Entertainment Features / 2012 by Matt Munoz

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, January 5, 2012

Index

Eye Street

23rd annual Fog Run ................................ 17 Ultimate Bridal Event .............................. 18 ‘Hee Haw’ reunion .................................... 19 Arts Alive.................................................. 20 ‘My Fair Lady’............................................ 21 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 22 First Friday .............................................. 23 Calendar .............................................. 28-29

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

Rosin up bow and off we go Bluegrass Jam kicks off tonight and goes all weekend BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

tart brewing the coffee and icing the energy drinks: The Great 48 Hour Bluegrass Jam is back. Kicking off tonight at The DoubleTree Hotel, the four-day festival of all things bluegrass promises to be another slumber party of epic pickin’ proportions. Kelvin Gregory, co-organizer of the festival, now its fifth year, predicted the gathering should outdo all previous outings. “Personally, I’m excited and gratified. It’s growing and creating a buzz all year round. The fact that it’s in winter helps up to get reacquainted and do some picking again.” The event is scheduled to bring together some of the best and brightest talents from up and down the state, and Gregory said his list of goals gets more ambitious each year. Encouraging non-stop jamming between attendees and fans, all artistic exchanges are welcome throughout the weekend. Sponsored by the California Bluegrass Association, the event is free to the public (except the $20 admission fee for tonight). “I heard about it over in Nashville when I was over visiting in September. Presales for the room reservations are approximately up 25 percent. Last year we had about 400 in attendance over the weekend, but this time I expect over 500 or more.” For the bluegrass musician, opportunities familiar to regular attendees will once again be offered, from workshops to free shows. All gatherings are within a short distance, scattered among assigned suites and each is hosted by a different visiting musical organization. “One of the goals was to have all the major bluegrass associations come to one event and throw their own jam session during the event. Everyone will be able to find something to do no matter where they go. We have a wing all reserved for ourselves at the hotel for lots of music as we have had in the past.” Along with scheduled free events, this year’s specially ticketed opening night concert will feature top name California acts Dark Hollow, The Get Down Boys, Grasslands, and Rocky Neck Bluegrass. To make things even livelier, all four groups will be competing for a slot at this year’s Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival in Grass Valley, reputed to be one of the biggest events of its kind. Calling it The Great 48 Showdown, listeners should expect a lot of serious shredding, with proceeds from the concert benefitting the Leukemia & Lym-

PHOTO BY ROBYN FEELEY

The Rocky Neck Bluegrass Band, from left, Devitt Feeley, Lydia Veilleux and Craig Ferguson, came to prominence after winning first place in the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle band contest two years ago.

phoma Society of Kern County. “The competition was added this year to create an avenue to get visiting bands paid and placed on a major bill. So we put out the word and began accepting demos,” said Gregory, adding that each band will be compensated and judged in the competition by three bluegrass deejays from different parts of California. “We had about 15 submissions from Northern, Central and Southern California. From there they were narrowed down to these four.” Craig Ferguson, guitarist for Rocky Neck

Bluegrass, said he looks forward to his group’s first visit to Bakersfield. “It’ll be a friendly competition. As far as our show goes, we’re going to be trying to demonstrate to show our variety with the traditional three-part harmonies, some solo vocals, dobro, mandolin and a bass solo, which is not very common.” Rocky Neck Bluegrass came to prominence after winning first place in the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle band contest two years ago. Since then, they’ve continPlease see 26

The Great 48 Hour Bluegrass Jam When: 8 p.m. tonight and all day Friday, Saturday, ending Sunday morning Where: DoubleTree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court Admission: Free for workshops and weekend concerts; the Great 48 Showdown concert tonight is $20. Information: 589-8249

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, January 5, 2012

Eye Street

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRASSLANDS

Southern California band Grasslands will appear tonight during The Great 48 Hour Bluegrass Jam’s opening night festivities. CONTINUED FROM 16

ued building a following on the burgeoning tour circuit, which, according to Ferguson, still has plenty of room for growth. “If you’re out West, you basically work doing festivals in Arizona, Nevada, and if you have money, you can make it down to Mexico. If you stay in California, you play coffee shop events, intimate concerts and small music stores with a stage in the back.” Introduced to bluegrass music as a teen, Ferguson, 30, said he’s always been fascinated with it. “One of my dad’s friends had a band, and I got interested in it for a while. I kind of left it alone for a while, but some years later after hearing a recording by Bill Frisell, featuring Jerry Douglas, who played dobro, I got back into it and playing the instrument. It was interesting for me to get

into that music when I was so young and eventually find my way back.” As one of the younger groups active on the bluegrass scene, Ferguson said there’s a need for more young musicians to help carry on the musical tradition. He always keeps that in mind when he hits the stage with bandmates Devitt Feeley on mandolin and Lydia Veilleux, fiddle. Also joining the band tonight will be ensemble bassist Brian Netzley. “We’re just trying to carry the torch and keep things going, by reaching younger audiences. I am concerned about the numbers dropping in the long run as some of the older veterans begin to leave us.” For bands who missed out on submitting or who would still like to bring their group for an impromptu showcase, Gregory said they should still bring their instruments. You may get picked to fill the bill at

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GET DOWN BOYS

The Get Down Boys, from left: Andy Keathley, Evan Winsor and Matt Bruer.

another spring or summer event. “During the jam sessions, you can ask the host about giving them a 30-minute set and hopefully get hired for a festival.” By Saturday night, the event should be in full swing after the daytime workshops wrap up and the ever-popular open mic and band scramble takes over. Here, participating musicians will throw their name into a bucket associated with their instrument before being paired up to perform together onstage later that evening.

All ages are allowed and family participation is strongly encouraged. “We’ve had kids ages 6 and 7 playing in the band scramble. We really promote youth involvement, and the people that attend are really sensitive to that,” said Gregory. If you don’t play an instrument, feel free to fill the halls and available seats. All audiences are appreciated. “I’m just so happy we’ve been able to keep coming back. It’s going to be a great weekend.”

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Thursday, January 12, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

ON WITH THE SHOWS New general manager settling in for tenure running live events BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he sparsely decorated office that belongs to new SMG General Manager Scott Neal is slowly coming to

life. The Missouri native moved to town in November and has made getting acquainted with the community his top priority after landing the job of running SMG’s family of Bakersfield venues — Rabobank Arena being the big one, but also the downtown convention center and ice rink as well as the Bright House Networks Amphitheater in the southwest. Not that he can’t wait to spruce up his office with some career-spanning mementos, namely framed autographed photos taken with the likes of Elton John, Billy Joel and Bon Jovi, which are stacked neatly with others near his bookcase. The photos are proud reminders of his biggest successes working in entertainment venue management, but he hopes to fill his office walls with new triumphs in Bakersfield. And, considering the slow year for concerts at Rabobank in 2011, the venue could use some big-name acts. “I tell all of our employees we are going to act like we’re a major-league facility, because that’s what we are,” said Neal. “I truly mean that.” Neal, 39, replaces former general manager Steve Womack, who left in September, one of several key changes at SMG that includes the departure last year of its marketing director, a key post that has yet to be filled. “The GM position was open and I knew other people throughout the industry who were interested in it,” said Neal, who, at the time, was an SMG employee at the Intrust Bank Arena, a 15,000-seat venue in Wichita, Kan., where he worked as assistant gen-

CONTINUED 16

But if no amount of courage — liquid or otherwise — could get you up on the bull, don’t worry. Despite the establishment’s name, The Bull Shed isn’t just about “Dolly” It’s also about Dolly, as in Parton, whose “Jolene” was performed admirably that night by a female singer jamming with Randy Emmett and the Bluetooth Cowboys. As a bride and her attendants came in from Hotel Rosedale, the band kept things lively as some line dancers took to the dance floor. But the mechanical bull, line dancing and country tunes weren’t the only tip-offs that this is a cowboy-friendly bar. Saws, ropes and other western memorabilia (most notably an auto-

“We rely on the community to fill seats. You’re not going to get everyone, but we’d like to keep the venues as busy as possible, increase bookings and keep the lights on. There’s an old saying in this business: ‘We’re afraid of the dark.’” — Scott Neal, new GM of Rabobank Arena

eral manager. “I had to go through the same interview process like those in SMG and outside SMG. It was open to everyone.” Without ever having visited Bakersfield before, Neal pursued the job and in November and was named the new general manager of the city-owned venues. “My goal was to become a general manager, and that’s why I continued to move around the country to do it. I’m fortunate enough to have a supportive family. There are so few opportunities like this. You have to go market to market. For every person like me, there are those people who become a GM right away. I hope to stay for a very long time.” Neal graduated with a master’s degree in education from the University of Kansas in 1997 before kicking off his career with the Minneapolis-based Vee Corp., which produces the “Sesame Street Live” tour. “That was an experience,” he recalled. “We used to send an Elmo costume to each venue to be used in media previews that got a lot of wear. Then there was the Cookie Monster costume that got lost in shipment. It was pretty funny, as you can imagine.” Two years later, he went to work in guest services and event management at the

graphed photo from “Tombstone”) line the wood-planked walls. Many patrons, me included, donned boots, and you couldn’t scan the room without spotting a few cowboy hats. Still, this wasn’t a rowdy crowd. For those with an appetite, The Bull Shed has a menu to satiate the hungriest cowpoke. I tried the chili cheese fries, which were more than enough to share but missing the onions mentioned on the menu (perhaps the kitchen staff’s choice to help customers stay fresh on date night) and the cheesy cheese bread. Sandwiches, burgers and an assortment of fried goodies can also help soak up the alcohol, including Rocky Mountain oysters. (Though I took the mechanical bull by

HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

Midwest transplant Scott Neal is the new general manager of the Rabobank family of entertainment venues, which includes the city-owned downtown arena.

20,000-seat Delta Center — now the Energy Solutions Center in Salt Lake City — home to the Jazz, two NBA Finals, and the 2002 Winter Olympics, which took place just months after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. “Very few people get a chance to have the eyes of the entire world on them, and I’ll never forget being a part of that.” Following Neal’s marriage to wife, Audrey, he moved on to an extended stay at the Fargodome in North Dakota and became a member of the Harlem Globetrotters organization. “I remember telling my wife that if she didn’t like moving around, I probably wasn’t the guy for her,” he said, pointing to a family portrait that includes his three young children. “My wife and kids are used to it, but I’ve always maintained a balance between work and being a family man.” In 2008, SMG, the Pennsylvania-based company that oversees several major venues in the United States and around the world, tapped Neal to join the team in Wichita. Still getting accustomed to his new job and life in the Central Valley, Neal plans to use all of his big-market experience to boost Bakersfield’s reputation as a major entertainment stop. “I really like Bakersfield,” he said. “It’s very similar to Wichita in terms of size and

the horns, I had to pass on eating the real deal’s fried testicles.) Comely women bartenders, who included a 6’4” blonde (6’6” in cowboy boots), stayed light on their feet serving drinks to a largely male crowd around the indoor bar. The two pool tables were occupied much of the night, one by a woman challenging her mother, who plays professionally and brought her own cue. The Bull Shed is a pleasant alternative for those over the downtown bars who don’t want to venture too far west into Rosedale. With karaoke twice a week, beer pong Wednesdays, dancing on Fridays and Saturdays and bull rides daily, there are plenty of reasons to give the hotel’s bar a try.

market, and some of the other places I’ve lived: Phoenix, Las Vegas, Fargo. There’s bits and pieces you take from places you’ve been, too.” Neal is busy conducting research locally and in Los Angeles, where he’s already met with various entertainment agencies to get more insight. “Our job is to make people have a good time, and serve the community by providing diverse entertainment. It’s still a business to the city and SMG, but I will be working within those parameters to try and be all things to all people. Our building is safe, clean and maintained.” Early 2012 already looks promising, with upcoming shows by heavy hitters Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson. Only time will tell whether Neal can keep up that pace. “I have a lengthy spreadsheet. I’m following everything. The minute it’s updated, I’m making phone calls.” But Neal can’t count on industry connections alone. “We rely on the community to fill seats. You’re not going to get everyone, but we’d like to keep the venues as busy as possible, increase bookings and keep the lights on. There’s an old saying in this business: ‘We’re afraid of the dark.’” Neal said he’s open to feedback and can be reached via email at sneal@rabobankarena.com.

THE BULL SHED BAR & GRILL Where: 2300 Camino Del Rio Court (next to Hotel Rosedale) Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday to Friday, noon to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday Happy hour: 4 to 7 p.m. daily, with drink and appetizer specials Information: 327-0681 or bullshedbarandgrill.com What to wear: Although cowboy hats and boots aren’t required, they’re

prevalent. Jeans are a good bet. What to drink: Domestic beers are popular — by the bucketful ($10 for five) or pint ($2), both happy hour specials Stay entertained: Pick up the mic for karaoke on Thursdays, try your hand at beer pong on Wednesdays, dance to DJs on Fridays and Saturdays or bands on some Saturdays.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, January 26, 2012

Eye Street

Flamenco class: Can we get an ole? Classes teach technique, but students needed BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

orget Esteban and those corny late night infomercials: Aspiring guitarists looking to add spice to their strum can now get it in seven steps with help from Bakersfield Flamenco guitarist John Gomez. The veteran musician is eager to share his wealth of knowledge on the Spanish-style art form during his Saturday classes at Juliana’s Art Gallery. But in order to do that, he needs students to fill seats. Proficient in a variety of styles, ranging from classical to bossa nova, Gomez said the benefits of applying Flamenco techniques will help musicians strengthen their fingers and bring more finesse to their performance. “I try to making learning simple,” said Gomez, while performing the intro to the Latin standard “Malaguena,” by composer Ernesto Lecuona. “No skill level needed.” Gomez’s attraction to the genre began in 1985 after he was introduced to famed guitarist Paco Arroyo, a revered name in Flamenco music circles. The two started a friendship that sparked an ongoing search for further instruction. “Paco is one of the best in the world. I took about five lessons from him over the course of 20 years. But he’s such a good teacher I was able to learn what I

Seven Steps to Flamenco with John Gomez When: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Length of class varies depending on number of students Where: Juliana’s Art Studio & Gallery, 501 18th St. Cost: $25 per half hour. Information: 496-0891 or 327-7507

needed. I also had a lot of records to play along with.” Developing his own method based on those experiences with Arroyo and what he taught himself, Gomez said students will have no problem following his “Seven Steps to Flamenco,” system. “When you come to the class, you won’t have to know anything beforehand about Flamenco. You can ask questions and I will be right there to instruct you.” Gomez described his method as broken down into the seven distinctive styles of fingering, beginning with the genre’s foundation: rasgueado. Resembling the waving strum of your hand on and off the strings in action, it will help the player precisely execute rhythms while conditioning hands and fingers. “Rasgueado builds muscles in your hands, and they’ll get very strong. It’s very physical playing.” Next is arpeggio, to develop right hand finger independence, followed by picado, where guitarists rapidly pick strings in coordination with their right and left hand. Once players become

HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

Flamenco guitarist John Gomez will be starting classes Saturdays at Juliana's Art Studio & Gallery.

familiar with those steps, Gomez said the next steps come more easily: advancing into tremolo, pulgar y ligado, golpe and alzapua. Practice regularly, and by spring you should be blazing away on your patio while house guests sip on sweet sangria. But the teacher cautioned that patience, especially with music, is a virtue. “Paco once told me he was taught the same thing every day for two years. Everyone that comes in will walk away learning chords and the proper fingerings.

You may think you’re doing the same thing, but you’ll become a better player.” Gomez pointed out examples where Flamenco guitar playing has been applied outside traditional Latin music. “Country music, blues, bossa nova, all kinds,” he said while performing a rendition of “The Peter Gunn Theme.” Should the classes become a success, the gallery also plans to offer Flamenco dance lessons once a month, as well as hold regular Sunday guitar concerts.

“If we could get 50 to 60 people here, it would really be nice,” Gomez said. “We want to have classical guitar players too. That would attract people from the coast to Bakersfield.” To get started, interested students will need to provide their own standard classical guitar with nylon strings. A tap plate to protect the guitar’s wood can be purchased at the class if needed. Previous guitar playing experience is recommended, but not required. Gomez also offers separate courses depending on your preference.

Guitarists galore to gather for CSUB music event BY SUSAN SCAFFIDI Contributing writer

he guitar instructors at Cal State really want to see their program grow, so they’re hoping to entice as many players as possible onto the campus Saturday with the first Guitar Day, which they intend to make an annual event. “We’re getting some pretty good audiences for our guitar events, so we realized we need to do a better job of recruiting people from off campus,” said Jim Scully, who heads the program. Scully said Guitar Day includes master classes and lectures he will deliver along with guitar studio instructor Roger Allen Cope. Twelve CSUB students will perform in recital in the guitar program at the end of the day. But the main event is a performance by a “guitar orchestra” created out of CSUB students and guests attending Guitar Day. “The day starts at 10 with a two-hour

Guitar Day When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, though the deadline for guitar participants is 5 p.m. Friday Where: Music Building, rooms 127 and 128, at Cal State Bakersfield, 9001 Stockdale Highway; seating is limited Admission: Free; parking is free in lots B and C Interested in performing? Go to csub.edu/guitarday to download music parts. Renditions of the music are also provided on the website.

rehearsal for the orchestra,” Scully said. The orchestra will perform two pieces, Scully’s arrangement of the pop song “Fred Jones, Part 2” by Benjamin Folds, and the German Christmas carol “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen” (“Lo, How a Rose E’er

Blooming”) by Renaissance composer Michael Praetorius. Participants are asked to bring a nylon string classical guitar to play in the orchestra. “It should be pretty accessible to everyone — we’re not doing anything too complicated,” Scully said. Lindsay High School music instructor Nancy Wills is delighted to have the opportunity to bring 21 of her students to the event. Wills, who heads the high school’s fine arts program, has more than 200 students in her guitar program. “I was just really excited to find this Guitar Day,” Wills said. “It’s free to the students, which is really important. “To experience that on a university campus and lock that in with higher learning, it’s just a great opportunity to see how they can tie that in with guitar music,” she said. Wills credits the success of her program with the popularity of the guitar itself, in part because guitarists can play in a group

or alone. “I think because of the versatility of the instrument, it’s really appealing to the kids. It’s also something they identify with — it’s culturally theirs,” Wills said. Scully is expecting about 65 attendees, and has room for more. While the event is aimed at junior high and high school students, it is open to guitar fans of all ages, who may participate on their own instruments or just listen. As part of the CSUB Guitar Arts series, Scully said Guitar Day is another attempt to promote guitar music in the community. “There’s a really rich tradition of guitar activity here in Bakersfield,” he said. Scully cited the Bakersfield Classical Guitar Society, which promoted local concerts with resident and visiting performers decades ago. “We’re just trying to revive a tradition that was already here,” Scully said.

Thursday, February 2, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

KUZZ, the Palace earn country nominations BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

Nominations for the 47th annual Academy of Country Music Awards were announced last week with Bakersfield’s Buck Owens’ Productions garnering three nods in the radio and nightclub categories. According to a company press release, country station KUZZ AM/FM, was nominated for medium market station of the year, KUZZ's morning show with Steve and Geoff was nominated for medium market On-Air Personality of the Year, and Buck Owens' Crystal Palace was nominated for

Night Club of the Year. “We are very excited here at Buck Owens Productions to be nominated for these three very prestigious awards,” said Crystal Palace Promotions Director Jerry Hufford, in an email statement. KUZZ previously won the ACM medium market Station of the Year in 1999 and 2009. The Crystal Palace won the ACM Night Club of the Year award in 1997, 2004 and 2006. The Academy of Country Music Awards will be held on April 1, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and broadcast that evening at 8 p.m. on Bakersfield CBS affiliate, KBAK-TV, Channel 29.

Go & Do Today

Saturday

Kevin Smith: Live from Behind Podcast, featuring “Jay and Silent Bob Get Old,” 6:30 p.m., Edwards Cinema, 9000 Ming Ave. $15 plus fee and can be purchased online at FathomEvents.com. PBS Documentary Film: The Freedom Riders, about a band of courageous civil rights workers who traveled to the Deep South determined to test segregated travel facilities and put an end to prejudice and racism, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Ave. Free. 868-0770. Bingo, warm ups 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. Bookseller’s Book Group, 7 p.m., Barnes and Noble, in the cafe, 4001 California Ave. 631-2575.

“Sharktooth Hill: A Kern County Fossil Treasure,” with geologist Tim Elam, 3 to 4 p.m., Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, 2018 Chester Ave. $7 non-members; free for members. 324-6350. Certified Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, next to Golden State Mall, 3201 F St; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Brimhall Square, 9500 Brimhall Road. CSUB FACT Open House, tours, bird of prey demonstrations, activities, gift sales, 1 to 4 p.m., CSUB, Facility for Animal Care and Treatment, 9001 Stockdale Highway. 664-3167. CSUB Men’s Basketball, vs. Cal Poly, 7 p.m., CSUB, Icardo Center, 9001 Stockdale Highway. $5-$20. gorunners.com or 654BLUE. Flamenco & Classical Guitar Class, taught by John Gomez, for individuals or a group, from 1:30 to 4 p.m., Juliana’s Art Studio & Gallery, 501 18th St. 496-0891 or 3277507. Garden Project Community Meeting, learn how to plant your own vegetable garden, 10 to noon a.m., St. Luke Anglican Church, 2730 Mall View Road. 332-3204. Harlem & Beyond: Oral History Presentation, with Claude Liggins sharing his personal experience as a Freedom Rider, 2 to 4 p.m., Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Ave. Free. 868-0770. Just for Kids, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, 2018 Chester Ave. $7 adults; $5 students w/ID, seniors; $4 for children under 18; 5 and under are free. Members are free. 3246350. Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Annual Installation Dinner & Business Awards, 6 to 10 p.m., Marriott Hotel, 801 Truxtun Ave. $65. 633-5495. Rockin’ for Alzheimer’s, an 8 hour RockA-Thon, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eagles Hall, 1718 17th St. $25. 393-8871. The Art of Todd Nauck, special audience Q&A, signing session, artist workshop, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 R St. $15 Q&A session/signing; $15 drawing workshop; $10 members Q&A session/signing; $10 drawing workshop. bmoa.org or 323-7219.

Friday 3rd Annual Winter Wine Fest, 6 to 10 p.m., Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 R St. $50 pre-sale; $60 at the door. Proceeds to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. bakersfield@jdrf.org or 636-1305. Bakersfield Club of the Deaf Valentine Party, games, door prizes, socializing, 6 to 10 p.m., East Bakersfield Veterans Hall, 2101 Ridge Road. $2 members; $5 nonmembers; children under 18 are free. Email BCODeaf@gmail.com. Condors vs. Colorado Eagles, 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $11 to $25. Tickets: Rabobank box office, ticketmaster.com or 324-7825. CSUB Opera Theatre!, 8 p.m., CSUB, Doré Theatre, 9001 Stockdale Highway. $15; $10 seniors/students; $5 CSUB students with ID. 654-3093. First Friday Downtown, featuring live music, art openings, specialty shops, galleries and boutiques, artists will set up their artwork, 5 to 9 p.m., Downtown Arts District. Email don@themetrogalleries.com or 634-9598. FLICS International Cinema Society, presents “Certified Copy,” 7:30 p.m., Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $5. flics.org or call 428-0354. Guild House First Friday, live music by Ken Fahsbender and Larry Peahl, light appetizers, dessert and wine, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Guild House, 1905 18th St. $10. 325-5478.

Please see 30

Thursday, February 9, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

PHOTO COURTESY OF EAGLE MOUNTAIN CASINO

Comedian/musician Steve Martin will be appearing with The Steep Canyon Rangers bluegrass band at Eagle Mountain Casino on Saturday.

Martin trades comedy for hot bluegrass banjo BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

t’s no coincidence we haven’t caught much of Steve Martin on the big screen lately. Currently moonlighting with bluegrass outfit The Steep Canyon Rangers, the 66year old comedian/actor/author/musician has been spotted on TV and across the country showing off his banjo pickin’ skills on the festival circuit. Now he’s back on the road, stopping by Eagle Mountain Casino on Saturday as part of a promotional tour in support of the group’s Grammy-nominated CD, “Rare Bird Alert.” But if you’re thinking about running to buy tickets, you’re out luck. The show sold out faster than you can say King Tut. For local bluegrass aficionado Craig Wilson, who purchased tickets early, Saturday’s show will offer a chance to evaluate Martin’s skills in front of what he anticipates to be a very lively audience. “I’m curious to see him play since he’s been playing a lot more lately,” said Wilson, who plays guitar and mandolin with Bakersfield bluegrass group The Roustabouts and co-organizes the local 48Hour Bluegrass Jam. “I think it’s cool and so great for the music, too, because of his notoriety and acclaim. People unaware of bluegrass probably wouldn’t walk across the street if it cost them 25 cents to watch us, but I think they would if Steve Martin were playing.” Wilson doesn’t downplay Martin’s playing and latest project, adding he’s been familiar with the comedian’s appreciation for bluegrass since watching Martin’s stand-up comedy routines in the 1970s. Wearing his signature white suit and mock arrow-through-the-head for laughs, Martin would always surprise audiences by ripping it up on the banjo between jokes. “When he played, he could play,” Wilson said. “I always wished he would play more, but it was more part of his shtick back then. From what I’ve read, he was exposed to a lot of the early bluegrass stuff when he was young: The Dillards, Kentucky Colonels. I believe he also became friends with John McEuen of The Nitty Gritty Dirt

Band.” “Rare Bird Alert” is Martin’s second fulllength bluegrass recording. His first, “The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo,” was released three years ago to critical acclaim, earning him a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Recording. Last November Martin could also be heard narrating the PBS documentary “Give Me the Banjo,” which chronicled the history of the stringed instrument and its impact on music dating back to colonial times. “It’s a music you get a fire for once you get into it, and he’s written a lot of new songs,” said Wilson. “You can’t say Steve’s the greatest banjo player, but he’s really good. Had he devoted more of his time to being a student of the banjo, I imagine he’d be phenomenal.” Martin’s bandmates, The Steep Canyon Rangers, are no strangers to Bakersfield. According to Wilson, he helped book the band opening night of The Great 48 Hour Bluegrass Jam three years ago. “We got them when they weren’t too expensive. They were en route to the River City bluegrass festival and were able to get a flight here a day earlier than our show. We call ’em The Steeps.” Saturday’s show will be the second on the scheduled seven-date tour for Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, with more to be announced. The majority of reviews from last year’s trek were favorable. Brenda Rushing of Pegasusnews.com wrote of Martin’s show at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas: “This is not another attempt from an actor halfheartedly trying to claim another profession in between movies, although he did mention that he has no idea why people come to see him play. He joked that it would be like Jerry Seinfeld picking up the kazoo and going on tour and his fans thinking it was a good idea. Martin is a seasoned banjo player with confidently swift fingers and a satisfying amount of his own songs.” Wilson is certain Saturday’s show will be a hoot. “I’m expecting kind of a variety of some really good hard-core bluegrass, with some eclectic stuff. I think it’s going to be a very entertaining show.”

Thursday, February 16, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street Bakersfield’s Best Server contest

Service with a ready smile Language no barrier for Mauricio’s worker

NOMINATIONS

Editor’s note: On the hunt for the best server in town, The Californian solicited nominations from readers and received dozens of suggestions. The top 10 have been featured every Sunday and Thursday for several weeks. Today we reveal the final nominee. BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

sk server Octavio Avila for a cure to the work-week blues and you’re bound to get a smile, followed by a shot of traditional south-of-the-border hospitality. Regularly serving spicy delicacies and shaking cool drinks to perk up visitors at Mauricio’s Mexican Restaurant on White Lane, the mild-mannered favorite said he’s always up for a challenge. “When customers come in, I will always try my best to make them feel special,” said Avila, 31, who has worked at the restaurant for six years. “I’ve figured out what most people want when they visit us, but sometimes you have to develop your own personality to draw customers.” Spend a few minutes with the husband and father of three and you’ll understand what makes him so popular. While his perfectly pressed shirt, ready smile and humble demeanor help attract regulars, it’s Avila’s colorful personality that will draw you in. “I have a good memory, and try to remember what everyone drinks after their first visit. And I like to serve fast, not slow.” If you’ve visited Mauricio’s before you may already be acquainted with Avila, especially if someone happens to be celebrating a birthday or anniversary. Avila enters the room with a large decorative sombrero before launching into a bilingual birthday cheer. The server’s favorite part is the sing-along. “If someone is having a birthday at the restaurant, I like to start the group and try to sound like Vicente (Fernandez.) Then offer them a shot of tequila.” And while singing is one of his favorite hobbies, he also claims to be a pretty nifty dancer. “I took my wife dancing on our first date. I must have been pretty good, because we started as neighbors and ended up married.” That humorous side to Avila’s

HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

Octavio Avila, a 12-year employee at Mauricio's on White Lane, is a nominee for best server.

How to vote Now is your chance to vote for your favorite server in Bakersfield. Just go to Facebook.com/BakersfieldCalifornian, and all our Eye Street profiles will be posted on the “Notes” page (found on the left side of the page) for you to review. “Like” the profile of the server of your choice. The winner will receive four passes to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and a $50 gift card to Goose Loonies. Voting is open from Feb. 24 through March 2.

character complements his efficient working style, according to restaurant manager Silvia Manriquez. “Octavio is a favorite of ours and many customers who come in

every day. When he’s not here, we miss him.” Originally a bus boy and dishwasher who had little interaction with customers, Avila started out content with the position before becoming confident enough with his English to request a new position as a server. “It’s hard to come from the kitchen to the floor. My bosses were concerned I couldn’t speak clearly enough to be understood. My manager gave me two days a week to try it out.” Now heading into his seventh year as one of the restaurant’s most popular servers, Avila remains humble. “Many of my co-workers share the same life story as I do, and enjoy our life in the U.S. I feel very ‘feliz/happy.’” Admitting his English has room for improvement, Avila said his regulars help him to brush up.

“My customers also try to speak Spanish to me, so we always have fun during our conversations. I teach them and they teach me.” Another way Avila stays connected with customers is through the specialty drinks he enjoys mixing up behind the bar. Among them, the michelada: a mix of spicy Clamato, fresh lemon, and Tapatio hot sauce, chilled and shaken into a tall, cold beer. “You always have to make it extra spicy, and if you’re hungover, I’ll make you the perfect bloody Mary.” Back at home, Avila enjoys spending time with his wife, Ruby, and their two children, Octavio Jr. and Mia, and their pet pooches Milo and Abby. A fan of televised soccer matches, he also enjoys listening to the music of mariachi singer Vicente Fernandez.

From Helen Venosdel: With an infectious smile and outreached hand, Octavio never fails to greet us when we enter Mauricio's on White Lane. As we make our way to the favorite booth in the back, he readily points at each of us naming our beverage — including our special requests. Warm salted chips materialize and he seems to instantly appear with the drinks and the ingredients to make the best guacamole on the planet. On Tuesdays, he doesn't even have to ask for our order, but states, "three fajitas — one chicken, one steak, one combo — flour and corn tortillas." His service is extraordinary and he seems to sense when we need something or when are really finished with the visit. With thanks and good wishes, he bids us good-bye and wishes us well. Octavio makes dining at Mauricio's a fantastic experience. From Rita Murphree: It is better than Norm's welcome on the old sitcom Cheers! Octavio is very gracious and seems genuinely pleased to see our party of 3 each and every time we arrive at Mauricio's on White Lane. He directs us to our favorite booth and knows we'll be visiting and dining until early evening. Never in a hurry, but always prompt, Octavio knows exactly what we want in the way of beverages as well as fresh guacamole and warm chips to get the party started. The food is outstanding, and Octavio gives us plenty of time to visit prior to ordering. He is attentive without ever being intrusive, almost as if he has us on radar. Or, maybe Octavio is psychic. In either case, the friendly service Octavio provides, from the time we walk in to the time we walk out, makes our dining experience very special. Thanks, Octavio!

Thursday, February 16, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street The Fresh Beat Band appears Friday at Rabobank Theater. Pictured from left are Thomas Hobson, Tara Perry, Yvette GonzalezNacer and Jon Beavers.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICKELODEON

A beat that kids and parents can tap toes to Nick Jr. sensation bringing ‘much happiness’ to town BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

hey sing, shake and make households quake: It’s The Fresh Beat Band, stars of a highly rated Nick Jr. TV show. Popular with preschoolers and parents alike, the band is about to embark on its first nationwide tour, which includes a stop at Rabobank Theater on Friday night. For cast members Yvette GonzalezNacer and Jon Beavers, the opportunity to jump from TV to the live stage is something they’ve been anticipating since their debut three years ago. “There’s no other show quite like ours, so it’s great to be a part of something new, fun, bringing so much happiness to so many kids,” said Gonzalez-Nacer, 25, who plays Kiki on the show. “We’ve gotten off to a really great start, and it’s just an honor.” With quick storylines and musical numbers mixed in a fast-paced presentation, Fresh Beat’s show is perfectly tailored to the attention span of today’s tech-savvy young minds. Plus, they’re portrayed in human form, not through animation or underneath fuzzy costumes. “The most exciting thing about our show is that we teach kids that music is a form of self-expression and that it’s important that you have a ‘self’ to express, and that you’re gonna have a talent in you that is different from everyone else,” said Beavers, 27, who plays the DJ Twist. “It’s really exciting that so many people are willing to drop what they’re doing and come out and see us play live. The music is bringing us together.” They’ve already sold out Carnegie Hall and packed New York’s SummerStage in Central Park, spreading the Fresh Beat fever to all walks of life from average citizens to celebrities. “Everyone’s got kids, and whatever your kids are into is pretty important to you, too. I had Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters come up to me after a show and intro-

The Fresh Beat Band When: 6:30 p.m. Friday Where: Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Admission: $18 to $37, plus service charge Information: 852-7777 or ticketmaster.com

duce himself to me — as if I didn’t know it was him. He really humbly asked me to take a picture with him. The same thing happened with Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers. He came up to us in Washington, D.C. He was talking about how he does the dances in the morning with his son. All I’m thinking is, ‘When is it a good time to ask him to sign my jersey?’ It was a funny interaction.” To coincide with the tour, the group just released a 20-track CD collection featuring some of the show’s most popular numbers, including “Here We Go,” “I Can Do Anything” and “Just Like a Rock Star.” “After shooting 60 episodes, we’re glad to finally make these songs available,” said Gonzalez-Nacer. “The first couple of live shows we’ve done, we noticed everyone from the kids to the parents singing along to every word just from watching. That’s amazing.” Both understand timing is everything when producing a live show like this for such an energetic and, at times, temperamental audience. To ensure no one gets cranky, expect Friday’s energy level at Rabobank to be at full Fresh Beat throttle. Joining Gonzalez-Nacer and Beavers onstage will be drummer Tara Perry, who plays Marina, and keyboardist Thomas Hobson, who plays Shout on the show. “This is a new show we put together ourselves over the last month, with the creators of the TV show and some great choreographers,” Beavers said. “It’s a concert, not an episode theatrically presented,” added Gonzalez-Nacer. “It’s been overwhelmingly positive. Parents sometimes get even more excited than the kids, jumping to their feet at the end of the show. It’s such a lovely experience to see all that joy in the theater.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, March 1, 2012

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

Index Stefani Dias .............................................. 18 Scott Cox .................................................. 19 Arts Alive.................................................. 20 Lenten Organ Recital ................................ 21 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 22 Bakersfield Winds .................................... 23 CSUB Theater .......................................... 24 Calendar .............................................. 28-29

On the Town with Matt Munoz

A nightspot in the clouds SkyBar a happening place for singles

SKYBAR LOUNGE 4208 Rosedale Highway (next to Hooters) 633-1116, or facebook.com/ SkyBarCA Hours: 1 p.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week Happy hour: 1 to 6 p.m. daily, with drink specials. No kitchen on premises, but patrons are welcome to bring in small food items from nearby restaurants. What to wear: Casual to upscale What to drink: Domestic beers on tap and in bottle, extensive wine selection, and specialty mixed drinks to suit your tastes. Stay entertained: Karaoke every Wednesday, starting at 9 p.m. Live DJs on weekends.

hen I heard SkyBar Lounge had opened in Bakersfield, I immediately thought of Los Angeles. My frequent trips to West Hollywood’s House of Blues music club on Sunset Boulevard have taken me past the towering Mondrian Hotel, which houses a nightclub bearing the same name as Bakersfield’s new watering hole. That Skybar fills a top floor, offering sweeping views of Los Angeles and a pool for industry types and models to lounge by, and has been featured on reality TV shows like “The Hills.” No stranger to the digital pages of celeb tattler TMZ, the swanky bar seems to exemplify all the highs and, in some cases, excesses of Hollywood nightlife. So does that mean the SkyBar Lounge on Rosedale Highway can do the same for Bakersfield? Good question. Let me preface this by saying you have to have cajones — or something — to name your bar after a popular Hollywood nightclub. You’re just inviting comparisons, and considering the Bakersfield bar isn’t likely to be crawling with A-list celebrities, can that be a good thing? Let’s break it down. The first thing you’re going to notice about the bar is the flashy digital sign advertising the venue, located in a shopping center near Highway 99 on Rosedale Highway. It’s an odd place for a nightclub, nestled as it is among a nail salon, massage parlor, shipping store, barbecue joint and Hooters. But the location actually is one of its selling points. The bar is five minutes, tops, from downtown and far enough west to pull partygoers from neighborhoods in the southwest and northwest. SkyBar’s proximity to the freeway also ensures motorists won’t get snarled in the heavy

JOHN HARTE / SPECIAL TO THE CALIFORNIAN

A few drinks in, you might not be sure if the lights are changing colors at SkyBar, or whether it’s just you. It’s not. The lights change colors.

What we liked Centrally located, making it easy to bar hop from downtown or the northwest. Great seating. Comfy booths, low tables and ottomans make it a great place for a group outing. Affordable: no cover charge, domestic beers starting at $3. Full bar and large selection of wine.

What we didn’t

Bartender Tony Mathews offers a little conversation while he mixes drinks at SkyBar Lounge on a recent Friday evening.

Rosedale traffic. And the breadth of the area it draws from is fully represented in the diversity of the crowd. The first Friday night I stopped in, I caught groups of twenty-something party gals in tiny dresses and gigantic high heels, along with young men in full suits and ties. Groups of friends in their 30s to 40s sat around low tables and in booths wearing jeans, button-down shirts

and sweaters. Scattered throughout the crowd were pumped-up but unimposing guys fresh from the gym in T’s and flat-brimmed ball caps, while small pockets of well-dressed women with oversized designer bags stood around waiting for someone to buy them a drink. The crowd had members of every walk of life, age and ethnicity, but the majority of clubbers

The drinks are pretty reasonable, and there’s no cover at SkyBar Lounge.

range from late 20s to early 40s, offering a more mature climate than many bars I personally frequent. I’m a longtime downtown dive regular, so this was a bit of a culture shock for me as an observer and participant. Contributing to the sophisticaPlease see SKYBAR / 26

Not a “first date” venue. Go in groups to dance, socialize or to meet someone new. Try the daytime hours if you’re looking for quiet and casual conversation. Restroom attendance was lacking. My female companion pointed out that by 11 p.m. the stalls were devoid of toilet paper and seat liners, and the garbage can was overflowing. Changes are rumored to be on the horizon, including the addition of a VIP section and bottle service. That could mean changes to the clientele and atmosphere.

Thursday, March 1, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Get your fill of Carolla at the Fox Comedian draws from his life for show BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

omedian Adam Carolla has built a career out of being brutally honest. After making his comedy debut on the popular “Loveline” radio show, he jumped to television for “The Man Show” and now “Celebrity Apprentice,” proving that no one medium can contain his irreverent candor. Now he’s made it into the pages of the “Guinness Book of World Records” for having the most downloaded podcast available, at his website adamcarolla.com. He’s also ready to hit the road with a new live show, titled simply, “An Evening with Adam Carolla,” which comes to the Fox on Saturday. “It’s a multimedia affair, so I’ll show you some pictures and stuff about my life,” said the 47-yearold funnyman during a recent telephone interview as he juggled recording his daily homeimprovement and car enthusiast podcasts. “Put it this way: If you like Adam Carolla, you will be tired of Adam Carolla by the time the night is over.” Carolla’s rise from underpaid carpenter to comedian began in the San Fernando Valley, where

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM CAROLLA

Comedian Adam Carolla appears at the Fox Theater on Saturday.

he says life was as exciting as watching paint dry. “I didn’t go to college. I was doing construction, just kicking around after high school,” said Carolla, who still lives in Los Angeles. “Next thing you know, I was driving a pickup truck with some tools. It sucked. I was bored.” That story doesn’t seem to match the picture of an overachiever, but it is indicative of Carolla’s self-effacing comedy style, much of which he credits to ho-hum parenting. “People think I’m joking, but both my parents were very lukewarm with their kids. They didn’t both seem over the moon about

having us. I mean, they didn’t have anything against us, don’t get me wrong, they just weren’t too excited about anything and a little hands-off in the life direction department. I don’t even have a middle name.” Despite that and other downers, Carolla said he’s always found ways to overcome the pain, even becoming a bit of a scofflaw. “Every time I filled something out, there was a box that asked for a middle name. There it is, mocking me. I was over at the DMV in the ’80s when the Lakers were having one of their playoff runs, and I just wrote ‘Lakers’ into the box. It turns out you can write in whatever you want. I just

turned it in. Then, once it gets in that box, it’s everywhere. On every piece of property I’ve ever owned, every car I’ve leased: Adam Lakers Carolla.” But Carolla’s career path changed instantly one afternoon when he responded to an ad on Los Angeles alternative rock station KROQ looking for a boxing trainer for comedian Jimmy Kimmel. With some amateur boxing instruction on his resume, he showed up at the station’s office. “I didn’t know Jimmy or what he did, but after hangin’ out with him, he just said, ‘You’re funny. You should be doing this.’ That’s really it.” Hitting the airwaves weeknights on the groundbreaking “Loveline” show, Carolla became the comedy relief to Dr. Drew Pinsky’s medical straight man when giving advice on sexually related topics to a largely teen audience. Meeting a parade of rock star guests and celebs offering advice, he developed a reputation as a funny foil and his reputation grew. Within a few weeks, he packed away his tools for good. “I was always interested in radio. I wanted to own a home, buy old cars … I knew that wasn’t going to get it at $13 an hour, so I just kind of sat back and I said, ‘Let’s be realistic: What can you do to make some money?’ I thought of comedy. Growing up, I liked George Carlin, I used to lis-

An Evening with Adam Carolla When: 7 p.m. Saturday Where: Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Admission: $39 to $54 Information: 324-1369

ten to Dr. Demento on the radio, watch ‘All in the Family,’ ‘Saturday Night Live,’ ‘SCTV.’ I just started working on something.” Carolla has starred in his own self-produced film, “The Hammer,” co-created the TV show “Crank Yankers” for Comedy Central, and discovered MTV comedian Andy Milonakis, and was a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.” Not bad for a guy with no plans in life other than to build suburban sprawl. “I know this may sound like a blowhard statement, but I do demand a fair bit of myself. I do a lot of things simultaneously. I didn’t become Richard Branson, I just became a successful person because I’ve always pushed myself.” Give him a break. He is, after all, a world record holder. “Just the notion that I’m some schlub from the valley in the ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ is beyond me. If you would’ve asked me at 19, it would probably be for making the least amount of money. Is that a category?”

This is the Droid you’re looking for on Friday Junkyard finds illuminated in cellphone photo exhibit BY STEFANI DIAS Californian assistant lifestyles editor sdias@bakersfield.com

eople seem to be doing everything on their smartphones these days — chatting, shopping, watching movies — but making art? That’s a smaller circle, one that includes local photographer Coy Townson. His work will be on display in “American Junkyard: Celphonotypes” on Friday at The Foundry. Townson coined the term “celphonotypes” for the unique images he creates by experimenting with his Droid phone’s camera. “The style mimics early photography techniques such as pinhole, tintype, daguerreotype, etc., that used long development processes to create a single image.” For years, Townson has been snapping away with his phone (and

‘American Junkyard: Celphonotypes’ When: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday Where: The Foundry, 1700 Chester Ave. Information: 388-0278

Also on First Friday Opening reception for “I took These Roads” by David Gordon, 6 to 8 p.m., Bakersfield Art Association Art Center, 1817 Eye St. Meet the artist reception for Mel Paleo, 6 to 8 p.m, Dagny’s, 1600 20th St.

his wife’s iPhone) after he gave up lugging his Canon DSLR everywhere. “I used to carry a camera around, but I got sick of it. With a cellphone, the cameras as good as they are now, it’s made life more interesting. “Seeing the fun in this pocketsized technology, I embraced the cell phone camera from the begin-

ning. I’ve been pushing people (to take photos). It’s a camera we have in our pocket all the time. You never know what you’re going to find.” Despite the interest, the graphic designer for Advance Beverage Company and part-time professional photographer was testing his phone’s camera skills mostly for fun. “I was shooting but I never thought about doing a project with the cell phone. As cool as it was to shoot with the phone, there wasn’t that spark of creativity.” That all changed when he discovered the app Vignette a couple of years ago. “The first night I downloaded the app, I was floored. I love vintage photography. It took a lot of processing to do — really. I’d shoot that on a digital camera. “With the cellphone app, you set up that style. Instant gratification. It’s all there processed and complete. It’s not days and hours that Please see FRIDAY / 26

PHOTO COURTESY OF COY TOWNSON

“Bone Yard Daisy” is one of the photos by Coy Townson to be featured in his exhibit, “American Junkyard,” Friday at The Foundry.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, March 1, 2012

Eye Street SKYBAR: CONTINUED FROM 16

tion of the place is the décor, with its Venetian-themed walls and boxed ceilings, abstract art pieces and a marble-like, under-lit bar that emits a warm glow, complementing the kitschy crystal chandeliers above the crowd. The seating is comfortable, modern and plentiful, taking up about 75 percent of the open space, which leaves a small area for dancing. On the entertainment side, the club offers DJs Thursday through Saturday, and the flat-screen TVs and large projector screen display music videos between and during spin sessions. The music is a healthy mix of new hits and old-school jams. While the interior may look expensive, the price to party, surprisingly, is not. There’s no cover charge at the door, and drinks are extremely affordable, making it much cheaper to play in style at SkyBar Lounge than it is at similarly upscale bars around town. The bar is staffed with former employees from both Hourglass and the dearly departed Fishlips. This brings years of local experi-

FRIDAY: CONTINUED FROM 17

you have to work on a photo. There’s still time for process in post-production.” (That post work involves finishing up the images on a computer, separating the real fine art from what looks best on the small screen.) After the epiphany, Townson wanted to focus his work, and he knew the perfect spot. “I always wanted to do a project in my dad’s junkyard, north of here, west of Delano. Eventually it will be gone. I had shot it with the DSLR. I got some really cool stuff, but never anything that was overly interesting.” Shooting some detail shots of old cars at the junkyard and the Bakersfield March Meet at Famoso Raceway, he got a great response. “Once I posted the pictures online, people were going nuts for it. From then on, I went on (shooting) the last couple of years. (Then Foundry cofounder) Alan Urqhart asked me when I was going to do a show.” Townson returned to the junkyard with his son, looking for faces in the salvage piles and broken-down cars. “Not in the front of the vehicle but the actual parts of the car. That brings the fun back to the act of shooting. You’re being creative by searching out things, looking for things. It’s a treasure hunt in a junkyard.” Along with Townson’s photos, the show will display work from Quintin Grant, who has previously had a table at the First Friday’s art walk.

