing the critical stage. With just a few days left until his kickstarter.com offering expires, Saunders is close yet oh-so-far away. Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. Every project creator sets his project's funding goal and deadline. If the project succeeds in reaching its funding

goal, all backers' credit cards are charged when time expires. If the project falls short no one is charged. Since its launch in April 2009, Kickstarter has launched more than 24,000 projects. Saunders, whose project was selected as one of eight documentaries to join Film Independent's 2012 Documentary Fellowship program, has painstakingly profiled Mize's contributions to country music and specifically the Bakersfield Sound. Mize, who lives in Tehachapi, was named the Academy of Country Music’s TV personality of the

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Thursday, July 19, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street TICKET ROUNDUP Bakersfield Fox Theater 2001 H St. vallitix.com or 322-5200 July 21: “The Sandlot” Movie & Summer Block Party, block party 10 a.m., movie 11:30 a.m. $1. 324-1369. July 25: Pam Tillis, part of Rockwell’s Opry Series, doors open at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. $30.50-$55.50. Tickets can be purchased: Trout’s, 399-6700 or vallitix.com, 322-5200. July 28: “E.T. The Extra Terrestrial” Summer Movie Series, doors open at 10:30 a.m., movie 11:30 a.m. $1. 324-1369. Aug. 3: The Lackey Film Premiere, 8 p.m. $8, plus fee. Aug. 11: Moonwalker: The Michael Jackson Concert Experience, 7:30 p.m. $34.50-$74.50. Aug. 14: ZZ Top, 8 p.m. $55-$125. Oct. 13: The Stars of Beatlemania, doors open at 6:30 p.m., begins at 7:30 p.m. $34.50-$74.50. Oct. 21: Josh Turner, 7:30 p.m. $30-$65. Dec. 8: An Irish Christmas, Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $26-$51. Dec. 20: Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Rocks!, 8 p.m. $35-$75.

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. vallitix.com or call 322-5200 July 21: Jo Dee Messina, 7 p.m. $32.50$41.50. July 31: Dustin Lynch, 7 p.m. Free. 3287560. Aug. 16: Buck Owens Birthday Bash, featuring Joe Nichols, Jon Pardi, Monty Byrom, Buddy Owens, John Owens & The Buckaroos, 6:30 p.m. $87-$112. Aug. 25: Zen Road Pilots, $15-$21 plus fee. Aug. 29: Band of Heathens, 7 p.m. Free. 328-7560. Aug. 30: Gloriana, 7 p.m., $19.50-$27.50. Sept. 1: Randy Houser, 7 p.m. Free. 3287560. Nov. 1: Colt Ford, 7 p.m., $26-$34 plus fee.

The Dome 2201 V St. July 27: Sugar with Mord Mustang, with Paul Ahi, 6 p.m., $15 online advance; $25 at the door; $25-$45 VIP. Tickets can be purchased at Wavelengths. Visit facebook.com/Sugarevents. Sept. 21: August Burns Red, with The Color Morale and Overseer, 7 p.m. $24 advance; $26 day of event. Visit online at numbskullshows.com.

On the Rocks 1517 18th St., 327-7625 July 27: Pacific Dub, Katastro, 7 to 11 p.m. $10. timegardeapresents.com. Aug. 3: Moonshine Bandits, 8 p.m. $10. timgardeapresents.com. Aug. 19: Peter Murphy of Bauhaus, The Ours, DJ Jose X, 7 to 11 p.m. $30. 21 & over only. timgardeapresents.com.

Kern County Fairgrounds 1142 S. P St. 833-4900 Aug. 5: 15th annual Lowrider Nationals, dubs, euros, imports, motorcycles, bicy-

ZUMA PRESS

Singer Carrie Underwood will perform at the Rabobank Convention Center on Oct. 18. cles, hoppers, entertainment, hot model contest, bikini contest, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P St. $20 adults; children 5 and under are free. lowridernationals.com or 818-6714771. Sept. 21-22: Bulls & Bikes Bash Event, 7:30 pm. Friday and Saturday, Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P St. $8 adults, $5 children 12 and under, plus fees. vallitix.com or 322-5200. Sept. 28-29: PRCA Rodeo, gates open at 6:30 p.m., begins at 7:30 p.m. $10-$15 plus fees. vallitix.com or 322-5200. Sept. 30: Fiesta Rodeo, 6 p.m. $5 plus fees. vallitix.com or 322-5200.