About On the Town On the Town is an occasional Eye Street series that highlights the many nightspots, family venues, festivals and more that keep us entertained locally.

ence to the table and an added sense of familiarity for firsttimers like myself. I tried not to look like Sherlock Holmes searching for clues, but no need for cloak and dagger: Most people were content with their company, avoiding the overthe-shoulder look to see who else was around. Perfect for spying and people watching. The second night I showed up, older “cougar” types were out in force and on the prowl, flirting with the younger guys. Couples are a common sight, but a word of warning to the fellas out there: If you’re on the jealous side, this is more of a singles bar. While I made an early trip to the men’s room, my companion was hit on twice. Some rather eager gentlemen, looking to the close the

JOHN HARTE / SPECIAL TO THE CALIFORNIAN

On this Friday night, SkyBar is full, the crowd is young and the atmosphere is relaxed. The bar draws a range of ages and a mix of singles and couples.

deal, bought her two beers just standing at the bar. All things considered, can SkyBar Lounge embody Bakersfield

the same way Skybar at the Mondrian does for Hollywood? Our version is upscale yet affordable, centrally located but oddly

His unique “phoneographs” are a steam punk-inspired take on a phonograph, using copper tubing to project music from a cellphone through a horn. “By the natural sound, it amplifies the sound at the end of the megaphone,” Townson said. “They sound really cool and they’re really cool pieces of art.”

‘Phantom’ saga continues on Edwards screen

Also downtown The Shutter Clique is offering its own First Friday fun, tied into the theme of The Foundry show. The photography club will host a smartphone scavenger hunt starting at 5:30 p.m. To play, R.S.V.P. on the group’s Facebook page (facebook.com/theshutterclique) for the first location. People will gather in teams at the first site, then be issued a clue for the next location. All locations will all be within walking distance downtown, according to member Jennifer Williams. “We won't make it too hard and if people get stuck, we will give them clues,” Williams said. “There will be two people manning computers to provide instant feedback. I hope everyone really enjoys it.” Created as a way to promote member Townson’s show, hunts like this may pop up again if the club gets a good response, Williams said. Possibly one of the hunt locations, Metro Galleries will be open, displaying “Awakenings,” featuring the works of local artist Art Sherwyn; his 84-year-old mother, Doris;

placed, and extremely diverse while being strangely familiar. If that doesn’t say Bakersfield, what does?

PHOTO COURTESY OF COY TOWNSON

“Legs” is one of the photos by Coy Townson to be featured in his exhibit, “American Junkyard,” Friday at The Foundry.

and his wife’s uncle Dean Johnson. At the gallery, you might also end up on camera as Metro owner Don Martin and former TV anchor and local writer Lisa Kimble record the goings-on for the “Eye on First Friday” podcast. Other events include opening receptions for David Gordon, for this “I took These Roads” show, at the Bakersfield Art Association’s Art Center; and Mel Paleo at Dagny’s. A meet-and-greet is also set for Henley’s Photo, which is planning photography shows for upcoming First Fridays, according to Don Martin.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Love Never Dies,” the continuation to “The Phantom of the Opera,” will be presented in an encore performance at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Edwards Bakersfield 14 at The Marketplace. A fully staged production pre-recorded at The Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, “Love Never Dies” features a 21-piece orchestra and a cast of 36, including actors Ben Lewis as the Phantom and Anna O’Byrne as Christine Daaé. The program will include an in-depth interview with Lloyd Webber as well as behind-the-scenes footage following the composer on set as he provides creative direction to the cast and crew. “I’m incredibly proud and honored to be able to bring this production to U.S. cinemas nationwide,” said Lloyd Webber. “I hope very much that audiences take ‘Love Never Dies’ to their hearts in the same way they have ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’” After his disappearance from the Paris Opera house, the Phantom begins a new life in New York. The only thing missing is musical protégée Christine. In an effort to win back his love, the Phantom lures Christine and her family to this unknown world. — Scoop Marketing media release

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Love Never Dies’

A phoneograph by Quintin Grant, who is the special guest artist at the “American Junkyard” exhibit.

When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Where: Edwards Bakersfield 14, 9000 Ming Ave. Admission: $18; tickets available at the Edwards box office and online at www.FathomEvents.com.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, March 8, 2012

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

Index George Lopez ............................................ 18 Cruisin’ for a Wish Car Show .................. 19 Arts Alive.................................................. 20 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 22 “Mamma Mia!” ........................................24 Collectors Showcase antiques show ...... 25 Healthy Bakersfield Expo........................ 25 Calendar .............................................. 28-29

Frampton ‘Alive’ — again Anniversary tour relives his breakout album BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

ed, white, and blue was everywhere in 1976, the year of our nation’s bicentennial. So it was a little odd that the guy who provided the soundtrack to that long, hot summer — and whose posters graced the bedroom walls of girls coast to coast — was actually British. Call it payback for how that whole Revolution thing turned out. But there was no denying that Peter Frampton, like the Beatles before him, conquered America. His weapons were the potent combo of movie-star looks, guitar virtuosity and the feel-good rock featured on his double-live album, “Frampton Comes Alive.” The album, a breakthrough for the musician, was so huge it became a cultural touchstone, a feat that probably will never be duplicated considering the fragmentation of today’s music audience. But 35 years later, fans who remember will get a chance to relive the experience captured on the landmark recording when Frampton returns to the stage for an anniversary tour, which makes a stop at the Fox Monday night. Bassist Stan Sheldon, featured on the 1975 tour recorded on “Comes Alive,” has rejoined Frampton for the anniversary outing and talked to The Californian about recapturing the magic during a phone interview. “I can recall a lot of young girls liked that record, as well as a lot of young guys. That was Peter’s strong suit. He wasn’t a threat to men, because their girlfriends loved him. The men seemed to love him just as much, because he was so likeable. First and foremost, Peter’s a virtuoso on guitar. He was playing with Humble Pie, George Harrison and Ringo. Some people back then forgot or never knew.” The album was not an immediate success when it was released just days after the new year. Debuting at 191 on the Billboard charts, it simmered for four months before shooting to the top, where it stayed for 10 weeks — a record for a double live LP at the time, eclipsing KISS’ “Alive”

ZUMA PRESS

Peter Frampton takes the stage at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Ct., in July 2011.

Peter Frampton When: 7:30 p.m. Monday Where: Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Admission: $35-$80 Information: 324-1369

from the previous year. “Let’s get something straight: Live albums weren’t all that popular back then. Ours was a real, live album. ‘KISS Alive’ was completely doctored by who knows who. We’ve been accused of it, too, but the truth is our album was not touched. That’s a live performance you heard from basically one show.” Recorded over two separate nights at Winterland in San Francisco and at the Long Island Arena the previous summer, the album was an attempt to try

something different with hopes of pushing Frampton into the spotlight after three mediocre-selling albums. “Originally it was supposed to be a single disc. Then the president of A&M, Jerry Moss, heard that first set of recordings and said, ‘Where’s the rest?’ So, they made it the double record. That’s why the whole performance, even the acoustic numbers, got included. There were one or two songs that couldn’t fit, but we’re performing it exactly like it was. Peter did all of that. I was pleased with it.” Powered by the singles “Show Me the Way,” “Baby, I Love Your Way” and “Do You Feel Like We Do,” the album was rewarding for the hard-working guitarist, but with it came the excesses of sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll. “To be put in such a hard spotlight is not easy to deal with. It

was much easier for us band members. We had the best of both worlds. We could step into the light and enjoy the adulation or step into the shadows and be anonymous. Peter couldn’t do that. It’s very difficult.” Sheldon continued working with Frampton for another six years before leaving to tour with Warren Zevon and contribute to soundtracks for movies, including Cheech & Chong’s “Up in Smoke.” But for all of his post-Frampton endeavors, he’ll always have the distinction of performing on one of popular music’s biggest records. And now he’s having a go at it again. Sadly the group’s original rhythm guitarist John Siomos and drummer Bob Mayo both died in 2005. Also gone are most of Frampton’s trademark golden locks. Still, what hasn’t disappeared is

the duo’s eagerness to rock together again. “I was just biding my time, and he called me about a year and half ago and asked me if I wanted to do this and play with him. Then when he called me to do this tour, it felt incredible. I was kinda taken aback and said, ‘I’ve been waiting a long time.’ Peter and I are 61 years old now. We’ve really had to hunker down, get our chops up and get our arthritic arms in shape, because we’re doing three hours, all summer long.” For Monday’s show, fans will get “Frampton Comes Alive” in its entirety with extras, plus selections from Frampton’s vast catalog and more recent Grammywinning instrumental material, including some from 2010’s “Thank You Mr. Churchill.” “Fans are gonna get a real treat,” said Sheldon.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, March 8, 2012

Eye Street

American Made and so much more

Lopez keeps movin’ on Comedian, talk-show host ready for new career phase BY MATT MUNOZ

• Bedroom Sets • Dining Room Sets • Mattresses

Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

N Our New Address: 6801-B1 White Lane • 661-833-8166 www.RandDLeatherFurniture.com Kids 12

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INFO: (661) 331-6695 or carldw@aol.com *When Accompanied By A Paying Adult Hosted by Golden Empire Historical & Modeling Society of Bakersfield A Non-Profit Organization www.gehams.net

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ever tell George Lopez he can’t do something. After the cancellation of his popular TV sitcom and late-night talk show, the comedian and actor has always made it clear he’s here to stay regardless of ratings or decisions from industry suits. Ready to prove his critics wrong again, the Renaissance man of comedy returns to the bright lights of the stage for a new stand-up comedy tour, titled “I Can Never Do Nothing,” a childhood reference to be explained in detail when he appears at Rabobank Arena on Saturday night. “I’ve seen time go by really fast,” said Lopez during a phone interview with The Californian. “I’m 50, although I don’t act or look 50. I should look 70. I think there’s a saying, ‘Things get better. Live in the time now and ultimately enjoy yourself.’ I come from a culture where people worry. In down times like this, you just carve out time and find things to have fun.” That time is now for Lopez, who despite losing both shows can still be seen nightly in syndication on “The George Lopez Show” airing on Nick at Nite. And when he really feels the need to be himself: you can find him on the road. “I love it. The one thing that’s been consistent between both shows I had was that you get noted to death: ‘Don’t to this,’ ‘don’t do that,’ ‘that’s inappropriate,’ ‘not friendly to this,’ and it wears on you. Stand-up is the freest form of expression that someone can have. You know, you don’t gratuitously upset people, because I’ve never really been that person, but you speak your mind without having someone tell you what you can or cannot do. You never tell an artist that he’s using too much red.” Not that he’s become a curmudgeon, but Lopez says rolling with the punches of the entertainment business has toughened him up. “There’s a lot of stuff on Twitter saying a lot of negativity. Instead of ‘Congratulations,’ they always say, ‘Hey, what happened to ‘Lopez Tonight?’ That’s part of the game. Two seasons is not a failure, that’s pretty successful. I know it’s there, but I love that I don’t get upset about it. When I was growing up, I used to get upset about everything. I’m in a great place in my life right now, where it doesn’t bother me. It makes me miss my grandma because only my grandma was that negative to me on a daily basis.” Unlike Bill Cosby, a TV dad to whom the comedian is often compared, Lopez does not refrain from performing blue material during his live show. He leaves it to parents to

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT SEBREE

Comedian George Lopez appears Saturday at Rabobank Arena.

George Lopez When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Cost: $38 to $48 Information: 852-7777 or ticketmaster.com

explain to kids why the kind Mr. Lopez from TV may dropping the Fbomb in concert. “It’s not as blue as some other comedians, but the fact that there are shades to my color — when they’re age appropriate, they should be able to look at it. I don’t think any 10-yearold should be watching ‘Tall, Dark and Chicano.’ But you know, Richard Pryor did that and George Carlin did as well — he portrayed a conductor on a kids show, and both managed to still have an audience from 2 to 80.” Lopez’s CD and DVD releases: “Right Now, Right Now,” “Team Leader” and “Why You Crying?” are among the most quoted comedy albums since Eddie Murphy’s “Comedian.” Looking back, he’s humbled by the lasting impression he’s made, much like his idol, the late Freddie Prinze. “I remember Freddie had ‘Looking good,’ and ‘It’s not my job,’ and I was like, ‘Wow, it’s kinda cool having your own catchphrases and you know, they

all come very naturally. They’re all kind of photographs or mile markers in your life. I remember that when I was in my house. You cry out, ‘I can never do nothing in this house,’ you see little kids come up and say that to you. The fact that they hear “Lowrider” and associate me with that — I forget sometimes what impact or what influence I may have on culture, but it’s great. “ During the interview, Lopez was still basking in the news that he has just signed on to develop another family sitcom. Excited about throwing himself into TV again, he said whatever he has his hands on developing will be timely and socially relevant. “You know, there’s a sense of entitlement in kids now and in relationships that everyone has to have everything that’s great and new. Kids get an iPad 3 and are satisfied for that instant and then they move on to other things. I don’t want it to look like it’s written. I’d like it to be almost like a docu-com of what a relationship is like now, with kids that are on medication and in private schools and relationships where the wife is the dominant one in the relationship, and how a guy’s still trying to hold onto his manhood in a world where there are not a lot of men left. I mean, I see guys dressing like their kids or having babies at 60. It’s tough to see, but hilarious.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, March 8, 2012

Eye Street

After some bumps, career is Everlast-ing Being a chameleon proves smart for singer-songwriter BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

e’s felt pain in the house of hip-hop and rock, but now singer-songwriter Everlast says he’s just grateful to have lived to tell the story. Appearing at the Golden State Mall with reggae rockers Sublime with Rome on Wednesday, the guitarist/singer-songwriter says his swagger hasn’t lost its edge after his introduction as a rough-housing hooligan in ’90s rap trio House of Pain. “I’m not comin’ out there trying to be Jason Mraz. What I mean by that is I’m not on some ‘happy-go-lucky, let’s be friends’ stuff. My songs, love songs too, are both generally and genuinely dark. I like how they morph into one another and hopefully they have a little hope in them, but I’m just me. I still write with hip-hop in mind.” Born Erik Francis Schrody, the singer was only 22 when House of Pain rode a wave of success. The group is mostly remembered for the single “Jump Around,” a playful ode to their Irish heritage. Following their breakup, each member continued following their own pursuits: DJ Lethal

Sublime with Rome and Everlast When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Where: Golden State Mall Grand Ballroom, 3201 F St. Admission: $37 Information: 742-6306 or timgardeapresents.com

joined nu-metal band Limp Bizkit, Danny Boy became a music producer, and Everlast went on to a successful solo career, reintroducing himself as the guitar-slinging poet, Whitey Ford. “When I was young, we were just ignorant drinkin’ and partying. When you’re 22 and they’re paying you to show up and do what you love to do, your mentality is gonna be like, ‘OK, this can’t keep going on forever.’ We just ran through it like maniacs. When I realized I might be able to turn this into a viable, legitimate, career form, that’s when I started messing around with other forms of music.” His first post-rap record, “Whitey Ford Sings the Blues,” was a surprise hit, propelled by the single “What It’s Like,” which put him back on radio and in the sight of guitar legend Carlos Santana, also staging a comeback with “Supernatural.” But not before a shocking knock at death’s door.

“It was all kind of weird. I quit House of Pain. I found out I got ripped off blind by an accountant and was in the hole with the government. And because I was trying to get all this stuff paid off, I canceled my medical insurance. Within a week of that I was in the hospital for heart surgery on the last day of recording ‘Whitey Ford.’ “Afterwards, I finish the record, mix it and release it. It turns out to be my biggest record. That translates into Santana hollerin’ at me and writing ‘Put Your Lights On,’ which Carlos said was the centerpiece of ‘Supernatural.’” He describes his latest CD, “Songs of the Ungrateful Living,” as a reflective bookend to the life-changing Whitey Ford era with references to the decade that almost wasn’t. “It’s about coming out humbled and grateful from the experience, 10 to 12 years later. I felt the title described everybody on the planet, ’cuz I’m grateful to be alive but yet I’m not as grateful as I should be. And most cats aren’t as much as me, because I understand, ‘Oh man, we’re only here for a brief moment of time in the scheme of things.’ It’s all about being thankful for being alive.” Headliners Sublime with Rome will be appearing with acclaimed substitute drummer Josh Freese, following the departure of original Sublime drummer, Bud Gaugh, who quit in December. The

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVERLAST

Singer-songwriter/guitarist Everlast appears with Sublime with Rome on Wednesday night at Golden State Mall.

group also features Sublime bassist Eric Wilson and vocalist Rome Ramirez. Their album, “Yours Truly,” was released last year.

‘Bee’ musical promises a spell-binding production BY NATALIE KENNEDY Contributing writer

“T Join the Tree Foundation of Kern in Celebration of California’s Arbor Week

for the

“Trees in Art” fundraiser at Metro Gallery

Enjoy an evening of the Central Coast’s Finest Wines from Croad Vineyards, a locally owned Paso Robles winery, who will be pouring their award winning estate wines. The evening will include a silent auction full of wonderful surprises. Local artists will be showing their interpretations of “Trees in Art” Hors-d’oeuvres will be provided by the Bakersfield College Culinary Arts Program. Proceeds will benefit the Tree Foundation of Kern and their continued mission of beautifying Kern county.

Donation: $50 per person • $85 per couple Metro Gallery • 1604 19th Street, Bakersfield Email Melissa Iger at treeinfo@urbanforest.org or call 325-6650 for tickets or information. Tickets also available at http://www.urbanforest.org/ We wish to thank Chevron, Croad Vineyards and White Wolf land Service for their support of this event.

he 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”: Definition please? The Tony Award-winning comedy, one of Broadway’s most buzzed about hits! When I first discovered that East Bakersfield High was staging this production, I was E-C-S-T-A-T-I-C! “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is a musical that centers on that most competitive of all intellectual pursuits: the National Spelling Bee finals in Washington, D.C. The quirky cast of over- (and under-) achievers face their fears, dreams and hopes as they spell their way to glorious success, or failure. But the musical is not only fun to watch, the show gives the audience a chance to participate. Four audience members will be selected each night to get up on stage and test their own spelling ability. Out of all the chaos this play exudes, one quality stood out to me most: This musical is an honest portrayal of real-life characters and situations. As soon as I discovered that the performing arts program was doing the show, I knew I had to be a part of it. During my research of the play, my cast mate Jonathan Canez sent me a YouTube link of another theater’s production. For the next month, I was watching these videos at least three times a day and was completely hooked. As soon as you hear

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” When: 7 p.m. tonight, Friday and Saturday Where: East Bakersfield High School, 2200 Quincy St. Admission: $10; $8 for students with ID card; $7 for EBHS students with an ASB sticker; presale tickets at the EBHS finance office for $7

one song or watch one bit of this show, you will want to experience the P-A-N-D-E-MO-N-I-U-M over and over. The character Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre automatically caught my attention because of her rigid braids, patriotic attire, lisp, and knowledge of politics and the world. From that moment on, I knew this was the part for me. So I practiced and practiced in order to nail the role of my high school career. From day one, our cast has been a team, a unit, an ensemble. We are all so proud of this production and our dedication to our favorite pastime. As a senior, I’m so thrilled that this is my last main-stage production at East High. It is one of laughter, spectacle, and overall EN-T-E-R-T-A-I-N-M-E-N-T. — East High senior Natalie Kennedy is a cast member in the show

Thursday, March 15, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

CASEY CHRISTIE / THE CALIFORNIAN

From left, Marie Fontana, Jacob Moore, co-owner of Pyrenees Cafe, and Meredith McRae are gearing up for the Bakersfield Lady Leprechauns’ annual pre-St. Patty’s Day luncheon and party at Pyrenees Cafe today. The ladies are extending a rare invitation to the public to join in the fun, an offer that just might be revoked next year.

Lady Leprechauns out to play Party for informal group today, and you’re invited BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

o one seems to remember who started Bakersfield’s Lady Leprechauns or why. There are no guidelines, dues, monthly meetings or much of anything else that would define the group as a traditional club. But there is one order of business for this not-so-secret society: Every year, two days before St. Patrick’s Day, they whoop it up like they just got off the boat from Ireland. To put it bluntly: Go wild or go home. “We encourage all things Irish: jokes and stories, dirty or clean,” said longtime member Meredith McRae. “We are bad, but we all have sober drivers.” The ladies are hoping to keep the tradition alive for a new generation: The public is invited to join them at Pyrenees Cafe today for a full day of frolic. Now in its 29th year, the Lady Leprechauns party started as a way for fun-loving ladies to gather, share stories and make new friends. “This is actually a restart for

Lady Leprechauns Party When: No-host social hour 11:30 a.m., luncheon 12:30 p.m. today Where: Pyrenees Cafe, 601 Sumner St. Admission: $25 Information: 323-0053

this group. We’d like to draw some new interest and new ladies,” said McRae, who added there is no single leader. “Everyone is welcome to help out and take a lead if it’s for the betterment of the overall group.” There’s nothing formal about the gatherings, which feature food, drink and Irish music. “We may be a little older, but we have lots of fun all the time,” said McRae, who at 71 sounds more like a giddy 21-year-old who just got her ID. “Anything goes at this party.” This will be the 15th party for McRae, who was introduced to the group by longtime friend Judy Penny. “I remember the first time I showed up, some of the older ladies dressed really fancy, with some huge green hats. I really loved the camaraderie they had

between them. I just kept coming. It was originally by exclusive invite, but now we’re extending our invitation.” And McRae has a partner in crime: Marie Fontana, 82, who began attending 10 years ago and is equally anxious to share her excitement. “Some of the stories I’ve heard told by our ladies have been really interesting,” she said. “I’ve even seen some things that have shocked me. We had an Elvis impersonator come in once …” “I remember,” chimed in McRae. “You were the one putting money in his outfit.” The widow of LeRoy Fontana, who co-owned Fontana’s Pie Shop, Marie has a set of stories to match her colorful personality and wit. She’s not shy in sharing. “Once people find out my last name, they remember the Fontana pie shops. You know, we were inside the Wool Growers building in 1932, years before they moved in. I get asked about recipes, too, like our pecan pies. I tell them, ‘Yeah, it was in those big vats we had.’” The day’s schedule begins with a no-host cocktail hour at 11:30 a.m., before the arrival of a local bagpiper who kicks off the tradi-

tional Irish corned beef and cabbage lunch prepared by Pyrenees cooks. “The food is great, and we love to hug the bagpiper,” Fontana said. You don’t have to be Irish to attend, but for McRae, whose late grandmother was Irish, the gathering does bring up a lot of memories of her heritage. “My grandmother emigrated here from Ireland and married my grandfather, who was German. She was a very devout Catholic, true to her religion, and dedicated to her family. She wore the traditional dark gabardine dresses and loved Schnapps. Anything green reminds me of her, too.” Like McRae, Fontana said her Scotch-Irish blood has to be why she’s drawn every year. “My mom said I was even a little bit Indian, but I don’t know where she got that,” she laughed. Jacob Moore, who became coowner of Pyrenees in December, recalls being introduced to the Lady Leprechauns just a week after moving in. “About five or six ladies came in on a Saturday, hammering me about their longstanding tradition. I had no idea what to expect, but I assume it’s going to be a

“We encourage all things Irish: jokes and stories, dirty or clean. We are bad, but we all have sober drivers.” — Meredith McRae, a longtime member of Bakersfield’s Lady Leprechauns

wild time.” Following lunch, the party continues with a live deejay and karaoke. Whether you’re married or single and ready to mingle, there will be no shortage of dancing partners as many male “leprechauns” find their way from Wool Grower’s restaurant around the corner to Pyrenees. “It caught on after a while, and it’s always been that way since I’ve been coming,” said McRae. “We dance a lot.” Both added that they plan to revoke the public’s invitation after this year, depending on the response, in order to maintain control of their numbers. By Tuesday, they already had 46 reservations. “You are gonna have fun,” Fontana said.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, March 22, 2012

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

Index Any chile verde takers?............................ 18 They’ve got the beat ................................ 19 Arts Alive: A sculpting prodigy .............. 20 ‘[title of show]’ ........................................ 21 Matt Munoz breaks it down .................... 22 Dancers on their toes .............................. 23 Singer needs your vote .......................... 24 We’ll drink to that .................................... 25

“Amateur artists should not be intimidated. You have to be coachable. There’s a certain amount of technique, structure and natural talent involved.” — Entertainment industry veteran Steven Sharp, who will lead a songwriting clinic

Good advice for a song Writing clinic the latest cool idea coming out of studio BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

fter a few rough spots and shifts in ownership and management, music of every genre and style continues to fill the halls at Bakersfield’s American Sound Recording Studios. Located just on the eastern outskirts of downtown, the 10,000-square-foot recording studio opened five years ago in an era when Pro Tools and other home equipment threatened to make traditional recording studios obsolete. But ASR has managed to keep the doors open with a diverse business plan, which includes family entertainment, a cafe and music lessons, in addition to its core mission: stateof-the-art recordings and audio services. At the helm of ASR’s latest endeavors is Bakersfield country singer/songwriter and businessman Rick Reno Stevens, who stepped in as general manager two years ago following the death of co-owner Gary Burwell and the exit of partner and designer Josh Graham. ASR is owned and run by Burwell’s widow, Cyndi, and original business partner Brad Peters. But ASR wants to stretch even farther beyond the confines of a regular recording studio and become a mecca for aspiring talents from throughout the region. The first step in Stevens’ ambitious plan is an intensive songwriting clinic presented by some of his friends in the business, who bring impressive industry cred to the table. The first Master Songwriting Session clinic and concert unfolds next weekend, March 30-31. “There are a lot of ways to create a song,” said Stevens, who’s built a career working in various areas of the music industry, including concert promotion for artists like Merle Haggard, Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire. “A song is like a movie that plays in your head for three minutes. There’s a beginning, middle and an ending. You want to give the best that you got.” Joining Stevens for the clinic is longtime friend and entertainment industry veteran Steven Sharp. Originally from Bakersfield, Sharp cut his teeth in Hollywood working in promotion at various record labels, helping to break a variety of then-up-andcoming artists like Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn. Following his retirement from the industry, Sharp decided to move back to his hometown and reconnect with his Bakersfield roots. Now he’d like to become a

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Rick Stevens, left, and songwriter Steven Sharp in Studio B at ASR Studios.

mentor for artists pursuing a career in entertainment. “Bakersfield has always had such rich musical traditions with Red Simpson, Merle, Buck, Korn and Big House,” Sharp said. “I’ve known Rick for over 30 years, and we’ve always kept in touch. I called him once to help me out with an artist I was working with years ago.” As if on cue, the sounds of Alan Jackson’s “Chasin’ that Neon Rainbow,” from his 1990 debut album, “Here In The Real World,” was heard overhead through the sound system, briefly interrupting the conversation.

“That’s the song right there,” said Stevens pointing up. “Oh yeah, I remember that one,” said Sharp. “That wasn’t even his biggest hit, but it’s the one that got him noticed first.” It wouldn’t be the last time the interview between Sharp and Stevens would take a detour. There’s also the story about how Sharp brought Brooks & Dunn to the old Roxanne’s nightclub in Bakersfield for a meet-and-greet and only four people showed up. “I helped break them on the West Coast,” Sharp said. “The first time we came Please see ASR / 27

Master Songwriting Session and Clinic When: Concert is at 7 p.m. March 30 and open to the public. The clinic runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 31, by reservation only. Where: American Sound Studios, 2231 R St. Admission: $20 for the concert only. $149 for the clinic, which includes admission to the concert. Information: 864-1701 asrstudios.com

Thursday, March 22, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Maho Kagawa, center, and Aaron Arroyo, right, play the lead pans in a Lakeside School steel drum practice. At left is John Hendricks and Sarah Tjaarda.

Taste of da islands, mon, with steel drum students BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

hen Lakeside Middle School music director Jonathan Barr was searching for a way to boost his campus music program, he looked to the islands. Not for vacation, but for Trinidadian steel drums. Now, five years after introducing the unconventional but joyful-sounding metallic instruments to students, Barr is presenting the school’s popular group to the public with a performance at Valley Plaza on Saturday. “When you have a concert and marching band concert, you don’t get a lot of exposure,” said Barr, who’s been happy with the response he’s received from parents and teachers since the introduction of the group. “The kids get a different kind of experience.” Barr’s decision to branch out from traditional music programs offered in most schools was inspired through his experiences both in high school in Ohio and as a drummer in the Mountaineer marching band at West Virginia University. While there he had an opportunity to study under Ellie Mannette, who has been credited as helping modernize the steel drum — or pans, as some refer to the instrument. “The sound is so unique, and they were just fun to play. Our band was huge back east, and playing the pans was a part of that experience,” he said. The evolution of the steel pan goes back to the days of slavery during the 1700s on the island of Trinidad. The very first pitched steel drums were made from smaller metal containers and were rounded in shape. Today the drum is constructed from the bottom of a 55-gallon barrel, sunk down in a bowl-shaped fashion, and tuned with notes. There are many different instruments and variations making up the

Lakeside School steel drum band concert When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday Where: The Target wing at Valley Plaza, 2701 Ming Ave. Admission: Free Information: 832-2436

family of steel band pans and drums. “The first day, the kids were so intrigued by them,” he said. “It reminded me of when I was in college. Wherever you go, people will stop and listen. They just sound happy, no matter what you play.” Barr, a teacher at Lakeside for 13 years, has helped other local schools, such as Garces Memorial High, get the instruments and implement programs. “As far as other middle schools, we’re the only one in town who have steel drums. I’ve had a really supportive school district with all the crazy things that have happened in other districts, and the parents have just been the best. We got a good group of kids playing.” The band’s repertoire includes traditional selections like “The Hammer,” as well as pop classics reworked for the instruments, like Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys and “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett. Saturday’s show is not a fundraiser, but the band is available for outside bookings and does accept donations through the Lakeside school associated student body. “Right now we have eight songs, and we’re very versatile,” Barr said. “The kids can typically learn a song in two to three rehearsals. We can do three sets at 25 minutes each to half an hour. “Getting the kids to play is not an issue. Right now, we have to get ourselves out there to keep our programs alive. Good publicity is always good.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, March 22, 2012

Eye Street

THE IMAGINE BALLET COMPANY Presents

Imagine That! 2012 FEATURING: • Choreography from Sasha Mallory, finalist on So You Think You Can Dance • Le Corsaire Act I • Guest Artists, Ballet Yuma

March 24th, 2012 2:00pm & 7:00pm Cal State University, Bakersfield Dore’ Theatre

Tickets

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Adults: $16 Students/Seniors: $12 Tickets available @ Civic Dance Center 7840 Brimhall Rd Kern Travel – East Hills 3501 Mall View Rd, Suite 104 And at the door 661-703-0628 imagineballetcompany.com

McDonald’s employee Maureen Recalde, who has been chosen to appear in a commercial for the company, sings at an East Rotary meeting in September.

McFame already in the bag for singer First a McDonald’s TV ad, then international contest

To vote for Maureen Go to voiceofmcdonalds.com Voting ends April 23

BY JENNIFER SELF Californian lifestyles editor jself@bakersfield.com

o matter how she does in the upcoming international singing competition that could change her life, one thing is certain for Tehachapi singer Maureen Recalde: Her shoes are about to become a star. “They’re just black nonslip shoes that I wear to work every single day,” said Recalde, clearly mystified over what makes her size 8’s so special. Recalde was in the City of Industry this week to film a McDonald’s commercial, and the folks behind the camera chose her shoes for a pivotal closeup, even though there were many other pairs of perfectly fine feet standing around waiting to be discovered. Chalk it up as a lucky break in a year of lucky breaks for the young singer, who has her golden-arched employer to thank. It started last fall when Recalde entered the Voice of McDonald’s, an international singing competition open to the 1.6 million employees of the fast-food giant. Though she comes from a small town, Recalde was a breakout star with voters, who cast their ballots online. Her tally has earned her a ticket to Orlando, Fla., where she will compete against 18 other contestants next month. First prize is $25,000. But there’s another category in the contest she has her eye on, and that’s where her supporters come in. The contestant with the most votes in the fan favorite category will win $5,000. Voting at voiceofmc-

donalds.com opened on Tuesday and continues through April 23. The talent portion of the competition will be decided by a panel of judges. “I haven’t been told who the judges are, but I heard that Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban and Ruben Studdard will be there,” said Recalde during a phone interview Tuesday as she and her shoes took a break from filming. The singer has chosen the classic “At Last” by the late Etta James to perform in the competition. “It was a last-minute decision to choose that song,” she said. “I was singing it for a few days, and it just clicked.” But before she heads to Florida, Recalde will perform at a McDonald’s awards banquet in Chicago. “It was just me they asked (from the field of competitors),” said Recalde, who is taking the special recognition as a good sign. And then, of course, there’s the commercial, which is due to wrap production today. She isn’t sure if she will be asked to speak any lines for the two spots, which will air all over the world. “My first scene was, the camera was in the refrigerator and I opened it and grabbed two eggs out of the fridge. And then my shoes, of course. “It’s such an ordeal to film a commercial!” But Recalde will take some time out to celebrate what she’s calling a milestone birthday on Friday. “It’s my golden birthday: I turn 23 on the 23rd.”

Thursday, March 22, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street ASR: CONTINUED FROM 16

out, nobody was interested, then ‘Brand New Man’ is released and they had their first Number 1 hit. I’ve been blessed to work with some of the best acts around when they were just starting out.”

‘That one iconic hit ...’ That type of success with developing new talents is why Sharp and Davis have teamed up for the Master Songwriting Clinic, which also features: Grammy/Emmy-nominated songwriter Steven Dorff, who has penned country hits for Kenny Rogers (“Through the Years”), “I Cross My Heart,” for George Strait, and “Every Which Randy Sharp Way but Loose” for the late Eddie Rabbit. Also appearing will be Steven’s brother Randy Sharp with his daughter Maia, both of whom have written for the Dixie Chicks, Linda Rondstadt, Edgar Winter, Bonnie Raitt, and Trisha Yearwood, Maia Sharp among others. “That one iconic hit that becomes a career-defining moment for an artist. These three have a lot to share about how to make that happen,” said Stevens. “Everyone in the major leagues is good. You have to be able to step up and keep up.” Opening the weekend will be the Master Songwriting Session,

The Green Room and Hot Smokin’ BBQ ASR’s in-house café, The Green Room and Hot Smokin’ BBQ, opened in November, featuring a menu of beef, chicken and pulled pork sandwiches, and salads. Cooks and co-owners Alan Hardin and Trevor Shuster are award-winning barbecue enthusiasts and proudly display their trophy from last year’s Bakersfield’s Biggest, Baddest, BBQ Championship. The Green Room is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. After April 3, hours will be extended to 7 p.m.

coinciding with the March 31 clinic. The night before, all three pros will be performing their most well-known compositions for attendees. The March 30 show will be at 7 p.m. inside ASR’s large Studio A and is open to the public. Admission is $20, and seating is limited. Also appearing will be 16-year-old singing phenom Justine Dorsey from Fullerton. The March 31 clinic begins at 10 a.m. at ASR Studio A, where, according to Stevens and Sharp, aspiring artists will be given an afternoon crash course: “Songwriting 101: from A to Z.” “From song conception to collecting a royalty check,” said Sharp. “How to set up a publishing company for your music, copyright, demo presentation, following through, and how to affiliate yourself with a PRO (an artist’s rights organization) like

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ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.” “A PRO is a songwriter’s biggest ally in the music business,” added Stevens. “They monitor how many spins your song gets on radio, downloaded on the Internet, and how many products are purchased. They also offer members health insurance. Everything that’s important.” Another highlight will be the critique session by the clinicians, where songwriters will get a chance to present a few songs and get direct feedback. “Amateur artists should not be intimidated. You have to be coachable,” Stevens said. “There’s a certain amount of technique, structure and natural talent involved.” Finding a potential co-writer is another of the topics they plan to address. Sharp once again pointed out Brooks & Dunn as one of his best examples. “As a soloist, Kix Brooks couldn’t find any real success, but once he and Ronnie Dunn met each other and were put in a cabin together for a week, they wrote all the songs for their first album together for Arista,” said Sharp. The clinic will be intimate, with reservations maxing out at 100. Lunch will be provided by ASR’s in-house café. Sharp and Stevens plan to hold future Master Songwriting Clinics, with different themes (the next one will be on Nashville).

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASR STUDIOS

Grammy/Emmy-nominated songwriter Steven Dorff, who has penned country hits for several performers, will be among the artists appearing at next weekend’s Master Songwriter’s Clinic and Concert at ASR Studios.

reality TV competitions like “American Idol” and “The Voice,” Stevens’ idea had been brewing for nearly a decade before he got the green light to create and produce the show with partners David Vercruysse and Jeff Cohen. “‘American Idol’ was a cool concept, but now it’s like karaoke on steroids.” The pilot for the show can be viewed online at americaisitahit.com. It’s pretty impressive, with all the glitz of a slick network production, a celebrity panel of judges and cohosts Stevens and country singer Linda Davis.

Another ‘American Idol’? And Stevens has even more projects on the horizon, most notably his pilot for “America, Is It a Hit?,” through his own VSaR Entertainment Group. Inspired by

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Artists upload their song to the Web and if producers like it, the songwriter will be flown in for an audition. The show has three categories: pop, rock and country. Stevens is hoping the show gets picked up sometime this year, and said he’s had interest from Alist performers and writers, “but only if we get one of the networks to make it happen.” Sharp, for one, is amazed by Stevens’ energy and talent for following one big idea with another. “Rick is like an octopus,” said Sharp. “He’s always busy working on something. It’s ultimately about helping people.”

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, March 29, 2012

Eye Street

The kids are all right at Jerry’s Mecca for youth culture officially out of its teens

Jerry’s Pizza and Pub 20th Anniversary DBA Mixer

BY MATT MUNOZ

When: 5 p.m. Tuesday Where: Jerry’s Pizza and Pub, 1817 Chester Ave. Admission: $3 DBA Members / $5 Non Members Information: 633-1000 or jerryspizza.com

Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

hough it can be argued that a generation of young music lovers owe a debt of gratitude to Jerry Baranowski, the Polish immigrant can’t, in good conscience, take credit for the idea that would transform his humble pizza restaurant into the Bakersfield headquarters of youth culture. That seed was planted by local musician Andy Zepeda, who, at the time was a member of the popular ’90s band 2 Lazy 2 Steal. “Andy walked in and said, ‘We wanna throw a gig here.’ I had no idea what he was talking about. My English slang was not good.” With some explanation and a little convincing, the two struck a deal and the first official Jerry’s Pizza concert was held to a full house, in the dining area. “We were over capacity for that show,” Baranowski recalled. “There was a line of people out-

Jerry’s Pizza Anniversary week events: Wednesday: comedy night Friday: acoustic music / open mic Saturday: Club Heat dance party

side. We tried it again, and the bands kept coming.” It’s been nearly two decades, and the bands are still coming, as they will next week when Baranowski extends his thanks to customers for a truly special milestone: 20 years in business at the same Chester Avenue location. “I had no clue what was going

to happen when we first opened, but it happened,” he laughed. “Imagine that — a Polish guy in America making pizza!” During an interview last week at his restaurant, whose walls are lined with concert posters and the many framed accolades he’s received over the years, Baranowski reflected on his life, business, and rough start in America. “I didn’t want to unpack. I wanted to go home,” recalled Baranowski, 58, who followed his wife, Jolanda, to Bakersfield after arriving in New York in 1985. Despite having studied political science in Warsaw, Baranowski was forced to start over, taking English classes at Bakersfield Adult School. “You think you know a lot, but with a language barrier, you are going to be held back. You either learn or give up.” Baranowski took a job at Mountain Mike’s Pizza in 1989, where he worked for two years before opening his own restaurant. “Downtown at the time was very vacant,” he recalled. “About 50 percent of the commercial buildings were vacant and sealed

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Jerry and Daniel Baranowski of Jerry’s Pizza.

with plywood.” He settled on a building that had been vacant for seven years and, after three months of cleanup and business preparation, Jerry’s Pizza and Deli opened in April 1992. Response was positive from the start. “We were surprised. This was way before the Internet. We opened with no advertising. Business was good,” he said.

‘Delightful chaos’ The following year, Zepeda came forward with his proposition, and the entertainment portion of Baranowski’s business was born. The bands initially played upstairs in the dining area before Baranowski opened the cavernous basement to music. “Whoever wanted to book or promote a show, they could. I was committed to preparing the

venue and cleaning up afterwards on the weekends. We had all different crowds and music. I was older than everyone else, but my age was a reasonable difference. I became part of the scene, too.” Among the local and out-oftown music promoters who saw potential in the venue was Nate Berg, who booked many shows exclusively at Jerry’s from 1998 to 2006. Berg managed to attract sizable crowds to his shows and, as word spread, Jerry’s stage became a sought-after spot for many big names. “It was always important for me to be ahead of the curve when a new genre would come out,” said Berg, 39, during a recent telephone interview from his home in Toronto. “I went from one gig a week to turning it into a business, two to three shows a week. We Please see JERRY’S / 26

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Thursday, March 29, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street “I’ve read a lot of convoluted things about this band. You got people dying, members quitting, you got record producers that do great. Hell, it’s a mess. I guess it’s like a marriage. You don’t go through it or life unscathed.” — Rodney Justo, lead vocalist of Atlanta Rhythm Section

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION

The Atlanta Rhythm Section appears at Bright House Networks Amphitheatre on Saturday.

ARS: No jam band can jam like they can, man Atlanta Rhythm Section as fresh as they were in the ’70s BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he Summer of Love’s psychedelic grip on music loosened by 1969, making way for the groove-infused decade to come. And few bands are as associated with that loose, ’70s jam vibe than the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Transitioning from a heavy-hitting guitar-based sound to tuneful pop, the band is responsible for studio game changers like “So Into You,” “I’m Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight” and “Champagne Jam,” to name a few. Combining elements of their Southern roots with rock purity, they were a best-selling live arena act whose members loved showing off their technical skills in extended jams. After 15 albums and soap opera-like lineup changes, ARS bandmates continue performing for crowds with the enthusiasm of a band half their age. They aim to prove they’ve still got it when they make a rare appearance at the Bright House Networks Amphitheatre Saturday. Lead vocalist Rodney Justo, who has spent ample time with the band since its formation, isn’t shy about the group’s past exploits. The ’70s were mellow, but not for these wild-eyed Southern boys. “When we got started, we had it better than the other bands. Our manager, writer and producer owned a recording studio,” said Justo, 67. “He would try to get other artists to come over and make records.

Atlanta Rhythm Section When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Bright House Networks Amphitheatre, 11200 Stockdale Highway Admission: $10 plus service charge Information: 852-7777 or ticketmaster.com

From ’68 to ’73, if you heard a record that came out from B.J. Thomas, Joe South or Tommy Roe, or Billy Joe Royal, that was us playing on it. So, we could make a living, even though we started the band in 1970.” Like Motown’s legendary Funk Brothers, who provided studio backing for all of that label’s stars and hits, ARS played a similar role in the Atlanta area. “When artists would come and ask which band they were going to use, the studio would say, ‘You’re using the Atlanta rhythm section.’ That’s just who we were.” But unlike their Detroit comrades, Justo said the band was reluctant about using its working name. “We hated it. Because of the type of musicians we were, I wanted to call the band Gift Horse, that was my suggestion. Our manager was like, ‘No way man, that’s too much like Crazy Horse.’ I’ve had people say our name, then ask where we were from.” But as fate would have it, the name didn’t hinder the group’s progress and ability to attract a revolving door of multitalented members, including Buddy Buie, Dean Daughtry and J.R. Cobb, who Please see ARS / 25

Thursday, March 29, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street Family-friendly events get kids, adults on spring kick BY ALLIE CASTRO

Underwater EggStravaganza

Contributing writer

f you’re itching to get outdoors to enjoy the mild spring weather, there are a couple of outings that should fit the bill for family fun. McMurtrey Aquatic Center is hosting the sixth annual Underwater EggStravaganza, which gives swimmers 12 and under the opportunity to hunt for both weighted and floating eggs, and offers a bag of goodies for their efforts. Little swimmers and their parents can search for eggs in the activity pool and beach entry while older kids can dive into the Olympic pool. After the 6,000 eggs have been hunted, swimmers may stay and play in the 80degree pool, where the water slides will be offering a preview of the summer fun at McMurtrey. Parents should be sure to bring their cameras, as the Easter Bunny will be available for pictures. “It’s definitely a really fun family activity, and it’s something different than your traditional egg hunt,” said Bakersfield Recreation Supervisor David Strickland. “We have people that come back each year to do it.” There is no preregistration, so families are encouraged to show up early, and swimmers 5 and under will require a parent to be within arm’s reach while in the pool.

Spring Fest Murray Family Farms and Lightwave Education are partnering to host the first of what they hope will become an annual Spring Fest. Families will have the opportunity to pick fresh fruit, take a hayride, get their faces painted, play in the petting zoo, make their way through the ant maze, participate in the seed-spitting contest and get

ARS: CONTINUED FROM 19

brought with them a trio of hit songs: “Spooky,” “Stormy” and “Traces.” “We all had different influences: jazz, country, rock, everything. You’re always better off if you can influence each other, as opposed to a bunch of guys trying to be the same. You won’t get very creative,” said Justo, who left the group following the release of the band’s self-titled debut. Enter vocalist Ronnie Hammond, who would become the voice of the band during its chart-topping heyday. Justo returned for a brief stint in the ’80s, and again in 2009. Reflecting on his own turbulent relationship with the band, he maintains a sense of humor, deepened with respect for his fallen friends like Hammond, who passed away last year from heart failure. “Start watchin’ a soap opera, one that’s been running for 40-something years and you’ll have an idea of what it’s like being in this band. I’ve read a lot of convoluted things about this band. You got people dying, members quitting, you got record producers that do great. Hell, it’s a mess. I guess it’s like a marriage. You don’t go through it or life unscathed. If 80 percent of the things I read from you are accurate, I’ll start calling you Bob Woodward.” The present-day Atlanta Rhythm Section features original members Justo, vocals; Dean Daughtry, keyboard; Paul Goddard,

When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday Where: McMurtrey Aquatic Center, 1325 Q St. Admission: $5 to hunt eggs, $10 for Tshirt. Registration is the morning of the event. Information: 865-6291

Spring Fest When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday Where: Murray Family Farms, 6700 General Beale Road Admission: $15 advance, $20 at the door, food available for purchase. Information: 381-7644 or 375-7733

moving with a barn dance hosted by a DJ. After working up an appetite, participants will have the chance to purchase a variety of healthy items, including roasted corn, grilled asparagus, and veggie and turkey burgers, among other treats. Entertainment will be provided by the South High Folk dancers, the Bakersfield Youth Orchestra, dancers from Penn Point Dance Academy, and Bakersfield Music Theater. Proceeds from the event will go toward funding the second summer session of The Freedom School, a six-week summer program that describes itself on its website as “a summer literacy and leadership program that guides children to discover their personal gifts and talents and inspires them to fully express [themselves] as caring and contributing community members.” The full-day program is free to participants.

bass; and newer bandmates Steve Stone and David Anderson, guitars; and Jim Keeling, drums. “We’ve been very lucky. The songs of the Atlanta Rhythm Section have been really big copyright songs. I mean, these songs would go on even if we didn’t show up. That’s what kept us together. I don’t wanna brag, but the band had a lot of hits.” Justo said the band will stray from the regular set into some obscure fan pleasers at some point on Saturday. “I love a song called ‘Dog Days’ and a song called ‘Red Tape.’ The songs are a little more rockin’. Paul has what Rolling Stone has called, ‘The greatest bass solo ever put on record.’ It’s a song called ‘Another Man’s Woman.’ We’ll do a reworked version, not the original 14minute version. You know, we are probably the only band on earth where the bass player is the most known guy in the band. You mention the ARS, they always ask about him — ‘the big guy.’” He also promised no more lineup changes before the show. “We’ll do all our songs with what people are looking for — integrity. We show up and give the people what they deserve, the best. The first thing people say when I say we’re playing Bakersfield is, ‘Ah, Buck Owens style.’”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, March 29, 2012

Eye Street JERRY’S: FROM 18

Bakersfield rolls out red carpet for film BY JENNIFER SELF Californian lifestyles editor jself@bakersfield.com

When Bakersfield emergency care physician Kevin Schmidt tells friends his film production company is releasing a movie, he usually gets a skeptical reaction. “They’re like, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah. Who’s in it?’ “I say, ‘Val Kilmer and Ving Rhames.’ “‘Oh, really.’ And then they get interested.” So interested, in fact, that tonight’s Bakersfield premiere of the company’s latest film, “7 Below,” is sold out — and that’s without the star power of Kilmer and Rhames, who are unable to attend. “We’ll have the red carpet there, a professional photographer and a Q&A session after the movie with some of the actors,” Schmidt said. “I don’t know if you’ll see too many limos pull up, though.” The idea to debut the film at Maya Cinemas was hatched by Schmidt and his fellow investors in Efish Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based feature film production firm. Three of the five investors, including Schmidt, live in Bakersfield. “We thought it would be fun to bring a little Hollywood up here and do a movie premiere,” Schmidt said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “We’re hoping to bring more movie productions into Kern County, which

has a tremendous amount of variability in the terrain.” “7 Below,” which Schmidt describes as “sort of a ghost story,” was filmed near Cincinnati, in part because attractive financial incentives were offered. The national film premiere is scheduled for April 5 in that city, and the Cincinnati Reds have signed on to help promote it. Schmidt said the film should make its way back to Bakersfield in late April or early May. Their involvement in the film world, which began around 2009, has been a heady experience for Schmidt and his two Bakersfield business partners, fellow emergency care physician Tom Reilly and health care management consultant Terry Hilliard. “We’ve been winding down our medical practice and were looking to invest in something, and Tom came up with this,” Schmidt said. “From a business model, there is a little risk, but it’s kind of sexy and we decided, let’s give it a shot. “The lowest part of society is in the emergency room, seeing people sick and dying, and then you have the other side — the glamour of Hollywood and talking with and mingling with stars like Val Kilmer and Ving Rhames and the movie premieres, the lights and seeing something you helped make on film.” Judging by the upcoming films Efish Entertainment has a hand in,

EFISH ENTERTAINMENT

Tonight’s Bakersfield premiere of “7 Below” at Maya Cinemas is sold out, but the film will return later in the spring.

the stars will only get bigger: Paul Walker of the “Fast and the Furious” franchise is filming “Vehicle 19,” and Jeremy Irons and screen legend Vanessa Redgrave are attached to “Night Train to Lisbon,” based on the best-selling book of the same name. “We’re investors, but we have input in greenlighting films,” Schmidt said. “If a film comes to us, you’re offered an interest in the movie and if it looks like something you want to do, you bring in other investors.” But for now, Schmidt’s focus is on “7 Below,” which will mark his first movie premiere despite the release of another film by the company a few years ago. “Last time, I had to cover for Tom, working in the ER. It was like, don’t quit your day job just yet.”

Hungry for cinema? Head to Valentien THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

Known for indulgent dishes, Valentien Restaurant & Wine Bar offers a cinematic treat with the return of its Movies on the Patio. Starting with “Rebel Without a Cause” on April 14, the restaurant will host movies on Saturdays through the spring and summer, ending on Aug. 18 with “Stand by Me.” Held on the patio starting around sundown, the

MOVIES ON THE PATIO April 14: “Rebel Without a Cause” April 21: “High Noon” April 28: “Swingers” May 5: “The French Connection” May 12: “Like Water For Chocolate” May 19: “Easy Rider”

screenings will get a boost from a new projector.

May 26: “Dr. No” June 2: “The Maltese Falcon” June 9: “Little Miss Sunshine” June 16: “Say Anything” June 23: “National Lampoon’s Vacation” June 30: “Grease”

Viewing is free of charge, but dinner is available for

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July 7: “Midnight In Paris” July 14: “Amelie” July 21: “Dr. Strangelove” July 28: “Yojimbo” Aug. 4: “Fistful of Dollars” Aug. 11: “Breaking Away” Aug. 18: “Stand by Me”

purchase. Some film nights will have a food tie-in — a “Movie and Dinner” prix fixe special with thematic elements to the menu — but the details were not confirmed as of press time.

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helped introduce the changing of the guard in hardcore and pop punk, and rap rock, which was still big in town. Jerry let us rent at a very fair price.” Some of Berg’s biggest shows featured acts just beginning to blow up in the alt-rock, metal, and hardcore scene: Cursive, Chiodos, Bleeding Through and others. For older punk rock fans, Jerry’s hosted acts like Youth Brigade, The Business and D.O.A. The scene downstairs reflected the hardcore mayhem on stage: sweaty, energetic, aggressive and in some rare cases, violent. “The music scene was delightful chaos,” Berg said. “Kids will be kids. “We always had to be on guard in order to not jeopardize the goodwill of the venue. We got treated very well by the city and in a positive light. We had a bad reputation with a lot of people, but the place was always packed. That’s always been the appeal of rebel music. Everything goes. We also did a lot of Christian bands and raves. The venue reflected an open mind. The only line in the sand was criminal activity.” During that time Jerry’s DIY reputation spread nationally, becoming a destination for many major label acts like Buckcherry and Weezer, whose careers had stalled. For those old enough to remember and fortunate enough to have scored a ticket, the Weezer basement concert of 2000 has become a legendary entry in the annals of local music lore. Bakersfield guitarist Salvador Galindo, with his band Johnny Shock, had the privilege of opening for Weezer. “Every local band wanted to be on that show and had been bugging Nate,” recalled Galindo, who was 19 at the time. “All we did was show up in the alley with our instruments. He peeked out and asked, ‘You guys got your gear? You’re on in an hour.’ All of us were just super-excited. We all high-fived and squeezed ourselves through. “There were people just neck and neck, and the mic kept hitting me in the face. I had friends stand in front so my teeth wouldn’t get chipped. An amazing experience.” Berg, who now works in advertising, has fond memories of those wild years at Jerry’s and praised Bara-

nowski for his efforts. “My favorite shows were when the local bands all delivered. Watching bands blossom through a lot of friendly competition and cross pollination in the scene. It ran counter to the predictability. It’s one of those adages of life: You don’t know what you got until it’s gone. I have a greater appreciation of it now. The place has a life of its own.” Helping to carry on that legacy today is Baranowski’s 22-year-old son Daniel, who will be stepping up to share in many daily responsibilities at the family business. “When I was young I used to watch my dad work, tearing down walls and painting,” he said. “I would get a hammer and ask to help, then go play with my soccer ball in the basement. I’m really happy to have the opportunity to do this myself now.” Daniel added that since he and his brother, Kamil, grew up working for their father as young pizza makers, cashiers, janitors and assisting with show production, the transition feels natural. “I’ve been around here since the beginning. I’ll be making more decisions, trying to spice the place up, cleaning, more remodeling. I also plan on adding more items to the menu, with more beers on tap, too.” If you’d like to book a show, just stop in and pitch your gig idea. To celebrate the milestone, Jerry’s will offer food and drink discounts all next week. On Tuesday, the Downtown Business Association will host a special mixer to honor Baranowski, and Mayor Harvey Hall will present him with a special proclamation. The rest of the week’s events include Comedy Night on Wednesday followed by acoustic music night on Friday and a special dance DJ event on Saturday. “My dad’s an icon with his accent and personality,” Daniel said. “I realize how much work he’s done and it makes me think that much more highly of him. We’re gonna work on things together as far as business. I don’t expect him to go home and be a couch potato, but I think he deserves a break.” As far as retiring someday, Baranowski said you can forget it. “No retirement. You expect me not to be here?” he laughed.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, April 5, 2012

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

Index First Friday .............................................. 20 Easter productions .................................. 21 Arts Alive .................................................. 22 The International Tenors ........................ 23 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz ............ 24 FACT Open House .................................... 26 Red & White Wine and Food Festival ...... 27 Calendar .............................................. 30-31

On the Town with Matt Munoz CALIFORNIAN COLUMNIST

All aboard for saloon fun Rustic Rail blends past with good times

emember the opening scene from the classic TV show “Petticoat Junction”? If you do, that may be the first thing you think of when pulling up to The Rustic Rail bar in Oildale. There’s no Shady Rest Hotel, and Uncle Joe isn’t napping on the porch, but there are train tracks out back and a slow country charm. As my companions and I walked up on a recent Friday night, we literally stopped in our tracks, laughing at how amazingly cool the place looks. Were we about to walk into a bar or a feed store? Was this Knott’s Berry Farm? Did someone give us the wrong address? You can’t start a review like this without a lot of description of the building itself, beginning with the outside. It’s a large, two-section, rectangular structure, painted barn red with white trim. There’s both a regular door and a large rolling side-entry door the length of a medium-size wall. Resisting the temptation to pull the large door open, we entered through the main door. Things were a little quiet, and some heads turned our way for a few seconds. It was clear we weren’t from around these parts but once we were greeted by the bar’s owner, Millie Stead — a gem of a lady — we felt right at home. She even asked for our IDs, which we all took as a compliment. We ordered a round of frosty beers, which seemed to be a signal to start for the band, a loose group of jam musicians who showed off some classic country grooves at the edge of a fairly large wooden dance floor perfect for two-steppin’. The acoustics were warm and the playing was quite good. After a few sips, I headed out on my own little adventure, cutting through the cloud of cigarette smoke in the air. Music memorabilia is an obsession of mine, and the Rustic Rail is packed with it. It’s a virtual hall of fame of country greats, including autographed photos of artists like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Ray Price and Hank Thompson. And it’s not only leg-

HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

Millie Stead stands on the dance floor of the Rustic Rail bar, which she and her husband, James, own. The building, at 147 E. Norris Road in Oildale, was built in 1904 as a train station.

On the Town On the Town is an occasional feature that showcases the nightlife and activities that keep Kern County residents entertained.

endary artists who get the star treatment. There are plenty of candid photos featuring patrons of the Rustic Rail and the Kern River Belle, a bar Stead and her husband, Jim, used to own. But the interesting displays go beyond music and include an impressive collection of handcrafted art made out of everyday items like vintage bottle caps and coasters. Snooping around, I spotted several bits of Americana, including badges from the old Moose Lodge that, according to

Stead, used to meet here, and a ruler from the 1964 Barry Goldwater presidential campaign with the slogan, “A Leader Not a Ruler.” While the band played on and I strolled, Stead would step over and share stories about the memorabilia. I was having so much fun, and I’d just arrived. While at the center of the dance floor, I glanced up to find — dangling from the ceiling — even more decorations, including vintage cowboy boots, train lanterns, spurs, even a collection of vintage washboards. All of the antiques come from private collections or were simply found, cleaned up and recycled. Other curiosities included a laminated 2006 letter to

The walls are loaded with memorabilia at the Rustic Rail Saloon.

The Californian, written by Stead, suggesting that Norris Road be renamed in honor of Merle Haggard, and a framed signed letter from first lady Michelle Obama. But what really caught my eye was the CD jukebox filled with classic country, soul, rock and an

impressive number of local music releases. Meanwhile, back at the bar, Rustic staffers offer bottled beers, mixed drinks, well shots, and homebrewed coffee if you feel like a buzz-free pick-me-up. Plus, Please see RAIL / 28

Thursday, April 5, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street “It was hot, it was summertime, and I remember we were standing onstage doing sound check and I look over and there’s Buck Owens. ... To say I’m a fan of Buck Owens doesn’t say it — I mean I’m nuts for him.” — Chris Isaak

Isaak lets Sun shine in Artist brings iconic rock ’n’ roll studio’s vibe to Fox Theater BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

here have been many pivotal moments in Chris Isaak’s career, but none as rewarding as those spent with the artists who’ve helped mold him. Still the cool, slick-haired rock crooner he was when director David Lynch introduced him to the world on the soundtrack to his 1986 film “Blue Velvet,” Isaak has had the long and fruitful career many singer/songwriters would kill for. Isaak is excited to take Bakersfield fans on a musical trip down memory lane when he makes a stop at the Fox Theater tonight in support of “Beyond the Sun,” a new album of classic rock ’n’ roll covers. But it won’t be his first visit to the fair city. “It was hot, it was summertime, and I remember we were standing onstage doing sound check and I look over and there’s Buck Owens. He’s watchin’ our sound check. To say I’m a fan of Buck Owens doesn’t say it — I mean I’m nuts for him. He was standin’ on the side of the stage, and we stopped sound check. I was in the middle of, ‘I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail ...,’ and I look over and there’s Buck watchin’ me and he’s smiling like, ‘You kids.’ He’s standing there in a cowboy hat, a beautiful western suit.” “He’s a tall, big guy, and he was just friendly and loquacious, telling stories, and we just gathered around him. There’s pictures of it and it looks like school kids gathering around Babe Ruth.” Isaak was just a kid in Stockton, raiding his parents’ record collection, when he discovered Owens and other musical rebels like Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, artists who influenced not only his music but his personal style as well. Still dressing the part in his vintage suits and ’50s hairdo, Isaak, 55, has managed to remain a unique presence in the pop world. “There were a lot of times people blew past me in line because they were the hot item of the moment. But you know, I got no complaints. I had the same band for 27 years, and I like ’em — they’re nice guys and it’s fun. I get to make the kinda music I like, and it’s been a ball,” he said. He may be considered a rock revivalist, but Isaak, who has 15 albums to his credit, learned early there was room for only one king. “For years, I made a point not to do any Elvis tunes in my set, because some people would come to my show and go, ‘You look like Elvis.’ I would have to go, ‘But I’m doing my own material and have my own sound.’ I realized that for people to take you seriously, you had to do your own material.”

Rock the Fox with Chris Isaak For the ultimate Chris Isaak concert experience, there will be a VIP party and meet-and-greet before the show, and preferred seating, as part of the Rock the Fox fundraiser. Individual VIP tickets are $95, and full sponsorships are available at $500. Proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House and Fox Foundation. For more information and availability, contact Jim Darling at 706-1360 or email jim@jimdarlingpr.com.

He did find success in the 1980s MTV era of music video mania, but even with his striking blue eyes and chiseled looks, his debut didn’t make a dent on the Billboard charts. His breakthrough came in 1989 with the release of “Heart Shaped World” and the haunting single “Wicked Game,” which David Lynch selected for the soundtrack to his film “Wild at Heart.” The song’s steamy video — featuring Isaak, supermodel Helena Christensen and not a lot of clothing — certainly didn’t hurt. “Usually the question I get from guys is, ‘Hey dude, Helena Christiansen, whoa. You were really doin’ it on the beach, right?’ It’s always something like that. I try to answer, but I feel bad trying to explain to them: ‘No, Helena was an actress, and she was pretending to like me.’” For his latest album, “Beyond the Sun,” he chose to record at the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll: Sun Studios in Memphis, where Presley, Lewis and Cash all laid down some of their most iconic material. “They don’t rush you about a clock, and they don’t have a bunch of rules. They’re like, ‘Come in and have fun.’ And they were really open with us. We just recorded the old style.” “We put up the microphones, nobody put on headphones, and you just go for it all at one time, which is the big thing to do. I think Sun has got the right ideas. They’re bringing back some of that original equipment because I think they’re realizing that people aren’t just coming there to see it as a museum. They’re coming because that’s because that’s what people really wanna record there. They’re not coming to make a disco record.” Opening with “Ring of Fire,” Isaak echoes Cash with subtle effects and an unmistakable arrangement. It’s the obvious choice to kick off a collection like this, but on Presley’s “Tryin’ to Get to You,” he lays on the tenor with a sort of passion that, according to Isaak, made Presley’s longtime guitar player Scotty Moore take notice. “When I first put out this record, Scotty goes, ‘I’m surprised to hear anyone hittin’ those notes. Elvis only did it when he was 18, and I know you’re older than that.’” Isaak, who contributes one original,

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS ISAAK

Chris Isaak appears tonight at the Fox Theater.

Chris Isaak When: 8 tonight Where: Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Admission: $35 to $60 Information: 324-1369 or vallitix.com

covers 11 other classics, including Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire,” Carl Perkins’ “Dixie Fried,” Cash’s “I Walk the Line,” and more. There’s also a doubledisc version available with the complete sessions. “If nobody does those songs, and people have the attitude that they’re untouchable, people are gonna forget about them. It’s amazing to me how many number 1 hits songs Elvis had that people don’t even know. “How’s the World Treating You” was a number 1 hit. Now, it’s almost obscure. In my mind, let’s say if some 15-year-old kid gets this record by mistake, he listens to it, and goes, ‘I like these songs,’ and his dad goes, ‘Those are nothing. You should

hear the original.’ I’d love it. I think the dad’s right — you should hear the original.” To bring the sound and feel of that era to life, Isaak said he’s spared no details for his show. He plans to transform the Fox into a Memphis nightclub, complete with a sales pitch too cool to refuse. “Let me brag. Not braggin’ about me, but about my damn band, and I am so proud of ’em, because for what we do, I don’t think you can beat these guys. We play the hits that people come to see, and we play songs off our earlier records.” “And then, in the middle of the show, we switch the stage around. We bring out a stand-up bass, upright piano and kinda do an entire tribute to that Sun Session sound. It’s like a show within a show. The piano catches fire, there’s an inflatable pin-up girl onstage, the band has dance steps. It’s entertainment. So, if you don’t like the music, you’re gonna like the show. And who doesn’t like Johnny Cash? If you don’t like Johnny Cash, you’re in the wrong place.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, April 5, 2012

Eye Street RAIL: CONTINUED FROM 18

there’s plenty of seating on bar stools or at tables, where you can chat it up with some of the colorful regulars. A centerpiece of both Stead’s talent for collecting and folk art is the eye-catching bar itself. Stead said the U-shaped bar is a remnant from the old Skyway Bar, formerly located at the original Bakersfield Airport. But Stead gave the restored bar her own touch, filling every square inch with various coins, secured under a think layer of clear polyurethane. It’s a real conversation starter for patrons, who can take a break from their brew and conversation to count the coins. I asked how many there were, but Stead wouldn’t have it, re-directing me to the rear and a large storage cabinet. “We found that in the oilfields,” said the owner of the enormous antique cabinet, before pointing out the entire ceiling section of the bar that houses the lights was made out of wood from an old scale dismantled years ago. As my companions and I ordered another round, we decided to sit at the bar and just enjoy the scene, along with more stories. At one point Stead mentioned she and her husband are planning to add a kitchen on the east side of the building with a small menu. There is no way to get the full Rustic Rail experience without just moseying on over for yourself. The night we visited was particularly slow, but that gave us a chance to take our time and scope the place out. It’s filled

THE RUSTIC RAIL SALOON

147 E. Norris Road 393-0456 Hours: Vary, but mostly 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week. Dress: Casual to work wear Drinks: Domestic and import beers, well drinks and wine. Music: Jukebox provides most of the entertainment with a live band on occasion. Value: No cover charge, moderately priced domestic beers and full bar. What we liked: The welcoming, decorative atmosphere, retro look and our gracious host, Millie Stead. What we didn’t: The heavy cigarette smoke.

with history, lots of personality and is as traditionally down home as it gets. The service was warm and attentive. But the impressive restoration and memorabilia weren’t the only things to give me an

Rustic Rail factoids: • Before becoming a bar, the 1904 building has been used as a train station, feed lot and a meeting place for the Bakersfield Moose Lodge. • One large fixture on the north wall was once a waterbed headboard. • The old loading dock of the train station now houses the public bathrooms. • Much of the bar’s memorabilia was given to the Steads by a niece of one of the owners of the Blackboard bar, a breeding ground for the Bakersfield Sound. • The large wooden dance floor was once the kitchen floor at the Taft Moose Lodge.

eyeful: The cigarette smoke is pretty thick. That quibble aside, the Rustic Rail is a great addition — or alternative — to the Bakersfield nightlife scene, and a must for local history buffs. Would I go back? Darn tootin’.

HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

The top of the bar at the Rustic Rail Saloon is covered with coins hand-placed by owner Millie Stead.

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, April 12, 2012

Eye Street

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argain hunters with an eye for vintage goods should make plans to attend this weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big rummage sale at Bakersfield Community House. Part of the senior activity centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual run of fundraisers, the two-day extravaganza is Friday and Saturday. According to Bakersfield Community House executive board member Jeanne Rice, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular fundraiser by far, with all funds going to keep doors open and programs alive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of work, but we look forward to it, as do our neighbors, who always come out and support us,â&#x20AC;? she said. Shoppers will find everything from slightly used menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothing, jewelry, kitchen ware, furniture, linens and dishes to electronics, DVDs and books. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a special section called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grannyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attic,â&#x20AC;? featuring some higherend items such as Waterford crystal, and china from big brands Lenox and Wedgewood. All goods have been inspected for quality by Rice and her crew, and pricing will range from 10 cents to $25. Community House member Janie Alderete, who was busy organizing the clothing section on Tuesday, said only the top-quality items are put out on display. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we get a donation that needs some cleaning, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll take it home and get it ready. If thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sweater with a big snag on it, we wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sell it. All clothing has to be ready to wear.â&#x20AC;? To keep your taste buds satisfied while you shop, resident chefs will be selling hearty homemade sandwiches, cakes, pies and soft drinks in the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s special tea room. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our baked items are a big hit every year, and a lot of people come just for the sweets,â&#x20AC;? Rice said. The city-owned Community House building at Central Park by Mill Creek was built in 1958 by the Junior League of Bakersfield and is run as a nonprofit activity

Bakersfield Community House Rummage Sale When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday Where: Bakersfield Community House, 2020 R St. Information: 327-8835

center for men and women 50 and older. During a tour of the multi-functional facility, Rice pointed out the library, card room and kitchen. The center operates solely on funds raised from events such as the rummage sale, and Rice hopes to see the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main hall empty of all donations by Saturday afternoon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have so much to sell. We need everyone to come on out,â&#x20AC;? she said. At present, the Bakersfield Community House has 200 members on its roster, with about 50 actively participating every week. All members are welcome to a variety of daily activities such as computer classes, sewing, crocheting, exercise, card games and more. Alderete recalled her first visit four years ago after a health issue forced her early retirement. Today she attends four times a week and volunteers whenever she can. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After I was given the OK, my doctor had recommended that I get out and interact with people. I saw they had sewing, dancing and bus trips,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love it here. Everyone is so active.â&#x20AC;? All rummage sale donations come from Community House members. All unsold items will be donated to the Salvation Army and the Bakersfield Alliance Against Family Violence with the exception of specialized Grannyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attic items, which will be resold at a future event. Rice added they hope to make the hall available for rent for weddings and private parties. Applications for membership are available on site. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a place to find friends,â&#x20AC;? Rice said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just want to be able to function. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been dipping into our savings lately.â&#x20AC;?

Thursday, April 19, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Great Scots! Time to call the clans Highland-inspired event a local favorite

17th annual Scottish Games and Gathering When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Where: Kern County Museum, 3801 Chester Ave. Admission: $15; $10, students with ID, seniors and military; free for children 10 and under. Tickets can be purchased online, at the door, or at World Records. Information: 865-8890 or kernscot.com/games

BY ASHLEY FISCHER Contributing writer

If you hear bagpipes blaring on Saturday, feel free to throw on your best kilt and head out to the Kern County Museum for the 17th annual Kern County Scottish Society’s Scottish Games and Gathering. Modeled after the historic Highland Games, the Bakersfield incarnation of this festival celebrates Scottish, as well as other Celtic traditions, and features events such as “heavy athletics” competitions, live music, piping and drumming demonstrations, dancing, and more. “Everybody is welcome to come to our games — everybody,” said Gary Lockhart, current chieftain of the society. And when he says everybody, he means it. Even though “Scottish” is in the festival’s name, you don’t have to have a drop of Wallace or McGregor or Jameson blood in you to enjoy this unique, family friendly event. There will be historical reenactors of all times and descents, from Vikings, Romans, ancient Britons, and even pirates.

And just in case you’re curious, there will be a genealogy tent to help trace your family history and find out if you belong to a particular Scottish clan or district. Once you know your clan and its corresponding tartan, you can show off your newfound pride and pick up a kilt bearing the specific pattern or coat of arms from one of the many vendors selling handcrafted kilts, jewelry, and other one-of-a-kind items. As for the food, it goes more the traditional festival route: less black pudding and haggis and more fish and chips, pulled pork sandwiches and meat pies. But the main focus of the Scottish Society’s Gathering and

Games, is just that — the games. This is particularly true for Scottish Society Vice Chieftain Tony Urzanqui, who, in spite of his Basque surname, is “about a quarter” Scottish and the only member of the society to compete in any of the athletic events. “But,” he cautioned, “I am by no means an expert. I never actually win anything. “What happened was, I was asked to organize the athletics potion of the games. And I figured, since I’m organizing it, I should give it a try, so I can really get an athlete’s perspective of the whole thing.” Even though he might not be participating in the world championships any time soon, he remains enthusiastic, praising the events and their competitors for sportsmanship. “This year will be my fourth year competing,” said the 54year-old Bakersfield native. “But during my first games, when I walked out there, I wasn’t really nervous at all because everyone just bent over backwards trying to help me. No one should be too intimidated to try this.” Competitors vie in nine different events, such as the stone throw and sheaf toss, and their

PHOTO COURTESY OF KERN COUNTY SCOTTISH SOCIETY

Competitors try their hand at a variety of traditional events during the annual Scottish Games and Gathering.

scores from each individual activity are totaled together at the end of all the competitions to determine the winner, similar to a decathlon. Most events seem to involve skillfully hurling or tossing heavy objects the greatest height or distance. Most famously, there is the caber toss, which requires the “tosser” to heave a massive pole

or tree trunk (sometimes up to 18 feet in length) into the air, ideally so that it lands facing directly away from the thrower and in the “12 o’clock” position. While Urzanqui remained decidedly modest about his accomplishments at any of the games, he said he once managed to place third in his class during the caber toss. All while wearing a kilt, he added.

Thieves steal musical gear, but show will go on BY JENNIFER SELF Californian lifestyles editor jself@bakersfield.com

ountry crooner Tracy Lawrence has been singing about human frailty long enough to know that there are a lot of people up to no good at 4 in the morning. But in case he needed a reminder, he got one in Bakersfield early Monday when some of his musical gear was stolen from a trailer parked at the Best Western Crystal Palace Inn & Suites, next door to the very venue where he will play two nearly sold-out shows tonight. Crystal Palace Promotions Director Jerry Hufford said the theft, which occurred at the hotel where Lawrence was staying, will have no effect on the singer’s shows. As of Wednesday afternoon, only single seats were available for both the 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. concerts. “Between his crew and all of our gear, there’s no problem,” said Hufford, who noted that Lawrence, 44, was in good spirits. “It has no impact on the show — the shows will go on.” Lawrence was unavailable for comment Wednesday, but his publicist, James Dutile, gave The Californian the few details he had.

Tracy Lawrence When: 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. tonight Where: Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. Tickets: $39.50 to $48.50. Only single tickets were available Wednesday. vallitix.com or 3225200.

“They woke up that morning to the trailer being broken into,” Dutile said. “I don’t think the police have that person yet, that I’m aware of.” Bakersfield Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Mary DeGeare confirmed a crime report had been filed and noted that much of the equipment stolen from the trailer was custom-made, though there was no estimate of its value. DeGeare had no information on suspects and urged anyone with information on the theft to call Detective Brian Kennemer at 326-3541. Lawrence, whose hits include “Sticks and Stones” and “Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” is on tour to promote his 2011 album, “The Singer.” “There’s a unique story to that,” Dutile said. “He hadn’t had music out for several years and he wanted to give

back some music to his fans, so he recorded this real intimate project for them, and then it got such a good response that he decided to put it out. “It’s a very broke-down, intimate record.” Though he and his five-member band will be performing songs from “The Singer,” Lawrence won’t ignore the biggest singles of his career. “It’s a pretty dynamic show. It’s pretty much hit after hit.” After years of being a self-described “hell-raiser” who had his own brushes with the law, Lawrence has settled down in recent years, Dutile said. “His rowdy days are kind of over. He’s a family man these days.” In fact, Lawrence spent much of the past week in Bakersfield golfing, his publicist said. “I think he had some time, routing from some other shows. He really likes Bakersfield. It’s a great country town. Buck was someone he respected.” Lawrence will continue his tour with shows in Northern California on Friday and Saturday. Dutile said the singer plans to release an album of new material later this year or in early 2013. — Californian staff writer Matt Munoz contributed to this report

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRACY LAWRENCE

Country singer Tracy Lawrence will be appearing for two shows tonight at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace.

Thursday, April 19, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street “The blues expands in different directions based on the influences of the musicians playing it. But if it strays too far, it’s not really the blues anymore.” — Alastair Greene

The sideman takes the lead in blues show Greene will showcase solo material in Saturday show BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

mong the many unsung talents in the Southern California blues music scene is guitarist Alastair Greene, who refuses to settle for obscurity. His signature sound — tasty old-school riffs and modern rock finesse — has been heard for years alongside a number of guitar legends from around the world. Currently touring as a member of acclaimed British musician and producer Alan Parson’s band, Greene is eager to showcase material from his new solo CD, “Through the Rain,” with help from his trio at Pyrenees Cafe & Saloon on Saturday. Greene’s introduction to the blues came in sunny Santa Barbara, where he grew up. After studying at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, he returned to the West Coast and joined a variety of blues and rock bands in the early ’90s. “When I was 17, a friend of my dad’s loaned me a bunch of killer records by B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Johnny Winter. I really gravitated to the music. It all fell into place for me. “I think scenes are going to vary from region to region. Southern California has a lot of bands that are really good right now. We just need more places to play and to keep turning younger folks on to the music for it to keep thriving.” A visibly imposing figure who looks a bit like a mountain man, Greene has a gritty sound to match his appearance. “Through the Rain” kicks off with a passionate 43-second slide intro, segueing full throttle into the title track. ‘Greene’s vocals are soulfully melodic, and once he lays into one of his many guitar solos, his versatility roars across the fret board. The Black Sabbath-inflected “Get Your Evil On” is full of dark progressions that would make the metal godfathers proud. “The blues expands in different directions based on the influences of the musicians playing it,” said Greene during a recent interview with The Californian. “But if it strays too far, it’s not really the blues anymore. I think because this album was more rock-oriented with more overdubs, we spent a lot more time mixing and making sure we got the right balance happening.” Switching gears with some sweetness on “Dearly Departed” and the countrified “Take Me with You,” Greene gives a nod to his laidback California upbringing.

Buena Vista Vista Museum Museum of of Natural Natural History History with with support support from from Kern Kern County County Science Science Foundation Foundation Presents Presents Buena

THE SPECTACULAR SPECTACULAR THE

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALASTAIR GREENE

Blues guitarist Alastair Greene appears Saturday at Pyrenees Cafe

“My country influence probably comes more from Americana and Southern rock bands like Little Feat and The Allman Brothers. I do enjoy the old stuff as well as Bluegrass music when I hear it.” The variety continues to shine through the rest of the CD, with dashes of funk and some straight-ahead burners. For Saturday’s show, the rustic acoustics of Pyrenees Cafe may be the perfect place for Greene to open up and show why he’s no longer content to be just another sideman. “We try to keep things pretty high energy and rocking. We play a lot of classic songs as well as some more obscure ones and also originals. Classic blues rock material like ZZ Top, Cream, and Allman Brothers if we think the venue calls for it.”

Alastair Greene When: 2-6 p.m. Saturday Where: Pyrenees Cafe & Saloon, 601 Sumner St. Admission: Free Information: 323-0053

WORLD OF

SCIENCE MAY 4 TH TH

5pm - 9pm at the Elks Club -1616 30th Street Advance tickets $7 Child / $10 Adults or at the door $9 Child / $12 adult

For tickets call 661-324-6350 or for details and schedule of the evenings events go to www.sharktoothhill.org

Enjoy an evening filled with Kern County’s Winning Science projects, CSUB’s Chemical Circus, Weird Science, explore the world of science with live demonstrations, experiments, and interactive hands-on activities for all ages, promoting Science, Engineering and Technology.

Special Guest Speaker: Mr. Jeff Greason, President and co-founder of XCOR Aerospace. Mr. Greason has nearly 20 years experience managing innovative technical project teams at XCOR Aerospace, Rotary Rocket Company (RRC), and Intel Corporation. Time magazine named him one of their “Inventors of the Year” in 2002 for his team’s work on the EZ-Rocket.

Science Fair Winning kids will receive certificates from Congressman Kevin McCarthy

Do you Twitter? Find out what issues are the hot topic of the day, and get up-to-the-minute with the latest news and events.

twitter.com/bakersfieldcali

Tickets available at BVMNH 2018 Chester Ave Bakersfield CA 93301 Thurs - Sat or call 661-324-6350 Buena Vista Museum of Natural History is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization under section 501 © (3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. A FUNdraising program to advance awareness of science activities available within our community.

Thursday, April 26, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street “Needless to say, one of the big pieces of my life was in the 29 years that we were in production (on ‘Hee Haw’), and we created a friendship that we’ll take to the grave with us.” — Roy Clark, on his connection to “Hee Haw” co-host Buck Owens

An old friend comes to Palace But it won’t be the same without Buck, Clark says BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

oy Clark spent 17 years at the side of Buck Owens as the two made country music magic as the co-hosts of “Hee Haw,” one of the most iconic — and hilariously cheesy — shows in television history. So it is with pleasure and anticipation that Clark will take the stage Tuesday at the venue built and beloved by his late friend, whose legacy can still be felt at the Crystal Palace. Just one regret: Buck himself won’t be there. “It’s one of those things that I can’t believe I didn’t perform there before this,” said Clark in a phone interview Tuesday from his home in Oklahoma. “It’s almost a natural booking after Buck and I co-hosted ‘Hee Haw.’ Needless to say, one of the big pieces of my life was in the 29 years that we were in production, and we created a friendship that we’ll take to the grave with us.” The weekly pickin’ and grinnin’ schtick perfected by Owens and guitar virtuoso Clark resonated with viewers from the debut of “Hee Haw” in 1969. But as tastes changed and careers moved in different directions, the team would part ways in 1986: Clark would stay on as the show’s host for another several years, while Owens would leave to focus on new business ventures in Bakersfield. The “Hee Haw” set would be the last time the two would share a stage together, all of which makes Clark’s appearance Tuesday bittersweet. Yet Clark recognized their partnership wouldn’t last forever. “Buck was always very business-minded. He would say, ‘I got the radio stations,’ and he had the Pennysaver and that’s what he had been spending all his time in. And you know taping ‘Hee Haw’ — he didn’t benefit anything from it. He had to stop his regular business activities, close up shop and come to Nashville for that time. Everything in this business, you’re trying to add to your career, trying to boost it up, and he didn’t benefit from any of that. “I was surprised that after the newness wore off, about 15 years, he all of a sudden said, ‘Well, I’ve

Roy Clark When: 7 p.m. Tuesday Where: Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. Admission: $31.50 to $41.50 Information: 328-7560 or vallitix.com

done all I could do here. I’m going back to Bakersfield.’” So why visit Bakersfield now? Owens’ son Buddy Alan hopes he can take a small measure of credit for Clark’s decision. Last year a reunion of the remaining “Hee Haw” cast was arranged, and Clark invited Buddy Alan Owens to attend (the taping of the reunion still airs occasionally on RFD-TV). “Roy’s always been so nice to me and such a great friend to my dad and the family,” Owens said. “Everybody has always loved him. He’s just a unique individual with so much talent. One of the funniest men I’ve ever met in my life, and boy, what a musician. When we recorded that Kornfield reunion, I mentioned the Crystal Palace and told him he needed to come to Bakersfield. People need to see him. Hopefully that had something to do with it. He is long overdue. I just wished my dad could have been here to be a part of it.” Buckaroo guitarist Terry Christofferson, who joined Owens’ band in 1974, recalled fun times on the set of “Hee Haw.” Despite rumors of an ongoing feud between the two hosts, Christofferson said he simply never witnessed it. “I don’t remember ever hearing Buck saying anything bad about Roy,” Christofferson said. “It just never worked out that we ever got him into the Crystal Palace after all these years. I always thought that was a shame because they did work together and, since then, a lot of the show’s cast has passed on.” Buckaroo band leader and keyboardist Jim Shaw agreed. “I’m glad Roy’s finally coming to the Palace. It will be good to see him after all these years.” Clark said his last visit to Bakersfield was in 1977 for a taping of “Hanna-Barbera’s All-Star Comedy Ice Revue” for CBS at what was then called the Civic Auditorium. In subsequent years, Clark became a regular guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny

MARK HUMPHREY / AP

Co-hosts Buck Owens and Roy Clark perform with other cast members during a taping of “Hee Haw” in Nashville in 1986. Shown between Owens and Clark is actor Ernest Borgnine, a guest on that episode.

Carson” and several TV sitcoms, usually as himself. He’s a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame three years ago. Today at age 79, Clark still performs regularly with much of the same fire viewers were used to seeing when he blazed on songs like “Black Sapphire,” “Rocky Top” and jazz standards “Caravan” and “Malaguena.” But though his mind is still as sharp as his signature licks, there is much he said he can’t play. “Traditional country is what I am. I still do instrumentals on guitar and fiddle, and I’ve got a really cookin’ band. We’ve been together for 20 years or better, so we all know what the other one is capable of, so all I have to do is point and say, ‘Play it.’” Clark said he looks forward to reconnecting with Bakersfield and the legacy of his old friend. “Well, you look back on it. Bakersfield was as big as Nashville. Its image, and what he did, he created — him and all the others: Merle Haggard, Red Simpson, all of ‘em came out of the woodwork when Buck opened the door to what could be had in Bakersfield. You didn’t have to go to Nashville. You could build your career right there.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROY CLARK

Roy Clark will make his first appearance at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, May 3, 2012

Eye Street

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mmunoz@bakersfield.com

ith Cinco de Mayo landing on a Saturday this year, a number of local fiestas will offer Bakersfield more opportunities to celebrate, beginning with the festive sounds of mariachi music at the Sueños de México concert tonight at Ridgeview High School auditorium. After months of preparation, directors and show organizers Jorge Luis Laris and Rob Martens are anxious to showcase their students’ hard work with the rest of community. “We wanted to help the students gain an appreciation for something we take for granted,” said Martens, who teaches band and orchestra at Ridgeview High. “Mariachi music can be seen and heard in Bakersfield all the time ... it’s become something we’ve all gotten used to.” During a rehearsal at the school on Friday, the sounds of violins, trumpets and strings could be heard through the lobby of the auditorium, as an attentive audience of more than 100 students offered applause between takes. At the podium, Laris directed the orchestra of 50 students from the Ridgeview String Ensemble and Concert Band, mixed with members of the Kern County Youth Mariachi Foundation. “Today’s kids grow up with so many new sounds of music and when you’re trying to keep their interest, you always have to try something new to help them grow,” said Laris, who also works as a bilingual instructor at Mira Monte High School and directs the Kern County Youth Mariachi Foundation. According to Laris, who graduated from Ridgeview six years ago, the idea for the collaboration sprouted during a conversation between him and Martens at a Ridgeview football game in the fall. A few minutes into their exchange, the enthusiasm was enough to send them home to lay out plans for the project. “The logistics were a little different for a show of this variety,” said Martens, who added that he and Laris had no problem getting backing from the school district and interest from students to participate. “I’ve always been impressed by the big, strong sound of mariachi.” Bakersfield isn’t the only city to offer successful mariachi music programs for young musicians. Over the years, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Jose have formed their own organizations dedicated to preserving

CASEY CHRISTIE / THE CALIFORNIAN

Elisa Quinonez, left, of the Kern County Youth Mariachi Foundation, Juvenil de Aztlan, plays the violin with other mariachi musicians and the Ridgeview orchestra during a dress rehearsal Friday at Ridgeview.

Sueños de Mexico When: 7 p.m. today Where: Ridgeview High School Auditorium, 8501 Stine Road Admission: Free

the music, as have other states in the Southwest. Originating in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, the musical serenading style has grown in popularity around the world. Today, the traditional mariachi band is a staple at restaurants, weddings and other formal occasions, and not just for those of Latino heritage. “Kern is known for athletics in schools and music like jazz and classical — why not mariachi music?” said Martens. The traditional mariachi group generally consists of trumpets, violins, guitar, vihuela (a high-pitched, five-string guitar), guitarron (a large acoustic bass) and harp. Suited in silver or gold-studded suits called charro, the performers’ most identifiable accessory is the flashy wide-brimmed hat. While some groups average five to six members, larger ensembles can reach up to 13 players or more. Not all of tonight’s participating students will be performing on traditional instrumentation and in flashy outfits, but most have the equivalent instruments to achieve an authentic mariachi sound. “Our bass players found that the traditional mariachi bass lines aren’t what they’re used to. Rather than the standard rock and jazz styles, the beat and rhythms are much different and much more syncopated,” Martens said. Among the evening’s repertoire will

Crystal Palace celebrates Cinco de Mayo Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace will be throwing its first ever Cinco de Mayo party Saturday. Joining Mariachi San Marcos will be Latin ska group Mento Buru, cumbia rockers Velorio and DJ Mikey. Tickets are $10; doors open at 5 p.m.; showtime is 7 p.m. All ages. The Crystal Palace is at 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. For a full list of festivities, turn to page 30

be the classics synonymous with the genre: “Amor Eterno,” “Guadalajara,” “Spanish Eyes” and “La Gruta,” among others. Martens added that one of the few challenges for the project was to find sheet music for students, since most mariachi songs are done from memory and passed down through generations. Enter Laris, who has accumulated an impressive library of transcriptions for his foundation. “There’s a different set of difficulties, like trying to retain the street sound of the music, but the arrangements are correct,” he said. “We’re combining two worlds.” When he’s not directing, Laris can be found performing regularly on vihuela with his family’s group, Mariachi San Marcos of Bakersfield, one of the most popular mariachi bands in the city. In addition to a busy Cinco de Mayo schedule, they also make an appearance at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace on Saturday — as the first mariachi group to take the stage at the venue.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, May 3, 2012

Eye Street

Experience TNA Wrestling in person BY JOSH BEDINGFIELD Californian staff writer

TNA Wrestling

jbedingfield@bakersfield.com

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday Where: Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Admission: $20 to $35, plus fee. Ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.

akersfield has a long history of successful pro-wrestling live events and on Saturday night Total Non-stop Action Wrestling looks to add its own chapter. The company has held events in Bakersfield in the past at The Dome, but this will be its first at Rabobank Arena and promises to be a big show. The Orlando, Fla.-based company started 10 years ago with the goal of providing a more up-tempo style of wrestling, putting more focus on the in-ring action. Christopher Daniels has been with the company since the beginning and has competed in some of the greatest matches in the company’s history. Daniels has also seen the evolution of the company and feels confident about its current direction. “So far, so good. It is sometimes necessary to change things up and I think we are coming up with some good concepts, such as Open Fight Night.”