Rabobank Convention Center 1001 Truxtun Ave. ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000 July 28: Gurdas Maan, 7 p.m. $25 to $150 plus fee. Aug. 4: Joan Sebastian, 8 p.m. $40 to $125 plus fee. Aug. 18: Kevin Hart, 7:30 p.m. $48 plus fee. Aug. 21: WWE Smackdown, featuring Sheamus, Big Show, Sin Cara, Christian and more, 7 p.m. $15 to $95 plus fee. Aug. 30-Sept. 2: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: Dragons, animal open house, an hour and a half before show starts; show 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday. $15-$70. Sept. 13: Maná, 8 p.m., $38 to $148 plus fee. Oct. 4: “Boy Meets Girl,” presented by Bakersfield Community Concert Association, 7:30 p.m. $80 for eight concerts. bakersfieldcca.org or 205-8522 or 5892478. Oct. 18: Carrie Underwood, 7:30 p.m. $41.50 to $61.50 plus fee. Nov. 4: “Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival,” presented by Bakersfield Community Concert Association, 3 p.m. $80 for seven remaining concerts. bakersfieldcca.org or 205-8522 or 589-2478. Nov. 6: Eric Church, 7 p.m. $35.50 to $45.50 plus fee. Dec. 2: “The All-American Boys Chorus,” presented by Bakersfield Community Concert Association, 3 p.m. $80 for six remaining concerts. bakersfieldcca.org or 205-8522 or 589-2478.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, July 19, 2012

Eye Street Go & Do Today Batman Trivia Event, brush up on your Batman trivia before the Dark Knight reappears, will cover TV, movie, and comic book Batman facts, all ages welcome, 7 to 8 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 4001 California Ave. 631-2575. Concerts by the Fountain, modern country, blues and rock with Good Question, 7 to 9 p.m., The Marketplace, 9000 Ming Ave. Third Thursday, entertainment, barbecue, arts and crafts, games, contests, farmers market, 5:30 p.m., Central Park at Mill Creek, 21st and R streets. 325-5892. Motor City Lexus Customer Appreciation Fundraiser, an evening of wine, champagne, appetizers, music, and the viewing of the newest Lexus RX350 and 450h, 5 to 8 p.m., Motor City Lexus, 3215 Pacheco Road. $25. Proceeds benefit The Jeremy Staat Foundation. Art in the Afternoon, part of the children’s Summer Reading Program, 4 to 5 p.m., Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Ave. Free. 868-0750. Farmers Market, 4 to 7 p.m., Tehachapi Boulevard and Robinson Street in downtown Tehachapi. 822-6519. Free Admission Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, 2018 Chester Ave. 324-6350. Guitar Class, taught by Mark Albert, for individuals or a group, Juliana’s Art Studio & Gallery, 501 18th St. $25. Call 578-4570 or 3277507 for class details. Kern County Mineral Society, meeting, 7:30 p.m., East Bakersfield Veterans Hall, 2101 Ridge Road. 834-3128. Taft Certified Farmers Market, 5 to 8 p.m., 5th Street Plaza, Taft. 765-2165. Bingo, warmups start at 5 p.m., with early birds at 6 p.m., regular games at 6:30 p.m., Volunteer Center of Kern County, 2801 F St. From $20 buy-in to “the works.” 395-9787.

Friday E-40, 9 p.m., The Nile Theater, 1721 19th St. $30 plus fees. vallitix.com or 322-5200. Willie Nelson, with opening act “The Wichitas,” doors open at 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., Bright House Networks Amphitheatre, 11200 Stockdale Highway. $25-$75 plus fee. ticketmaster.com or all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 800745-3000. Meet & Greet WWE Diva Kelly Kelly, 6 to 9 p.m., SkyBar Lounge, 4208 Rosedale Highway. $60, includes dinner and two autographs. Tickets available at SkyBar Lounge, Cigars & More, Brookside Market & Deli, 4700 Coffee Road. 633-1116. Family Fun Night: Pirate’s Cove, dive for treasure, walk the plank, cannonball splash and more,