Though TNA Impact airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. on Spike TV, as far as Daniels is concerned, the best way to experience TNA is live and in person. “It will be bell-to-bell action with great matches. World champion Bobby Roode will face Jeff Hardy for the title, A.J. Styles will take on Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle and myself and Kazarian will be taking on Samoa Joe and Magnus for the tag team championship.” With a solid card from top to bottom, the show is sure to be action-packed and a great time for everyone. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30. Tickets are still available at the arena box office or through Ticketmaster.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER DANIELS

Christopher Daniels works on putting away an opponent during a Total Nonstop Action Wrestling bout.

Lovato, Underwood to play Rabobank BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

Tickets for a July 15 concert at Rabobank Arena by pop singer and former Disney TV princess Demi Lovato go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. Lovato, 19, is in the midst of a successful career comeback following a stint in rehab in 2010 that played out in the tabloids. MTV recently aired “Demi Lovato: Stay Strong,” a candid one-hour documentary in which Lovato invited the audience inside to witness her most private moments during her very public recovery. MTV's cameras followed as Lovato spoke honestly about her experiences and her hopes for the future. The audience also witnessed Lovato’s evolution as an artist as she performed an album full of deeply personal material before sold-out crowds across the country. This week her single “Skyscraper,” off her latest album “Unbroken,” was certified platinum. Meanwhile, her new single “Give Your Heart a Break” is cruising up the Top 40 radio

charts while the music video has reached 10 million-plus YouTube views. Tickets are $29.50 to $69.50, plus service charge. Rabobank box office is located at 1001 Truxtun Ave. For more information call 852-7777 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Carrie Underwood returns Another princess — actually, “queen” might be more accurate — returns to Rabobank Arena after a two-year absence. Carrie Underwood, one of the biggest names in country music, has scheduled an Oct. 18 Bakersfield tour date. Tickets for her show go on sale at 10 a.m. Oct. 18 and are $39.50 to $59.50, plus service charge. The Grammy-winning Underwood has released four full-lengths CDs and has sold more than 14 million albums. Underwood sold out the arena during her last Bakersfield visit. Opening her show will be 2012 ACM new artist of the year nominee Hunter Hayes. Tickets are available at the Rabobank box office.

ZUMA PRESS

Demi Lovato makes an appearance in Los Angeles in 2011.

SUMMER CAMP DIRECTORY AND MORE COMING IN THE CALIFORNIAN Our annual listing of the many ways to keep your children entertained, informed and out from underfoot this summer is coming to Eye Street on Sunday. From day camps to arts opportunities to science exploration and more, there’s something for all children to do in Kern County from May to August. Also coming in The Californian: Saturday: World Book

Night is an opportunity for avid readers to share their passion for books with others who don’t find time to read. Bakersfield got on board this year. Follow a couple of volunteers as they selected beloved books to share. Sunday: Californian columnist Herb Benham has written his annual column on sex (don’t say you haven’t been warned). What got him

thinking about the subject — not that he needs much provocation — is “Fifty Shades of Grey,” a racy new book causing quite a stir. Find out Herb’s take on the novel that many are labeling “mommy porn.” And speaking of hot and spicy, Cal State Bakersfield science professor Roy LaFever will tell us in a column Sunday just how the hotness of peppers is determined.

Come hear great music this evening

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE SAINT-JOHN

Youngsters attend a “Turning Dreams into Goals” summer camp in 2011 in Frazier Park. Read more about summer camps in Sunday’s Californian.

ther than red wine, ice cold champagne and Garrison Keillor telling a story about the Chatterbox Cafe, there is hardly anything better than live music in an intimate setting (read: less than 100 seats). Other than Springsteen, for whom I have a deserved weakness, some of the most memorable concerts I’ve ever seen have featured musicians you have never heard of in settings akin to your living room. This is to say that Chris and Jan Harris are returning to Bakersfield — the Metro Galleries 6:30 p.m. this evening. Their stage names are The Adventures of Rodeo and Juliet and they were here in November. Folk, gospel, country and bluegrass, they can do it all. Jan has a hauntingly beautiful voice and this is not to say that Chris can’t sing either, because he can as well as play a beautiful guitar too. Like last time, we’re going with RSVPing so we know how many chairs to set up. Tickets are $20 and I suggest you bring your own wine. We will provide the glasses. All the money goes to Jan and Chris and to pay Metro Galleries for the space. This is a heartwarming show. I might even get up at the end and sing with them, but if you pay me enough, I can sit down too. — Californian columnist Herb Benham

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, May 10, 2012

Eye Street

Best jazz festival lineup in years Legends mix with exciting up-and-comers at CSUB BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

t’s a year of transition for the venerable Bakersfield Jazz Festival, and if first-time talent booker Paul Perez wanted to prove he knows what he’s doing, mission accomplished. The Bakersfield sax man has pulled in some of the biggest names in jazz today, assembling the strongest lineup the two-day music festival has seen in years. Try these names on for size: • Alto-saxophonist Maceo Parker, who began his legendary career with James Brown’s band. He’s simply one of the most influential musicians working today. • Silky saxophonist Richard Elliot, who helped popularize the contemporary smooth jazz craze of the 1990s. • Veteran drummer Alphonse Mouzon, a favorite of nearly every heavy hitter in popular music. • Accomplished Cuban percussionist Melena, who puts on a dazzling high-energy show in the vein of fellow drumming live wire Shelia E. Landing the crowd-pleasing acts was an undeniable coup for Perez, who has himself played the jazz festival for years. He assumed the responsibility of seeking out talent after Doug Davis, who has organized the event since its inception 26 years ago, announced that this would be his last festival. “For me, Friday night has always been more of a party night. Bearing that in mind, the first person who popped into my mind was Maceo. He stands for party. Doug (Davis) had been trying for years to get him, so for me on my first time out booking the jazz festival, I’m really thrilled out of my mind. I think it’s perfect for Bakersfield, and doesn’t get any better than that.”

Friday: Steve Cole, R&B Bombers, Maceo Parker Friday’s traditionally upbeat partythemed kick-off features saxophonist Steve Cole, one of the top acts in smooth jazz. In addition to his own best-selling albums, Cole has recorded and toured alongside artists like guitarist Boz Skaggs and Larry Carlton and trumpeter Rick Braun. His latest CD, “Moonlight,” is a collection of classic pop songs and standards. Following Cole is the horn-heavy sound of Santa Barbara fixture R&B Bombers, who pride themselves on blending classic American music styles with the grit of a New Orleans speakeasy. It’s an approach that requires teamwork when it comes to composing effective compositions to match the group’s fat nine-piece sound, baritone saxophonist Dave Tolegian said. “We usually let our lead singer write up

PHOTO COURTESY OF RICHARD ELLIOT

Saxophonist Richard Elliot helped popularize the smooth jazz boom of the ’90s.

the vocals into a bare-bones arrangement, before handing it over to the rhythm section. Then our keyboard player will arrange the horn parts until they fit together. The horn arranging is one of the more painstaking things to do for our group, and we won’t play anything until it’s just like we want it,” said Tolegian, a member of the band since it formed nearly 30 years ago. “We’re a little different than a three-chord horn band.” The band’s latest release, “Bad Behavior,” has all the ingredients of a houseparty shaker. The CD contains original tunes from the band, penned mostly by lead singer and harmonica player Joe Wilson, who inspired the title. “He’s always singing about some kind of trouble,” Tolegian said. “He loses the girl or she wants to hurt him back; now I’m down and out, but I’ve got this money in my pocket. Do I spend it on the rent or one of my vices? There’s no fun in happy blues, right?” Headliner Maceo Parker has become one of the most influential and easily identified musicians of his generation since leaving his North Carolina home in 1964 to join the James Brown band. For the next decade he would become one of the defining elements in the Brown horn arsenal, along with saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and trombonist Fred Wesley. Parker played on several classics with the Godfather of Soul but is most associated with “I Got You (I Feel Good),” which features a screaming Parker solo. Following his departure from the group, he found success as a member of George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic and Booty’s Rubber Band. Most recently, the funk icon, 69, has toured with Prince.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MACEO PARKER

Maceo Parker, who played with legendary funkmeister James Brown, among other heavy hitters, headlines Friday night’s lineup at the Bakersfield Jazz Festival.

Bakersfield Jazz Festival When: 7 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Saturday Where: CSUB Amphitheater, 9001 Stockdale Highway Admission: $55 for two-day combo tickets; $35 students; $32, $23 in advance for Friday only, $36 and $27 at the gate; $35 and $25 in advance for Saturday only, $40 and $30 at the gate. Children under 12 free on both days. Reserved tables also available. Tickets available through Vallitix.com or call 322-5200

Perez said there’s no way to fully describe Parker’s influence on popular music. “If you play funk music at all, from Tower of Power to Kool & The Gang and beyond, there’s no way to get around his influence. Unless you were born somewhere so isolated from humanity, there’s no way you could not be influenced. The moment you get funky, it’s Maceo. Every band has to tip their hat to his playing.” Please see JAZZ / 32

PHOTO COURTESY OF MELENA

Percussionist Melena’s thrilling show incorporates Latin dance moves.

Thursday, May 10, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Lawn chair, a cool one and Firefall ’70s hit-makers promise relaxed show under stars BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

irefall guitarist Jock Bartley has always trusted his instincts when it comes to rockin’ out. But at his first recording session, on a particularly balmy Florida night in 1975, he never anticipated getting a second opinion from his idol, Eric Clapton. Unbeknownst to Bartley, Clapton was in the control booth, observing his every lick. “Here we are with the big boys and no one had ever even heard of us. Down the hall is Stephen Stills, the Bee Gees,” said Bartley during a recent telephone conversation to promote Firefall’s show this week in Bakersfield. “So, I’m warming up for one of the main songs I get to burn on, ‘Mexico.’ I started playing, the solo’s going well. I ended up playing a one-take solo. I told the producer I really didn’t feel it and let’s do it again. The producer said, ‘No, come on into the booth.’ I was kinda ticked off and when I walked in, there sitting, having listened to me play, was my hero, Eric Clapton. I just crumbled. He stood up and said, ‘Keen playing, man,’ and he walked out. Oh my God, to play a one-take solo where I was burning and to have that happen when your hero is sitting there listening. It’s been a really fortunate ride for me, personally and for Firefall. There have been a lot of those moments.” Formed in Boulder, Colo., Firefall emerged from the burgeoning

Firefall When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Bright House Networks Amphitheatre, 11200 Stockdale Highway Admission: $10, plus service charge; lawn chairs, ice chests, food permitted Information: 852-7777

mountain music scene, saturating radio with hits like “You Are the Woman,” “Cinderella,” “Mexico” and “Just Remember I Love You.” “People were calling it the ‘Colorado sound,’ but really it was the Los Angeles sound of people living in Boulder,” Bartley said. “There was a time before we were signed in ’73, when guys like Stephen Stills and Dan Fogelberg would come down from their mountain getaways and sit in with us. It was just cool,” Bartley recalled. Bartley and co-founder Rick Roberts, formerly of the Flying Burrito Brothers, met through country rock pioneer Gram Parsons. Impressed with each other’s playing, the duo began practicing together and decided to form a band that would also feature bassist and vocalist Mark Andes (a founding member of the acclaimed prog rock band Spirit.) After adding singer-songwriter/ guitarist Larry Burnett to the lineup, along with former Byrds drummer Michael Clark, they dubbed themselves Firefall. A year after their formation and the recording of their first demo, they were signed to Atlantic Records. “Our first day, it was very magical,” Bartley said. “We had 30

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIREFALL

Pop rockers Firefall will perform at Bright House Networks Amphitheatre on Saturday.

original songs to work out. It was just great and all of our first record was ready to work out. When you put us together on our original songs, we sound like ourselves without even trying. “Our sound was the synergy of what the guys in the band played. There are a lot of bands who have great songs, but can’t figure out how to sound. We always sounded like Firefall.” And there couldn’t be a more fortuitous showcase for the new band than as the opening act for Fleetwood Mac, on tour in 1977 to support “Rumours,” which would become one of the best-

selling albums in history. Firefall got another key slot performing on The Band’s farewell tour, just before the filming of Martin Scorsese’s iconic concert film, “The Last Waltz.” “Playing to crowds of 60,000 to 100,000 people, five to six days a week is impossible to describe.” But two years of grinding out live shows and pressure from the record company to churn out more hits took its toll. Most of the original band members had departed over time, leaving Bartley to carry on with a series of revolving musicians until he found the current lineup: Bill

Hopkins, bass; Steven Weinmeister, guitar; Sandy Ficca, drums; and David Muse, sax, flute, and keys. They’ve remained solid for 20 years without a break. Content with being a musical source of nostalgia for fans, Bartley has no qualms about the past, adding there’s never been a good enough reason for him to hang it up. “I think I was always destined to be in Firefall and have my guitar playing prominently in our songs, just as it happened. And I’ve always known we were a lucky band to have that type of success.”

Moira Smiley: ‘The whole world in her voice’ BY CAMILLE GAVIN Contributing writer gavinarts@aol.com

oira Smiley and VOCO, a group known for its unique blend of voices and instrumentation, will visit schools and present three concerts in Kern County Sunday through Tuesday. Their first performance is a house concert on Sunday, hosted by Lynne and Bruce Joseph. Attendees will be given the address of the venue by contacting the Arts Council office when making reservations. This is the second year Smiley’s ensemble, which includes cellist April Guthrie, has toured here as part of the Arts Council’s Musicians’ Outreach Project. As she did previously, Smiley will lead workshops for students at several high schools in the county, said Jill Egland of the Arts Council.

Moira Smiley & VOCO When: 4 p.m. Sunday Where: House concert — call for location Admission: $22; $20 Arts Council members; $10 students Information: 324-9000

“Moira Smiley is a very gracious and accessible, and the students were entranced,” said Egland, recalling the ensemble’s 2011 visit. “She does vocalizations from different cultures.” Egland explained that Smiley has learned to use her voice in ways that imitate the sounds of native singers in other countries or regions. For example, for Eastern European singers, she emits a deep,

heavy sound; for Asian, a kind of pinched sound; and for the Irish, her voice is very fluid. “She tells students to close their eyes and imagine the region she is singing about,” Egland said. “One student at East High told me, ‘I could hear the whole world in her voice.’ That brought tears to my eyes.” In addition to being a vocalist, composer and arranger, Smiley plays the banjo and accordion, and also employs body percussion in her performances. A native of Vermont, she attended the Indiana University School of Music, where she received a degree in early music vocal performance. She now is based in Los Angeles. On Monday, Smiley and VOCO will visit schools in Delano and then travel to Kernville for a concert that evening at a

place to be announced. Tickets are $15 and reservations can be made by calling 760549-3697. On Tuesday, they will be in Ridgecrest for more school presentations and a final evening performance in the gallery of the Maturango Museum, 100 E. Las Flores Ave. Tickets are $15 and available at the museum gift shop. Call 760-375-6900. Now in its third year, the Musician’s Outreach Project is dedicated to featuring artists who excel in educational settings at schools throughout Kern County, Egland said. The program is an extension of the Arts Council's House Concert Series, and is sponsored in part by grants from corporations as well as individual donors, which serve as matching funds for schools that would otherwise not be able to afford this type of program.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, May 10, 2012

Eye Street JAZZ: CONTINUED FROM 24

Saturday: Mouzon, Melena, Elliot and more The 19-piece 2012 Kern County Honor Jazz Band takes the stage as the first act on day two, followed by Los Angeles saxophonist Ray Zepeda and his quartet, featuring veteran Bakersfield musicians Glenn Fong, bass; Zanne Zarrow, drums; and 13year-old piano phenom Jamael Dana Dean. CSUB music instructor and guitarist Jim Scully rounds out the trio of local openers with his new group, the 4tet, which fuses contemporary pop, rock and folk with instrumental jazz into his original compositions. Azerbaijan composer and pianist Amina Figarova leads off the second half of the day with her quartet. Her critically acclaimed new CD, “Twelve,” was released Tuesday. Acclaimed drummer Alphonse Mouzon’s musical associations read like a Who’s Who of modern jazz and pop music. Credited with being the rhythmic foundation for the far-reaching musical explorations of pianist McCoy Tyner, he was a charter member of the group, along with keyboardist Joe Zawinul and saxophonist Wayne Shorter. His talents cover a broad range of musical disciplines and philosophies that have led to work with artists as diverse as Stevie Wonder, guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, and Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant. “It’ll be great to be coming back,” said Mouzon during a recent phone interview from his home in Los Angeles. “The last time I performed there was with Poncho Sanchez at the junior college theater in ’88.” Mouzon will be bringing a quintet of Los Angeles heavy hitters, and the group features his 15-year-old daughter Emma Alexandra Mouzon on vocals. “She started playing my drums when she was 3 years old, and now plays violin, piano, guitar.” Mouzon’s new CD, “Angel Face,” will be available for sale at the festival. Cuban percussionist Melena speaks volumes with her drumming. She’s toured, performed and recorded with legendary artists like Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Julio Iglesias and Chayanne, and fronts her own Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban salsa band, which will perform at the festival at sunset. Born in Havana, Melena came to the States with her family at age 4. Raised around mostly American culture, she began reconnecting with her roots after picking up the drums as a teenager. Her first teacher: world-renowned percussionist Luis Conte. “He was my first percussion mentor. I was right out of high school in Los Angeles. He taught

PHOTO COURTESY OF R&B BOMBERS

The R&B Bombers appear Friday. “We’re a little different than a three-chord horn band,” said baritone saxophonist Dave Tolegian.

me Latin rhythms on drums, then he was the first person I saw playing congas, timbales, and all the family of drums. He pushed me to learn everything.” Searching for the most comprehensive instruction available, Melena found other teachers around Southern California, but after a visit to Cuba in 1988, her dedication to her musical goals intensified. “I always wanted to seek out more about the music and what it meant to me. In Cuba I found many master teachers. That put me back in touch with the music the way I had always felt it should be,” she said. “When you talk to the elders in Africa, they want the fresh new ideas from young musicians because, to them, you’re taking what they’ve done and to the next level, but the root of tradition is still there and really strong. They know that.” Her stage show incorporates drums as well as a variety of Latin dance moves, which will no doubt have hips shaking in the audience. After Melena’s ignites the stage, the annual fireworks display will light up the night, segueing into Saturday’s closing act, saxophonist Richard Elliot. Widely recognized as one of the musicians responsible for popularizing the smooth jazz subgenre in the 1990s, the Scottishborn tenor saxophonist made a name for himself performing

Also appearing at the Eagle Mountain Casino Entry Stage Friday: Velorio at 6 p.m., 7:55 p.m., and 9 p.m. Saturday: CSUB Players at 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m., Color Blind at 3:40 p.m. and 4:50 p.m., Chesterfield King at 6:10 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8:50 p.m.

with Bay Area funk legends Tower of Power. “They were some of best and most influential years of my entire career,” said Elliot of his five years with TOP. “I learned more with them than with any other group I’ve ever played with. I kind of look at them as my graduate school.” Although the smooth jazz craze has died down after years of oversaturation, Elliot is not complaining. He sees it as just another phase in the evolution of jazz music. “In many ways, what it was back then is very different than what it became later. Even the name ‘smooth jazz’ wasn’t added until the ’90s, when it was looked at more like contemporary instrumental music with guys like David Sanborn, Bob James and Ronnie Laws. It fused jazz with R&B together. Back then when radio stations

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALPHONSE MOUZON

Jazz drummer Alphonse Mouzon appears on Saturday’s lineup.

were open to being more accepting of that, the sound was able to flourish. Unfortunately, what I think happened later on was that the sound began to get pigeonholed as a very less aggressive, watered-down type of music. That’s why you hear less of it today, because what radio did to it.” Yet in many ways, Elliot said there’s never been a more exciting time to play jazz. “I’d like to think it’s reinventing itself. I listen to guys like Trombone Shorty and others who are pushing the boundaries, remind-

ing people what made instrumental music exciting in the first place. Everything kind of comes full circle, and right now it’s getting more grassroots and less about being homogenized.” Elliot plans to bring the house down with tracks of his latest CD, “In the Zone,” plus a wealth of career-spanning material. “We always tend to rock a little harder live than on the CD. We’ll cover a lot of ground, but most of all we like to have a good time with the audience. And of course we like to funk. That’s in my DNA.”

The Bakersfield Californian Sunday, May 20, 2012

It’s Clint we’ve come to see

GALLERY: Artists ‘desire to be heard’

But star mostly MIA from wife’s TV series

help to recall life’s poignant moments. “Dreaming, like any other form of thought, has its own significance. Personally, I accept them at face value. I’m not into interpreting them to find a message. Each piece I used is a symbolic reference in my life: The horse hair is off my violin bow, the wedding dress piece also belongs to me.” Drennan works mainly out of her home space she calls the Pneumatic Studio, an intimate room she shares with friends and fellow artists. Surrounded by familiar comforts and tools within easy reach, she fills the room with music while she works. For “Dreams & Memories,” classic country became her project sound du jour. “The Carter Family, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash. It’s my particular mood right now and helped add to that essence of nostalgia in my piece. Listening to music when I’m working also helps to gauge the time I spend in my studio. I could stay in my studio for hours and miss appointments,” she said. Over the years Drennan’s work has been shown at Metro Galleries, The Foundry, Todd Madigan Gallery, Wylie & May Louise Jones Gallery, and the art walk at First Friday. As a long term goal, she plans to open her own gallery in downtown where artists of all ages, art forms and skill levels can find a place to grow and nurture their talents. “I never had one particular person I considered to be a mentor. I picked up new methods from different people along my journey. I’d like to continue to work and provide a contemporary gallery where young artists can learn in similar ways, and show off the talents of artists that don’t get a lot of opportunities.” Drennan shared some

CONTINUED FROM D1

BY MARY MCNAMARA Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — In an odd yet understandable marketing strategy, the folks behind E!’s new reality show “Mrs. Eastwood and Co.” have spent a lot of pre-premiere publicity time explaining what the show isn’t. Which is to say, Clint Eastwood. The legendary actor and director will appear in but a few episodes and then only briefly. He will not, for instance, be slamming any doors or engaging in filmed therapy sessions with his wife, Dina, around whom the show revolves (see title.) That doesn’t mean the show, premiering tonight, is not about Clint Eastwood; it most certainly is. If the principal characters — Dina, her 15-year-old daughter Morgan and her 19-year-old stepdaughter Francesca — were not related to the icon, there would be Absolutely No Reason to watch this show, which, by reality show standards, promises to be tame to the point of sedation. Ostensibly, it is a glimpse of the woman behind the man as she juggles motherhood, a menagerie of rescued animals, a budding career as a music manager and the ancillary celebrity that comes from being married to a big star. And it’s still fun to watch how the unbelievably better half live (this time in Carmel!). But it’s Clint we’ve come to see, if not in person than in spirit. By getting to know the woman he married and at least two of his children, we hope to learn more

JEFFREY THURNHER / E! ENTERTAINMENT

From left, Francesca, Dina and Morgan Eastwood.

‘Mrs. Eastwood & Company’ 10 a.m. tonight, E! Rating: TV-PG-L (may be unsuitable for young children with an advisory for coarse language)

about the man whom so many regard with something akin to awe. Here is the first thing we learn: He signed off on a reality show about his family. And there is simply no way you can watch Dina engage in what is the undeniably narcissistic enterprise of having cameras follow her around and not think all sorts of worrisome and occasionally uncharitable things about her rationale. Clearly, she is hoping that the show will bring attention to the Overtone, a South African boy band she discovered while Clint was filming “Invictus.” As she tells the cameras, she convinced her husband to bring them over so she could launch their career in America — something, one assumes, that will be made

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easier by their appearance on a reality show. And yet, in the first episode, what passes for Astory is not her foray into the music industry; it’s bellybutton rings. Morgan wants to get one and her mother refuses, in part because, as she says (and we all strain to hear), Clint (who is filming in Atlanta) will hit the roof. So Dina decides that the best thing for her to do is get a bellybutton ring herself. You know, to show Morgan how awful it is. Conveniently this calls for many shots of Dina’s flat and tan belly, and also, weirdly, the nosepiercing of Lisa, the Eastwoods’ wacky Korean housekeeper (who may wind up being the best thing about the show.) The good news about “Mrs. Eastwood and Co.” is that the participants are all articulate and literate, which is not true of many similar shows. But Dina has painted herself into a corner; a situational reality show demands drama of a certain embarrassing sort and, indeed, clips from upcoming episodes promise tears and anger and Dina declaring war on someone. The deeper she goes into that sort of thing, the more ire she will draw for exploiting her husband and sullying his name.

insight into her background and creative processes by answering a few questions for Eye Gallery readers. How long have you been an artist? I allowed myself the right to the title of “artist” after my work was shown at the Wylie & May Louise Jones Gallery in 2008. Before then, I guess I didn’t have enough courage to believe I could be an artist. In that moment however, I became ready to accept myself as an artist. I knew then that I had to at least try. What kind of art speaks to you? All art mediums speak to me, really. I truly appreciate the creative process. Once, at the Getty Museum, I was standing in front of Van Gogh’s “Irises” and I became so enamored of his expressive brush strokes and use of color that I didn’t realize how close I actually was to the piece. One of the museum attendants nearly kicked me out saying, “Stand back! You’re not allowed to be that close to the Van Gogh!” I was startled but thought to myself that if Van Gogh had been there, maybe he would have been pleased to see someone so involved with his work. I don’t just believe but know that is the hope of every artist. We desire to be heard. On that day in the museum I truly began to hear Van Gogh. Explain your process/technique on “Dreams & Memories?” I used found objects and recycled materials and incorporated them into this work. Materials I used for this piece are peacock feathers, glass, leaves, horse hair, three types of wire, glass, a fragment from a broken skateboard, Thai silk, rope, burlap, tag from a used tea bag, yarn, thread, keys, jewelry, hemp, advertisement form a 1930s magazine, acrylic transfer, and scraps I cut off my wedding dress.

What you were hoping to convey to the viewer? A day in my life is typically filled by dreams, often seeming so real that I easily confuse them for reality. There are other moments where my memories have become so distant that they begin to be more lucid and blurry like dreams, leaving me to wonder if the elements of my memories really occurred or did I just dream that they had, and vice versa. How hard is it to show your work publicly? Locally, it can be very difficult, but I believe things are changing. The downtown art scene is really alive right now, whereas before it was very much ignored by people who aren’t artists. It’s getting a lot of good publicity, getting a lot of artists to come out of the woodwork. Which work of yours are you most proud of? About a year ago I made this piece about a girl who couldn’t see how her narcissistic ways were crippling her life. To ensure she would never get hurt by anyone, she acts false, merely pretending to care about other people so that they will care for her in return. She acts in this way because she needs to be well-liked. But people see straight through her and realize how fake her behavior is so they begin to hate her. Unfortunately, she thinks so highly of herself that she never sees the huge distance people put between her. Oblivious and never understanding the loneliness she feels. Whose opinion do you value most and why? I value my husband’s opinion most because he’s very creative and tries to be honest with me especially when it comes to my work What is a non-art passion of yours? Gardening! I have the greenest thumb. I love to watch things grow.

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CHESTER: Postmaster led quiet life in Bakersfield CONTINUED FROM D1

Kimmel, a Valley Oaks student. The George Chester tombstone ceremony is a community service project arranged by seventh- and eighth-grade students at the charter school, which is a home-based education program operated under the auspices of the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office. Tom Shelton, a teacher at the school and adviser to the junior associated student body, explained that helping provide a tombstone for Chester and arranging a ceremony to honor the Bakersfield pioneer provides experience in research and public speaking, and gives students a “connection with their community, a sense of purpose.” As chairman of the project, Kimmel will lead students during the ceremony in speaking about Chester’s contributions to the community and the need for people to express their gratitude. George Chester and his brother, Julius, moved to Bakersfield around 1866, according to Rudy, who has written about many of Kern County’s pioneers in her books “Old Bakersfield Sites and Landmarks: 1875-1915;” “A Brief History of the Hay Family of Bakersfield, Calif.;” and “Granddad: Hugh A. Blodget in Early Bakersfield.” Rudy, who lives in Sonoma County, is related to Chester by marriage. George’s sister, Mary, was the stepmother of Rudy’s

PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANNE HARDISTY

Historian Lynn Hay Rudy is a member of the Hay family of Bakersfield.

maternal great-grandmother, Anna Park Blodget, an early Kern County settler. But Chester Avenue, a main thoroughfare in Bakersfield, was not named in honor of George. Rather it was his brother, Julius, who received that honor. Julius was an agent for Horatio Livermore, a businessman who bought thousands of acres of land in the new Kern County for commercial and agricultural development, explained Rudy. Julius also helped Thomas Baker survey the town, which was named Bakersfield to honor Baker. The main street was named Chester to honor Julius. “Julius was also known as the lively editor and owner of The Southern Californian,” Rudy said, noting that “Julius left the county by 1880, probably insolvent, and died in Alameda County

in 1890.” But the steady, unassuming George remained in Bakersfield. Although he lacked his brother’s entrepreneurial spirit and flair, he became the town’s postmaster when the first post office opened in the back of Livermore’s small wooden store at the corner of Chester and what would later be known as 19th Street. George was both the postmaster and the storekeeper for a while, Rudy reports, adding that “George was also involved with other projects, unfortunately none of them terribly successful.” “In 1871, he started a telegraph and stage company (to Visalia, three times a week),” Rudy’s research found. “Livermore bought this company in 1872 and hired George to move silver ingots from the desert mines via ferry to the railroad at Tipton.” After a year, the business ended. George’s effort in 1872 to operate a ferry service also was short-lived, succumbing to the competition of a better ferry built downstream. “George had acquired some lots in the town’s original plat,” said Rudy. “When his brother, Julius, built the first town hall on 17th in 1874, George was said to have sold the lot for the building to the town for $50. And, as his obituary stated, he may have given the lots for the first high school, built in 1895.” Through U.S. Census

Chester Tombstone Unveiling What: Valley Oaks Charter School students, the Hay family, the Kern County Historical Society and Union Cemetery will unveil a grave marker for George Chester, Bakersfield’s first postmaster When: 1 p.m. Thursday Where: Union Cemetery, 730 Potomac Ave. Admission: Free and open to the public

records, Rudy traced George’s quiet life, which included working as a telegraph operator, accountant and printer. “By 1900, George is 65 and lives in a rented house at 718 [Eye] St., near Forrest and Maple; he works as a watchman. He died three years later at 68 at the County Hospital,” Rudy said. Codd suspects that Chester’s grave in Union Cemetery once had a wooden marker, which over the years deteriorated. He blamed ill-advised cemetery cleanup campaigns in the 1940s and 1950s for removing the remaining hints of many wooden markers and some broken tombstones. Rudy said the Hay family will place a period-appropriate tombstone over George Chester’s grave. As tombstones were at the turn of the century, it will be a stand-up stone with simple wording.

BENHAM: Angel beheaded in heroic battle CONTINUED FROM D1

noticed a fly buzzing around the window sill. This couple, like most, do not celebrate rodents, mice or flies. The fly was active and, after missing on attempts to hand-capture it, Rudy armed himself with a broom in order to stun or perhaps even kill the fly. For a minute, and a minute is often all it takes, Rudy forgot himself and more importantly forgot that there was a cream-colored

porcelain angel in the window sill, one of many porcelain figures his wife had carefully placed through the house. In a burst of enthusiasm. Rudy pinned the fly against the window, shortening its already short life and in the backswing, knocked the angel from the window, where it tumbled into the sink. “I had beheaded the angel,” Rudy said. “It was a clean kill.” What to do? This is what

separates the men from the boys or, in this case, the older men from the younger men. “I thought about it for a couple of days,” Rudy said. “Then, I placed the angel with its head, which I remind you was severed at the neck, next to it in a prominent place where Jan couldn’t help but see it as soon as she entered the kitchen.” No explanation, no teary phone call, no note?

“No, I knew she would know as soon as she saw it what had happened,” he said. “There was nothing more to say.” Rudy declined to fix it either. Reattaching porcelain angel heads has not proved to be one of his strengths. However, it did turn out to be one of hers. When Jan returned, she saw the headless angel and soon made it whole again. The incident was not mentioned then nor since.

Sunday, May 20, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street Lifestyles editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | Email, jself@bakersfield.com

INSIDE Columnist Scott Cox was ready to hate ‘The Avengers.’ So what happened? D6

Herb Benham CALIFORNIAN COLUMNIST

Where angels, headless or not, fear to tread

friend was home alone while his wife was on a 10-day trip across the country to see family, which included the can’t-do-anything-wrong grandchildren. Like many grandchildren, they are light and sweet enough to walk on water or at least not to ruffle the waves. Home alone, in their mountain place, Rudy, like many thoughtful men, took the tack that it was better to exercise a light footprint than range through the house like a wild animal. This included cleaning after himself as he went, something that he would have done anyway if his wife were home, but certainly when she was gone, he took extra pains to keep things tidy. Sometimes the younger man, in the absence of his partner, will wait until two hours before her return to wash the dishes, mop the floor, do the laundry or replace the bottle of Worcestershire sauce that he has emptied on his steak. This flurry of activity indicates that he has had things under control from the moment she left and that order has been maintained all along. Rudy did more than that. Other than the kitchen forays, he stayed clear of rooms in the house that could be described as belonging more to her than to him. The kitchen is the kitchen and necessary unless one chooses to cook by the campfire and wash the dishes in the gully. A couple days before she was to return, Rudy was in the kitchen and Please see BENHAM / D2

These are Herb Benham’s opinions, and not necessarily The Californian’s. His column appears Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Call him at 395-7279 or write hbenham@bakersfield .com.

Eye Gallery artist Sara Drennan's “Dreams & Memories,” which incorporates found objects and recycled materials, including peacock feathers, horsehair, a fragment from a broken skateboard, Thai silk, tag from a used tea bag, an advertisement from a 1930s magazine, and scraps from the artist's wedding dress.

Don’t wake me, I’m working Dreams often the muse for mixed-media artist BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

reams are an infinite source of wonder, especially for artist Sara Drennan, who finds her dreamscapes to be a strong conduit for capturing the surreal. From the joyful feeling of floating across the sky, to the darkness experienced in nightmares, her works of mixed media are multifaceted visions of her mind. “My dreams are usually more visual than auditory,” said Drennan, 33. “Choosing colors, it all depends on the tone of the dream. Emotionally happy: orange yellow, turquoise, blue. Sad or anxiety: black, red and gray. But they’re mostly like objects or representations of objects, very vivid in color.” After being chosen for this year for The Californian’s Eye Gallery art series, Dren-

About Eye Gallery Every year, The Californian and the Bakersfield Museum of Art ask several local artists to create original works for Eye Gallery, a series that appears in the paper over the course of several weeks. The idea is to give our readers a glimpse of the amazing work being produced by the many talented artists in Kern County. We gave this year’s participants a theme — “A Day in the Life” — and several weeks to complete their work. After all the art has been featured in The Californian, a reception will take place at the museum on June 14, and everyone is invited to come out and meet the artists and appreciate in person the art’s power, richness and scale. All the works are available for purchase.

nan took to heart the idea of bridging sleep with reality. The result: “Dreams & Memories,” a combination of paints and abstract objects that, when combined, Please see GALLERY / D2

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Eye Gallery artist Sara Drennan on staying committed: "In every moment I’m ready to give up and then someone comes along and appreciates what I do."

Dining Out

Can a chain claim to be truly local? Middling Applebee’s makes its case BY PETE TITTL Contributing columnist

Inside Pete Tittl discusses a book that predicts the future of food in this week’s The Dish. See D9

pftittl@gmail.com

he mid-priced chain restaurants of America are hurting. Sales are down nationwide. Though the reasons are varied, I think part of the cause could be the increasing sales of frozen versions of several restaurants’ food in grocery stores. Wolfgang Puck got on that gravy train long ago, and, since then, Marie Callender’s

and P.F. Chang’s are just two chains that have joined the crowd on Aisle Nine. So against that dreary national backdrop, Applebee’s decided on a creative approach: deemphasize the whole chain thing and play up a local focus. Make the restaurant seem less corporate and more like a local institution, say, Luigi’s. And to reinforce that going-

local vibe, Applebee’s has spruced itself up, inside and out, with new awnings and murals featuring iconic landmarks, like the famous Bakersfield sign and the Fox Theater. On the back wall, near the kitchen, is a great CSUB/BC athletic mural that spotlights various sports. The high schools chosen to be featured now are West and Stockdale, whose campuses lie just east and south of the restaurant, though I’m sure as the only Applebee’s in town, the restaurant draws a lot of Hawks, Drillers and Patriots, too. I do like the new interior, particularly the black-and-white historical pictures on the wall.

Still, I doubt if it’s possible for the restaurant to do much more business. Whenever I drive by, weekday or weekend, it seems there are folks on the bench outside waiting for a table. We’ve seldom visited without a wait. The place does well. The food is reasonably priced, with so many items around $10, and I’m sure desserts and alcohol probably boost those check averages pretty significantly. So, atmosphere gets a solid grade. My biggest gripe is with the food, particularly the kitchen’s overreliance on MSG, which I’ve complained about in the past. Please see DINING / D9

Here lies city pioneer, and now you can find him BY DIANNE HARDISTY Contributing writer

ne of Bakersfield’s main thoroughfares is named in his family’s honor, but George Chester, Bakersfield’s first postmaster, rests in an unmarked grave in Union Cemetery. Local historian John Codd, who gives tours of the cemetery, considers it to be a darn shame that a man who contributed so much to Bakersfield’s beginnings would die in obscurity. In fact, Codd notes the slight during each and every one of his tours of Bakersfield’s oldest cemetery, the final stop for many of the city’s pioneers. It was during one of Codd’s Chester tours that historian and author Lynn Hay Rudy, a distant relative of Chester, learned that the grave lacked a tombstone. She rallied family members to buy one. And students at Valley Oaks Charter School, which is located on Chester Avenue in Bakersfield, also heard of Codd’s outrage. They vowed to give George Chester his proper recognition. Valley Oaks students, members of the Hay family, representatives of the Kern County Historical Society and Union Cemetery officials will unveil Chester’s tombstone during a ceremony at 1 p.m. Thursday at the cemetery on Potomac Avenue. “If someone gives that much to our community, they deserve to be recognized,” said Austin Please see CHESTER / D2

Thursday, May 24, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

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FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Jon Whitener, left, and his father, James, are owners of the new downtown club On the Rocks, which will welcome customers with a soft opening today. Drinks will be served, but the kitchen won’t be open until next week.

Rocks ready to roll: Downtown venue opens Drinks, food, live music return to Fishlips’ old site BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he symphony of power saws, hammers and drills that’s been playing non-stop for months will make way for a more melodious sound this weekend when the building that formerly housed rockin’ venue Fishlips once again reverberates with music. On the Rocks Bar & Grill, downtown’s newest nightspot, will welcome customers with a soft opening this afternoon. The owners, father-and-son team James and Jon Whitener, have been busy for five months working toward their goal of opening before the arrival of summer. The weekend’s opening is the culmination of an ambitious project to combine their adjoining Riverwalk Café with a full dinner menu, live entertainment and late-night partying inside one multiuse venue. “We’re ready to start having fun,” said James Whitener, 48. “We know people have been waiting for us, but it all came down to do we hurry up and do an OK job or do we wait and do a great job? I really want everyone to be proud.”

On The Rocks Bar & Grill 1517 18th St. 327-7685 Hours: 3 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., Monday through Saturday

The Whiteners hatched the idea of expanding downtown just months after opening the original Riverwalk Cafe, on Stockdale Highway, in 2010. “We knew just one was not going to be enough,” the elder Whitener said. “My passion has always been cooking, but I also loved the idea of a nightclub. It was just a matter of getting the ideas out of my head and on the canvas. A lot of people said I was crazy to do this. I kept asking myself, ‘Can I make this work?’ Then after a few months when the changes were showing, I’d have 20 to 30 people a day walking up saying, ‘I can’t believe it looks like this.’ Lots of positive feedback after I gave them a tour of the progress.”

Drinks and vibe There are few remnants left of the former tenant. The exterior of the building has been painted and a snazzy sign installed. Once inside, it’s striking how much remodeling has been done since January, a month after the Whiteners took ownership. During a tour Monday, work was still

being done on some back areas of the club but inside the main hall, the new music stage stood ready for use. Located in the northeast corner, the carpeted stage measures 19 feet wide and 16 feet front to back, and features a drum riser and rear sound-absorbing panels. The space is large enough for a standard four- to five-piece ensemble, and some strategic maneuvering could accommodate larger groups. There were no tables arranged on the dance floor during our visit, but chairs were stacked near the retractable wall separating the Riverwalk Café and the club. For events that require extra room, the wall will be opened for a combined capacity of 299. Wide-screen televisions hang along the walls and will be used to showcase the live entertainment, courtesy of the two cameras placed near the martini-shaped beams in front of the stage. At other times, the screens will be tuned to sporting events. At the center of it all is the glitzy, fully stocked bar. Designed with a metropolitan flair, the illuminated outer section features the club’s logo, designed by Bakersfield artist and musician Dane Forst. The club’s unique blue color was developed following a lengthy visit to the local Dunn-Edwards Paints. Please see ROCKS / 28

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Thursday, May 24, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

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BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

hat is it about the songs of Brit pop singer Morrissey and his former band, The Smiths, that keeps faithful listeners in peculiar states of fan worship? Could it be just the music — a mix of pop, folk, rock and country with humorously dramatic lyrics about depression, doomed relationships, and the pain of home life? Or maybe it’s the dark baritone and romantic falsetto of dapper singer Morrissey, who returns to Rabobank Theater on Friday. When it comes to extreme fandom, few are as daring as Noelia Citialin, who, during Morrissey’s last Bakersfield appearance in 2007, went to great lengths to get up close and personal with her idol, onstage. “In his videos there is always someone jumping up onstage giving him flowers and hugs. When I found out he was coming to my town, right then I had it set in my mind I was going to do the same.” The pint-sized Citialin, 37, recruited the help of her then-boyfriend to play a key role in helping to execute her amorous attack, from her seat at the far reaches of the venue. “I gave my purse to my friends, and told Jose it was time. He said, ‘OK, let’s go,’ she recalled. “I figured we’d better try towards the end of the show, just in case. He was the decoy for security, but there was only so far he could go. I kept moving closer. When I got near the stage, I told some random guy what I wanted to do and if he could please give me a push when I said go. You have to have some serious adrenaline, because you don’t know what’s gonna happen. I ran over and got to hug Morrissey. I had no intention of kissing him, I just wanted to give him a hug. I was surprised security just put me back out in the audience.” That precious moment for Citialin is literally unforgettable, considering she and the rest of the world can relive it on YouTube. For local fan Marisol Arias, 38, Morrissey’s music offers an opportunity to recall simpler times. “Listening to The Smiths and Morrissey just brings back memories of hanging out with my friends from high school in the ’90s. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we used to go to house parties all the time wearing our Dickies, halter tops, and Doc Martens. Their music was always playing. For us it was a different sound than what many of our parents were listening to, which was a lot of Spanish music. They used to think it was weird.” This will be Arias’ second time catching the singer live and, believe it or not, only her third major concert.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSE CITIALIN

Noelia Citialin managed to get onstage with her idol once. Why not again?

Morrissey When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Admission: $64.50 to $79.50 Information: 852-7777 or Ticketmaster.com

Like so many other hardcore fans, she personalizes her admiration for the singer through fashion accessories, including her homemade Morrissey hair clips, which she sells through her online store, High Drama Boutique. “I never get tired of his music, but my husband is. My kids always say, ‘Do you have to put Morrissey on again?’ My favorite songs are ‘Suedehead,’ ‘Big Mouth Strikes Again’ and ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.’ I’ll be taking a friend who couldn’t make it to the last show I went to in November.” Citialin has been to several Morrissey shows, though it’s the one she missed that still haunts her. “I’ve been a fan since 1987, when they were just about to end. I’ve seen him six times on solo tours. It should have been seven times, but my mom grounded me once, even after my friends drove all the way from Los Angeles to pick me up. Worse ground-

ALEX HORVATH / THE CALIFORNIAN

Devoted Morrissey fan Marisol Arias is ready for the upcoming concert at Rabobank Theater.

ing ever,” said Citialin, who boasts a large collection of memorabilia and hard-to-find import releases by the singer. On Friday she plans on attending the concert once again with Jose, who’s now her husband. So, can we expect to see Citialin fly across the stage? “I have every intention of trying again. Hopefully someone won’t beat me this time and ruin it,” she laughed.

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, May 24, 2012

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FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

“I want a place where you can be yourself,” said Jon Whitener, above, who co-owns On the Rocks with his dad, James Whitener. ROCKS: CONTINUED FROM 21

Bakersfield Smile Design (661) 323-8585 1919 G. Street Bakersfield CA, 93301 www.BakersfieldSmileDesign.com Dr. Krauss, his wife and their wonderful children.

“Every small detail was done and redone until it was right,” James Whitener said. “The special paint mix is even called On the Rocks blue. If you’re gonna have a place like this, you have to have the wow factor. A lot of my inspiration comes from Vegas and Mexico nightclubs I’ve visited over the years.” Taking a break from his new-hire orientation, bar manager and musician Nate Antwine, 30, showed off the bar’s specialty drink menu, featuring original mixes with names like the Miami Vice, the Long John Island, the Chuck Norris — all $8 — and the Crème Brulee Martini, $7. “I’m really happy to be a part of something new,” Antwine said. “We have some really excited, personable employees ready to serve. I’ve learned from other venues I’ve worked at over the years, so when we don’t have bands, we’ll create a lounge feel where you can relax.” As the youngest member of the team, co-owner Jon Whitener, 25, who oversees much of Riverwalk Café’s daily business, is looking forward to creating an ambience fit for people of all walks of life. “I want a place where you can be yourself. I like wearing shorts and T-shirts, that’s me. You can also dress up if you like, have a great meal, and enjoy a great live show. Our city has a lot of people. We’ll be offering another option to have a good time.” Among the other upgrades are new bathrooms, decorative lights in the shape of ice cubes throughout, the downstairs green room and VIP section still under construction, which will offer wine storage, and the front and rear fenced patio areas, where patrons can enjoy beverages and meals. As I continued my stroll in an around the venue, James Whitener pointed out more plans, including free cab rides for patrons who’ve had too much to drink and safe overnight parking on the property’s west lot. “We’d like to give people extra incentive to come on out. If I have to make a little less money for you to have fun, that’s just fine,” the elder Whitener said. Former Fishlips co-owner Shawna Haddad-Byers, who recently met James Whitener, has yet to revisit her old stomping grounds but had only good things to say about her new business neighbors.

“He put a lot of love in that place. He’s a lovely man and I wish them the best of luck. Welcome to the neighborhood,” she said adding that her new lounge, Muertos, located in Wall Street Alley, will be opening for a business in a few weeks.

What’s for dinner? The On the Rocks kitchen, which functions separately from Riverwalk Café, will be serving dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday beginning next week, with appetizers continuing later into the late night, depending on demand. The menu features American cuisine with a decidely down-home spin, courtesy of James Whitener, who will be manning the grill with former R.J.’s chef Dan Phillips. “Its Southern-style cooking with a twist,” said James Whitener. “I’m a good ol’ boy that loves to cook.” The 11 appetizers range from $6.95 to $10.95, and there are a variety of sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads on the menu. Entrees start at $10.95 for the beerbattered fish and chips, and go to $24.95 for the 16-ounce rib-eye. A kids menu is available, with all items priced at $6.95, and there are five items for dessert, including pina colada cake ($5.95) and fudge cake brownie sundae ($5.95), which uses Dewar’s vanilla ice cream. Bakersfield promoter Tim Gardea is handling booking and promotion for the venue. The owners said outside promoters are welcome to plan shows when there are openings, and bands are encouraged to drop off demos for booking consideration. The state-of-the art in-house system was designed by Pacific West Sound of Bakersfield. Children are welcome at the restaurant, though some concerts are expected to have age restrictions. “We still have to get a feel for what styles of music we’ll be comfortable with, and we’ll try to consider everything that comes in,” said James Whitener. “I want everyone to have a chance to play.” There is no entertainment scheduled tonight but on Friday the club will host local bands The Bird Channel, Crooked Folk and DJ Josex, beginning at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, Vanity Avenue and The Aviators will appear at 9 p.m. For more information on upcoming shows, visit the On The Rocks Facebook page or iloveontherocks.com, which is coming soon.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, May 31, 2012

Eye Street

Menudo: a culture’s comfort food Annual contest bursting with flavor, family fun BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

reparing a prize-winning batch of menudo is something many cooks take to heart — and stomach. Fans of the popular Mexican soup will have the opportunity to test variations on the legendary dish Sunday at the Latino Food Festival and 14th annual Menudo Cook-Off at the Kern County Fairgrounds. The event is presented by the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Returning to the competition armed with their personalized cooking techniques are teammates Judi Martin and Joaquina Ramirez, who took second place last year. “I actually learned how to make menudo from a family friend years ago,” Martin said. “I’ve just changed it up as the years go on. It’s all about getting the right flavoring.” Every cook needs an assistant to help provide input on what could potentially be the big winner. For Martin, it’s Ramirez, whom she affectionally calls “the mad spicer.” “I make sure it has the flavors it needs to have,” Ramirez said. “If you don’t cook the meat right, you’re gonna have a mess. Judi’s got the right touch.” Traditionally made from pig and beef tripe, along with a chile base and hominy, menudo is historically known as a family food meant to feed large groups of people. It’s relatively inexpensive, easy to make

growing. “We had a record-breaking 10,000 people at the fairgrounds last year and because of that, the setup will be a little different this time around. We added more ticket and beverage locations due to overcrowding.” There are 70 total contestants confirmed for Sunday, up from 60 last year, Tamsi said. Cash prizes of up to $500 are awarded to the best soup, and there are awards for best decorated booth as well. Preparations for the event begin eight months in advance under the direction of a committee and more than 100 volunteers. On the day of competition, participants are given strict rules to follow. Once they’re signed in and the cooking commences, local celebrity judges await their samples for tasting. “It will still have the traditional festival vibe, but we’ll just try to use more of the wide open spaces at the fairgrounds to ensure everyone has room to move and have fun. If you have not tasted menudo or want to know what all the rage is about, this is a perfect time to try it out.” Headlining this year’s entertainment is Mariachi San Marcos, local Latin ska band Mento Buru (full disclosure: I’m in the band), Los Angeles R&B groups Hind Site and The Company Band, and legendary funk band War. “It was a unanimous decision amongst the committee to get War. They’re a perfect fit for our crowd and everyone knows the theme of the George Lopez show, ‘Low Rider.’ We are all excited to have them in Bakersfield once again,” Tamsi said. If menudo is not to your liking, there will be a variety of food vendors, or you can always take a chance at the popular jalapeno-eating contest in front of the

Latino Food Festival and 14th Annual Menudo Cook-off When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Where: Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 So. P St. Admission: $8 advance, $10 at the gate; children under 5 are free. Information: 633-5495 or kchcc.org

and prepared in a variety of ways. For some, it’s an acquired taste; for others a challenge at every attempt. “To me, once you get the meat cooking and you add the chiles, there’s not much you can do,” Ramirez said. “Once it’s in the pot, it’s the spices that work the magic. You gotta put the spices to make the chile taste right, and not just hot.” This will be the fourth time the two have participated in the competition. In 2006, they also took home the runner-up trophy and both times have donated their prize money to the American Cancer Society Kid’s Club through the Bakersfield Raider Booster Club, which they represent at the competition. “Always the bridesmaids, never the brides at the cook-off,” said Martin, laughing. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s a family affair. My father loves helping me pass out the samplers. Last year, we left a little early, just before they were giving the awards. This time I am staying until they have to physically force me out of there. We enjoy raising money for the kids, so hopefully we win again.” Chamber president Jay Tamsi said the annual cook-off is the group’s largest fundraiser of the year, and it just keeps

READING C

F O R M E R LY PA C I F I C T H E AT R E S

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Rosie Cruz adds the secret sauce as husband, Raymond, stirs the Cantina De Los Grandes menudo at the Latino Food Festival and Menudo Cook-off in 2010.

Budweiser Pavilion stage in the middle of the afternoon. For the little ones, the children’s area has been expanded with more bounce houses, rock-wall climbing, facepainting, treasure hunts, give-a-ways and games. Tamsi expects another full house of smiling faces. “Sunday is a family day. We want everyone to come and enjoy our festival. It’s a day for fun, culture and music.” The Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is an organization that promotes Hispanic and minority-owned businesses. Founded in 1985, it now has more than 400 members and is affiliated with both the California and United States chambers of commerce.

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, May 31, 2012

Eye Street

Lisa Lisa still has a cult following ’80s freestyle star remains thankful for fans’ appreciation BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF EXPOSE

e prepared to dust off your old Z. Cavaricci pants, Jelly sandals and can of pink Aqua Net hair spray when Art Laboe’s Freestyle Jam grooves into the Rabobank Arena on Friday. A traveling cavalcade of stars from the ’80s, an era that helped popularize drumheavy electronic dance music, the show features acts like Lisa Lisa, whose hits include “All Cried Out,” “I Wonder If I Take You Home” and “Lost in Emotion.” Still going strong as one of the genre’s most recognizable figures, Lisa “Lisa Lisa” Velez, who burst out of the gritty Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York, still embraces her title as a dance diva. “I’m more than flattered,” said Velez, 46, during a recent phone interview from her home in Staten Island. “I don’t think words can explain how I feel when people do remakes of my songs or splice it and dice it. I’m just honored that they think about it, that I’m in their beautiful music mind archive. I love that and am so thankful.” Assembled by R&B group and production team Full Force in 1984, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam — Alex “Spanador” Moseley and Mike Hughes — bridged the urban sounds of the Big Apple with the high-energy rhythms of Miami. Dubbed “freestyle” because of its popularity among underground breakdance crews, it permeated overseas clubs for a year before finally hitting back on the mainland.

Expose also appears during Friday’s Freestyle Explosion.

Art Laboe Freestyle Explosion Who: Lisa Lisa, Stevie B, Expose, Debbie Deb, Shannon, Trinere, Connie and Stacey Q When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Admission: $27.50 advance or $37.50 plus service charges Information: 852-7777 or ticketmaster.com PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA LISA

Singer Lisa Lisa appears during Friday’s Freestyle Explosion at Rabobank Convention Center.

“It took us awhile to break here,” Velez recalled. “We were put on a compilation with groups like ours out in Europe and when they brought it here, they thought we were European. Everyone wanted to find out more about us. I realized we had finally made it when I was working at Benetton folding sweaters, and I heard ‘I Wonder If I Take You Home’ on the radio. I’m standing there, then I hear a recognizable voice. My girlfriend calls me up and we went crazy. I was still a teenager just wanting to have fun.”

Following her debut, Velez burst through to the majors, with a series of high-profile appearances in music videos and on television, not to mention a trio of platinum albums. The group disbanded in 1991 so that Velez could pursue a solo career. “I hear so many stories from people. The one I hear the most is from the females, ‘You helped me through my breakup with your song, ‘All Cried Out.’ You kept me alive and moving.’ Well, whatever I can do to help is cool with me, because when we were doing the song, I was going through the same thing. I was 13 years old, so what the hell did I know? But we all universally go through the same first breakup experience.”

Strike up the bands this summer BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he Silver Creek Music Fest and Marketplace Concerts by the Fountain are two of Bakersfield’s most popular summertime events, providing the family with a fun — and free — opportunity to get out and cut a rug. Held every Tuesday and Thursday from June through August, the music showcases feature local bands specializing in everything from rock and blues, Celtic, reggae, old school and beyond. Take your pick, put together a picnic and relax. The Silver Creek Music Fest kicks off Tues-

day with the Latin ska sounds of Mento Buru (in the interest of full disclosure, I’m a member of the band). The lush, spacious park at Silver Creek has plenty of room for a blanket or lawn chair. Beckoning to the kids is the nearby playground, which is within view of the concrete stage by the basketball courts. If you’re driving to the park, there are limited parking spaces, but there’s plenty of room on the street. The annual Marketplace Concerts by the Fountain series has become a summer institution in Bakersfield. Held at the middle of the outdoor shopping cen-

ter’s main court, the venue is surrounded by restaurants and places to grab last-minute snacks and beverages. The giant water fountain is turned off during the shows, so you don’t have to worry about obstructed views or noise. Big band jazzy ensemble Chesterfield King will provide this season’s opening downbeat on June 7. Every Thursday thereafter, listeners will be treated to even more eclectic fare suitable for cutting up the warm concrete or just sippin’ sweet tea. If you’ve never attended one of these popular concerts, early arrival is recommended. There are

some grassy spots in and around the staging area where you can spread out a blanket, or you can try and grab a seat at the seating area before it fills up. I recommend bringing both a blanket and fold-out chair in your car, just in case. All ages are welcome, but there are no designated play areas for the kids to frolic on their own. Finding a parking spot can be tricky, since the lot is shared with many businesses, but with a little patience and planning you should be tapping your toes in no time while you munch on some Chinese takeaway or pizza pie under the stars.

Though she’s not as busy as she was in her heyday, Velez’s career has never truly stalled. After stepping away from the music spotlight, she explored acting, landing roles on Nickelodeon’s “Taina,” “Law & Order” and a series of independent films that made the festival rounds. Velez, who attempted a comeback three years ago with the CD, “Life ’n Love,” still sees influence of the freestyle sound she helped pioneer on today’s music. “A lot of today’s dance music is based on ours. People are taking bits and pieces of our music and sometimes just retaking or remaking the whole song. Everything goes in circles, and I think music is the biggest circle we’ve all been in.” The results of that musical circle are the streams of fan mail she continues to receive. “The craziest and weirdest ones are the ones I get from inmates. They’re like, ‘Please don’t worry; I’m a better person now. And then, there comes the marriage proposal. Oh gosh, I think I’ve gotten over a billion of those. It’s funny. I’m like, ‘You don’t even know me. All I did was sing a song?’” Also appearing on Friday’s bill are fellow freestyle artists Stevie B, Expose, Debbie Deb, Shannon, Trinere, Connie and Stacey Q.

SUMMER CONCERTS band/jazz) June 14: Foster Campbell & 7011 Harris Road; shows start at 7 p.m. Information: Friends (R&B/classic rock) 326-3866 June 21: The G-Six Band (soul) June 5: Mento Buru (Latin/ska/reggae) June 28: A.K.A. (Top 40) June 12: Noah Claunch Band July 5: Thee Majestics (old (country) school and Latin) June 19: Banshee in the July 12: Soulajar (jazz, funk) Kitchen (Celtic) July 19: Good Question June 26: Bunky Spurling band (country rock) (blues) July 26: 3 Guys Playin’ The July 3 Kris Tiner Quartet Blues (blues) (jazz) Aug. 2: Fatt Daddy Blues July 10: Thee Majestics (old Band (blues) school) Aug. 9: Triple Threat (classic Marketplace Concerts by rock) the Fountain Aug. 16: The Mike Montano Band (blues rock) 9000 Ming Ave.; shows start at 7 p.m. Information: Aug. 23: Fatt Katt and the themarketplacebakersVon Zippers (rockabilly) field.com Aug. 30: Mento Buru June 7: Chesterfield King (big (Latin/ska/reggae)

Silver Creek Music Fest

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, May 31, 2012

Eye Street

Lisa Lisa still has a cult following ’80s freestyle star remains thankful for fans’ appreciation BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF EXPOSE

Expose also appears during Friday’s Freestyle Explosion.

Singer Lisa Lisa appears during Friday’s Freestyle Explosion at Rabobank Convention Center.

Strike up the bands this summer BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

Silver Creek Music Fest

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, June 7, 2012

Eye Street

SUMMER DAY CAMP 5 - ONE WEEK SESSIONS

FOR KIDS AGES 8 THROUGH 12

July 9th – August 10th 9am – 4pm Camp Activities: Shelter Care for Pets Obedience Training Grooming Activities & Much More PHOTO BY MICHAEL LOPEZ

Cost: $175.00 for week

Bakersfield percussionist Louie Cruz Beltran appears in the lineup at this year’s Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl on June 16.

Registration now open and available at www.bakersfieldspca.org or call 323-8353 ext. 2

Boom! Can’t beat this gig Percussionist Beltran to play big-time jazz festival in LA BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

18th Street

Chester

Eye Street

19th Street

It’s been a long and winding road of rhythm for Louie Cruz Beltran, who’s worked the restaurant and latenight club circuit for years to make a living. But then he got the call of a lifetime recently to perform at the prestigious 34th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl on June 16, and the Bakersfield percussionist plans to take full advantage of the career exposure the gig offers. “My manager was doing some financial stuff for a rehearsal studio in Burbank. She just walked up and goes, ‘Guess what?’ I said, ‘What?’ She said, ‘You’re doing the Playboy Jazz Festival.’ I said, ‘Cool, man … All right.’ I canceled rehearsal and went partying,” Cruz recalled during a recent phone interview in Bakersfield. Beltran, who commutes frequently between his homes in Bakersfield and Los Angeles, is a familiar face to local music lovers. His playing days reach back to the ’70s, when he fronted several funk and Latin groups in the area. In the decades since, his fiery drum-

34th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival When: 3 p.m. June 16 and 17 Where: Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles Tickets: $20 to $160, plus service charge Information: playboyjazzfestival.com

ming and smooth vocal stylings have been in demand alongside pop singer Rita Coolidge, R&B/disco group DeBlanc in France and many others. He continues writing, performing and recording, mostly in Southern California, where he’s built an impressive following. “There’s only so many clubs to play in Bakersfield. It took three to four years to work my way into Los Angeles, and that’s when people started calling me more for shows. It’s fate mixed with a resume for them to book you,” he said. “Especially for the Playboy Jazz Festival. You have to stay conscious to the fact that as a professional musician, all of these avenues are roads to the next level.” Beltran has three full-length CD releases to his credit, including his latest, “Paint the Rhythm.” He

describes the project, featuring 12 tracks of originals mixed with reinterpretations of some of his favorite songs, as the culmination of his ongoing evolution and experiences. He assembled some well-known players in the Southern California and coastal jazz scene he’s befriended over the years to back him in the studio: pianist Joe Rotondi, saxophonist Justo Almario, plus notable guests like saxophonist Hubert Laws, acclaimed percussionists Poncho Sanchez and Giovanni Hidalgo, drummer Peter Michael Escovedo, bassist Abraham Laboriel, and on backing vocals he recruited brother Robert — whom many know as Commander Chakotay from the “Star Trek: Voyager” TV series. “When you finally have an opportunity to do a project like this, you wanna make sure you work up to it and get the army together. I’d always had this dream of getting guys like Poncho and Giovanni together to do some percussion. I’m a percussionist by nature — that’s what I do. These two guys are innovators for me. To actually record with them. …One is to dream, the other thing is to wake up and do it,” said Beltran. “To have those guys in the studio, you know you’re going to have something spePlease turn to page 35

Thursday, June 7, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Bloody Marys and sausages on tap at Amestoy’s Sunday is a day of recovery — from your work week or your weekend. If you’re overcoming the latter, spice things up at Amestoy’s on the Hill for its first Bloody Mary & Sausage Fest. Mixologists, amateur and master, will shake things up for a chance for top honors, a commemorative plaque and naming right for the winning drink, which will appear on the bar’s menu for a year. Known for its popular chile verde cookoff, Amestoy’s was ready to dish up a new contest, said manager Mike Miller. “We’re just trying to create another event. This is a simple thing to do,” Miller

said. “They need to bring their mix. I’m providing them with the bottle of Absolut vodka,” which is helping promote the event. As of Monday, 11 competitors had entered but Miller is aiming for 20. Hopefuls have until Friday to call the bar to sign up. If you’re more interested in sitting at a

bar than behind it, spectators are encouraged. For $10, guests can enjoy the sounds of classic rock band Mystic Red and get a sample cup to judge for themselves. “They can get (small) samples. Sipping like at a wine tasting, get an idea of what everybody’s tastes like.” Sausage — 200 pounds! — also tops the menu, with meats from Wood-Dale Market and Prime Cut set for the grill. Among the eight varieties being sliced up for the crowd are jalapeno cheddar, beer brat, Cajun spice and two mild ones. For those thinking this contest encroaches on Prime Cut’s own bloody Mary contest, Miller had it covered. “One reason I’m having it now is I don’t

Continued from page 34 cial. They’re all good carpenters who know how to build a house of music.” Another big name that stands out in the credits is legendary Cuban saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera, who assisted with an arrangement of the Cal Tjader Latin jazz standard, “Soul Sauce (Guachi Guaro.)” Beltran described D’Rivera’s creative input as that of a wise sage. “Paquito doesn’t have to say much. He just says to add this horn line and spice it up,” Beltran recalled. “When you work with cats of this caliber, one of the things I noticed is that they really don’t give you advice; they see it as your baby. They walk in and work as part of the overall picture. Bottom line is, it’s your band. You can hear people talk and hear the thumbs up. There was complete respect for my music and compositions.” “Paint the Rhythm” is an accessible and consistently entertaining collection of

songs that harkens back to ’70s-era crossover offerings of Latin rock and jazz percussion icons Coke Escovedo and Willie Bobo. Opening with the original cha-cha “Chili Caliente,” the album draws listeners in by the boogaloo-inspired piano intro and convinces them to stick around for the rest of the party with fun vocals by Beltran, who even throws in a kitschy “shimmy shimmy cocoa pop.” Next up is a silky mid-tempo cover of Burt Bacharach’s “The Look of Love,” also sung by Beltran, who adds a cool, soulful touch to the lounge classic. The tempos pick up from there with the title track, more catchy originals and covers from Santana and Tito Puente. Some are faithful to the original arrangements, others offer new touches, heavily leaning toward traditional Afro-Cuban stylings. “I’ve always wanted to play timbales on Tito Puente’s ‘Ran Kan Kan.’ To have it

recorded in the studio with a full horn section was unbelievable. My song ‘Rumba Chula’ was a song I wrote about 10 years ago. I also had to pay tribute to my Chicano brother, Carlos Santana, because, wow, what an influence he was with many musicians and understanding the crossover concept. I didn’t want to veer too much away from my vision of keeping the Latin/Afro-Cuban percussion in and not bring in a drum set for our version of ‘Black Magic Woman.’” Beltran is never shy about sharing life anecdotes and, in conversation, is always full of wit. That type of positive energy resonates throughout. Behind the congas and timbales, he shines when it’s his turn to solo. And, like his influence, Poncho Sanchez, who helped introduce new fans to Latin jazz, Beltran should have no problem doing the same with “Paint the Rhythm.”

BY STEFANI DIAS Californian assistant lifestyles editor sdias@bakersfield.com

Bloody Mary & Sausage Fest When: 11:30 a.m. Sunday Where: Amestoy’s, 2303 River Blvd. Cost: $10; $40 to compete Information: 871-2303

want to compete with Merv (Crist),” who holds his restaurant’s battle in October. Selected by a panel of judges in a blind tasting, the top drink, which the winner is allowed to name, will appear on Amestoy’s menu for a year. But don’t expect Miller to try it. “Tomato juice, I can’t stand it. I was sick when I was a little kid and this medicine I couldn’t get it down. The doctor said to mix it with tomato juice. I did that for about six months. Now I want nothing to do with it.” Regardless, those recovering from a long weekend will be able to enjoy the libation on future Sundays with a hearty brunch of eggs, meat and biscuits and gravy, which is free with purchase of a drink.

Beltran said he appreciates all the support he’s received from his hometown on his Playboy Jazz Festival honor, with special shout-outs to his patient wife, Christina, and loving mother, Aurelia. “This is a great thing. I really feel that I have my hometown with me. It’s wonderful to have a great relationship like that. It’s nice to go with friends and family in your heart. We all do it together. I carry my roots with me no matter where I go, right here in my corazon.” Also appearing with Beltran on June 16 are the Christian McBride Big Band, Boney James, Ozomatli, Sheila E., Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, The Soul Rebels, Global Gumbo All Stars, Cos of Good Music, The LAUSD/Beyond the Bell All City Jazz Band, and master of ceremonies Bill Cosby. The June 17 line-up features Ramsey Lewis Electric Band, Robin Thicke, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Keb’ Mo’, Terri Lyne Carrington’s Mosaic Project, and more.

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, June 14, 2012

Eye Street

Kristofferson: Still so much to say Singer/actor/activist pays tribute to UFW founder

Kris Kristofferson and Los Lobos When: 8 p.m. Tuesday Where: Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Admission: $25 to $100 plus service charge Information: 324-1369 or vallitix.com

BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

rownsville, Texas, might be a geographical boundary between two countries, but cultural lines in the city that lies on the banks of the Rio Grande are not so clearly defined. Or at least that was the case for Kris Kristofferson and Cesar Chavez, who met there as young men, forging what would become a lifelong friendship. Years after the two blazed their own trails — Kristofferson in music and movies and Chavez as the founder of the United Farm Workers union — the performer has agreed to pay homage to his late friend with a series of concerts celebrating the 50th anniversary of the UFW. The tour rolls into the Fox on Tuesday. “I’ve been working with them between 30 to 40 years,” said Kristofferson during a recent phone interview of his affiliation with the UFW. “Growing up in Brownsville, I spoke Spanish before I spoke English, and identified with the Mexicans. I can remember most of the workers down there, a lot of ’em just swam the river comin’ over. Then later, when Cesar Chavez asked me to do some work for them, I was anxious to do it.” A little hazy on their first meeting in Brownsville, Kristofferson said age has stolen many of his earliest memories of Chavez, but after some brief pauses, he was able to gather a few.

ZUMA PRESS

Kris Kristofferson performs at the Tampa Theatre in Florida in 2011.

“I have vague memories. It was the early ’70s and I had just started performing myself. I must have been singing some Mexican songs and he heard me and asked if I could sing for some of their functions.” At age 75, Kristofferson — a rare liberal voice in country music — remains as outspoken as ever. His activism developed when he was young, traveling and living in various parts of the country as the son of a U.S. Air Force officer. Witnessing life struggles in every part of the world, Kristofferson said the plight of the farmworker has always resonated with him and ultimately convinced him to get involved. “I’ve taken some heat over the years for some of my beliefs, but it’s never stopped me. I’ve had some people who’ve voiced objections to stands I was making on different military things we’d been involved

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in. It’s never stopped me from doing anything.” When he’s not championing social causes, the gravelly voiced Kristofferson boasts one of the most colorful entertainment careers around, as a universally revered songwriter/singer and busy actor. He’s written such classics as “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” and has starred in a number of films, including “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,” “A Star is Born,” “Blade” and “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.” Current projects include his latest CD, “Closer to the Bone,” and the film “Deadfall,” co-starring Sissy Spacek and Eric Bana. Though it would be difficult for most to isolate a career highlight from such an extensive resume, Kristofferson said he cherished the time he spent working with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash in the country supergroup The Highwaymen. “I’m really kind of amazed when I reflect on the people I have been close to that were my heroes, like Johnny Cash and Waylon and Willie. Those guys, who I respected so much, have turned out to be really my closest friends. It’s been a great life.”

Another icon with whom Kristofferson has spent time recently is Merle Haggard. The two have played several shows together and received raves in October, when they packed the Greek Theater in Hollywood. Though most would call the two men artistic peers, Kristofferson doesn’t see it that way. “As an artist there’s no comparison between the two of us. Merle was a hero of mine before I ever met him, and ever since I met him he’s been one of my closest friends. ... Merle, I think, is like Hank Williams or Woody Guthrie. He’s just one of the classic people of our kind of music. “I was surprised when I first got to know Merle, to find out how broad-minded the guy was who wrote ‘Okie From Muskogee’ and that we really were more alike than we were different. I think we both have so much respect for each other, but also we just plain get along.” Before politely excusing himself to tend to another round of media interviews, Kristofferson ended the conversation by looking back on what he calls the improbable good fortune that emerged time and again during his full life. “I am just real grateful that given the natural tools that I got, I’m pretty amazed that I’ve been able to do all these things and I just feel grateful. I hate to get into it too deeply — I might jinx it. But, so far I just look at it all with wonder.” Also scheduled to appear Tuesday are Los Lobos and comedian Gilbert Esquivel. Upcoming UFW benefits will feature Kristofferson along with Latin artists Ozomatli, Little Joe, Mariachi Divas, Nydia Rojas with Trio Ellas and Los Tex-Maniacs featuring Mingo Saldivar.

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, June 14, 2012

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“The Pianist” by Eye Gallery artist Deon Bell. “Music has always fascinated me, the musician even more so,” Bell said of his inspiration. FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Thursday, June 14, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street “There is no such thing as a failure in art. I have projects that I’ve been thinking about for years and years, but I haven’t put them on canvas yet.” — Deon Bell, Eye Gallery artist

Capturing music in acrylic Artist weaves fascination for musicians into work BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he urban vibes resonating from the works of artist Deon Bell are like street symphonies from a favorite classic mix tape. Layered with music and soul-stirring personality, his elongated figures sway along the canvas in perfect sequence. It’s a seamless combination of cultural beauty that goes deep, bridging the underground with the surface of the contemporary world of art. “This is just who I am,” said Bell, 39. “Some people call it outsider art, or underground. To me art is art, unless you’re comparing it to certain commercial types people may be used to seeing in particular galleries. You paint to express something and to enjoy it, not to see where you are going to fit in.” Bell’s profile in the downtown art scene is that of both creative visionary and arts activist. Calm and soft-spoken, he’s as cool in person as his works of art. That easygoing, personable flair is exhibited throughout his Eye Gallery painting, “The Pianist.” “I’m a late-night painter by nature. I usually like to start about 10 p.m. and go until the early morning. I prefer garages and basements. I don’t like to paint in a house or bedroom. I like being secluded with a little bit of wine to loosen me up. When I start, I listen to music of almost every kind of style, but mostly hip-hop, jazz and alternative depending on the mood — cityscapes or political. My longest paintings will last about four to six hours, usually for my figurative work. When I’m creating the composition, sometimes I’ll change things as I go along, but if it’s feeling right, I paint straight through until it’s done.” For “The Pianist,” Bell said he took time before heading to the canvas, allowing a different twist to ring through the ivory keys of his subject, a faceless musician in deep concentration. Brought to life with acrylic paints, its dimensions are 25 inches wide by 32 inches high. “I didn’t paint what I initially had in mind. I took the safe route on this one. In this piece, I want to convey my love for music. Although I’ve been told and do realize that I can pick up on instruments faster than most people, I’m not yet a musician — not at all. But music has always fascinated me, the musician even more so.” Bell’s work has been seen in many Bakersfield galleries including The Foundry, the Reiter Gallery, NXCaffe, Metro Galleries, downtown during the First Friday art walk, and will soon be seen at The

Eye Gallery reception

About Eye Gallery

When: 6 tonight Where: Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 R St. Admission: $10; free to museum members Information: 323-7219

Every year, The Californian and the Bakersfield Museum of Art ask several local artists to create original works for Eye Gallery, whose last submission for 2012 appears today. We gave this year’s participants a theme — “A Day in the Life” — and several weeks to complete their work. A reception featuring all of this year’s featured art submissions will take place at the museum tonight, and everyone is invited to come out and meet the artists and appreciate in person the art’s power, richness and scale. All the works are available for purchase.

Padre Hotel. Recalling his experiences running The Basement art gallery, which had a brief but influential run downtown, Bell said there are times when his artistic heart is challenged, but that he never loses that enthusiasm to create. “It’s definitely getting better for local artists, no doubt at that. There’s a lot more art shows, with styles of works not shown five years ago. You have to do it because you love it, you enjoy it. It has to be who you are. Whether or not it works, you keep on going. There is no such thing as a failure in art. I have projects that I’ve been thinking about for years and years, but I haven’t put them on canvas yet.” Bell opened up about a variety of topics, including his eclectic artistic mindset: How long have you been an artist? I’ve been serious about creating art since I was in the first grade. I did a lot more projects than the typical first-grade art student. Explain your process/technique on this piece? For this particular piece, my process/technique didn’t vary from the usual: I visualize an image and do the best I can to transfer that image to whatever it is I’m painting on. I generally start by painting simple shapes and directional lines, which are used to direct the eye to one or two focal points. I generally like to hide the content of the secondary focal point. It’s kind of like “Where’s Waldo?” After I find the composition that I want, I start working in the color. More often than not, in regards to my figurative work, the position of the figure and/or what surrounds it changes drastically. I tend to let the piece paint itself. Throughout painting a piece, I continually rotate the canvas, looking for flaws in composition and color balance, etc. More importantly, I use a mirror to view the piece from different perspectives. You can see a lot that way. What kind of art speaks to you? Whether it be poetry, dance, spoken word, music, sculpture or painting, if a piece moves me to an emotional place that I do or don’t feel comfortable in, it speaks to me — the type of art that you don’t forget. Favorite artist? Picasso, that’s my man. My favorite local artist and good friend would be Jeremy White-Sick. When did you know art would be

your profession? I’m not sure. For me, art was something that just was. I’ve always used art as a means to communicate what I felt, or feel. (If) it is personal or something outside of myself, I use art to state my opinion. The work I'm proudest of? It stands about 40 inches and weighs about 45 pounds: I titled him “IsaacSelah.” Do you get many commissions? Actually, I do. It’s a great thing and I appreciate those who commission my work. It’s a blessing. Thank you. Memory of the first time you sold a piece of work? I believe it was a portrait of my mother’s good friend. However, one of my first pieces I sold to a stranger was on a First Friday, several years ago. Most supportive mentor and why? In regards to my art, I’d have to say my mum’s. She has always encouraged me to pursue my art. Just an example: She let me spray paint the walls in my bedroom when I was in high school. Even after the entire house reeked of deadly fumes, she let me finish without batting an eye. What does your art say about you? Not to sound self-centered. But, for the most part it says everything about me, whether I want it to or not. It just happens. Whose opinion do you value most and why? When it comes to my art, I’d have to say I value an honest opinion, it really doesn’t matter whose opinion it is. If it’s an honest one, I can learn from it. How can we find out more about your work? Talk to me. I’ll tell you everything you need to know. When did you know art would your profession? I’m not sure. For me, art was something that just was. ... But I’ve always used art as a means to communicate what I felt, or feel. Rather it is personal or something outside of myself, I use art to state my

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Eye Gallery artist Deon Bell: “I’ve been serious about creating art since I was in the first grade. I did a lot more projects than the typical first-grade art student.”

Inside Eye Gallery is only one of several exhibitions opening tonight. Get a sneak peek at the others, Page 26

opinion. How hard is it to show your work publicly? It’s not very difficult. It all comes down to having a body of work that is cohesive and well executed. Most supportive mentor and why: In regards to my art, I’d have to say my mum’s. She has always encouraged me to pursue my art. Just an example: she let me spray paint the walls in my bedroom when I was in high school. Even after the entire house reeked of deadly fumes, she let me finish without batting an eye. The artform you typically work in: I’d have to say that painting is what I do the most. However, I also enjoy assemblage and installation art. I find the ladder more relaxing.

‘CALIFORNIAN RADIO’ Join the Eye Street crew of Jennifer Self, Stefani Dias and Matt Munoz this morning at 9 a.m. on KERN-AM 1180 for our conversation with Bakersfield Museum of Art curator Vikki Cruz. We’ll also give away tickets to two concerts: Kris Kristofferson on Tuesday and Satisfaction, a tribute to the Rolling Stones, on Friday. Listen for your cue to call: 842-KERN.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, June 14, 2012

Eye Street “Mick is not the easiest character. You can’t just mail it in. Maybe you can with Bill Wyman, not to slight my bass player, because Bill Wyman is stoic.” — Chris LeGrand, who plays Mick Jagger in the Stones tribute band Satisfaction

Tribute band singer moves like Jagger Stones imitators hint at something special for us

Satisfaction / The International Rolling Stones Show

BY JENNIFER SELF

When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Bright House Networks Amphitheatre, 11200 Stockdale Highway Admission: $10. ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 800-7453000.

Californian lifestyles editor jself@bakersfield.com

f you’re pretending to be Mick Jagger, it helps to have the look, the lips and the swagger that comes with being the most electrifying lead singer in rock history. So it’s lucky for Chris LeGrand that he’s always been a dead ringer for the man he plays in the Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction. But the voice? That wasn’t so easy to nail when the East Texas bass player, who had never fronted a band before, decided to parlay a passing resemblance to the rock icon into a career 11 years ago. “If you don’t have the lead singer, you don’t have anything,” said LeGrand in a phone interview earlier this week to promote his band’s Friday concert in Bakersfield. “There’s A-, B- and Clevel tribute bands. If it’s John Lennon, Jon Bon Jovi or Steven Tyler, if your singer can’t bring the voice, you have nothing.” Though Satisfaction has 50 years of source material to choose from, the set list generally encompasses “the glory years, 1964 to 1981,” with 12 to 15 core hits any serious Stones fan would demand. But after playing as many as 1,700 gigs as the ener-

getic Jagger, LeGrand is enough of an authority on the material to change things up, adding or deleting songs to appeal to differ He hinted that he’s cooking up something special for local fans. “We’re looking forward to our first trip to Bakersfield and we know the great tradition of music there. We’re going to have a good time.” LeGrand, who also serves as executive producer of Satisfaction, is the only original member of the group, whose other players are: Jim Riddick as Keith Richards; Dominick Lanzo as Ron Wood; Wade Fowler as Charlie Watts; and John Wade as Bill Wyman. The singer called from his home in Shreveport, La., to answer our questions: The Stones were heavily influenced by country music, and Bakersfield was even

name-checked in the song “Far Away Eyes.” That’s got to be on your set list, right? We got something special planned for that. When you listen to Mick Jagger on the country songs, he goes into this hicksounding voice and he just loves that stuff. I hate to point a finger at myself, but obviously I already had the hick part down. Doing his country songs are so easy for me, being from the South — it’s some of my best mimicry, I guess you’d say. There’s such a profusion of tribute bands nowadays, but many of them are for acts that are no longer around. Is there a downside to being a tribute act for a band that’s still alive and kicking? In the last 10 years it (the popularity of tribute bands) just exploded. When we started, just Beatles and Elvis tribute bands were getting the nod, and they were nightclub acts. You didn’t have other tribute shows in the theater market. I kept hearing, “You’re not going to be able to have a full-time show for the Rolling Stones while they’re still around.” A couple of people told me it wouldn’t work, and they shouldn’t have told me that because I was out to prove them wrong, and I did. How long did it take you to perfect the Mick strut and the overall rock godness of it all?

COURTESY OF SATISFACTION

Chris LeGrand, left, and Jim Riddick perform as the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in the tribute band Satisfaction.

I say this, and I have to tread carefully, but I’ve done a lot more shows than Mick Jagger’s done. I do this every week. I’ve sang “Satisfaction” more than he has. You have to be in great shape to be Mick Jagger, so I run three to four miles several times a week. You can be Roger Waters in the Pink Floyd (tribute) show and never run a mile and sit there and play bass. The toughest part of being Mick: Giving 100-plus percent every single night. Mick is not the easiest character. You can’t just mail

Win Satisfaction tickets We’re giving away two pairs of tickets to see the rockin’ tribute to the Rolling Stones on Friday at Bright House Networks Amphitheatre. Just listen to today’s “Californian Radio” show from 9 to 10 a.m. and listen for your cue to call: 842-KERN

it in. Maybe you can with Bill Wyman, not to slight my bass player, because Bill Wyman is stoic. I sometimes tell my bass Please see STONES / 27

He exploded with Garth, but Raye is the guy still making music BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

fter years of singing some of country music’s most beautiful ballads, singer Collin Raye said there are times he really just wants to rock out again. Not that he doesn’t appreciate being identified as one of the genre’s best-selling balladeers from the ’90s, a decade that propelled him and others — like a guy you may have heard of named Garth Brooks — to crossover chart success. It was an exciting time for Raye, who can still recall when it became cool to be “country” again. He plans to share some of the excitement he still feels for his brand of music with fans when he appears tonight at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace (and if you don’t have tickets, act fast: As of Tuesday, there were just 34 left). “A lot of it became a blur because

Collin Raye When: 7 p.m. today Where: Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. Admission: $22.50 to $30.50 Information: 328-7560 or vallitix.com

it happened so fast,” said Raye, 52, during a phone interview from his home in Rockwall, Texas. “A lot of us had our heyday in the ’90s. The name that really started the trend was Garth (Brooks.) He was a oncein-a-lifetime artist who really knew who he was, what he was trying to do, and who he wanted to be once he got there. Because of the huge wave that he created, a lot of us were able to jump on our surfboards and ride on it too.” That wave ended up proving that country music wasn’t just an old

man’s game. With the success of Brooks, who sold millions after finding his way into the CD collections of rock listeners, Raye would also find his way. “Garth’s records were predominantly pretty country, but his live shows were very rock and roll. He proved you could be nuts at a country show and get away with it. Prior to him, nobody would even dare try that. A lot of us grew up loving Merle Haggard, George Jones and Waylon, but also loved The Who, the Stones and Queen.” Raye’s 1991 debut album “All I Can Be,” was an instant hit, producing his first No. 1 single, “Love, Me.” That kicked off a string of more hit albums and singles including “In This Life,” “My Kind of Girl,” and “I Can Still Feel You,” all churned out at record speed reaching a youth market ignored for years. Please see RAYE / 27

COURTESY OF JONATHAN FOWLER

Country singer Collin Raye.

Thursday, June 14, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street STONES: CONTINUED FROM 22

player I’d like to change roles. Jagger and Richards are one of the most legendary duos in rock history. How’s your chemistry with Jim Riddick, who plays Keith? He came to me seven years ago from a competing Rolling Stones show from San Francisco, more of a weekend bar band. He wrote to me and said, “I’ll play Keith Richards and I’m better than the guy you have right now.” And I popped his DVD into the player. I gave him a call and never looked back. He’s the best Keith Richards out there. You’re playing the bad boys of

rock on stage. Does that ever bleed over into your antics after the show? We’ve all kind of got past that in our lives. We’re all in our 40s or older, so we have to treat this as a career and we do a lot of cutting up on stage and maybe off if we do an interview on TV or a meet-and-greet. But it has to be strictly business because we have a show the next night. We can’t cheat someone out of a good show because we stayed up until 6 in the morning running the streets. Does being in a tribute band ever get stifling creatively? This is the best job I’ve ever had. I

was going to be my own rock star, but I gave up trying to do my own music when I was 25 years old. I walked away from music for eight years, was semi-retired, raising a family. After a little bit of research, I saw there wasn’t a profitable touring show of the Rolling Stones. ... I’m blessed to have a career in music. Another perk of paying tribute to the Stones is career longevity: You could all still be rocking well into geezer-hood, as they are. I have no plans to retire. I’ve taken good care of myself, my hair and skin. I pass for 10 to 15 years younger than I am.

Yearwood sold records to are gone, they’ve moved on to something else, because country doesn’t have anything for them today. Now it’s pretty much, with very few exceptions, image driven. They’re just trying to sell an image of what they think is the ‘country’ lifestyle — how country you are or how big your truck is — ‘we drink sweet tea and we drink cold beer.’ That’s fine once in awhile. I think a lot of people are going back to thinking country music is ‘dumb,’ the way they did prior to those days when Garth and everyone was doing well.” Raye understands that it’s ultimately the nature of the music business, but added there’s plenty of room for genres to co-exist again in harmony.

“It’s frustrating now, because there’s a handful of guys in Nashville who think they’re such experts and say, ‘Well, we knew the time was ending and so we had to start streamlining and start playing to a more exclusive country audience,’ and all that. Back then it was about a singer and song. I hope it gets back to that again.” Raye said his show will feature plenty of familiar tunes, along with room for rockin’. “I always have a list, but I’m always flexible to do requests. I like to get people more involved in the show. These songs mean so many things to so many different people. I like to make people laugh and share stories.”

HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

Billy Mize enjoys his 2009 birthday celebration at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace.

Film on music great looks for support THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

Joe Saunders’ documentary on local music great Billy Mize has hit kickstarter.com, the online funding platform for creative projects. Saunders reports that “Billy Mize and the Bakersfield Sound” already has a few backers. Contributors can get a tax deduction through the project’s fiscal sponsor, the San Francisco Film Society. View the project at www.kickstarter.com/projects/1728798697/billy-mize-and-the-bakersfield-sound. Mize, who lives in Tehachapi, was a television star in Bakersfield and Los Angeles in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s.

RAYE: CONTINUED FROM 22

“All the kids who started buying our records were phenomenal. It made our shows a lot more fun and broke down a lot of walls to reach a demographic we couldn’t get to before. We were working fast and I was really trying to keep pace with everything that was going on at the time.” In comparison to many of his peers, time has been kind to Raye, who doesn’t tour quite as heavily as he did at his peak but continues releasing new music. His 13th CD, “His Love Remains,” a collection of inspirational songs, was released last year. “The people that me and Trisha

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, June 21, 2012

Eye Street

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50 years of music moments Guitarist saw his share of ups, downs in career BY MATT MUNOZ

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he life of guitarist Chris Hillman is filled with moments both celebratory and bittersweet. Heralded as one of the pioneers of country rock through his work with such iconic groups as The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Desert Rose Band, bands who became known for experimenting with foundations of American music, the multi-instrumentalist continues picking his way through an illustrious career. Following a successful reunion tour with The Desert Rose Band two years ago, Hillman returns to the Crystal Palace Wednesday with original members Herb Pedersen, John Jorgenson, Jay Dee Maness, Steve Duncan and Bill Bryson. “I feel really lucky,” said Hillman, 67, during a phone interview from his home in Ventura. “I never considered myself the greatest player in the world, but I’ve been fortunate to have played with some really great people. I never wanted to be king or top of the mountain solo country or rock star. I always wanted to work in a band and be a band guy, so that’s what’s really sustained me. I don’t mean it in the past tense either, I’m still working and having a great time.” And after nearly 50 years of performing, Hillman’s name continues to be mentioned in the same breath as many all-time greats of his era, especially among music historians who note many of his collaborations as groundbreaking. Among them is his work with the late Gram Parsons, who was hired by The Byrds to replace David Crosby in 1968. For the next few years, the two bonded through their pursuit to push the boundaries of rock. “Working with Gram in the beginning was great. He was ambitious, focused and really going after it. I had some great years with him in both The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers. We were like brothers, with a truly close relationship. We shared a house together, and everyday we worked and worked.” Hillman’s creative relationship with Parsons ended after only two and a half years, but while it lasted, the two helped craft some of rock’s most genre-bending releases: The Byrds’ “Sweetheart of The Road,” and The Flying Burrito Brothers’ “The Gilded Palace of Sin.” “After that first year, I noticed I was already starting to lose him. Gram and I wrote all the songs on the first Flying Burrito Brothers album in that house, but he started getting into the dark stuff with substance abuse, and I think he was probably bored and wanted to do other things. For awhile we were just really close, almost like

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS HILLMAN

Singer/guitarist Chris Hillman heads up The Desert Rose Band at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace on June 27.