Road to the Fair Karaoke Contest qualifying Mondays: 8 p.m. Trout’s and The Blackboard Stages, 805 N. Chester Ave., 399-6700. Tuesdays: 7 p.m. Big Daddy Pizza, 6417 Ming Ave., 3967499. Wednesdays: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Round Table, 4200 Gosford Road, #101, 397-1111; 9 p.m. Rockstarz Party Bar, 7737 Meany Ave., 589-6749. Thursdays: 9 p.m. The Old River Monte Carlo, 9750 Taft Highway, 837-0250; 6 p.m. Padre Hotel, 1702 18th St., 427-4900; 8 p.m. Bull Shed Bar & Grill, 2300 Camino Del Rio, 327-0681. Fridays: 9 p.m. Prime Cut Restaurant, 9500 Brimhall Road, #100, 831-1413; 7 to 10 p.m. Tomi’s Cowgirl Cafe, 1440 Weedpatch Highway, 363-5102. Saturdays: 8 p.m. Lucky’s Tavern, 1914 N. Chester Ave., 333-4331; 8 p.m. Rocket Shop Cafe, 2000 S. Union Ave., 832-4800. Sundays: 9 p.m. Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge, 3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139. 6 to 9 p.m., McMurtrey Aquatic Center, 1325 Q St. $3 per person; $10 per group (up to 6 members). 852-7430. Movies in the Park, presents “Puss in Boots,” begins at dusk, Siemon Park, 3300 Redlands Drive. Free. 326-3866. Dream Big Campfire Storytime & Craft, part of the children’s Summer Reading Program, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Ave. Free. 868-0750.

Saturday Jo Dee Messina, 7 p.m., Buck Owens Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. $32.50-$41.50. vallitix.com or 322-5200. Summer Celebration with Thee Midniters, The Press, 6 p.m., The Nile Theater, 1721 19th St. $20 plus fee. vallitix.com or 322-5200. Swingtime Under the Stars, dance and picnic under the stars in the village of the museum, music by Bakersfield Swingtime Orchestra, 7 to 11 p.m., Kern County Museum, 3801 Chester Ave. $10 adults; $9 seniors; free for children under 3. 868-8400. “Dr. Strangelove,” Cinema Saturday, begins at sundown, Valentien Restaurant & Wine Bar, 1310 Truxtun Ave., Suite 160. 864-0397. “The Sandlot,” Movie & Summer Block Party, presented by Bakersfield Fire Department, block party 10 a.m., movie 11:30 a.m., Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $1. 324-1369. National Day of the Cowboy Concert, featuring Lucky Ned

Pepper, Jason Cassidy, gates open at 5:30 p.m., Springville Rodeo Grounds, 34902 Highway 190, Springville. $15 general admission. Tickets may be purchased online at rodeo49.com. Scale Model Train Display & Model Train Club Open, hosted by the Golden Empire Historical and Modeling Society, will display two large model railroads, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1534 19th St., entrance in alley. 331-6695. Third annual Kids Design Club, create a dog in a basket made of flowers, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Log Cabin Florist, 800 19th St. $35, includes T-shirt. 327-8646. Twilight at CALM, bring a picnic dinner and dine with the animals, 5:30 to 8 p.m., CALM, 10500 Alfred Harrell Highway. $9 adults; $7 seniors; children under 3 are free; CALM members are free. calmzoo.org or 872-2256. Wildlife Show, presented by CSUB’s F.A.C.T. (Facilities for Animal Care and Treatment), this event is part of the children’s Summer Reading Program, 2 to 3 p.m., Beale Library, 701 Truxtun Ave. Free. 868-0750. Cat Adoptions, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointments, Petco, 8220 Rosedale Highway. $65 includes spay/neuter, vaccines and leukemia testing. 327-4706. Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Brimhall Square, 9500 Brimhall Road., and 8 a.m. to noon, next to Golden State Mall, 3201 F St.

Sunday Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kaiser Permanente, 8800 Ming Ave. 877-524-7373.

um of Art, 1930 R St. $25, materials and snack included. Register online at grammyshouse.eventbrite.com. Art Classes, in drawing, watercolor, oils, color theory, for beginners and advanced, Bakersfield Art Association Art Center, 1817 Eye St. 869-2320. Art for Healing program, classes that alleviate stress, resulting from illness, or grief. All classes are free but some suggest a donation and are held at Mercy Hospital, Truxtun Campus, Truxtun and A Street. Visit mercybakersfield.org/art or to register, 632-5357. Artwork on Display, by artist Jim Bates, now through July, Capitol Real Estate Group, 1700 Chester Ave. Free. Exhibits on Display, Visual Arts Small Works Festival,” “Paintings by Dennis Ziemienski,” “L.A. te: Photographs of Los Angeles after Dark,” “Eye Gallery: A Day in the Life,” now through Aug. 26, Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 R St. $5 adults; $4 seniors (65+); $2 students; children under 6 are free. 323-7219. Marilyn Cameron, featured artist for the month of July, Dagny’s Coffee Co., 1600 20th St. 634-0806. Stained Glass Classes, six-week class, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Juliana’s Art Studio & Gallery, 501 18th St. $150. 327-7507. The Art Shop Club, 9 a.m. to noon each Thursday, Friday and Saturday, The Art Shop, 1221 20th St. All mediums. 322-0544, 5897463 or 496-5153.