The Desert Rose Band When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Where: Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. Admission: $35 to $44 Information: 328-7560 or vallitix.com

Cain and Abel in the Bible. Maybe not that bad, but we started to drift apart.” Hillman understands he and Parsons will always be synonymous with each other, but adds that rock ’n’ roll is filled with all too similar cautionary tales. Parsons died of a drug overdose in 1973, but his memory follows Hillman as a haunting reminder of their brilliant but artistically stormy partnership. “The darkness always begins to creep in, in any band you can name. Whether it’s Guns N’ Roses, or even The Beatles, whatever, you just start out with this goal, and you’re starting together to attain it. I always say it’s like five people holding a paint brush and trying to paint the Mona Lisa smile. You strive for something together, but then something creeps in and starts breaking it apart. Some groups survive, and I can only think of one, The Rolling Stones. It happens.”

That brief period with Parsons ultimately groomed Hillman for The Desert Rose Band, his most commercially successful project formed after the breakup of The Flying Burrito Brothers. With Hillman once again on lead vocals, the group’s more straight-ahead country sound brought them to the country charts with a string of hit singles and six fulllength albums. “This group was part of an evolution when we formed. We started messing around with more country styles with The Byrds, around ’66 to ’67. None of us came out of rock ’n’ roll, we came out of folk music, and I came out of country and bluegrass music. I was listening to guys like Buck Owens, who was a big influence.” Hillman’s admiration for Owens runs deeps, and even goes as far as to credit him with developing the concept of country rock years before he and Parsons would take the concept into new territory. “I think Buck Owens and The Buckaroos were doing what we would refer to as country rock, because he had this great groove and wrote these songs that people could come out and dance to. It was more of an upbeat groove than Nashville had at the time. I always say that without Buck, there wouldn’t have been The Byrds or The Flying Burrito Brothers.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, June 21, 2012

Eye Street

Group’s musical dream comes true Blues-rock band planning party for new CD release BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he members of Bakersfield blues rock quartet Doctors Orders have always believed in the power of music. Prescribed as an elixir through moments of pain, it’s also acted as the energizing thread keeping a creative friendship groovin’ steady after nearly 40 years. Ready to show off their time-tested formula for staying young, they plan to celebrate the release of their new self-titled CD at Narducci’s Cafe on Saturday with all the elements of a true rock show. According to vocalist Xavier Ruiz, the project has been a long time coming. “We’ve been playing for so long and really just rehearsing. I finally said, ‘Man, we’ve been rehearsing all of our lives, let’s do something.’” And after a few heart-to-heart discussions with guitarist Otis “King” Newton,

Doctors Orders CD Release party When: 7 p.m. Saturday Where: Narducci’s Cafe, 622 E. 21st St. Admission: $5 Information: 324-2961 PHOTO COURTESY OF TINA LEYVA

drummer Christian Martinez and bassist Lewis Wilcox, the four made an agreement to push forth as Doctors Orders four years ago. Surprisingly, this is one of their few official recording projects together, after being a backup group for numerous artists in various incarnations. “There is a certain kind of magic that happens with us because we know each other so well,” said Newton, 58, of his bandmates. “We get along pretty good. I love it that we’re still playing together, because these guys are like family.” The group’s back story begins in the late ’60s, when Newton and Martinez were just getting their original rock ’n’ roll mojo running in the sweltering summer garages of Bakersfield. Rattling rooftops and finding their voice, Ruiz would eventually find his

Bakersfield band Doctors Orders celebrates the release of their new self-titled CD Saturday at Narducci’s Cafe.

way into the mix, befriending the duo on vocals and harp. “I can still remember hanging out with those guys when I picked up the harmonica,” recalled Ruiz, 59. “We had a band called Zooly in ’69 through the ’70s, and we won a Battle of The Bands together at the old Albert S. Goode Auditorium at the Kern County Fairgrounds. Bands played mostly originals back then, and we had a sound like Santana with Christian on the congas too. It was so fresh back then.” Similar stories from their colorful beginnings will find their way into many of our present conversations, and all laced with verbal embraces towards on another.

“Bass players and drummers are usually polar opposites, but Christian and I know exactly what we’re going when we start playing,” said Wilcox, 62. “Everyone looks up to Otis. He’s got a big heart and (is a) humble guy. Over the years, I’ve got to know Xavier more and we’ve become really close. We’ve had a wonderful time with this. No time constraints. It was a blast.” According to Ruiz, most of the songs written for the CD have been in the works for years, most starting as riffs or leftover studio debris, salvaged then reworked. “Otis has so many ideas in his head. It just kills me. One day he handed me a tape Please see CD / 31

Thursday, June 21, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MANA

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. for a Sept. 13 concert by Latin rock act Mana.

Mana comes off hot run in L.A. for Bakersfield show BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

After selling out 11 straight shows at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Mexican rock quartet Mana will make its Bakersfield debut on Sept. 13. Tickets for the fall concert go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. In the Latin pop world, Mana’s popularity is unparalleled. The group, whose sound is a multicultural blend of pop rock, Latin pop, Calypso, reggae and ska, produced the fastest-selling Spanish language rock album in history (“Donde Jugaran Los Ninos”) and recorded the hit “Corazon

Espinado” with Carlos Santana for his album “Supernatural.” Over a recording career spanning nearly three decades, Mana has accumulated three Grammy awards, five Latin Grammy awards, nine Billboard Latin Music awards and more than 25 million records sold. The band’s eighth CD, “Drama y Luz,” has been on Billboard’s top Latin pop album chart for more than a year. Ticket prices range from $38 to $148 plus service charge. Rabobank Arena box office is located at 1001 Truxtun Ave. For more information, visit ticketmaster.com or call 852-7777.

Look through late-night lens for art museum’s photo class The Bakersfield Museum of Art wants you to make it a late night. Inspired by summer exhibit L.A.Te: Photographs of Los Angeles After Dark, the museum is offering a class in July on nighttime photography, taught by two of the exhibiting artists. On July 7, J. Wesley Brown and another photographer featured in the L.A.Te exhibit will share tips on shooting at night for a two-day workshop. The first day will focus on camera setup and exploring the streets of Bakersfield for photo ops, working with existing lighting. Day two will teach students how to digitally process and enhance photos to produce a quality print. Photographers of all levels are welcome but they should be familiar with basic photographic techniques. Participants must provide their own equipment, including a digital camera with manual capabilities and tripod. The cost for the two-day class is $35, $25 for museum members and students. Call 323-7219 to sign up. Even if you can’t make the class, you can get in on the nighttime fun with the muse-

Healthcare

Stella asked, “When I call to have someone come help me, how soon will someone be able to come?”

Our goal is to have someone available for the time you request.At no cost to you, Michele or Ann will first come to meet you so we can best select a caregiver to meet your needs.Stella, thanks for asking as I’m sure others have the same question

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IRA’s and Rollovers

Q: A:

um’s online photo contest. Seeking the most creative nighttime shots, styles and interpretations — all done with a digital camera. The contest will run from July 1 through 31. Submit your work via e-mail to BMoA marketing director Jason Gutierrez at jgutierrez@bmoa.org. Entries will be posted on the museum’s Facebook page. The top three photos with the most “likes” will be declared winners and photographers will receive a special prize. Winners will be announced on Aug. 1. For more information, call 323-7219 or visit bmoa.org. — Bakersfield Museum of Art news release

Do beneficiaries of Inherited IRAs under age 59 1/2 have to pay a 10% penalty on Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) RMDs will increase ordinary income, but are not subject to the 10% early distribution penalty tax.

John Bush, Vice President Investments Stifel, Nicolas & Co., Inc. Member SIPC & NYSE

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. 5060 California Avenue, Suite 1140 661.321.7300

L.A.Te photo class When: July 7 and 8 Where: Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 R St. Cost: $35; $25 for museum members and students Register: 323-7219

Darlyn Baker, RN

Senior Care

Q: A:

Mom’s appetite for munchies seems to have increased. She isn’t interested in eating substantial meals but I don’t want to keep buying junk food for her. What do you suggest as a nutritional substitute for junk food? Try popcorn that has a minimal amount of salt and butter - many seniors love it - and there are more reasons to feast on it. Popcorn’s reputation as a snack food that’s healthy popped up a few notches recently as scientists reported that it contains more of the healthful antioxidant substances called “polyphenols” than fruits and vegetables. For more information on aging please visit us on the web at www.homeinstead.com/520 or call 396-7608

1234 Chester Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-321-3235 www.homeinstead.com/520

Debora Savoy

Thursday, June 21, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street GO & DO: CONTINUED FROM 30

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., 8714140; 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. every Tuesday and Thursday at 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., 363-7200; 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, 399-7800; 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, 3971111; 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,

392-1482; 6:30 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday. Syndicate Lounge, 1818 Eye St., 327-0070; 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. Tomi’s Cowgirl Cafe, 7 to 10 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at 1440 Weedpatch Highway. 3635102. 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.

Oldies KC Steakhouse, 2515 F St., 3229910; Jimmy Gaines, Bobby O and Mike Halls, 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

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, 324-6774: Los Moonlighterz, 8:30 p.m. Saturday. $5.

Open Mic Fiddlers Crossing, 206 E. F St., Tehachapi, 823-9994; 7 p.m. Wednesdays. $5.

Rock B. Ryder’s Sports Bar & Grill, 7401 White Lane, 397-7304; Fortunate Youth, Tatanka, Dub Seeds, Amity Flow, 8 p.m. Thursday, all ages; UFC 147, live entertainment following the fight, 9 p.m. Saturday. $10 per night. On The Rocks, 1517 18th St., 3277685; Blonde Day, tribute to Blondie, 7 p.m. Friday, $7; Hawthorne Heights, Catastrophist, 6 p.m. Saturday, $10. All ages. Rockstarz Party Bar, 7737 Meany Ave., Suite B5, 589-6749; live bands, 9 p.m. every Thursday.

Rockabilly B. Ryder’s Sports Bar & Grill, 7401 White Lane, 397-7304; Kar-

ling and the Atomics, Mad Dog and the Smokin’ J’s, 9 p.m. Friday. $5.

Trivia night Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge, 3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139; 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Sandrini’s, 1918 Eye St., 3228900; Trivia Night with Dave Rezac, 10 p.m. Tuesdays. Chuy’s, 2500 New Stine Road, 833-3469; 7 p.m. every Tuesday.

UPCOMING EVENTS Monday 6/25 Horse Happy Horse Camp, for ages 8 to 17, learn about horses, grooming, horse care, riding lessons, begins every Monday, now to Aug. 24. $200 per child, per week, at Sioux City Ranch, 15101 Sunnybank Ave. 900-4880. Reach for the Stars Crusade, three-day of activities from 4 to 9 p.m. per day; comedy night, hip-hop improv, live music Sunday; talent show, live music Monday; firework give-a-way, game booths, live music, hot meal, toy give-a-way Tuesday, at Harding and North Chester Avenue. Free. Visit operationsoulwinner.org or 348-1002. Senior Discovery Days, for seniors 60 and older receive 50 percent off admission, 10 percent discount in the gift store, CALM, 10500 Alfred Harrell Highway. 8722256. The Bakersfield Winds Patriotic Concert, 7:30 p.m., Olive Drive Church, 5500 Olive Drive. $5. 9792404. The Salvation Army Summer Day Camp, activities include field trips, arts & crafts, games, recreation, snacks, group learning, life lessons, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Monday through Friday, now through July 27, The Salvation Army Corps Community Center, 4417 Wilson Road. $25 per child/per week. Visit online at salvationarmybakersfield.org. Vivace Concert, Puerto Rican college-age hand bell ensemble, 7 p.m., First Congregational Church, 5 Real Road. Free but a donation is suggested. 327-1609.

Tuesday 6/26 Music Fest 2012, with Bunky Spurling, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Silver Creek Park, 7011 Harris Road. Free. 326-FUNN. Oildale Farmers Market, 3 to 6 p.m., now through August, northeast corner of North Chester Avenue and Norris Road, Oildale. 868-3670. Sierra Club Conditioning Hikes, three to five miles, 7 p.m., meet at corner of highways 178 and 184. 872-2432 or 873-8107.

Wednesday 6/27 CASA Volunteer Orientation, learn how to make a difference in the life of an abused, abandoned or neglected child, noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m., CASA, 2000 24th St. kerncasa.org or 631-2272

CD: CONTINUED FROM 26

of some songs he had written a long time ago, and that was our starting point.” For the next year and a half, the four would meet semi-regularly when time permitted to rehearse and share ideas, before heading into the makeshift recording studio known as AIB Studios aka Antiques In Back, an old warehouse belonging to Newton. “It would be too hot in the summertime and water going through the roof in the wintertime. We had fans that made it too loud during recording,” Wilcox laughed. “It was an adventure.” Using modern DIY recording techniques, the four turned a potentially expensive, timeconsuming process into a labor of love after transferring their original digital tracks onto computer. “I played around with different sounds. It took quite awhile, but the results were exactly like we wanted,” said Martinez, 59, who handled computer mixing and editing from his present home in Santa Barbara. “We did it on our own time when we could, and didn’t look at the clock once unless it was time to check in with our families.” “Doctors Orders” is full of rock ’n’ roll and countryinflected blues with a signature bar band flair. Balanced with a number of up-tempo songs and slow-

OSTRICH: CONTINUED FROM 18

friendly and curious, often encouraged by the bonding experience, which allows guests to feed them alfalfa pellets. “You get nose to beak with the ostrich. You can never get that close to animals at the zoo,” he said. That’s an interesting turn for the facility that started with no public component. Brust said his uncle, who retired at a young age, aimed to keep the ag land he bought intact for lower taxation, under the Williamson Act. “In the early ’90s, we looked at pot-bellied pigs, llamas, emus, apples, grapes (to grow). What made sense to my uncle was ostrich because they make so many products from them.” That productivity is in full effect at Indian Point, which produces meat, eggs, hides (used for shoes and purses), oils and lotions (made from animal fat) as well as jewelry crafted from eggshells and painted by local artists. Tourism is another component of the business that came as more of a surprise. “The first three years of our existence we didn’t do anything

burning numbers, they come together to paint a true picture of a seasoned group of musicians. Tracks like “Someday,” “Ensenada,” “The Champion” and “When Will I” are all wellexecuted arrangements, reminiscent of classic ’70s and ’80s rock. The record is also filled with many personal moments, most notably on “Changed (Olivia’s Song),” a song dedicated to Ruiz’s daughter who passed away four years ago. One of my personal favorites is “Thankful,” an instrumental featuring some mellow, tasty axe work by King. In short, “Doctors Orders” is honest, direct, and a solid release from a group of wellrounded musicians who deserve another round in the local spotlight. “This album was pretty much a heartfelt record. After we got started on hit, it just blossomed. This was something we wanted to do all our lives. We wanted to leave something behind. Now, we made a CD and feel really good about it. It was a good thing,” said Ruiz. “You should always write from experience, from life, the real things,” added Martinez. “We want to play and have fun and hope our friends enjoy the CD.” Copies of “Doctors Orders” will be available at Saturday’s show for $10, and is also available for download at iTunes and Cdbaby.com.

with tourism. We were raising the birds, but we had so many people visiting.” Hundreds of visitors come to the 60-acre ranch weekly during the peak seasons of spring and summer, when the birds breed. The breeding birds, kept in pairs, are typically Namibia blue or South African black ostriches. (The third breed, Tanzanian red, aka the “biggest, baddest bird on the planet,” driven by testosterone, is kept on the 20acre farm where birds are allowed to flock away from the public.) Brust, who will be on hand for Saturday’s event, has lots to share about Indian Point and Tehachapi itself. Not surprising since he serves as vice chairman of the city’s tourism commission. “We want families to come up, families being our No. 1 customer,” he said. “We have one of the best golf courses. We have a Buddhist temple. You can go there, get your Zen on, ring the peace bell. You can ride a glider plane here. There are a lot of things off the beaten path here.”

Thursday, July 12, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street “If you have no idea about Ireland, you should come on out. We want to share our culture with the world.”

Ask A Professional

We feature local experts to answer your questions. For info contact: Lupe Carabajal at 661-395-7563

— Kenny Mount

Club celebrates all things Irish But you don’t have to hail from Emerald Isle to join BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he luck of the Irish has been kind to Kenny Mount. When he followed his dream to open a clubhouse in Bakersfield for friends and family to celebrate their Irish heritage, he imagined a room full of smiling eyes of all ages joined in a common bond. Now, a year after putting his plan into action with the help of some friends and a lot of faith, he’s eager to show off the fruits of their labor when the Irish Heritage Club of Bakersfield celebrates on Saturday with a daylong party in commemoration of the milestone. The public is welcome and admission is free. “Our club is for people who like things about Ireland,” said Mount, 41. “If you have no idea about Ireland, you should come on out. We want to share our culture with the world. It’s also potluck, so anything goes. You’re likely to see some shepherd’s pie, various meat and potato dishes — a lot of Irish comfort food.” Wedged between the Saigon Vietnamese restaurant and a beauty salon, the intimate suite transports visitors back to Ireland within moments. Mount hoped when he and his friends started the club that they’d get a good response, in part because of the success of events put on by their Celtic brethren in the Kern County Scottish Society, which boasts a large membership. “I didn’t know how the city would receive it when we first opened our doors last year. I knew the club would be good, but the clubhouse is small. It’s not a big pub or anything like the typical Irishthemed bar.” Decorated with furnishings you’d find in a cozy Irish tavern, the space usually surprises first-time visitors, Mount said. “It’s an awesome feeling. The people who appreciate the club the most are the people who’ve been to Ireland. You can see the reaction right away. The longer they stay, the better it gets. Last Friday night it felt like I was in Waterford.” The mood is set by the lighting, furniture, art, warm colors, which greet members and revelers who stop in during scheduled meetings on the first and third Friday of every month. Anyone is welcome to join the club, regardless of affiliation with the motherland. All that’s required is an open mind, appreciation and respect. There are 130 registered members and always room for

Attorney

Q: A:

more, Mount said. “Our membership from our first year is down a little bit at the moment. Right now, we’re at a place where the regulars are the ones who are there every meeting.” Rent is paid by monthly membership dues, which also cover maintenance, utilities and upkeep of the venue. Anything left over pays for fun activities. “The movie nights we throw are always good. We’ve shown ‘P.S. I Love You,’ ‘Leap Year,’ ‘The Quiet Man’ and we have plans for a ‘Boondock Saints’ night coming up,” Mount said. Another of the club’s highlights is the bar top, where visitors chat it up while siping whiskey, beer or non-alcoholic drinks. Alcohol is prohibited from being sold inside, but members are welcome to bring their own and are given the option of having their most prized bottle stored inside until their next visit. “We sell no alcohol at the clubhouse, but you can bring your own drink of choice and enjoy it at the bar. The only beverages we sell are sodas and tea. There’s actually a song called ‘A Pub with No Beer.’ That’s us. We don’t focus on the pub culture. That’s kind of a stereotype. In Ireland, you’ll see kids with families.” And what’s an Irish club without music? On Monday nights you can check out the open Irish jam held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., featuring skilled tunesmiths on traditional instruments like the bodhran, bouzouki, fiddle, guitar, flute and pipes. In the future, the club plans to offer an Irish dance class, dart matches, more traditional breakfast mornings, plus continue to offer instruction on how to have the ideal Ireland vacation direct from the experts. “I’ve already worked out three itineraries for travelers. We can also set them up with people over there to show them around,” Mount said, adding that the club hopes to reach nonprofit status by the end of the year, allowing it to extend many of its art and cultural outreach programs in the community. “The more we learn about different traditions and cultures, the smarter we’ll all be. If you like U2, you’ll love the all the other things we have to share about being Irish-American.”

The typical short sale time line is the problem here. The court system may be able to assist you with the process. If all informal attempts fail, the time it will take to get it in front of a judge will likely be after the usual foreclosure sale date. More practically, have you offered anything to the other person to cooperate? If that fails, you probably will not be able to short sell it.

Kathryn Fox Attorney at Law

The Law Office of Kathryn M. Fox

Irish Heritage Club of Bakersfield One-Year Anniversary When: Noon Saturday Where: Irish Heritage Club of Bakersfield, 3117 Chester Lane Admission: Free Information: bakersfieldirish.yolasite.com

I am trying to short sale my home before the foreclosure. The person on title with me refuses to cooperate with me by signing a listing agreement with a realtor. What can I do?

1430 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 328-1133 www.Kathrynmfox.com

End-of-Life Care

Q: A:

Can a hospice patient who shows signs of recovery or changes his mind about hospice care return to regular medical treatment? Certainly. When patients show signs of recovery or receive an extended prognosis, they may be discharged from hospice services. A patient may choose to revoke services at any time to seek curative care. Once the patient then concludes a cure is no longer possible, he or she may return to our service at any time.

Beth Hoffmann Director of Operations & Founder Hoffmann Hospice

8501 Brimhall Road, Bldg. 100 Bakersfield, CA 93312 661-410-1010 www.hoffmannhospice.org

IRA’s and Rollovers

Q: A:

I just turned 70 1/2. When must I take my first Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)? Typically RMDs must be taken by December 31 each year after you turn 70 1/2. However, the required date of your first RMD is April 1 of the year following the year in which you turn 70 1/2. This means that even though you may turn 70 1/2 in one year, you may delay the first RMD until April 1 of the following year. Note that only the first RMD may be delayed, and if delayed, you must take a second RMD in that same year by December 31.

John Bush, Vice President Investments Stifel, Nicolas & Co., Inc. Member SIPC & NYSE

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. 5060 California Avenue, Suite 1140 661.321.7300

Ask a Ref about Football

Q: A:

How can I referee football?

The KCOA will train an individual. We are a non profit group that provides the football officials for the Kern High School District. We have a 10 week class which will teach the rules and the proper field mechanics. We also provide on-field training. Our training program is taught by experienced football instructors. Season starts Aug 1 so call now. John @ 333-0762

Ken Lopez 20 years

Kern County Officials Association (661) 333-0762 kcofficials.com kenlopez@pacbell.net

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, July 12, 2012

Eye Street

American Made and so much more

Better move quickly if you want tickets

• Bedroom Sets • Dining Room Sets • Mattresses

BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

Our New Address: 6801-B1 White Lane • 661-833-8166 www.RandDLeatherFurniture.com

“ACHIEVE SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT LOSS” Lose an average of 27 pounds in 12 weeks* • Non-surgical weight loss • One-on-one with a physician • 99% keep weight off after a year** •

aking plans to trek without tickets to Eagle Mountain Casino this weekend to catch country diva Kellie Pickler on Friday night or classic rocker Pat Benatar on Sunday? You may be out of luck. According to Eagle Mountain public relations coordinator James Valencia, the concerts are nearly sold out. “Both shows did very good from the beginning. We always do very well with classic rock and country, and of course we’re happy when we sell out. There are a few general admission seats left for the shows, but there’s a slim chance they’ll be still be available by the show.” Pickler is currently touring in support of her latest album, “100 Proof,” her third release since appearing on season five of “American Idol.” During an interview with The Californian last year just before an appearance at the Kern County Fair, the country singer was in the midst of retooling her image after a swift rise to the top as a sexy blond bombshell, a representation she felt required some making over. Benatar is one of the most iconic women in rock music, selling over 30 million records and winning four Grammys over the course of her career. Bursting onto the scene with a mix of classically trained vocals and energetic rock style in the ’70s, the pintsized singer became synonymous with the decade to follow with a string

Summer Bazaar event benefits cancer research

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Yadvinder Narang, MD - 3940 San Dimas, Bakersfield, CA *Based on a studyy in tthe 6/12 American Journal of Medicine of 375 ppatients on a medi medicall callyy ppres presscribed diet. **Based on a stratifi tified sample p of 349 patients p over a six-year y pperiod. Patientss must have have rem mainedd on the pprogram g for a minimum im of 28 days y and be monnitored with at least two physici p y ia ia vis ian visits ts with wit iin firs first 31 days y to be included in th the study. y A varietyy of nutritional meal replacements p weree use u d. 99% 99% of of the ppatients that followed the CMW MWL pprogram, g includingg a low calorie diet and individua individual al counselin counsel cou nseling ing ngg with CMWL pphysicians, y from one month mon up to a year, weighed i h d less at their last weigh-in than their eir starting weight. ***Results not typical.

of hits including “Love Is a Battlefield,” “Heartbreaker,” “Promises in the Dark” and “We Belong.” Her biggest single “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” is performed by Catherine Zeta Jones in the current big-screen musical “Rock of Ages,” starring Tom Cruise. She and husband/guitarist Neil Giraldo have been inseparable since Giraldo was hired to assemble Benatar’s first backing band in 1977.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAT BENATAR

Husband and wife rockers Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo appear Sunday at Eagle Mountain Casino.

Concerts at Eagle Mountain Casino 681 S. Tule Road in Porterville 559-788-6220; eaglemtncasino.com Kellie Pickler: 9 p.m. Friday; tickets $25 to $35 Pat Benatar: 8 p.m. Sunday; tickets $20 to $30

Activist crafts fundraiser for annual relay THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

Cynthia

JASON MOORE / ZUMA PRESS

Kellie Pickler, performing at the North Carolina State Fair in October, appears Friday at Eagle Mountain Casino.

olores Rouanzoin was so moved by her first experience as a Relay for Life volunteer in the spring that she decided to start a team of her own. But her devotion to the cause didn’t end there: She and her friends have set the ambitious goal of holding one fundraiser a month through May 2013, the date of the next Relay event. First up: a craft show, called Summer Bazaar, this Saturday at the Kern County Fairgrounds. Admission is free. “We’re going to have 63 vendors,” said the business school student and mother of three. “We know a few people who are crafters, and we just start-

Summer Bazaar craft show When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Where: Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 P St. Admission: Free Information: 346-5870

ed spreading the word through Facebook and, before you know it, we had way more than we needed.” A mix of businesses like Sam’s Club, Scentsy Wickless Candles and a solar energy company will be hand, but most booths will be run by individual crafters displaying blankets, clothing, bows, accessories, balloon decorations and more. All the vendors will donate an item for a series of raffles, which will be ongoing throughout the day. Each tickets is $1, and ticket buyers need not be present to

win. Because the event benefits charity, the fairgrounds offered a reduced rate for the rental of the fine arts building, Rouanzoin said. Vendors paid $20 for booth space and will donate a portion of their profits to the Relay team. Rouanzoin’s goal for the day is $500, a total she hopes to match at each of the other monthly fundraisers she intends to hold, which include a music event and a poker night. Though she and the other seven members of Team Geeks are thinking big, Rouanzoin, 29, conceded she’s got a lot to learn about organizing fundraisers. Still, it’s worth it when she reminds herself of the ultimate goal. “Just being able to help everybody and the whole aspect of fundraising,” she said. “And knowing no matter how big or small the event is, any amount of money will help.”

Saturday, July 14, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street Lifestyles editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | Email, jself@bakersfield.com

The next factor: Demi back in game Former Disney princess leaves troubles behind

Buttery but tart berry bars are a cinch to make

BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he world of teen celebrity is filled with cautionary tales destined for the tabloids. That’s been the case with former Disney sensation Demi Lovato, who became an American sweetheart with the onetwo punch of television (“Sonny with a Chance”) and hot-selling pop recordings. There was a time when she and fellow Disney stars like the Jonas Brothers and Selena Gomez attracted massive audiences for appearances and outsold many major rock acts. But after a few whirlwind years, the pressures of fame began taking their toll on the performer, who sought treatment for emotional and substance abuse issues, with every lurid detail recounted in the tabloid media. Fans stood by Lovato, showing support until the pop star resurfaced last year, looking healthier and decidedly more mature. Lovato, 19, never abandoned her artistic side, working on new music as a way to help with the healing process. She released “Unbroken” last year, which received generally positive reviews, and has emerged as a serious artist. And the comeback continues: Lovato recently scored a coveted gig as a celebrity judge for season 2 of “X Factor,” alongside singer Britney Spears, and is set to co-host Fox’s “Teen Choice Awards” next week. Although Lovato declined

BY NOELLE CARTER Los Angeles Times

Dear SOS: I recently moved from San Luis Obispo to Denver. I miss the berry bars at House of Bread in San Luis; they were my favorite breakfast after a run or before class, and they were even my last meal before commencing the 18hour drive from SLO to Denver! I’d love the recipe so I can have a slice of my old college town here in my new big city. Thank you! — Gabby Robinson, Denver

Dear Gabby: These bars are rich and buttery, with nice tart and sweet notes from the jam, and you might never guess how easy they are to make. House of Bread was happy to share its recipe, which we’ve adapted below.

House of Bread’s berry bars Total time: About 1 hour, plus cooling time Servings: 9 to 12 Note: Adapted from House of Bread in San Luis Obispo 3 cups (12.75 ounces) flour 11⁄2 teaspoons baking powder 1 ⁄2 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 13⁄4 cups sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 16 ounces berry jam 1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 11-by-7-inch baking pan. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. 3. In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla. Slowly beat in the flour mixture. 4. Spread three-fourths of the batter into the pan, spreading the batter a little thinner in the center of the pan. Spoon the jam on top. Spoon the remaining batter over the jam in random dollops so the jam can still be seen. 5. Bake the bars until golden-brown on top and firm to the touch, about 40 minutes, rotating halfway through for even baking. 6. Cool completely on a rack before slicing. Each of 12 servings: 479 calories; 5 grams protein; 77 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 17 grams fat; 10 grams saturated fat; 103 mg cholesterol; 52 grams sugar; 185 mg sodium. Dying to get your hands on a famous recipe? The SOS column can help. Send requests to Culinary SOS, Food Section, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 or e-mail to noelle.carter@latimes.com. Please include your last name, phone number and city of residence. Include restaurant address when requesting recipes from restaurants.

Please see LOVATO / C2

Demi Lovato Pop/rock quartet Hot Chelle Rae opens When: 7 p.m. Sunday Where: Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Admission: $49.50 to $69.50 plus service charge Information: 852-7777 or ticketmaster.com

ANNE CUSACK / LOS ANGELES TIMES

House of Bread’s berry bars are rich and buttery, with nice tart and sweet notes from jam.

Get out IGOR VIDYASHEV / ZUMA PRESS

Singer Demi Lovato performs live at Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto on July 3 as part of her Summer Tour 2012. She will appear at Rabobank Arena on Sunday night.

Sherry Davis CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

What’s in a name? Differing perceptions In the July 2 issue of Psychology Today, author Stanley Coren, Ph.D., writes of a study he conducted to find out if dogs’ names impact how people think of them. In the study, 291 university students were asked to watch a one-minute video, determine the personality and intentions of a dog interacting with a human, and describe their observations in an accompanying booklet. What the people in the experiment did not know was that the dog pictured in the video was given a different name on each test booklet. Names on the booklets ranged from tough or threatening names like Killer or Butcher to more positivesounding names like Buddy or Happy. After watching the video of a large German shepherd barking and then jumping up on a man, the participants wrote their impressions of the dog’s behavior. Those who had booklets with dog names that suggested an ominous or menacing

Rabies clinic The next rabies vaccination clinic will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. today at Ford City Park, Cedar Street between Tyler and Polk streets in Taft. Cost is $5 for all dogs. License must be purchased at the time of vaccination. All dogs must be on a leash. Aggressive dogs must be muzzled. For additional information, call Kern County Animal Control at 321-3000.

personality were more apt to say that the dog appeared aggressive and that the man pushed him away to avoid being bitten. Those who had names on their booklets that had a positive association were apt to describe the dog's behavior as playful. I make it a practice not to make assumptions about a dog's personality based on the name its owner has given it, and since

one of the most savagely aggressive dogs I ever trained was a darling little cocker named Precious, that's probably a wise choice. ••• Speaking of aggression, there are some very disturbing postings being left on social media sites as a warning to people who insist on leaving their dogs in hot cars. One shows a drawing of a brick on the left and a cell phone to the right of it. The caption reads: “First this, then this.” The other is a picture of an actual smashed car window with a note attached. The note is addressed to the owner of Please see DAVIS / C2

Today “Amelie” Cinema Saturday, begins at sundown, Valentien Restaurant & Wine Bar, 1310 Truxtun Ave., Suite 160. 864-0397. “The Heart of the Mountain” Fundraiser, with gourmet dinner, music and silent auction, 5 to 8 p.m., Tejon Ranch Hacienda, 491 Rochford Road, Lebec. $125. 331-4741. Bakersfield Blaze vs. Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, 7:45 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Sam Lynn Ballpark, 4009 Chester Ave. $7-$12. bakersfieldblaze.com or 716-HITS. Please see GET OUT / C2

FAVORITE DISH What’s your gotta-have-it food craving at a local restaurant that you just can’t resist ordering? For Californian critic Pete Tittl, who has a favorite at nearly every restaurant he’s reviewed, some can’t-miss items include the burger at Benji’s, the black and white at Dewar’s and the sanddabs from Uricchio’s Trattoria (pictured). The Eye Street staff is working on a list of favorite menu items at local restaurants, and we need your help. Email us the name of the restaurant, the menu item and why it’s so good in 100 words, max. We need your phone number (which won’t be published) and full name. Email us at msorto@bakersfield.com by July 23.

The Bakersfield Californian Saturday, July 14, 2012

Even in this heat, you can overwater and manage costs for outdoor water use, here are a few tips to consider. It’s helpful to walk through the irrigation system while it is running, perhaps every month, to check for coverage, to prune back plants that may block nozzles, to see that all valves come on and turn off, and that sprinkler heads are operating. Sometimes a pop-up head

BY JOHN KARLIK Contributing writer

Now that summer is in full swing, we’re smack-dab in the time of highest water use for plants in landscapes, orchards and gardens. Almost all plant species need summer irrigation in Kern County landscapes, but too much irrigation can be as detrimental as too little. To maintain plant health

CAL WATER ASKS CUSTOMERS TO AVOID CUSTOMER CENTER ON JULY 13 AND JULY 16 California Water Service Company’s Customer Center at 3725 So. H St. will be partially closed for construction on Friday, July 13 & Monday, July 16, and the utility is asking customers to avoid visiting on those days. “We expect wait times to be significantly longer, and we don’t want our customers to have to wait for extended periods out in the heat,” said District Manager Tim Treloar. Customers can pay by phone at 866-734-0743, online at www.calwater.com, or at Western Union. According to Treloar, Cal Water does not plan to shut off water service for non-payment on July 13 or July 16. Cal Water serves about 271,000 people through 68,500 service connections in Bakersfield. The company has provided water service in the area since 1927. Additional information may be obtained online at www.calwater.com.

will need to be readjusted for height, or a taller sprinkler head substituted. Sometimes dirt plugs the nozzle, so cleaning is needed. The best time to irrigate in most home situations is dawn, or about 4 to 6 a.m. That is when winds diminish and temperatures are lowest, so water does not blow away or evaporate quickly. Evening irrigation can lead to leaf diseases if water is allowed to stand on foliage during the night. During exceptionally warm weather, it is certainly OK to irrigate in the afternoon to cool turfgrass or give plants extra water. Water droplets do not focus the sun’s rays and cause leaf burn. A rule of thumb is to irrigate to fill the root zone, and that implies water delivery sufficient to penetrate soil several inches to several feet, more easily accomplished in agriculture than in home landscapes. After irrigation, one can check water penetration with a screwdriver or a garden trowel or shovel. Frequent short irrigations can lead to shallow root systems with little capacity to withstand dry conditions.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN KARLIK

Fan-spray heads are useful for irrigating irregular areas but are not best for uniform irrigation of larger areas. Irregular areas are difficult to irrigate, and runoff may result.

Keeping plants wet can lead to root rot in many woody species. Irrigation scheduling is about frequency and duration, how often valves come on and the length of time each valve remains open. In general, it is best to set duration for each station so as to fill the root zone and then to add or subtract days depending on the season. Home water bills often contain information, such as a bar chart, showing water

use over the past year. Plant water needs in the southern San Joaquin Valley vary by about a factor of 10 during the year, with water needs almost zero in the winter months. If irrigation is turned off during winter, one can see what the indoor water use was during that period. If irrigation is matched to season, there will be a climb in spring, highest water use in summer, and a decline in autumn. If the water bill

shows the same amount of use for all 12 months, it is likely plants are being overirrigated most of the year. For the engineers among us, the baseline water use rate for plants in the Bakersfield area is about 0.25 inches per day in July — that’s the average, but daily use can be higher if temperatures are well over 100 degrees or drying winds are present. For the Ridgecrest or Mojave areas, the baseline can be 0.30 inches per day. Those values do not imply that 0.25 inches of water need be applied every day, but that value does allow us to estimate water needs over period of days or weeks. One can calculate the water needed by a landscape by measuring the square feet of the landscape and multiplying by water use as a depth, and then converting to volume with the appropriate unit conversions. By doing so and comparing with a water bill we can quickly see if we’re about right in terms of water applied. John Karlik is an adviser with the UC Cooperative Extension in Bakersfield

LOVATO: ‘Factor’ judge keeping Cowell in line CONTINUED FROM C1

July 13 - July 19 Ice Age: Continental Drift (PG) No Passes Allowed Fri - Sun: (12:00), (2:15), (4:30), 6:45, 9:00 Mon - Thu: (3:00), (5:15), 7:30

Adults.............(13 & Over).............$7 Seniors............(55 & Over)............$5 Children..........(12 & Under)..........$5 Matinee. . .(All shows before 6 PM). . .$5

The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13) No Passes Allowed

$1 All Beef Hot Dogs

Fri - Sun: (12:15), (3:00), 6:00, 9:00 Mon - Thu: (3:15), 6:00, 8:45

Ted (R) Fri - Sun: (12:30), (2:45), 5:00, 7:15, 9:30 Mon - Thu: (3:30), (5:45), 8:00

PEOPLE LIKE US C 11:45, 2:20, 5:00, 7:40, 10:15 ROCK OF AGES C 12:00, 2:50, 6:50, 9:45 PROMETHEUS E 11:30, 1:10, 4:10, 5:45, 7:10, 10:05 BATTLESHIP C 1:00, 2:30, 4:00, 7:00, 9:00, 10:00 WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING C 1:15, 3:50, 6:45, 9:30 THE DICTATOR E 3:00, 5:10, 7:30 DARK SHADOWS C 11:40, 2:10, 4:45, 7:20, 10:10 THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS B 11:50, 2:00, 4:15, 6:40, 9:00 THINK LIKE A MAN C 12:10, 9:40 THE HUNGER GAMES C 11:35, 2:40, 6:30, 9:50

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They’re so supportive. They had written “stay strong” on their wrists every single day I was in treatment, so that’s why I got the tattoos on my wrists. What’s an ‘X Factor’ taping experience been like so far? Auditions are interesting; there are some really great performers and some not so great ones. The worst part is when someone has put everything they have into their audition and yet it’s just not that good. You need to have that extra something — the “X Factor” — to make it in this business, and its tough when someone is a good person and tries as hard as they can but they just don’t have “it.” Other than that, the whole experience is a blast and the judges all have a really great time together. One of us always needs to keep Simon in his place — that’s usual-

CONTINUED FROM C1

F O R M E R LY PA C I F I C T H E AT R E S

KER SFIE BEST M OVIE VLD’S ALUE

PHOTO BY HILARY WALSH

Demi Lovato appears Sunday at Rabobank Arena.

ly me. Have you and Britney Spears become close friends since working on the show? We’ve been able to spend a little bit of time together away from the auditions and she’s so amazing, so sweet. But what I don’t think people know, or what they’re going to see, is that Britney has a really great sense of humor and she’s not shy when it comes to critiquing a performer, she’ll tell it like it is. What advice do you have for young people who have dreams of a career like yours? Follow your dreams. You have to really want it and be ready for that opportunity to shine if it comes. And you have to be willing to fail a lot before you succeed. What can fans expect at your live show? When I toured last fall I brought a big show with me: dancers, pyro, things like that. This time around I wanted it to be a little more intimate, like it’s just me and the audience having a good time. It’s still high energy but I get to feel more connected to the fans and focus on the music. Would you ever do a Spanish-language album? I would love to one day. I recorded a Spanish version of “Skyscraper” that I love and I sang a duet with Pablo Alboran at last year’s Latin Grammys. What’s one random thing you’d like fans to know about you that they might not know? I love talking about UFOs and aliens. And I can’t stop watching crime shows like “Law & Order,” “Criminal Minds” or anything on Investigation Discovery.

GET OUT: Heritage Club celebrates anniversary

Showtimes for July 14-15

our request for a telephone interview, she answered The Californian’s questions via email prior to her show at Rabobank Arena on Sunday. A YouTube fan video documenting the evolution of your voice from 2007 to the present showcases you as a combination of two very strong pop vocalists: Christina Aguilera and Kelly Clarkson. Do you feel your voice continuing to evolve? Thank you, I’m such a huge fan of both artists so it’s an honor to be compared to them. Vocally, Christina is just out of this world and I’ve had the honor to sing with Kelly before and she’s a really sweet and genuine person; they’re both fantastic talents. I definitely think my voice is evolving, even since my last album You’ve already accomplished so much at such a young age, are there any dream projects you’d like to be involved in? I’m definitely open to a film if something really great comes along, but right now I’m trying to focus on my music, which is my true passion. And as far as a dream project, you can’t really beat sitting next to Britney Spears, Simon Cowell and LA Reid for ‘X Factor’ every week. The pressures of fame are undeniable, especially with young artists. At what point did you realize you would be able to resurface after dealing with your personal issues so publicly? I don’t think anything was ever guaranteed, so I’m so thankful for everything that’s happening. But when I came out of treatment and realized that my fans had really been with me the whole time, I knew I would be alright.

ND AND (POPCORN, SODA & SMALL CANDY)

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, 8 a.m. to noon, next to Golden State Mall, 3201 F St., and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Brimhall Square, 9500 Brimhall Road. Democratic Women of Kern, breakfast meeting, 9 a.m., Garden Spot, 3320 Truxtun Ave. $5, 322-7411. Irish Heritage Club’s Anniversary Celebration, celebrating one year, bring your favorite dish for the potluck, noon Saturday, Irish Heritage Club, 3117 Chester Lane. Visit online at bakersfieldirish.yolasite.com or facebook.com/irishheritageclubbakersfield. Kern Audubon Field Trip to see summer birds such as Summer Tanager, at Kern River Preserve with birder

PHOTO COURTESY OF KENNY MOUNT

Patrons enjoy the Irish Heritage of Bakersfield clubhouse. Bob Barnes, meet 6:30 a.m., at Mt. Vernon Albertson’s parking lot to carpool. Bring water, snacks, $10. Visit online kernaudubonsociety.org or 322-470. Movies in the Park, “Dolphin Tale,” begins at dusk, Emerald Cove Park, 4303

Patton Way. Free. 392-2000. Summer Bazaar, craft show and sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P St. Free. 346-5870. Tehachapi Relay for Life, opening ceremony 8:30 a.m., survivors lap 9 a.m., Luminaria ceremony 9 p.m. Saturday, closing ceremony 8:30 a.m.

Sunday, Jacobsen Middle School, 711 Anita Drive, Tehachapi. Free. Visit relayforlife.org/tehachapica or 332-4975. 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 8722256. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10859, Rosedale & Ladies Auxiliary, 9:30 a.m., Norris Road Veterans Hall, 400 Norris Road. 588-5865. Yokuts Park Fun Run, practice racing and earn points, 7 a.m., Yokuts Park, Empire Drive off Truxtun Avenue. Free. bakersfieldtrackclub.com or 203-4196 or 391-7080. Submissions: Post online at kernevents.com. Questions? 395-7308 or 7168640.

(PG)

3D: (10:00AM, 12:15, 2:30, 4:45), 7:00, 9:15 2D: (10:30AM, 11:00AM, 11:35AM, 12:50, 1:20, 1:50, 3:05, 3:35, 4:05, 5:20, 5:50), 6:20, 7:30, 8:05, 8:35, 9:45, 10:15, 10:45 SAVAGES (R) (11:20AM, 2:20, 5:10), 8:15, 10:55 I KATY PERRY (PG) (10:15AM, 12:30, 2:50, 5:10), 7:25, 9:45 THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (PG-13) 3D: (10:45AM, 1:45, 4:45), 7:45, 10:40 2D: (10:00AM, 11:30AM, 12:15, 1:00, 2:30, 3:15, 4:00, 5:30), 6:15, 7:00, 8:30, 9:10, 9:55, 11:25

Bargain Shows in ( )

MAGIC MIKE (R) (10:10AM, 12:40, 3:10, 5:40), 8:10, 10:35 MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION (PG-13) (10:15AM, 12:45, 3:15, 5:45), 8:20, 10:50 TED (R) (10:50AM, 12:00, 1:10, 2:25, 3:35, 4:50), 6:00, 7:15, 8:40, 9:40, 11:10 BRAVE (PG) (10:20AM, 12:40, 3:00, 5:15), 7:40, 9:55 MADAGASCAR 3 (PG) (10:45AM, 12:55, 3:10, 5:30), 7:45, 9:55

I Pass/Discount Restrictions Apply

Showtimes Valid Only 7/14/12

DAVIS: ‘Saving’ a dog by stealing it? Not ethical CONTINUED FROM C1

the car and informs him/her that the dog they left suffering, perhaps to die, has been rescued and taken away to live in a new home where it will be loved, appreciated and well-cared for.