MUSIC THEATER “Death & the Maiden,” 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, The Empty Space, 706 Oak St. $15 general; $10 students/seniors. 327-PLAY. “Grease,” 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday, Stars Dinner Theatre, 1931 Chester Ave. $22$57. 325-6100. “Honk,” 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday, Bakersfield Community Theater, 2400 S. Chester Ave. $12 general; $10 seniors/students; free for children 5 and under. 831-8114. “The Real Housewives of Oildale,” 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday, Gaslight Melodrama Theatre & Music Hall, 12748 Jomani Drive. $12 to $23. 587-3377. Improv Comedy Show, with Center For Improv Advancement, 8 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Ice House, 3401 Chester Ave., Suite M. Adults: $5, children under 12 are $1. ciacomedy.com.

ART “Stained Glass Art” for kids, parents, grandparent, for children 5 to 12 years of age and a parent or grandparent, 1 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Bakersfield Muse-

’80s dance party On the Rocks, 1517 18th St., 3277625; Members Only, 9 p.m. Friday. 21 & over only.

Acoustic King Tut, 10606 Hageman Road; Ernie Lewis, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Free.

Blues Kern River Blues Society Jam, 2 to 8 p.m. every third Saturday, Trout’s, 805 N. Chester Ave. 8727517.

Blues-rock On the Rocks, 1517 18th St., 3277685; Howlin Rain, 7 p.m. Friday. $5. All ages. Tickets, 742-6306.

Classic Rock Banacek’s Lounge, 4601 State Road, 387-9224; Mystic Red, 9 p.m. Saturday. Jacalito Grill, 4803 Panama Lane, 834-5834; Prisoners of Love, 7 to 10 p.m. Friday. Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge, 3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139; Really Big Midgets, 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Que Pasa Mexican Cafe, 9000 Ming Ave., 664-1400; Mike Montano, 9 p.m. Saturday. T-Bones Steakhouse, 8020 District Blvd., 398-1300; Elevation 406, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday.

Comedy T-Bones Steakhouse, 8020 District Blvd., 398-1300; Jeffrey Peterson, Frazer Smith, The Deacon, doors open at 7:30 p.m., begins at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. $10. Elevation Lounge, 818 Real Road, 325-6864; Improv Tuesday — Live comedy with DJ after party, 9 p.m. Tuesdays.

Country Sandrini’s, 1918 Eye St., 3228900; Vince Galindo, 9 p.m. Wednesdays.

Dancing Folklorico Classes, advance dancers/performing group 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays; and beginners, all ages, 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Fruitvale-Norris Park, 6221 Norris Road. $22 per month for beginners; $25 per month for advance dancers. 833-8790. Joaquin Squares, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Rasmussen Center, 115 E. Roberts Lane. $5. 324-1390, 325-3086 or 399-3658. Laf-A-Lot Dance Club Dance, 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Kern City Town Hall, 1003 Pebble Beach Drive. $5 members; $10 guests. 398-5590. Pairs and Spares Dance, with Jerri Arnold, Country George and Ed Shelton, 7 p.m. Friday, Rasmussen Senior Center, 115 E. Roberts Lane. $7; $9 nonmembers. 399-3575. Beginner Belly Dance Lessons, 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Mondays, Centre Stage Studio, 1710 Chester Ave. 323-5215. $45 regular session; $65 combo session. bakersfieldbellydance.biz. Greenacres Community Center, 2014 Calloway Drive, offers ballroom dance, East Coast swing (jitterbug) and Argentine Tango dance classes; $35, $45 for nonmembers. 322-5765 or 201-2105.

DJ Banacek’s Lounge, 4601 State Road, 387-9224; with DJ Casey Overstreet, 9 p.m. Fridays. DoubleTree Hotel, Club Odyssey, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court. 323-7111; live in the mix: old school, ’80s & ’90s music, 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. every Saturday. Le Corusse Rouge, 4647 White Lane, 834-1611; with DJ Chill in the Mixx, 5 p.m. every Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday. Rockstarz Party Bar, 7737 Meany Ave., Suite B5, 589-6749; DJ James, 9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Free. The Bull Shed Bar & Grill, at Hotel Rosedale, 2400 Camino Del Rio Court, 327-0681; with Meg, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Thursday, July 19, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge, 3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139; DJ Brian, 7 to 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Jazz Cafe Med, 4809 Stockdale Highway, 834-4433; Richie Perez, 7:30 to 11 p.m. Thursdays. Golden West Casino, 1001 S. Union Ave., 324-6936; Richie Perez, 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday. Free. Imbibe Wine & Spirits Merchant, 4140 Truxtun Ave., 633-WINE; live music & wine bar with featuring local artist and Jazz Connection, along with 24 wines, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. King Tut, 10606 Hageman Road; live instrumental and vocal jazz, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. each Friday and Saturday. Free. Que Pasa Mexican Cafe, 2701 Ming Ave., 832-5011; Jazz Invasion, 9 to 10 p.m. every Saturday. Steak and Grape, 4420 Coffee Road, 588-9463; 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Free. The Nile, Jazz Music, 6 p.m. every Sunday. Cost $10 at 1721 19th St. 3642620. Le Corusse Rouge, 4647 White Lane, 834-1611; Bakersfield Jazz Workshop, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. every Wednesday.

Karaoke Banacek’s Lounge, 9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday at 4601 State Road. 387-9224. Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge, 3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139; 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursdays and Sundays. Cataldo’s Pizzeria, 4200 New Stine Road, 397-5000; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday. Chateau Lounge, 2100 S. Chester Ave., 835-1550; 9 p.m. every Saturday. Corona’s Cantina, 9817 S. Union Ave., 345-8463; 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays. Don Perico Restaurant, 2660 Oswell St., Suite 133, 871-2001; 7 to 11 p.m. Thursdays. Julie’s The Branding Iron Saloon, 1807 N. Chester Ave., 6 to 10 p.m. every Friday. Lone Oak Inn, 8 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at 10612 Rosedale Highway. 589-0412. Maria Bonita Mexican Restaurant, 10701 Highway 178, 366-3261, 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays. All ages. Pour House, 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 4041 Fruitvale Ave. 589-9300. Pyrenees Cafe, 601 Sumner, 3230053; 8 p.m. to midnight Saturdays. Rocket Shop Cafe, 2000 S. Union Ave., 832-4800; 8:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday. Round Table Pizza, 2060 White Lane, 836-2700; 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. Sports & Spirits, 6633 Ming Ave., 398-7077; 9 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays. T-Bones Steakhouse, 8020 District Blvd., 398-1300; 7:30 to 11 p.m. Thursdays. Tejon Club, 6 to 10 p.m. every Saturday at 117 El Tejon Ave. 392-1747. The Old River Monte Carlo, 9750 Taft Highway, 837-0250; 8:30 p.m.