Now hold on a second! While authorities may pass on filing charges against someone who breaks a car window to save a dog facing imminent death, there is a big difference between the life-saving actions of a good

Samaritan and people encouraging behavior akin to that of some animal rights activists who will stop at nothing to promote their socalled “ethical” agenda. Even if it's done with good intentions, it's still dognap-

ping. Sherry Davis is a dog trainer/owner of CSI 4 K9s. Email her at csi4k9s@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter @csi4K9s. These are her opinions, not necessarily The Californian’s.

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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Bright House Networks Amphitheatre

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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

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Park at River Walk

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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.”

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.”

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 26, 2012

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

Index Padre Hotel honored ................................ 18 Tehachapi Food & Wine Fest .................... 19 Arts Alive.................................................. 20 Death and the Maiden.............................. 21 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 22 Philippine Weekend Festival.................... 23 Levan Institute of Lifelong Learning...... 24 Calendar .............................................. 27-29

Need a groove? She’s got it In-demand bass player defies gender stereotypes BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

obin Bramlett remembers the joyful noise permeating the Sunday air, so spirited and full of praise it could be heard in the parking lot outside St. John’s Baptist Church on East Brundage. Those soul-stirring gospel grooves not only opened Bramlett’s heart to her spirituality but to music as well. She thinks back to her earliest inspiration almost every day, when she reaches for her shiny bass guitar stationed prominently in the front room of her home. Flipping the power switch, it’s only a matter of seconds before that comforting low hum begins to resonate, transporting her back in time. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve always just gravitated to the low frequency of the bass,” said Bramlett, 38, who by day works as a social worker. “I’ve always had that in me. I can’t really describe it.” Bramlett’s reputation in the Bakersfield scene is as solid as the grooves she’s more than capable of laying down. She’s a familiar face at local festivals, nightclubs and as a mentor to young musicians. “I go into every gig with the idea that I’d like to be called back. So I’m gonna rip it up when it’s time to play.” Though there’s no way of getting around the fact that the bass usually is played by men, keep your judgments at the door. Bramlett actually welcomes the chance to challenge any preconceptions her audience might have. “I used to get some attitude and had some stuff happen to me onstage, along with the looks like, Oh, you play bass? Even at church. Then they hear me, and things change.” Bramlett took time this week to speak with The Californian, after a daylong rehearsal in Los Angeles with one of her latest projects, Jazz in Pink, an all-female band of California jazz and R&B heavies. “I approach everything with feel. That’s what I’ve always found to work and something that works for me as a self-taught player with some knowledge of theory.” The youngest of 11 siblings, Bramlett said her parents, William and Lillie, presented her with a guitar, drums, keyboard and bass when she was 8. Music was encouraged as long as it was used in service to her parents’ strict religious beliefs. She began to anticipate Sunday services, where the band would back the booming lead vocals of choir member Herbert Clay. “His voice just pierced the room when he sang,” Bramlett recalled. “I wanted to sound just like that.” Galvanized by Clay and the other musicians at church, the young player intensified her daily practice regimen.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL LOPEZ

Bakersfield bassist Robin Bramlett has been active in the jazz and gospel community for years.

“I go into every gig with the idea that I’d like to be called back. So I’m gonna rip it up when it’s time to play.” — Robin Bramlett, a social worker by day who plays bass at night

“I never used a guitar pick and I used to play until the strings broke. I noticed they never broke on the bass. I sat here for hours trying different things, playing along to music we had in the house, mostly gospel.” Bramlett’s interest in secular music eventually made its way into her play-aalong sessions, through a radio/cassette player she kept in her room. Unaware of the tendency to categorize music by genre, she found herself absorbing everything from R&B, rock, to country music. “Con Funk Shun, Lakeside, Shalamar, the bassist from Slave, I loved all those bands. The first R&B song I learned to play was ‘Let’s Celebrate’ by Skyy. I even remember listening to Kenny Rogers on the radio. I didn’t know genres, I only knew music.”

At 18, Bramlett was given an opportunity to join the worship band at St. John’s Baptist church. Guided in the ways of gospel bass-playing techniques and styles from congregation mentors Donald Factory and Don Hicks, she also studied music at Bakersfield College. Her forays into jazz and funk would open new doors outside gospel music, carrying her to the present. Former Bakersfield music promoter and keyboardist Rose Carbajal, who now runs Southern California-based artist relations company DB Group, recalled hiring Bramlett for a new band to back up percussionist Louie Cruz Beltran in early 2000. “He (Beltran) was very impressed with her,” Carbajal said. “She was funky and knew how to play. Her work ethic was very serious. She and I played together as Nu Brazil a few years later; that’s when I really got to see her chops. Robin presents the music from the perspective of the bass, very tastefully.” Beltran agreed, saying he’s seen few bassists that can compare in any line-up. “Her knowledge to adapting to different style is very unique and second to none. She’s very much a team player, good at her craft and versatility. You see a woman who’s leading a path to breaking the mold and she definitely has proven that it’s not a gender, it’s the talent.”

Saphonist Darren Gholston, a longtime collaborator, probably knows more than anyone about Bramlett’s playing, having known her since they both were in their teens. Bramlett’s graceful licks have been among some of the highlights during Gholston’s live shows at the Bakersfield Jazz Festival and the Nile Club. Plus, he says she’s been known to tear up a few church gigs from time to time. “We used to pick her up for church when she didn’t have a car and now she’s got instrument endorsements and people calling to hire her. It’s just a beautiful thing to see,” he said. “There’s something about Robin. She’s like a sponge. Even from a young age, she was into every kind of music she could get her hands on. It served her well, because it taught her how to play in the pocket. She’s never stopped learning.” This weekend Bramlett will be backing up legendary soul singer Miki Howard for a two-night stint at the prestigious Catalina Bar & Grill jazz club in Hollywood. Plus, she has a series of shows lined up for another side project, Hit Like a Girl, leading up to her long-awaited solo CD, “This Is My Life,” scheduled for an October release. “No matter where I’m playing, I just wanna be happy where I’m at,” she said.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, August 2, 2012

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

Index Union Cemetery guided tour .................. 22 Arts Alive .................................................. 23 15th annual Lowrider Nationals .............. 24 Play: As told by children.......................... 25 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 26 Guitar Masters at Bell Tower series........ 27 Rediscovering Bakersfield’s museums.. 30 Calendar .............................................. 32-33

In luck if you love Buck Joe Nichols headlines annual Owens party BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

oe Nichols has been given some career-enhancing advice over the years, but none has stuck with him quite as much as the pearl of wisdom he got from Buck Owens during a promotional stop in Bakersfield early in his career. Fresh faced, bushy-haired and eager to strut his stuff, Nichols said he was confident he had made an impression on Owens, who didn’t always have the time to visit with artists stopping by his KUZZ radio studio or Crystal Palace. “At one point he told me, ‘Boy, I sure like ya kid, but you gotta cut Owens that dang hair.’ And of course, on my next album, I had short hair,” laughed Nichols, 35, during a phone interview. “He later wrote me this long letter that said, ‘A lot of people have taken my advice and gone a lot of places in this business, and thank you for cuttin’ that hair.’ That album happened to be one of the bigger ones, too. He was just a great, fun guy who sure knew a lot about the business of country music.” Nichols will be savoring that and other memories of his mentor when he returns to the Crystal Palace on Aug. 16 to headline Buck’s Birthday Bash. Aug. 12 is the 83nd anniversary of Owens’ birth. Nichols also performed during the 2005 outdoor concert for the unveiling of life-size bronze statues of country legends like Owens, Merle Haggard and George Jones that now stand inside the Crystal Palace (though the highlight of the occasion, arguably, was when Garth Brooks got down on one knee and popped the question to then-girlfriend Trisha Yearwood). “That was one of the most amazing evenings of my life. It’s an honor to come back and headline another special occasion.” Though he has nine best-selling CDs under his belt and a string of hit singles like “Tequila

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOE NICHOLS

Country singer Joe Nichols headlines this month’s Buck Birthday Bash on Aug. 16.

Buck’s Birthday Bash with Joe Nichols When: 7 p.m. Aug. 16 Where: Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. Admission: $87 to $112 Information: 328-7560 or buckowens.com

Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” “Brokenheartsville” and “What’s a Guy Gotta Do,” Nichols has had a career of mixed blessings. After a public meltdown in 2005 that he said was the result of substance abuse, Nichols admitted himself to a treatment facility. Following his stay, he returned to work, recommitted to his family, work and a healthy lifestyle. It’s a journey reflected on his latest CD, “It’s All Good.” “I’ve found that even good days aren’t so bad and how truly blessed I am after all these years.

I’ve got a beautiful new baby girl and beautiful, tolerant, loving wife. Well, moderately tolerant,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve tried to stay on a path of getting into the gym regularly, and trying to keep fair food from killing me. I don’t wanna look like one of those guys who looks like they’ve been eating corn dogs for seven years solid.” His resilient attitude has allowed him to reflect on the changes happening in the industry. No longer the new kid on the block, he’s been able to listen much more objectively to what’s going on around him. “Country radio right now sure seems directionless. It’s more of a pop format now more than ever. I don’t think country music is in trouble, because it sells. I think it’s become more of a brand-less genre. To me, it feels like top-40, adult contemporary, and all similar genres. They’re all kind of merging together. One of the coolest things about country

music to me was always the identifiable nature of it. Years ago you knew when you were listening to a country music radio station. That’s why on soundtracks and movies they use a classic country song, they never use anything that’s currently being played. It has nothing to do with how good the music is; the problem is, it’s just hard to put a label on it now.” And that’s why Nichols continues to draw inspiration from Owens and other groundbreakers. “There are a lot of good young voices out there. The big mistake a lot of us make is: Go for radio and play what radio will play. That is a very middle-of-thepack-following mentality. Be a leader and do something unique; people will remember that about you and respect that about you. “The music of Buck Owens will live on forever because of that. He’s one of the biggest figures in the history of country music, and

he did it his way all the way from California.”

Buck Bashes Bakersfield may have been Buck’s home, but it’s not the only city that still reveres his music. Chicago, Phoenix and Nashville are among cities in the country that host their own annual Buck Bashes. But apart from the Crystal Palace, no venue throws a bigger celebration than Austin’s Continental Club, whose annual celebration of Owens predates even the Bakersfield shindig. This year marks the 21st annual event, which will be held on Aug. 12, Owens’ birthday. “I can’t remember what year it was, but Buck and I once chartered a jet with guitarist Jim Lauderdale, and surprised them in Austin one year at the Continental Club,” recalled Buckaroo keyboardist and band leader Jim Shaw. “The looks on the crowd when we walked in was really Please see BASH / 29

Thursday, August 2, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Bell Tower rings up guitar-master shows BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he historic Bakersfield Bell Tower Club downtown will be showcasing the building’s pristine acoustics when it hosts a trio of intimate concerts. Titled Guitar Masters at the Bell Tower, the summer-to-fall music series will feature acclaimed guitarists Peppino D’Agostino, Doyle Dykes and Laurence Juber. The Bakersfield series opens Aug. 9 with D’Agostino. Bakersfield promoter and show organizer Rick Kreiser said he was inspired to produce the shows after seeing Juber last year at a house concert down south. “I heard about these house concerts with about 30 to 40 people in a person’s living room or backyard, and that’s exactly what it was,” said Kreiser, president of Carney’s Business Technology. “When I got to the location, it was a little tract home in Thousand Oaks.” Following the show, Kreiser said he contacted Juber and asked about the possibility of bringing a similar type of event to Bakersfield. “I don’t have a living room like (the hosts in Thousand Oaks), but I probably knew more people that may enjoy this type of presentation. I always support local events like the jazz festival and blues festival, so why not add something like this to the list?” Kreiser stumbled on the Bell Tower Club and after a successful pitch to management, scheduled his first show last fall, featuring Juber, which attracted 135 paid attendees. “The Bell Tower was all over it,” he said. “It was a unique situation for them since they’re normally only open to members at lunch. There’s very little overhead involved. They dress up the place, set up the chairs and handle the food. I provide the sound, dim the lights, do a little intro and off we go.” Bell Tower general manager Amy Lewis said the restaurant is always open to new ideas about how to bring attention to the venue. “I’m willing to try everything once, and it’s really nice to offer something new. We have weddings and special receptions all year long. The shows are really intimate, very entertaining. Rick has done a great job.” All shows are $30, which includes heavy gourmet appetizers and desserts provided by the Bell Tower, a no-host bar, and two generous sets of music with a break. No pre-sale tickets or reservations are involved, and all shows are open to the public. Limited seating is theater-style, at a capacity of 160. “If we sold tickets, it changes the

PHOTO BY JONATHAN BERKOMPAS

Peppino D’Agostino, hailed as one of the best multi-dimensional guitarists in world music, appears Aug. 9 in the Guitar Masters at the Bell Tower series.

Guitar Masters at the Bell Tower series Aug. 9: Peppino D’Agostino Sept. 20: Doyle Dykes Oct. 25: Laurence Juber Doors for all shows open at 6:30 p.m. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Where: Bell Tower, 1200 Truxtun Ave. (Truxtun & L Streets) Admission: $30 includes heavy appetizers, dessert, no host bar. Information and reservations: 204-7685

whole economics of the event. This is purely to offer something different to people that I happen to know, and people that like music. In keeping with the house concert concept, I make no money from these shows. All door revenue goes towards the artists with the exception of a small fee to cover use of the facilities. Another nice thing is there’s never an entourage. It’s just the artist.” First up, on Aug. 9, is D’Agostino, hailed as one of the best multidimensional guitarists in world music. D’Agostino’s blend of Brazilian, Irish, country, blues, ragtime, and classical styles have taken him around the globe. Often described as a master of the “fingerstyle” technique, his highly technical methods include hammering on and pulling off with the guitar fretting hand, and using the body of the guitar percussively. Over the course of his career, D’Agostino has released eight critically acclaimed solo albums and instructional guitar books and videos. D’Agostino is a featured guitarist in the United Guitar Ensemble, a group

composed of seven of the world’s top classical guitarists and D’Agostino on steel string. On Sept. 20 the series continues with American acoustic artist Doyle Dykes. Cited along with guitarists like Australia’s Tommy Emmanuel as among the best finger-style guitarists in the world, he also is known for his capability of playing proficiently with a wide range of different guitar tunings. Dykes has released eight fulllength albums. Among some of his best-known works and inspirational interpretations are “Wabash Canonball,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Amazing Grace.” In 2011 he also released “The Lights of Marfa,” a semi-autobiographical book documenting his spiritual travels as a devout Baptist. Rounding out the trio of shows will be Laurence Juber, who returns Oct. 25. As a young working musician in London in the 1970s, Juber got an lifechanging break when Paul McCartney handpicked him to become the lead guitarist for Wings in 1978. Juber’s playing can be heard on the group’s final album “Back to the Egg,” a performance that also earned him a Grammy for the instrumental single, “Rockestra Theme.” After Wings folded in 1981, Juber embarked on a career as a solo artist, composer and arranger, and developed a reputation as a guitar virtuoso, voted No. 1 by Fingerstyle Guitar magazine. He has released 20 solo albums and has been heard on numerous TV and film soundtracks. “I do this to just look out over the audience and make my friends smile,” said Kreiser. “These guys aren’t household names, but you look at some of the players they’ve played with, it’s just phenomenal. I’d like to continue this series.”

Thursday, August 2, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street LOWDOWN: CONTINUED FROM 26

Jackson brother calls for peace Family’s feud has spilled into public eye BY ANTHONY MCCARTNEY AP Entertainment Writer

Jermaine Jackson called Wednesday for an end to the feud that has embroiled his family for more than a week, saying issues over the care of his mother and with late brother Michael’s estate should be handled privately. Jackson wrote in a statement first released to The Associated Press that he regrets the public turmoil that resulted from his mother Katherine’s 10-day trip to an Arizona spa. The trip sparked a missing person’s report and a driveway confrontation between relatives at the home of Katherine Jackson before a judge stripped her of guardianship duties. “Mistakes have been made and irrational things have been said on both sides in a highly charged emotional environment,” Jermaine Jackson wrote. “It is time for us all to draw a line in the sand and move towards peace, co-operation, love and healing.” The Jackson family is still

raw from the death of the pop superstar three years ago, Jermaine Jackson wrote, and his mother has endured incredible stress and pressures since then. He said he remains concerned about his brother’s estate but is dropping support for a letter leaked two weeks ago that called on executors of the estate to resign. Jermaine Jackson said his statement was prompted after his son asked if he could no longer visit Katherine Jackson at her suburban Calabasas home. “After much soul-searching, it is clearly time for us to live by Michael’s words about love not war,” he wrote. At the request of an attorney for TJ Jackson, temporary guardian of Michael Jackson’s children, the estate has acknowledged it has blocked certain relatives from visiting the home. The family members were not named. Attorneys are still trying to untangle some of the issues that the family dispute has created. Katherine Jackson’s attorney Perry Sanders Jr. said attorneys will return to court today to

BASH: CONTINUED FROM 20

something. Austin is just chock-full of musicians. Everyone shows up, does one Buck song onstage and just keep going.” For Bakersfield’s Aug. 16 celebration, Shaw will be joined onstage at the Crystal Palace by Owens’ sons Buddy and John, guitarists Monty Byrom and Chuck Seaton, drummer Dave Wulfekuehler, vocalists Kim McAbee and Jennifer Keel, and bassist Billy Haynes. Performing together and in different variations, they’ll kick off the evening with many of Owens’ most beloved tunes. “We’re not reinventing the wheel; everyone comes out to hear the classics and enjoy themselves, then we hand it over to our special guests,” Shaw said. Noticeably absent will be the signature steel guitar sound of Buckaroo Terry Christoffersen, who left the group last year. Shaw, who stays in touch with Christoffersen, said the group has never been able to find a full-time replacement. “Terry’s doing all right. We’ve been friends since we were teenagers. The last time we played was the Jim Burke Ford picnic a few months ago. The steel guitar is a very complex and difficult instrument, and as far as I know there isn’t anyone in Bakersfield that can play it the way we need it.” Meanwhile, Shaw said there’s been talk

ZUMA PRESS

Michael Jackson’s children, from left, Blanket, Paris and Prince, are seen with the grandmother Katherine at an appearance in January.

present an agreement to restore his client as a guardian. The agreement would also call for TJ Jackson to remain a co-guardian, with control over the staff and day-to-day operations of the home where Katherine Jackson and her grandchildren Prince, Paris and Blanket currently live. Sanders has said the arrangement will allow Katherine Jackson to focus on the children’s upbringing and not on other financial or logistics issues. The co-guardianship arrangement would also allow either Katherine Jackson, 82, or TJ Jackson, 34, to serve as sole guardian if the other were no longer able to serve. Jermaine Jackson’s statement offers a detailed account of why he, brother

of expanding the Owens celebration from a concert into a daylong community event, but once the reality check of summer heat sets in, they’d much rather stay inside. “We’ve always thought about having another parking lot event like we did when we unveiled the statues, but it is in August and really hot. It could be a killer day. For now, we’ll probably keep it in the club, where Buck always held court for his birthday.” Guitarist Byrom is looking forward to carrying on the tradition with Shaw and the Owens family with some added twists brought to the stage by Haynes, who’s also well-versed in funk and jazz bass style. Together with Seaton’s unique guitar sound, Byrom anticipates a tribute unlike no other. “It’s gonna be a little crazier this year, because I’m pushing the boundaries of this group. I do miss Doyle (Curtsinger on bass) and Terry Christoffersen, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard Jim sound better. Those guys are his friends for life, but a little new blood and kick in the butt is good for you. Buck just didn’t listen to country. He was into The Beatles, Ray Charles, Creedence Clearwater Revival. He influenced not just country music, but all kinds of rock and roll artists.” Also appearing will be country newcomer Jon Pardi.

Randy and sisters Janet and Rebbie felt it was necessary to isolate their mother. “We simply worried that a call home would first entail, or lead to, conversations with individuals we are in dispute with and that would, therefore, increase pressure on Mother — and pressure was what a doctor said she didn’t need,” he wrote. He said by the time of the confrontation on July 23, “it was clear that mutual suspicions had allowed events to spiral out of control.”

that they were crazy enough to carry hundreds of records to every show they played. Soon their name changed to Beatnuts, and it stuck. Over the years they began producing and became known for their remixing, working with the likes of Mos Def, Cypress Hill and a host of others. They’re revered in hip-hop circles as Latino rap pioneers, but also as one of the few lasting groups that has never stopped working and representing their brand of hardcore rap and inyour-face performance style. Much of their musical catalog has been used by a host of singers over the years, including on Jennifer Lopez’s “Jenny from the Block,” that features a sample of The Beatnuts’ 1999 hit, “Watch Out Now,” as the song’s foundation. I have to tip my hat to Bakersfield promoter Chuck “Tha Butcher” Arias, who has been hitting the pavement, passing out promo compilations to hype the show for over a month. Packaged in both jewel cases and slip covers, the 10track CD also comes with a flier about the show. It’s rare you see this type of dedicated street promotion rather than the usual Facebook invite, and very much in the original spirit of hip-hop culture. Saturday’s all-ages show starts at 9 p.m. Admission is $15 pre-sale and $25 at the door. Also appearing is Gob Goblin. Jerry’s Pizza is located at 1817 Chester Ave. 6331000. Highly recommended.

ZZ Top sells out Fox If you’ve been procrastinating about buying tickets to see legendary Texas-rock trio ZZ Top at the Fox on Aug. 14, you’re out of luck. According to the Fox Theater, the show sold out almost as quickly as it was announced, with only a few final seats released for ZZ Top fan club members this earlier this week. There’s always a chance the Fox may release any unsold seats to the public on the day of the show. For inquiries, call the Fox box office at 324-1369.

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, August 9, 2012

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

Index Top drummer leaving town .................... 21 Dinner and a movie .................................. 22 Indie Wednesdays at Maya .................... 23 Arts Alive .................................................. 24 Next best thing to Jackson ...................... 25 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 26 The Foundry on the move ........................ 27 Calendar .............................................. 29-31

“Don Rich of the Buckaroos is a personal hero of mine. Nobody could play a Telecaster like him. We loved Buck a whole lot — he’s originally a Texan, you know. You guys should consider carving Bakersfield’s answer to Mount Rushmore with all of those greats taking over a mountain.” — Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top

Cool buZZ for tres hombres Upcoming album revitalizes bearded bards of Texas rock BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

here’s a lot to be said for a band that went from being saloon ramblers to bearded cowboys from outer space on MTV. And after four decades of rockin’ around the globe, ZZ Top, the tres hombres of Texas rock, are about to roll into another chapter of their long and winding career. Next month the group will be releasing its 15th studio album, “La Futura,” produced by Rick Rubin, who cut his teeth in the early days of rap and was the man behind Johnny Cash’s musical comeback. On Tuesday, the band will give local audiences a little taste of where they are now at the Fox Theater (and if you procrastinated in getting tickets, so sorry: The show sold out last week). ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard barreled through the ’70s with razor-cut riffs, a driving backbeat, and humorous lyrics filled with sexual innuendo and Texas slang. Known to fans as “that little ol’ band from Texas,” they carved a niche as purveyors of bluesbased rock with a modern country edge. From the opening lines of “La Grange” to the screaming soul of “Tush,” Please see ZZ TOP / 28

ZZ Top When: 8 p.m. Tuesday; the show is sold out Where: Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Information: 324-1369 or vallitix.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZZ TOP

ZZ Top will perform a sold-out show Tuesday at the Fox. Pictured above from left: Frank Beard, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill.

Thursday, August 9, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Drummer beats path to Nashville Bakersfield musician hopes for big break BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he drum cases arranged neatly around the home of Jarred Pope could easily be mistaken for furniture. Always within reach, they hold essential tools of his trade: snares, toms, pedals, hardware and an endless supply of sticks. They go wherever he goes and when you’re as in demand as Pope is, the next gig is always just a downbeat away. “I promise I’m not a drum hoarder,” said Pope, 40, guiding me through a short walkway from the front door to the living room. “I’ve got some packing to do.” But not just for another gig. A few minutes into our interview he shared some surprising news: He’s packing his bags, bound for a new home in Nashville, Tenn., next week. That should come as no surprise, given his career aspirations and talent. Pope’s been a familiar local name for years, especially among active musicians who’ve sought his talents for every job imaginable. Plus, he’s logged many miles touring on the country music circuit, backing majorlabel acts stateside and overseas. It’s a lifestyle he’s become accustomed to, having beaten a path lately between California and Nashville, where jobs for musicians are plentiful if you have the right connections. Now, he said, it’s time to go to where the music is. “In this business, they wanna know you’re ready to go anytime they need you in the city they’re hiring you in. They’re not thinking about hiring someone from California to try and pull it off.”

Muppets drum kit Pope got his first drum kit at age 6 from his parents, Rosemary Del Rio and John Pope. The sounds of Motown and classic rock were always on the stereo at the family’s Santa Maria home. “It was a ‘Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem’ Muppets kit. I loved it. I beat that thing until it fell apart, then I started using pots and pans. My mom was cool with it until I started breaking all the wooden spoons in the house. I think they thought maybe I’d grow out of it, but they would have me perform for their friends, so it couldn’t have been that bad.” Despite his parents’ eventual divorce, the pair were united in nurturing Pope’s creative inter-

ests. He recalls one Christmas morning when his father presented him with a new student model drum kit along with a copy of Kiss’ “Hotter Than Hell” on vinyl. “I’ll never forget that Christmas. I cranked that record all the time, and my dad created an environment for me to play whenever I wanted to.” Eager to play for local parties, Pope formed his first rock bands, Saurus and Dismal Void, while learning to read drum charts. When he was 15, he and his father settled in Bakersfield. Pope’s first question once he enrolled at West High School as a junior: “Where’s the band room?” “I didn’t know anything about marching band, I only knew drum kit. That’s what I wanted to do.”

‘He just wowed me’ Former West High music director Mike Bhone, who was teaching at the school at the time of Pope’s arrival, recalled their first meeting during one of his jazz band classes. “He kind of walked in an introduced himself and asked, ‘Do you mind if I just listen?’ Afterwards he came over and we chatted, and he played a couple charts for me. I asked what kind of music he listened to. He goes, ‘You ever heard of Chick Corea?’ He was listening to the right stuff. From that point on, he just wowed me. We had other drummers who were great. But it was great for a band director to come across someone like Jarred, who had the right idea so young.” Bhone told Pope the only way the student could continue in the jazz program was if he also took part in the marching band. At the time, West’s band was one of the best around. “One season, we didn’t have enough players to cover all the bass drum parts, so I came up with this idea to build a setup for all the drums to be played by one person,” Bhone recalled. “I put Jarred in the pit and he played all of them himself. If you watched him, it was like he was playing a drum kit made of bass drums.”

‘When Paul called, I dropped the phone’ Saxophonist Paul Perez, who met Pope during his visits to West High for music tutoring, said Pope’s drumming was a rare find. “It was apparent he was leaps and bounds above just an average high school player. He even looked and played like (drummer) Dave Weckl at that time, when Chick Corea’s band was all the rage.” Over at CSUB, Perez, a student at the time, had assembled a jazz

SHELBY MACK / THE CALIFORNIAN

Jarred Pope plays drums in the home of friend Neil Moralez. Pope, who has been playing the drums since he was 6, is in the process of moving to Nashville, Tenn., to further his music career.

group called Sneakers, a who’s who of the best musicians of the late 1980s: bassist Dave Glenn, vocalist Keith Hall, keyboardist Jaime Sevilla, late Bakersfield guitarist Tim Cartwright and drummer John Snider. After Snider left, Perez hit up Pope to fill the coveted spot. Soon after, the group was recording and collecting accolades and awards at the annual Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival. “When Paul called me, I dropped the phone. The CSUB jazz music program was the hottest thing going on. All the good players were there,” Pope said. “Things just snowballed for me.” Doug Davis, CSUB professor of jazz studies, recalled Pope’s immediate impact. “What I remember is a young drummer completely on fire to learn. His willingness to work was just outstanding. My hope for him was to keep the road as open as possible so he could keep learning. There was quite a long jazz period that he was represented. The Street Players band came after Sneakers, and his involvement with other groups. That was just more creativity. He was in the mix and ready for it.” The offers began streaming in

from that point on, opportunities born of Pope’s desire to stay open to all types of drumming: jazz fusion, alternative rock, ska, country, Latin and beyond. “There was a reason I spent so much time practicing and still do. It’s always been important for me to study and listen to what’s going on out there, and still reaching back to the basics for exercises. People must think I sit around listening to jazz fusion records, but I don’t. Most of what I listen to has nothing to do with being a drummer.” Pope’s extensive resume covers myriad genres and musical occupations. He’s toured, recorded and performed with singer/actress Julianne Hough, singer/songwriter Crosby Loggins, Americana duo Hanna– McEuen, the Smokin’ Armadillos, Monty Byrom, Mother Funk Conspiracy, and country act Whiskey Falls, which took Pope on its European/Japan tour in 2008. He also has appearanced on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the “Grand Ole Opry” and been featured in Drum! magazine. “You have to be selfless and be able to create for the artist hiring you. Be able to step out of your comfort zone, and step up when it’s your time. I’ve been lucky to

play with some great players,” Pope said. As for the drummer’s absence from Bakersfield, Perez said Pope will leave a void. But the timing couldn’t be better. “(Jazz legend) Ernie Watts told us, ‘If you’re genuine and sincere in your presentation and you’re undeniably good at what you do, there’s a place waiting for you. The problem is having patience to wait for that moment.’ I think Jarred is at that point,” Perez said. “Now he’s going to a place where he can shine.” Bhone, who performed with Pope and Perez for a private show on Saturday, is confident success will continue to follow. “Jarred is warm and humble, but he’s confident, that’s an attribute that carries people along in life. His timing is amazing, and he’s a groove-oriented drummer. Everyone that I know that’s played with Jarred knows that. I’m really proud of him.” Pope, who will make the move without his family, said he will miss his three children, Shaylan, Savannah and Alex. But because of them and his friends here, Bakersfield will always be home. “If I had never moved here, I wouldn’t be near the player I am today.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, August 9, 2012

Eye Street ZZ TOP: CONTINUED FROM 20

they had a flair for crafting melodies with undeniable catchiness. On tour, they brought their home state along for the ride, staging shows featuring live farm animals, native plants and a Texas-shaped stage. As their reputation grew, so did their beards and popularity. Their 1983 album “Eliminator” would become one the year’s runaway hits, due in part to the videos for the songs “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’.” All three featured sexy models and a tricked-out, red 1933 Ford Coupe that became part of the group’s hip new image. Soon, the ZZ Top beard could be seen everywhere from advertising campaigns to Halloween costumes. Today, they still bear their trademark beards and sunglasses. In 2004, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. To stir up some hype for the upcoming record, the group released a four-song EP, “Texicali,” earlier this year. It’s a solid reminder of what defines the ZZ Top sound: gritty guitars, driving beats and gruff vocals. No synthesizers, just pure Texas rock. Guitarist and vocalist Gibbons, 62, was good enough to answer The Californian’s questions via email. How does it feel to be considered one of the most iconic bands of both the ’70s and ’80s? It feels fine ’cause we had a lot of good times then and we’re still having them. We’ve extended our

rock and roll “half life” by keeping on keeping on. Fun is the Hamburger Helper secret to our longevity. What are your impressions of producer Rick Rubin? His talent is his ability to listen and reflect on what he hears. That’s not easy for us, so his contribution was very significant. And, you know, look at that beard! How could this not have worked? What was your favorite moment of the big MTV video days? Winning in our category at the very first MTV Awards, now known as the VMAs, was pretty cool. We got to shoot the “Legs” video twice because the lab ruined the film after the first shooting and we had to reassemble cast and crew one week later, and we really got to know those girls pretty well. One of the original ZZ Top video models, Jeana Keough from “Legs,” was last seen on the reality show “Real Housewives of Orange County.” You still keep in touch? Not only are we in touch with most of them, but we’ve met their daughters! What was your least favorite MTV moment? It’s certainly one of the most absurd moments and it lasted longer than a moment, but when Frank “discovered” MTV he was home channel surfing and saw they were playing music. He stayed up for about 18 hours ’cause he didn’t want to miss any of it, unaware that it was

going on for 24 hours, non-stop. Are your beards insured? Yes, but the deductible is a killer! Have you ever been offered money to shave the beards off? Doesn’t matter ’cause there’s no way we’d do it. The prospect of seeing ourselves clean-shaven in the mirror is more frightening that just about anything imaginable. You get a chance to check out any new bands? Oh, yeah. We’re digging a few cool new ones. We’re liking Black Joe Louis and The Honeybears from Austin, and Amplified Heat, too. The latter are a three-piece that play it really down and dirty. Sound familiar? On the country side, we’re big pals with Jamey Johnson, who really knows how to rock it. Will we ever see a ZZ Top autobiography? If it was made into a movie, which big-time Hollywood actors would you like portraying you three on film? We can’t stop to get a biography down ’cause we’re still living chapters to be written about. For a film about ZZ Top, we’d have Frank portrayed by William H. Macy, maybe George Clooney or John Hamm to play yours truly and, of course, we’d ask the Looney Tunes folks to conjure up Yosemite Sam to play Dusty. I once caught a ZZ Top tribute with a fourth member onstage, which seemed a bit odd. What kind of ZZ Top tribute would you approve of?

DANIEL KARMANN / ZUMA PRESS

Singer and guitarist Billy Gibbons, left, and bassist Dusty Hill perform at Abenberg Castle in Abenberg, Germany, in June 2011.

That’s ridiculous! If you can’t do it with three, don’t do it at all. We’ve heard a whole bunch of them over the years and were very impressed with Fandango!, a band whose drummer was none other than Billy Bob Thornton. There’s one out there called Eliminator, but not sure the beards are for real. They’re not a ZZ tribute band, per se, but Rick K. and the Allnighters’ version of “Sharp Dressed Man” is amazing because the drummer is so wild. More than 2 million have seen the YouTube video. Check it out!

rhythm section, they asked him to run down the changes in advance of the set. His response was: “Lightnin’ change when Lightnin’ want to change.” aThey were really on their toes as a result. What kind of set list will fans be getting at your Bakersfield show? Our aim is to cover as much territory as possible, so we’ll go way back to the beginning and bring it right up to the present with some stuff from the forthcoming album and maybe some stuff we’ve never recorded, to make it interesting. Would you ever consider having live animals onstage again like you did for the Worldwide Texas tour of ’76? Got that base covered, too. GiZZmo, the band’s mascot, has been known to join us onstage.

What’s the best advice or compliment you’ve ever received from one of your musical idols? Jimi Hendrix said he thought we were “more than OK,” and when Dusty and Frank were doing duty as Lightnin’ Hopkins’

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, August 23, 2012

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

Index Band of Heathens .................................... 22 25th annual Rubber Ducky Races .......... 23 Arts Alive .................................................. 24 “Oliver!” review ...................................... 25 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 26 Indoor Garage Sale .................................. 27 Jessica Boles............................................ 28 Calendar .............................................. 32-33

“It’s like taking a step back in time, and you’ve been invited. Come see history unfold.” — Ira Walker, member of Zen Road Pilots

Band reunion is magical First new record in 25 years comes easy for veteran musicians BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

laying the music he loves with the men he was destined to play with — that’s how Monty Byrom of Zen Road Pilots describes the musical partnership he’s reformed with longtime friends and former bandmates Ira Walker and Tom “Fee” Falletti. Their new self-titled album and tour is the product of mended ways and a rediscovered brotherhood. It’s a close bond that is bringing these vintage souls to Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace on Saturday for a show you won’t soon forget. The reunion is certainly special for drummer Falletti. “It’s like Christmas for me, because I’m getting a second chance at something in my life. When we were kids, we blew it. We knew it. We were too full of ourselves and just being silly. Now that we’re grown and everybody’s sober, it’s been a lot of fun.” The trio first aimed for success with bandmate Danny Chauncey as Billy Satellite. The band, which started with a major label debut at the height of the MTV era, had an edge over most of the competition in the early ’80s. After rising to the top of the Bay Area rock scene, they seemed poised for stardom with national tours, music videos and the backing of Hollywood elite. But after a shakeup at Capitol Records prevented the release of their follow-up album, the group abruptly parted ways amid bad business deals and indulging in rock star vices. Apart, the musicians found continued success: Lead vocalist and guitarist Monty Byrom began penning hit songs for pop rocker Eddie Money, before forming country soul act Big House, and collaborating with the Buckaroos. Meanwhile, guitarist Chauncey joined 38 Special, bassist Ira Walker performed with various artists — including blues guitarist Keb’ Mo — and Falletti stayed busy as a sideman for Gregg Allman, among others. But even with all their solo endeavors, Byrom, Walker and Falletti admit the thrill of those early years has never truly been recaptured until now, almost 25 years after they went their separate ways. Reunited and reformed as Zen Road Pilots, the threesome picks up where they left off with a brand-new CD and a show Saturday. “It took us all this time to figure out what makes us feel good when it comes to music,”

ALBUM REVIEW

PHOTO BY PAT JOHNSON

Zen Road Pilots — from left, Ira Walker, Monty Byrom and Tom Falletti — will perform Saturday at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace.

Zen Road Pilots When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday Where: Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. Admission: $16 to $24 Information: 328-7560 or buckowens.com

said Walker, 57, during a telephone interview from his home in Red Bluff. “It’s above and beyond talent. It’s like the best deja vu I’ve ever had.” Falletti, 55, who still lives in Alameda where Billy Satellite originated, said rejoining his bandmates is comparable to hanging with long-lost brothers. “It’s remarkable, it’s incredible. I’m

absolutely stunned. We’re all home and we wanna stay home.” Although both point to Byrom as the driving force behind the reunion, they also cite a pivotal moment sparked by the desire to aid a fellow musician. During a 2010 benefit for guitarist Nick del Drago, a friend and cohort from years back, Byrom, Walker and Falletti were asked to participate in what many thought would be a one-off Billy Satellite reunion. Soon the trio found themselves at Slim’s in San Francisco facing the music. For Byrom, 54, it was like stepping off a cliff. “We had no soundcheck or rehearsal. We just stepped on stage and we dealt it,” he said. There in the crowd was the Billy Satellite’s Please see PILOTS / 30

Although the members of Zen Road Pilots have grown and evolved on a personal level, their sound definitely has its throwback moments, including an energetic ode to the summer of love. It’s a perfect soundtrack for the men who found their start in the City by the Bay. For Tom Falletti, the homage was an obvious choice and their most natural option. “So many things today sound so alike. We made a record that sounds like it should have been in cut in ’67 to ’68. It has a vintage sound, but very current. Probably the record I’m most proud of.” From the opening track of “I Don’t Need Nobody,” you can feel the spirit that’s been reawakened in the band. Monty Byrom sings with a fine-tuned clarity. His years on the road have given him the skill and maturity of a veteran singer, but his love for Zen Road Pilots and the opportunity they represent is evident in his delivery. His tracks are complimented by Ira Walker’s vocals, adding a lower and richer experience to the overall feel of the project, especially on Hendrix-inspired, “Broken Mirror.” It’s an album mixed with soulful, gritty Detroit offerings, ala Bob Seger, while capturing the essence of original Bay Area legend John Fogerty. The men embody late ’60s rock, but redefine the genre with the knowledge and experience learned on the long road between sitting top of the heap and flying under the radar.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, August 23, 2012

Eye Street

Heathens winning over faithful fans BY MATT MUNOZ

Band of Heathens

Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Where: Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. Admission: Free (call for reservations) Information: 328-7560 or buckowens.com

his band may have the word “heathens” in its name, but the fervor the Austin-based quintet inspires in its legion of fans seems pretty close to a religious experience. Heralded as both musical saviors and jam-band royalty, Band of Heathens have been winning over listeners since forming five years ago as a side project to quench creative thirsts. After all, following one’s creative muse is just part of life in Austin, a fabled promised land for musicians — a reputation that is grossly exaggerated, according to Heathens guitarist and vocalist Gordy Quist. “Austin is not an industry town where everybody’s hunting for a record deal or waiting for someone to show up and scoop them out of the mire and make them a star,” said Quist during a phone interview with The Californian to promote the band’s show Wednesday at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace. “I don’t see a whole lot of artists around here waiting for that. It’s more about, ‘Hey, let’s put a really good band together and go out and play as much as many nights a week as we possibly can, and make the live show really great.’ That culture has really shaped how we make music with my group.” The Heathens — Quist, gui-

tarist Ed Jurdi, drummer John Chipman, bassist Seth Whitney and keyboard player Trevor Nealon — have crafted a unique style of genuinely American music drawn from blues, folk, country, gospel and jazz. It doesn’t hurt that the band has a refreshingly funky swagger. “First and foremost, we approach music with the song being the centerpiece. We like songs. We want there to be a strong foundation that you could just pick up an acoustic guitar and play the song, and have it stand on its own. I think that’s one of our more important goals in approaching each album — making sure we have songs that we’re proud of.” Their latest release, “The Double Down — Live in Denver,” showcases what longtime fans have always known: Band of Heathens are best experienced onstage, untethered from the confines of a recording studio. A two-disc DVD concert and CD set, it captures the band in the

moment and presented without the impurities of the countless live bootlegs that have circulated since the band’s inception. “It’s not about regurgitating the studio album for us,” Quist said. “It’s about going down a different avenue every time. Being able to stretch out and improvise onstage, bringing those jazz and blues elements into it with the mentality that each guitar solo is a moment and an opportunity to say something that may be different from night to night. This collection was originally going to be one disc, but we liked it so much we decided on two.” The Heathens’ solid three-part vocal harmonies recall the tradition of their obvious influences, namely The Band and the Eagles. All are capable of taking the lead or pulling together in a seamlessly soulful triad, a brotherly style that is the result of years of perfecting their chemistry. “I think that’s part of any band’s natural progression if they’re serious about what they do. When we first started out, we would take up a residency at a local club and just play non-stop. We’ve never really tried to make music for everyone, and not everyone is gonna dig what we do. We’re doing what excites us, and we’ve been fortunate that other people have enjoyed it as well.” This will be the band’s third visit to Bakersfield, and one of a number of stops the Heathens

PHOTO COURTESY OF CONQUEROO

Band of Heathens performs Wednesday night at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace.

will hit through the remainder of summer into the fall. “Bakersfield has a feel similar to Texas in some ways, especially in the overlapping history of oil and music,” Quist said. “We’ve always enjoyed performing there. I went through a period where I listened to a lot of Merle Haggard and, of course, Buck Owens. You have to recognize how they helped shape the sound of American music. Their era and the emotion they poured into every song was real. Bands like the Grateful Dead also tapped into that type of mentality.” In the improvisational spirit of the Dead, the Heathens also refrain from following set lists,

preferring to let the moment carry them once the lights dim. “We start the song, and when it ends, someone else picks the next in a rotation, although we do, on occasion, experiment with set lists to decide on solos.” Quist added that fans are in for a treat this tour, as the band is currently recording all live concerts and making them available the very night of the show on USB drives. “We started trying it out about five or six months ago. We listen to the recordings the next day on our way to the next show. Our fans seem to dig it, so it’s been cool, especially since it pushes us to change things up.”

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, August 23, 2012

Eye Street The Lowdown with Matt Munoz

Santana has music in his DNA Son of guitar legend brings act to B Ryder’s Saturday

hen your father is one of the most iconic guitarists in the history of rock ’n’ roll, there are almost certain expectations from the musical public. In the case of Salvador Santana, son of Latin rock icon Carlos Santana, it’s a reality he’s become accustomed to addressing every time he steps onstage. But while the 29-year-old keyboardist and vocalist carries the spirit of his family’s legacy in his music, don’t expect a tribute to famous father’s illustrious career when he appears with his band Saturday at B Ryder’s. “I’m the type of person that’s more honored and grateful for the lineage and the history that comes with representing this last name and the lineage, on both sides of my family,” said Salvador Santana during a recent phone interview from his home in Los Angeles. “Both of my grandfathers were also musicians,” he said, referring to maternal grandfather Saunders King, a blues pioneer, and paternal grandfather Jose Santana, celebrated violinist and mariachi bandleader. “Both my mother and father have always said that whatever I choose to do with my life, that I never forget who I am and where I come from, and give it my all. And I never forgot that, and it’s allowed me to stay humble in most situations and enjoy it. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey and how you get there.” Currently touring in support of his latest single, “Into The Light,” both of Santana’s previous full-length releases showcase an artist whose California hip-hop, funk and rock roots are sonically visible. “When I was growing up, having the honor and opportunity to grow up in the San Francisco Bay area, it’s so multicultural and so diverse out there, especially musically and in the arts. I really was kind of influ-

PHOTO BY ENTROPIC STUDIO

The Salvador Santana band will perform Saturday at B Ryder’s.

enced by my surroundings. The debut record ‘SSB’ is very festive, hip-hop and very Bay Area. My second record, ‘Keyboard City,’ working with producer Money Mark of the Beastie Boys, was all about exchanging ideas. Now with ‘Into The Light,’ it has that conscious hip-hop sound. You can listen and nod your head or take the time and listen to the lyrics.” Santana says his decision to hit the promotional trail with a single rather than another full-length CD is a strategy he’s formulated after a few years observing the listening habits of today’s overly techsavvy music fan. “Right now, even though I’m 29 and considered part of the youth, I still got some old school in me where I’m the type of person where I can listen to an entire album if it’s good. I would prefer that, but I understand that the majority of the listeners don’t have quite the same type of attention span we collectively used to have. However that has evolved, it is what is. I keep my ear to the street.” The lyrically conscious vibe of “Into The Light” is accentuated by the accompanying music video that also features vocalist and keyboardist Alex Nester. Comparable to the Black Eyed Peas’ “Where is the Love?,” the song is full of hope and urgency, but sans any Fergie-licious sweetness.