every Thursday. The Playhouse, 2915 Taft Highway; 397-3599; 7 to 10 p.m. Sundays. The Prime Cut, 9500 Brimhall Road, 831-1413; hosted by Ed Loverr, 9 p.m. to midnight Friday. The Regent, 2814 Niles St., 871-4140; 8:30 p.m. every other Friday. The Wright Place, 2695-G Mount Vernon Ave., 872-8831, 8 p.m. every Thursday. Tomi’s Cowgirl Cafe, 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, 1440 Weedpatch Highway. 3635102. Vinny’s Bar & Grill, 2700 S. Union Ave., 496-2502, 7 p.m. Thursdays. 21 and over. Big Daddy Pizza, 6417 Ming Ave., 396-7499; 7 to 10 p.m. every Tuesday; 8 to 11 p.m. every Friday. Cataldo’s Pizzeria, 6111 Niles St., 3637200; 6:15 to 10:15 p.m. Tuesdays. City Slickers, 1001 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-4939; 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. DoubleTree Hotel, Club Odyssey, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court; 8 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays. Elevation Lounge, 818 Real Road, 325-6864; 9 p.m. Wednesday. Ethel’s Old Corral, 4310 Alfred Harrell Highway, 873-7613; 6 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday. Iron Horse Saloon, 1821 S. Chester Ave., 831-1315; 7 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. Le Corusse Rouge, 4647 White Lane, 834-1611; A to Z Karaoke, 8 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays. Lone Oak Inn, 8 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at 10612 Rosedale Highway. 589-0412. Magoo’s Pizza, 1129 Olive Drive, 3997800; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. McMurphy’s Irish Pub & Sports Bar, 14 Monterey St., 869-1451; 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesdays. Pizzeria, 4200 Gosford Road, 397-1111; 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Replay Sports Lounge & Grill, 4500 Buck Owens Blvd., 324-3300; 8 p.m. every Wednesday. Rockstarz Party Bar, 7737 Meany Ave., Suite B5, 589-6749; 8 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays. Rocky’s Pizza & Arcade, 2858 Niles St., 873-1900; 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Round Table Pizza, 2620 Buck Owens Blvd., 327-9651; The Junction with host Mac Clanahan, 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Round Table Pizza, 4200 Gosford Road, 397-1111; 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Rusty’s Pizza, 5430 Olive Drive, 3921482; 6:30 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday. Syndicate Lounge, 1818 Eye St., 3270070; with Alisa Spencer, 9 p.m. every Wednesday. The Bull Shed Bar & Grill, at Hotel Rosedale, 2400 Camino Del Rio Court, 327-0681; 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Junction Lounge, 2620 Buck Owens Blvd., 327-9651; 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The Wrecking Yard, 9817 S. Union Ave., 827-9192; 7 to 10 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Trouts & The Blackboard Stages, 805 N. Chester Ave., 399-6700; 7 p.m.

Mondays and Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Latin/Salsa DoubleTree Hotel, Club Odyssey, Club Odyssey, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court, 633-1949; various levels, 3 to 9 p.m. every Sunday. $5 per person, per lesson.

Mariachi Camino Real Restaurant, 6 to 9 p.m. every Sunday at 3500 Truxtun Ave. 852-0493.

Music showcase The Prime Cut, 9500 Brimhall Road, 831-1413; featuring local artists, 7 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday.

Make your Pet the PAWsatively Best!

Oldies KC Steakhouse, 2515 F St., 322-9910; Jimmy Gaines, Bobby O and Mike Halls, 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Dog Obedience Training!

Old school Que Pasa Mexican Cafe, 2701 Ming Ave., 832-5011; Al Garcia & the Rhythm Kings, 8 to 11 p.m. every Thursday. Tam O’Shanter, 2345 Alta Vista, 3246774; The Press, 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $5.

8 WEEK COURSE for Dogs. Beginning July 23rd. Classes to be held on Monday and Tuesday evenings and Saturdays.

Open Mic Fiddlers Crossing, 206 E. F St., Tehachapi, 823-9994; 7 p.m. Wednesdays. $5. On the Rocks, 1517 18th St., 3277625; musicians, spoken word, poets, comedians, 8 p.m. every Wednesday, On the Rocks, 1517 18th St. Free.

Cost : $ 90.00 for members or with your SPCA Adopted pet $100.00 for General Public All classes held in Air Conditioned Education Building at 3000 Gibson Street

Fight & Reggae/ska Call 323-8353 ext. 2 for information on registration. Registration should be made no later than July 23rd.

B. Ryder’s Sports Bar & Grill, 7401 White Lane, 397-7304; UFC fight, Mento Buru following fight, 6 p.m. Saturday. $10, includes dinner.

READING

Rock B. Ryder’s Sports Bar & Grill, 7401 White Lane, 397-7304; Dub Seed, Inhale, The Herbal Crew, 9 p.m. Friday. $5. Rockstarz Party Bar, 7737 Meany Ave., Suite B5, 589-6749; live bands, 9 p.m. every Thursday. On the Rocks, 1517 18th St., 3277625; Howlin' Rain, Three Blind Mice, 7 to 11 p.m. Thursday. $13.

Trivia night Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge, 3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139; 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Chuy’s, 2500 New Stine Road, 8333469; 7 p.m. every Tuesday. Sandrini’s, 1918 Eye St., 322-8900; Trivia Night with Dave Rezac, 10 p.m. Tuesdays.

Accordion Lessons, lessons are one hour long per person for 6 weeks. Learn beginner’s techniques and several different styles of music such as Polka, Italian, and Mariachi music, off of a 124 bass accordion with keyboard at 501 18th St. Call 889-5625.

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