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.

“I want it to showcase what’s happening currently: the wars in the Middle East and around the world, juxtaposed, but also displaying the similarities and the parallels of the wars happening in the streets in the main cities in America. Yes, as a human race we’ve been on this planet for a long time, but look how far we’ve come and look how much further we have to go. It’s come off very dark and emotional, but the message is really — in a world full of darkness, let’s focus on the light.” Joining Santana and Nester onstage will be guitarist Jared Meeker, drummer Blake Collie and Itai Shapira on bass. “I try to incorporate the past, present and future with our live shows. If somebody can’t get into the funk number we open with, then maybe they’ll gravitate towards the ballads. We don’t leave anyone out.” And just how well-versed is he on the rich musical history of his father and uncle guitarist Jorge Santana, who also had success in the ’70s with the band Malo? It’s a question he’s almost embarrassingly apprehensive to answer. “Because of all the hard-core Santana and Malo fans out there, I feel like I don’t have to take the time to study all that stuff, even though I should just in case I’m on an episode of ‘Pawn Stars’ or something and, ‘Oh, let me call Santana’s son, he would know something about this.’” Saturday’s showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. Ages 18 and over admitted. Also appearing Mento Buru and the Natural Movement. B Ryder’s is located at 7401 White Lane. For more information, call 397-7304.

Outside Lands wins again Punctuating the sweltering Central Valley heat with a trip to a cooler climate is a necessary part of living in Bakersfield. If you are a foodie or music lover, it can be tough finding the right escape to fit the lifestyle. Next year, while your neighbors head to Pismo Beach with trailers in tow, pack your hoodies and boots and head north. San Francisco offers a three-day experience in Golden Gate Park the second weekend of every August that continues putting all other California festivals to shame. The Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, held this year from Aug. 10 to 12, is a feast for the senses. From chart-topping headlining acts to craft beers and gourmet food trucks the 65,000-attendee party in

MATT MUNOZ / THE CALIFORNIAN

Stevie Wonder performs at the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco on Aug. 12. See more photos at Bakotopia.com.

the park has something for everyone. This year’s event featured a trio of rock legends taking their turn closing out the show from the main stage each night. Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Metallica and the great Stevie Wonder wowed the crowd while stars like Jack White, Foo Fighters and Norah Jones entertained hordes of wildly enthusiastic attendees during earlier sets. Drinks flowed from two separate gardens with Winelands featuring dozens of California vintages and Beerlands offering the same diversity for fans of the brews. This year organizers took their fetish for gourmet food trucks a step further adding an area called Outside Lambs to the robust lineup of eateries on wheels. Among vendors offering garlic chimichurri French fries and falafel “snow cones,” diners could pick from a menu of dishes featuring organic lamb as a main ingredient. Putine with lamb gravy, gyros and a curried lamb stew with garbanzo beans, and a touch of coconut milk, warmed the bellies of festival-goers donning scarves and sweaters to ward off the misty chill of the Bay Area. Outside Lands is an event for those committed to having a good time. So find a hotel or apartment for rent near the Civic Please see LOWDOWN / 27

Thursday, August 23, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Come for shopping fun Woman’s Club hosting indoor garage sale BY STEFANI DIAS Californian assistant lifestyles editor sdias@bakersfield.com

or those folks who scour the newspaper and local websites for the best yard sales every weekend, look no further. The Woman’s Club of Bakersfield has you covered this Saturday with its Indoor Garage Sale. Deniece Jones, chairwoman of the club’s ways and means committee, cites the event’s biggest selling point: a literally cool setting. “One thing I’m going for is the air conditioning. I’m hoping being inside that people will stay longer. In the heat, people are in and out. The guy across the street had one (sale) outside, but people stayed briefly.” Another way to entice people to browse a bit longer at the event, which kicks off at 8 a.m., is hourly prize drawings. “We’ll have a drawing every hour. When people come in, they’ll put their name on a ticket. We’ll draw every hour for a prize from one of the vendors.” That’s right. Along with the expected contents of a yard sale (which we’ll get to in a moment), the event will also host a variety of vendors. Items up for sale include yard art, Avon and Pampered Chef products, suitcases, Tshirts, scouring pads, blankets that fold like a pillow and designer baskets. “There’s a lady doing baskets. She puts things in them, whatever you want. I asked for a barbecue one as a gift, so she put in salsa and more.” Jewelry will be sold from five vendors, ranging from polished stones and silver to beaded pieces. Club member Sandy Senior will offer Christmas jewelry as well as ornaments.

The garage sale For the garage sale portion of the event, hard-working club members gathered a large selection of items, with contributions continuing to pour in Wednesday.

LOWDOWN: CONTINUED FROM 26

Center in downtown San Francisco, get your tickets for the park shuttle in advance and bundle up. Outside Lands is not for the faint of heart or light of stomach. But it is a guaranteed good time. Check out photos from the event at bakotopia.com.

Matt’s picks Grand opening of The Hub, 401 Sumner St., all day Saturday. 8734977. Bakersfield’s champion of all things healthy and artistic, Amber Beeson has once again organized quite the

“We’ve had a good turnout from our ladies. It’s like Christmas in here.” Although Jones was speaking of the abundance of items, she could have also been referring to the content, which includes leftovers from the club’s most-popular annual event. We have “a lot of new stuff for Christmas from the Festival of Trees,” she said. As Jones and her committee of eight are busy finalizing this weekend’s event, other club members are working on the decorated-tree fundraiser on Nov. 17. (Jones said tickets are going fast for the event, which usually sells out well in advance, so she recommends calling now for tickets.) Christmas items aren’t all that’s filling the tables set up in the middle of the Woman’s Club. Prices range from 10 cents on up for picture frames, posters and other odds and ends and starts at $2 for clothing, shoes and purses. Of the collection, Jones said she was initially surprised by the dearth of apparel. “We don’t have a lot of clothes, but most of us are older and we don’t want knickknacks anymore. That’s why I think I’m getting a large donation of those.” The sale also includes tablecloths and bedding, ranging from comforters to pillows and sheet sets. Those looking to fill their home would be wise to take a look at a pair

of leather chairs, which are priced at $50 each. “They’re comfortable. I fell asleep in one the other day,” Jones said of the furniture that could use a light cleaning. Pots and pans are also out among the tables along with a pressure cooker, juicer, coffee pot and other appliances. But for more delicate kitchenware, head to the tea room, which holds more delicate items. “We have dishes, glasses, all kinds of dishware, ornaments, a lot of mugs and glass. Breakable stuff.” Shopping is hard work, so take a break anytime during the day for a snack from the VFW, setting up shop in the club’s garden room. Jones had not confirmed the menu as of Wednesday afternoon, but said at other events, the group had sold doughnuts in the morning and chili and hot dogs later. The cost of admission is $1, which Jones felt was a nominal but reasonable fee. “I go to the yard sales in L.A. and they charge $10 to get in, so I thought a dollar is not that much.” Along with admission, Jones is aiming for a good pull from the event. “My goal is $1,000 for yard sale. For the tables $600. I’ve never done this before. I don’t know if I’m over estimated, but we have a lot of merchandise.” Proceeds will go to fund the scholarships and charitable donations the club provides every year. Along with the Festival of Trees and Festival of Baskets (in April), the club will also fundraise with bunco nights. Starting in September, the club will opens its doors for games on the second Wednesday of the month. It’s $10 to play, with half going to the club and the other half going to the prize pool for three nightly winners (most buncos, most wins and most losses). Jones is hard at work for the club, even though her job doesn’t officially start until next month. Like all club officials, she will hold the position for a year. And in her case, not a moment more. “You hold it a year. I don’t think I could do it for two. I’d be divorced. Right now, I’m here (at the club) all the time.”

cool event to celebrate the official grand opening of The Hub. Operating as both a farmers market and venue for the arts, it’s a colorfully eclectic addition to Old Town Kern with a lot of potential. Doors open at 9 a.m. for patrons to shop for organically grown produce, before live music kicks off at noon with The Bird Channel, Terra Alive, Garage Island and more, followed by a screening of ’70s comedic B movie “Attack of The Killer Tomatoes.” Admission is free during live bands, $10 after 6 p.m. Special “killer” spaghetti dinner is included with

admission price. Alcohol will also be served for those 21 and over with ID. The film will start promptly at 9 p.m. The Mothership DJ Night at Sandrini’s, 1918 Eye St., 10 p.m. Saturday. $5. 322-8900. This popular monthly gathering of vinyl junkies and Serato heads, which returns to the underground intimacy of Sandrini’s downtown, is always a blast. In addition to resident house DJs Sabretooth and others, there’s also a special performance by Los Angeles world beat diva Tita Lima, along with SoulPeople’s Cid Hernandez. Phresh.

Woman’s Club of Bakersfield Indoor Garage Sale When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Where: Woman’s Club, 2030 18th St. Admission: $1 Information: 325-7889

Other upcoming club events Bunco, 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month (starting in September) at the club. $10. Festival of Trees, Nov. 17, Rabobank Convention Center. Call 325-7889 for tickets.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, August 23, 2012

Eye Street The Lowdown with Matt Munoz

Santana has music in his DNA Son of guitar legend brings act to B Ryder’s Saturday

PHOTO BY ENTROPIC STUDIO

The Salvador Santana band will perform Saturday at B Ryder’s.

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.

MATT MUNOZ / THE CALIFORNIAN

Stevie Wonder performs at the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco on Aug. 12. See more photos at Bakotopia.com.

Thursday, August 23, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Come for shopping fun Woman’s Club hosting indoor garage sale BY STEFANI DIAS Californian assistant lifestyles editor sdias@bakersfield.com

The garage sale For the garage sale portion of the event, hard-working club members gathered a large selection of items, with contributions continuing to pour in Wednesday.

LOWDOWN: CONTINUED FROM 26

Matt’s picks Grand opening of The Hub, 401 Sumner St., all day Saturday. 8734977. Bakersfield’s champion of all things healthy and artistic, Amber Beeson has once again organized quite the

Woman’s Club of Bakersfield Indoor Garage Sale When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Where: Woman’s Club, 2030 18th St. Admission: $1 Information: 325-7889

Other upcoming club events Bunco, 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month (starting in September) at the club. $10. Festival of Trees, Nov. 17, Rabobank Convention Center. Call 325-7889 for tickets.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, August 30, 2012

Eye Street

SEPTEMBER 1ST - 2ND Labor Day Weekend 9AM - 9PM Pine Mountain Village Center Beer & Wine Garden • Live Music & Contests • Arts & Crafts Vendors • Pony Rides & Kiddie Corner • FREE ADMISSION AND PARKING •

Parade & Stilt Walkers on Sat at 11am For more info visit www.PMCFallFestival.com or call 661-242-1358

“Fill Up Our Donation Bank” HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

DRIVE-THRU DONATION DAY

TUESDAY , 18TH SEPTEMBER 5 - 6:30 PM AM

22nd & M St. Parking Lot Across The Street From KGET Channel 17 TV

Watch Channel 17 TV to see who is in the kennel and needs your help to get bailed out. On-Site: Pet Adoptions Microchip Clinic

Sponsored by:

Blues vocalist Deedra Patrick appears on Friday with the Swamp Katz at Pyrenee’s Café.

Bakersfield vocalist has best cure for the blues BY MATT MUNOZ

$20.00

Californian staff writer

Call in a Credit Card Donation to 323-8353 ext 2

mmunoz@bakersfield.com

T Valid Monday - Thursday Anytime!

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Lunch Please present coupon before ordering. Valid at Juicy Burger Bakersfield. Offer not valid with any other offer. Offer valid on single patty burger only. Limit of one coupon per guest per visit. No cash value. May not be combined with any other offer or any combo deal. Taxes extra. Coupon expires Friday, September 7, 2012. Instore only. Not available with online order.

JuicyBurger.com (661) 325-8429 1201 24th Street

o anoint someone a “survivor” in the music world has got to be the most played out of all rock ’n’ roll cliches. Still, it’s a pretty apt description of Deedra Patrick, a powerhouse vocalist with a sterling reputation, not just in Bakersfield but the many places around the country where her talent has taken her. Her life has been one struggle after another: crushing poverty and neglect as a child, the challenges of raising a special-needs son and a lifealtering car accident 18 years ago that nearly killed her. But Patrick, 47, who has used music to cope with every setback, is a resilient performer, which she’ll prove again Friday when she takes the mic at Pyrenee’s Café, backed by the Swamp Katz, her band of two years. “Everything is starting over again for me. If I sit there and tell people my story, I’m afraid they’re going to look at me like I’m damaged. I’m positive about things. God has really blessed me with being able to keep making music.”

How she got the blues Bright and welcoming, Patrick’s northwest Bakersfield home is a tranquil haven, a world away from the impoverished surroundings of her childhood in Sallisaw, Okla., where she lived with her mother and three

Deedra Patrick and the Swamp Katz When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: Pyrenee’s Café, 601 Sumner St. Admission: Free Information: 323-0053

siblings after her parents divorced when she was 5. “We were so poor, I remember getting a pair of shoes from my uncle, and I used to sleep with them on. The only meal was our free meal at school. Mom was in an abusive relationship. No hot water at the house, and we used hand soap for our hair. We didn’t own records. We only knew what we heard on the radio: Heart, Janis Joplin, rock and blues artists, anything that was current. My favorite band is still Boston.” The pivotal point in Patrick’s young life came five years later when her father, Bob Patrick, sent a pair of plane tickets to her and her sister, Tasha, for a holiday visit to Bakersfield. There they would be reunited with their two brothers, who had since moved to live with their father. “Once we jumped on the plane, I knew we were never going back. I stayed with my dad and my stepmom, Gladys, in Lamont, and finally had a normal life.” Patrick lost her thick Oklahoma

accent and eventually came out of her shell, joining a series of rock cover bands after graduating from Arvin High. Blazing through various local bars singing modern rock hits, she recalled the ever-present group of drunken critics. “I was doing Cyndi Lauper with all these groups, but my voice didn’t sound like the artists we were covering. Original music was not allowed in the ’80s. They used to say, ‘You don’t sound like anyone we know.’ You don’t realize it’s a compliment at the time, because they were actually criticizing you when they said it. I wanted to stand out.” Patrick had to go to L.A. to perform original music, eventually joining up with rock group Tipsy Fox, which later became Rain on Fire. She also made amends with her mother, who came to live with Patrick after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. She died in 1992. “For three years, it was work, rehearsal and taking care of mom.” Patrick returned to Bakersfield before scoring a gig as a traveling singer with hotel lounge band Lickety Split in 1994. It was while on tour that a major accident en route to Mapleton, Ore., would nearly claim her life. “It’s always been hard for me to talk about this,” said Patrick. “We were like pennies in a jar. The wreck was so traumatic, the seatbelts ripped. Even the canned food we had Please see PATRICK / 23

Thursday, August 30, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street PATRICK: CONTINUED FROM 22

exploded all over us. Just sitting here in front of you right now is hard to believe.” The events leading up to that foggy night in November 1994 remain hazy for Patrick, who recalls some details. According to police and eyewitness reports, the van carrying Patrick and her three bandmates jumped a 3-foot embankment, snapping a tree, before smashing head-on into a railroad building. Miraculously, no one was killed. “It was weird. Before the accident, I was signing autographs, and people were getting to know who I was. Things were moving along. Since I was a kid, I’ve always been Deedra Patrick, the singer. Now I wasn’t. I woke up a different person in the hospital.” The injuries suffered by Patrick were substantial: a concussion, dislocated jaw and nine broken ribs. She’s undergone extensive reconstructive surgery, which kept her music off the radar for years. “It took me a year just to walk again. Eighteen years later, here I am.” But Patrick discovered years later that the long-term consequences of the accident would also affect her son. Matthew, now 11, was born 23 weeks premature due to complications attributed to Patrick’s injuries. He was diag-

“They used to say, ‘You don’t sound like anyone we know.’ You don’t realize it’s a compliment at the time, because they were actually criticizing you when they said it. I wanted to stand out.” — Deedra Patrick

nosed with several disabilities, including cerebral palsy, deafness and autism. The single mom cries when she discusses her son, but she said it’s joy rather than sadness that prompts the tears. “He stayed in the hospital for seven months after he was born. He’s not mentally handicapped and doesn’t require any medication. Every time I feel weak and afraid, think of him. He gives me the strength to keep moving. He’s just amazing.”

Restarting a career With her son’s strength as an example and encouragement

from loved ones, Patrick, who had put performing on the back burner, decided to recommit to her career in 2010. “My sister has always had a common goal: ‘I’m going to sing.’ It’s the music that helps her through the struggles,” said her sister, Tasha Patrick. “We’ve always been very driven, almost to the point where we have to be a perfectionist. If Dee Dee does something, she’s always got to be the best.” Two of Patrick’s originals, “When the Rain Came Down” and “Chasing the Rabbit,” showcase the essence of her vocal abil-

ities: a vintage mix of Maria Muldaur and Heart’s Ann Wilson, with some operatic finesse. One of Patrick’s biggest fans is acclaimed producer and longtime colleague Rick Jarrard, the man behind Jefferson Airplane’s groundbreaking album “Surrealistic Pillow,” hits for Harry Nilsson and others. Jarrard once hired Patrick as a background vocalist for a session with Jose Feliciano and has remained in close contact over the years. In fact, the two are planning a collaboration next year. “Deedra is simply a classic rocker, powerful voice with bluesy overtones, one of the best,” said Jarrad via email from his Nashville, Tenn., office. “In certain aspects she reminds me of the best female artists of the ’60s, Grace Slick, Janis Joplin, etc., but of course she fits right in with today’s market as rock is timeless.” Swamp Katz guitarist Ron Brem, who moved to Bakersfield from St. Louis a year ago, said he stumbled upon Patrick one night after making the rounds to get acquainted with the local scene. “I went and caught her sitting in with another band. I was like, ‘Who is this?’ She’s a very dynamic singer who has a great interaction with the crowd — very outgoing, professional with a focus on original material. When I first

joined the group, there were only a few songs that were partially written, but now we have over a CD’s worth of songs.” When she’s not onstage or being a mom, Patrick teaches courses on live voice and studio performance at the Deedra Patrick Voice Studio in Bakersfield and assists others with children who face challenges similar to her son’s. “For parents with autistic children, just hearing the timbre of their child’s voice is something rare. Some children may never speak, but there’s something about a song that can get them to vocalize.” One of the ways Patrick incorporates music into her methods is by inserting a child’s name into a simple nursery rhyme as a form of identification, should the child get lost and be unable to communicate. “Losing an autistic child in public is one of the scariest things that can happen to you, so teaching useful tools like a simple song can help save a lot of heartache. Something about music is universal.” As for the show Friday, which will be opened by the band English Revolver, Patrick can’t help bragging a little. “This is the best band I’ve ever had behind me live,” she said. “I finally feel like dreaming again.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, September 13, 2012

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

Index ‘Let’s Duet’................................................ 26 Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra............ 27 Arts Alive .................................................. 28 FLICS ........................................................ 29 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz ............ 30 ‘Rock of Ages’.......................................... 32 ‘Desserts First’ ........................................ 34 Calendar .............................................. 36-37

End summer with the blues Three of genre’s most exciting names on bill

8th Annual B-Town Blues Fest

BY MATT MUNOZ

When: 5 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday

Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he blues is a well-traveled genre no longer bound by its American roots. Stateside to Serbia, the genre offers musicians a gateway to cultural exchange that still reverberates loudly through the strum of just a few simple chords. For local fans, Saturday’s BTown Blues Fest is sure to get your mojo workin’. Promoter Pat Evans said the festival, in its eighth year, just continues to boogie along. “Every year I’ve thought about changing the formula of what’s worked for us,” said Evans in a recent interview at World Records, the store he owns in Westchester. “There’s no redesigning of the wheel, just fine-tuning.” The annual music and food festival has become a coda to Bakersfield’s summer event schedule, and creates a challenge for Evans to go out with a bang (the event doubles as a fundraiser for the Houchin Blood Bank and bone marrow registry). Headlining this year’s fest will be California blues guitarist Coco Montoya, 60, who returns to Bakersfield after being a featured artist in Evans’ No Stinkin’ Service Charge Blues Series three years ago. Montoya, originally a rock drummer, traded in his sticks after catching legendary guitarist Albert “Ice Man” Collins in concert. The two would cross paths again some years later and develop a working relationship when Collins’ band was looking for a touring drummer. Montoya joined the Collins band, where he stayed for a decade doubling on guitar. After leaving Collins’ band, Montoya landed with John Mayall and his newly reformed Bluesbreakers, alongside another rising talent, guitarist Walter Trout. There he stayed for a decade before striking out as a soloist. With a reputation for blending the styles of his mentors to produce a sound all his own, Montoya tours extensively, making stops at festivals around the world. Montoya’s intense vocals are every bit as powerful as his

Where: Cal State Bakersfield Amphitheater, 9001 Stockdale Highway Tickets: $40 for reserved table seating; $30 for adults, lawn seating; $25 for military, seniors and students; free for 17 and under. Dinner tickets, $10. Information: 831-3100; shopworldrecords.com

steely blues guitar work. Evans recalls an early Bakersfield encounter with Montoya in 1997 when the guitarist was called into cover an opening slot for a concert featuring John Lee Hooker at the Fox. “John Lee Hooker wasn’t performing very lengthy shows by this time in his career, so Coco came out and played for over an hour. He just blew the crowd away.” Montoya’s current release, “I Want It All Back,” is regarded as a musical departure from previous works, leaning more towards lighter R&B rather than the razorsharp licks he’s known for. Expect a mixed bag of tunes from Montoya’s illustrious career, reaching back to his years with Collins and Mayall.

Ana Popovic Raised in Yugoslavia under the oppressive Milosevic regime, Ana Popovic comes by her talent naturally; her father was a wellknown guitarist who held blues and jazz jam sessions at home every week. Popovic took to the strings herself at age 15, absorbing every groove on her parents’ vintage blues record collection. Paying homage to many of her heroes when she takes the stage, the 36-year-old trailblazer has helped redefine the role of women in the male-dominated blues guitar scene. Just like Montoya, she also can sing. Blessed with soulful pipes that easily switch on the grit, Popovic’s ability to charm her audiences has made the Copenhagen resident an international crowd favorite. “She’s really rising,” said Evans. “We’ve been carrying her CDs for some time now and this is our chance to catch her and bring her to Bakersfield. She has

PHOTO COURTESY OF COCO MONTOYA

Coco Montoya headlines the B-Town Blues Festival Saturday at the CSUB Outdoor Amphitheater.

a great story and so many YouTube fan videos, it’s not hard to find out what she does live onstage. Just amazing.” Popovic’s latest CD, “Unconditional,” is a well-produced collection of originals and covers showcasing her strengths as a blues triple threat on guitar, vocals and composition. Sure, the CDs cover may throw off some listeners (Popovic is posed bare-skinned, covered strategically only by a guitar) but that doesn’t overshadow the strength of the material, which includes a killer reworking of Nat “Cannonball” Adderly’s “Work Song.”

Eric Sardinas Also making a return visit is extreme blues showman Eric Sardinas, who will open the highpowered triple bill. Sardinas, who

appeared in Bakersfield in May of last year, is a cross between Ted Nugent and Steve Vai when it comes to stage persona and inyour-face audience engagement. “Booking Eric was a new experience for us. Imagine a full house and he just walks out, no need for a microphone, and holding court,” he said. “If you look at him, he could be in Pantera, and he does have an aggressive voice. He knew exactly what he was gonna do that night.” Sardinas is tall, lanky, and fits the profile of a maniac swamp rocker — and that’s just his wardrobe. Reputed for lighting his guitar on fire among other rousing onstage antics, he straddles the line between rock and blues, playing a vintage resonator guitar. Please see BLUES / 32

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANA POPOVIC

Ana Popovic was inspired early in her career by her father, a popular musician in Yugoslavia who opposed the country’s oppressive nationalist regime.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, September 13, 2012

Eye Street

Film a dud, but stage smash one for ‘Ages’

TICKET ROUNDUP Bakersfield Fox Theater 2001 H St. vallitix.com or 322-5200. 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. Oct. 23: Jane’s Addiction, 8:30 p.m. $37-$57. Nov. 16: Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez, 8 p.m. Friday. $39.50-$69.50. Dec. 8: An Irish Christmas, Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $26-$51. Dec. 20: Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Rocks!, 8 p.m. $35-$75. Dec. 24: Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, 2 p.m. $22.50-$102 plus fee. March 1-2: “Menopause — The Musical,” 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, $45-$65 plus fees; $115 VIP plus fees.

BY SUSAN SCAFFIDI Contributing writer

I ZUMA PRESS

Tickets for Barry Manilow’s Dec. 7 concert at Rabobank Arena go on sale Saturday.

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. vallitix.com or call 322-5200. Oct. 10: Eddie Money, 7 p.m. $40 plus fee. Oct. 24: Josh Thompson, 7 p.m. $15-$21 plus fee. Nov. 1: Colt Ford, 7 p.m., $26-$34 plus fee.

Sept. 27: Jars of Clay Sept. 28: Fan Halen Tribute to Van Halen Sept. 29: Charlie Daniels Band Sept. 30: Los Caminantes & Los Freddys de Arturo Cisneros, 7 p.m.

The Dome

Rabobank Convention Center

2201 V St. 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.

1001 Truxtun Ave. ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000. Sept. 13: Maná, 8 p.m., $38 to $148 plus fee. Sept. 20: Rock of Ages: Broadway in Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m. $35-$55 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 589-2478. Oct. 7: Stomp: The International Sensation, 7 p.m. $30-$50 plus fee. Oct. 13: Katt Williams, 8 p.m. $46.50 to $75 plus fee. Oct. 18: Carrie Underwood, 7:30 p.m. $41.50 to $61.50 plus fee. Oct. 19: Prince Royce, 8 p.m. $40-$50 plus fee Oct. 20: Ramon Ayala, 8 p.m. $32 to $80 plus fee. Nov. 2-3: PBR: Touring Pro Division vs. PBR: Professional Bull Riders, 8 p.m. $15-$60 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. Nov. 9: Reyli, 8 p.m. $30 to $80 plus fee. Nov. 18: Joan Sebastian, 8 p.m. $40 to $125 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. Dec. 7: Barry Manilow, 8 p.m., $7.99 to $123 plus fee.

Kern County Museum 3801 Chester Ave., 868-8400. Sept. 16: Fun in the Sun Car Show, with the Vintage LTD Car Club of Bakersfield, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $10 adults; $9 students/seniors; children under 3 are free.

Kern County Fairgrounds 1142 S. P St. 833-4900. Fair runs Sept. 19 to 30, Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P St. Admission is $8 adults; $7 seniors (62 and older); $4, children 6 to 12; $5 parking. 833-4900. Kern County Fair Opening Day Parade, 5:30 p.m. Sept. 19 Senior Day, 9 a.m. Sept. 21. Free parking (until 4 p.m.) and admission for seniors 55 and older. Bulls & Bikes Bash Event, 7:30 pm. Sept. 21 and 22. $8, $5 for children 12 and under, plus fees. vallitix.com or 322-5200. Hypnotist Tina Marie, 6 and 9:45 p.m. Sept. 24 and 29, Budweiser Pavilion School Days at the Kern County Fair, children 12 and under are admitted free 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 25 and 26 PRCA Rodeo, gates open at 6:30 p.m., begins at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and 29, grandstand. $10-$15 plus fees. vallitix.com or 322-5200. Diaper Derby, 2 p.m. Sept. 30, circus tent Fiesta Rodeo, 6 p.m. Sept. 30, grandstand. $5 plus fees. vallitix.com or 322-5200.

Concerts Shows at 8 p.m. (unless otherwise noted), Budweiser Pavilion. Free with fair admission. Sept. 19: Jerrod Niemann Sept. 20: Tower of Power Sept. 21: The Pointer Sisters Sept. 22: Aaron Tippin with Williams & Ree Sept. 23: The Spinners Sept. 24: Blue Oyster Cult Sept. 25: Lucky Ned Pepper Sept. 26: 38 Special

Eagle Mountain Casino 681 S. Tule Reservation Road, Porterville. eaglemtncasino.com or 559-788-6220. Oct. 14: Los Temerarios, 8 p.m. $25 general; $35 reserved. Oct. 20: Rodney Carrington, 8 p.m. $25 general; $35 reserved.

The Nile Theater 1721 19th St., 363-3179 Sept. 13: Eye Candy featuring The Hollywood Men, presented by The Party Girl; 9 p.m. $35-$75. vallitix.com or call 322-5200.

f you were disappointed with the film “Rock of Ages,” don’t let that stop you from seeing the original version — the smash-hit stage production — at the Rabobank Theater. “Rock of Ages” started as a small production in 2005 with an unknown cast, opening in a club on Hollywood Boulevard. Using rock hits from the 1980s for what is called a “jukebox musical,” creator Chris D’Arienzo wove the music around a story perfect for its venue — boy with dreams of becoming a rock star meets girl with dreams of becoming a rock star, find day jobs working in a club on the Sunset Strip and fall in love. Their relationship is hampered by the couple’s poor communication and plans by the city to clean up the Strip and tear down all the clubs, plus a romantic detour when the girl has a fling with an aging rock star. With its string of ’80s rock hits, including music from Journey, Styx, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister and many other acts, Rock of Ages kept moving to larger venues in the Los Angeles areas, playing to sell-out crowds, and eventually made it to an off-Broadway theater in October 2008. It opened on Broadway the next year, and was nominated for five Tonys. The show has been a hit on London’s West End, and has successful tours in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Asia. Hollywood beckoned again for the show, when Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema purchased the film rights. The film went into production in 2010, boasting an all-star cast including Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine ZetaJones, Mary J. Blige, and Diego Boneta and Julianne Hough as the

BLUES: CONTINUED FROM 24

“People saw something they never saw before,” said Evans, who promises a fully stocked merch table, with Sardinas’ CD, “Sticks and Stones” and music from Montoya and Popovic. “That kind of sharing between people is why we’re doing this.” The festival also will feature a set by the Flying Arvizu Brothers, featuring cousins Tony, Scott and John Arvizu, performing in memory of late Bakersfield saxophonist Ray “Daddy” Arvizu, whom Evans credits for naming the festival. Vendors will be cooking up authentic Southern, Tex-Mex and Italian cuisine, along with traditional snack and dessert fare available for purchase from Jake’s Tex-Mex,

‘Rock of Ages’ Part of Broadway in Bakersfield When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20 Where: Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Admission: $35 to $55 plus fee Information: ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000

boy and girl. Despite the big push and the big cast, the film version was a flop, while the stage show continues to play to packed houses. What happened? The stage version of the show allowed the characters to acknowledge they were actors in a show, and frequently violated “the fourth wall,” that imaginary boundary between actors and audience that enables the audience to pretend what they’re seeing is real. The stage productions have always featured ensemble casts of relatively unknown actors, allowing audiences to enjoy the send-ups of the aging rock star in Stacee Jaxx, the star-struck wannabes Drew Dillenbeck and Sherrie Christian and other stock characters, as they engage with each other and the audience. “The audience component is missing from the film,” said Mark Minnick of Phoenix Entertainment, the production company for the show. “There is nothing like live theater and the experience you get being a part of something that is ‘in the moment,’” Minnick said. One of the most attractive things audiences will find is that they already know at least some of the songs: “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “We Built This City,” “Hot Blooded,” “Oh Sherrie,” “Sister Christian,” “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” and many others.

Frugatti’s, Coconut Joe’s and more. “To get this size of show happening, we rely on the support of our sponsors. This year we have a big push from our restaurants, who are working closer together.” Houchin Blood Bank will be holding the second annual B-Town Blues Fest Blood Drive from 5 to 8 p.m. today featuring the John Hollins Band and catering from RJ’s Bar and Grill. Blood donors will get a $10 discount voucher off festival lawn seating, plus there will be a raffle for four free passes to the festival. Houchin Blood Bank is located at 5901 Truxtun Ave. “Blues is still living in new artists,” said Evans. “Everyone who comes out will have a great time.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, September 20, 2012

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

Index Aaron Tippin ............................................ 26 Arts Alive .................................................. 28 Breakfast and lunch, Italian-style .......... 29 10th annual Celebration of Flight .......... 29 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz ............ 30 Meet CSUB’S band director...................... 31 Itching to write? ...................................... 33 Calendar .............................................. 35-37

Hey, soul sisters: Welcome! Still-groovin’ Pointer Sisters jump on over to the fair BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

f you were to make a checklist of popular music of the 1980s, the Pointer Sisters could be a sub-category all their own. From movie soundtracks to MTV videos, plus hit pop songs heard all over the radio dial, they changed the familiar image of the girl group a decade after the Supremes charmed the globe. But far from being imitators of divas who came before, these street-wise soul sisters from Oakland had a glitzy R&B style all their own, becoming one of the most commercially successful crossover groups of their era. Though they started as a quartet, huge commercial success came after sister Bonnie left, making the group a trio. Following the 1977 success of their first major radio hit, a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Fire,” Ruth, Anita and June set out to rule the charts with a slew of catchy tunes like “He’s So Shy,” “Slow Hand,” “I’m So Excited,” “Jump” and “Automatic.” Though June died in 2006, the remaining two sisters and a rotating lineup of Ruth’s offspring hope to whip fans into a “Neutron Dance” frenzy when the Pointer Sisters appear at the Budweiser Pavilion at the Kern County Fair on Friday. “We had such a great time back then,” said Ruth Pointer, 66, during a recent phone interview from her home in Boston. “We had already come by success, but when ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ came out and when we started playing ‘Neutron Dance,’ the audience just rushed the stage. We were in shock. I almost forgot the words.” The sisters began singing together as teens at the Bay Area church where their father preached the good word. Ruth, the oldest, recalls the seamless vocal chemistry she and her sisters have always possessed. “We all have different voices and learned what we were capable of doing with that church training, knowing when to share the lead. We instinctively know what the other sister is capable of singing and where she’s going to fit into the harmonizing. It’s just innate in us and because of that, we’ve never required a lot rehearsing.” Outside church, the group performed first as a duo, with June and Bonnie, before all the sisters reunited as a quartet. Early career highlights include their 1974 performance at the famous Rumble in the Jungle fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire, and an appearance with Richard Pryor in the classic 1976 blaxploitation movie “Car Wash.” Bonnie Pointer left to pursue a solo career a year later, leaving the remaining three to rework their image and venture into new musical territory. “When we came out, times had changed

The Pointer Sisters When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Kern County Fair Budweiser Pavilion Admission: Free with fair admission Information: 833-4900 or kerncountyfair.com

for everything for women,” Ruth Pointer said. “Women’s rights and all different kinds of things propelled women into a different stage of strength and a different stage of self-reliance. We didn’t come into the industry groomed and bred like a lot of performers these days to be who we were. It was totally homegrown, and we were just having a good time, not really aware of what people assumed we should be doing.” Adding dimension to the Pointer Sisters’ music was their choice of material, which touched on everything from country, rock, funk, to new wave. “I think most women had different ideas about women’s representation of themselves, and we probably all fell into that and wanted to do something different than the little prissy girls with high pitches. We wanted to be a little rougher and more aggressive.” Collaborating with some of the biggest hit-makers in the industry, the Pointers’ released “Break Out” in 1983. The album spawned four singles, including “I’m So Excited.” But while the entire country was dancing away and executives were filling their wallets, the Pointers worked tirelessly as self-sustaining artists. “We were always on the road touring with Lionel Richie and Chicago. Early in our careers, we didn’t know anything about business. Our management would say we didn’t have enough money to pay for things like a stylist, and things of that nature. I remember running around trying to find something to wear for the Grammys, the American Music Awards. It wasn’t that we insisted on doing it ourselves. If it was available to us, no one bothered to mention that. We would watch, learn and duplicate professional stylist techniques.” Over the years, they did manage regain some control of their finances, but the lessons learned in the process were sobering. “We gave up a lot of power to people. We learned five years later that we’d lost a lot. We were blindsided about the amount of money you dole out to be ‘taken care of.’ We were just so busy, the only thing we knew were the audiences we were performing in front of, not the general public.”

‘... the grief we feel missing her’ As the ’80s wound down, the Pointers continued in various incarnations, making attempts to rekindle their early success. But when June succumbed to lung cancer at 52, the family was devastated. “That was probably one of the hardest times in my career and every now and

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE POINTER SISTERS

The Pointer Sisters appear Friday night at the Kern County Fair Budweiser Pavilion.

then, it still pops up — the grief we feel missing her so much. June was the youngest and loved so much, and she always had so much love to give. ... “She was the highest voice in the group. If she wasn’t singing the lead, she and I would be in such sync. I could change things in such an instant vocally, and she didn’t miss a beat of where I was going, unbeknownst to whoever was leading. I can’t even explain it, it was just so magical. And I really believe that was just biological, because we knew each other so well. The chemistry was unmatched.” Ruth and Anita, 64, are joined these days

by the rotating voices of Ruth’s daughter, Issa Pointer, and granddaughter Sadako Johnson, who will appear Friday. “I’m just really surprised with the fan base that we have and surprised the work keeps coming,” Ruth said. “We would love to record again. We’re just not sure how and when. We’re still going through some changes in our lives. There’s a lot of stuff involved with trying to make the transition from how they used to do things back then and how they do things now. ... “People encourage us to get everyone together to do one big album with all of our families. Maybe one day we will.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, September 20, 2012

Eye Street

Tippin’ his hand: It’s still all about America BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

hough he continues to trumpet patriotism and the American worker — the red-white-and-blue themes that run through his biggest hits — country singer Aaron Tippin is singing a new tune in his own life. Always a fit guy, the 54-year-old singer/songwriter has revved up his commitment to working out and eating right, and has even started a company that sells a nutritional supplement. “I try to train every day, but understand this about Aaron Tippin: I would fall off the wagon in a minute if a corn dog goes by me. I realize I’ll have to pay for it later, but, believe me, Bakersfield is our last fair of the year, so just get ready: Aaron’s gonna have a corn dog.” Get the batter ready, food concessionaires, because Tippin will make good on that promise Saturday when he performs at the Budweiser Pavilion stage at the Kern County Fair. Admission to the concert is free to all fair-goers. The Florida native developed his health-conscious lifestyle after bursting onto the scene in the 1990s and flexing his way to the top of the charts with a string

Aaron Tippin with Williams & Ree When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Kern County Fair Budweiser Pavilion Admission: Free with fair admission Information: 833-4900 or kerncountyfair.com

of hits, including “You’ve Got to Stand for Something” and “There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong with the Radio.” Tippin has taken his latest role, as a health food guru, to new heights with the launch of Tip N Shaker, a carbohydrate-busting seasoning he developed with his aerobic-instructor wife, Thea. “In body building, nutrition is an important item. When you’re getting into competition, you learn how your body responds to certain things like herbs and supplements that are beneficial. Once Thea and I got together, she helped curb my diet quite a bit and helped me with these supplements and stuff. She’s Miss Sticks and Twigs. It was just kind of a natural evolution. “The Tip N Shaker is kind of our crown jewel; just sprinkle it

on everything. It’s been highly effective for maintaining my weight, so it just naturally goes hand in hand with who I am personally.” Tippin’s affinity for business has kept in the music game even as tastes have changed. He gives some of the credit for his education to Buck Owens, whom Tippin met during a promotional stop early in his career. “Buck Owens was one of my first opportunities to learn something about the music business. Buck had that tradition anytime a new act came to town, didn’t matter what day of the week it was. I came in there on a Saturday, and Buck was in his office waiting on me to get there, so he could have his talk with me. ... and boy, did he offer a lot of great ideas and thoughts. What a classy guy. He just loved new talent. How I miss him so.” Tippin said that type of nurturing isn’t always offered to young artists today, given the popularity of TV talent competitions that offer immediate fame. And Tippin, who won TNN’s “You Can Be a Star” talent contest in 1986, knows what he’s talking about. “Man, I wish mine had been as popular as those (other talent)

PHOTO COURTESY OF AARON TIPPIN

Country singer Aaron Tippin appears Saturday at the Kern County Fair’s Budweiser Pavilion.

shows are. They come off winning the contests to selling millions of records; it’s unbelievable. But an important note is that they don’t have time to mature as entertainers. They get slung right into superstardom. That’s not always good, because I think the old paying your dues and learning the ropes and how to entertain are very important. I think there’s a lot of talent that’s missing out on that.” Tippin’s latest album, “In Overdrive,” should continue to please his fan base. A collection of songs dedicated to life in the trucking

industry, the CD features covers of classics like “Roll On,” “Girl on the Billboard,” “Six Days on the Road,” “East Bound and Down” and more. “It’s important to me that when you’re listening to Aaron Tippin music, you’re not just listening to another song. You’re listening to a part of who I am, and that’s very important. I’ve got 22 years giving listeners workingclass music, and I’m proud of it.” Opening the show will be hillbilly comedy music duo Williams & Ree, aka “The Indian and the White Guy.”

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Thursday, September 27, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Flag-wavin’, foot-stompin’ Charlie Daniels promises to keep energy high in concert BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

harlie Daniels has a history of making statements that strike a chord with Americans, especially when he lets his fiddle do the talking. “I write about America as I see it,” said Daniels during a recent phone interview in advance of his concert at the Kern County Fair on Saturday. “I’m not in support of any one political party. I guess you could say I ascribe to a freedom-and-justice-for-all INSIDE A brush with ideology. Our main aim from the time we walk Blue Oyster onstage to the time we Cult, 24 walk off is entertaining people.” The multi-instrumentalist, 75, remains a consummate showman whose hits cover a lot of territory, from the country traditionalism of “The Legend of Wooley Swamp” and “Drinkin’ My Baby Goodbye” to Southern rock burners like “The South’s Gonna Do It Again” and patriotic anthems like “This Ain’t No Rag, It’s a Flag.” But after 30 studio albums, his calling card will forever be “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” released in 1979. “That song was kind of a door-opener for us. We’d had some success with records before, but nothing like that. It was like a second stage kicking in. It just crossed genres, demographics, formats. We even did the first live broadcast that MTV ever did. “It came on strong and just stays around.” Proving the song’s lasting impact on pop culture, Daniels was invited by ESPN to rerecord the hit for last week’s Monday Night Football game featuring the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons. “It’s weird how we did that song back then, and network TV still wants us to do it. The most unusual version I’ve heard was one that depicted this Scottish/English soccer game, called ‘Big Willie Went Down to Wembley.’” Though the devil may have inspired his

Today at the fair Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P St. Hours: 3 to 10 p.m. Admission: Advance tickets will be sold at Albertsons through Sept. 29 or until sold out. $6; $3 children. Regular admission is $8; $7 seniors (55 and older); $4 children 6 to 12; free for active and retired military with ID and children 5 and under; $5 parking. Concert: Jars of Clay at 8 p.m.

biggest hit, Daniels said an even bigger influence over the years has been the shifting political climate. The urgency of songs like “In America” represent the songwriter’s commitment to patriotism. “Songs just happen when something comes into my mind. I wrote ‘In America’ during the Iranian hostage crisis. There was a real lull of patriotism and I started seeing when they took our hostages, I kept hearing these people saying things like, ‘We oughta do this, we oughta do that.’ It just popped in my mind. You never thought it would ever happen with the flag burnings, and it just reached an ebb tide. Things like that, that happen, are what motivate me to write.” Although he maintains a busy yearround touring schedule, Daniels said he does keep up with today’s new talents. He offered his take on what he sees as an industry feverishly churning out new acts, without any of the required nurturing to maintain a career. “I think the problem that I have with it personally are the similarities that so much of it sounds the same — the artists, the songs, the arrangements, the musicians. But that’s what music is now. I’m sure that when I came along and we started doing things that didn’t sound like the present- day people that were involved in country music and people were saying, ‘I don’t understand that.’ “That’s what I’m saying. I’m an old dog and I probably don’t get it. I just hate to see so many of these young people comin’ along that get so pushed into the sound du jour, that when that starts fading out, they’re just disposable. I had a chance to do what I wanted to do and a

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLIE DANIELS

The Charlie Daniels Band appears Saturday at the Kern County Fair.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER Despite being one of country music’s most recognized and beloved figures, Charlie Daniels had to wait a mightly long time for his induction into the Grand Ole Opry. But four years ago, the folks at Nashville’s headquarters for country music saw fit to bestow the honor, the culmination of a lifelong dream for Daniels. “I was wondering if it was ever gonna happen. ... We played at the Opry anytime we were in the area, so it wasn’t a question of appearing on the Opry. It was a question of having my name in the book, when they wrote about this great American institution with Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams and Roy Acuff. ... And you know, I don’t know if it was ego, or just a lifelot of these kids aren’t getting that chance, and I think it’s a shame because a lot of them can really add something to music today.” For Saturday’s show, Daniels promises to pack in a set list for fans of all ages, and recommends arriving to the party early. “We’ll keep it moving, high-energy. That’s the whole thing. We’re there for your enjoyment.”

long wish, but it was something that wasn’t going to happen. I was 71 years old when they finally got around to it. “It meant to me more at that age than had it happened in my younger years. I think it was a prize that I really wanted and for it to come along in my life when it did, it really meant a lot. I told the people at the show on the night that I was inducted that in the Bible it says, ‘God will give you the desires of your heart’ and you have just seen that come true tonight, because that was a very sincere desire in my heart to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry. All of the superlative adjectives that you can use to describe how I felt when I was inducted into the Opry would fit, because it was just such a huge honor to me.”

Charlie Daniels Band When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Kern County Fair Budweiser Pavilion Admission: Free with fair admission Information: 833-4900 or kerncountyfair.com

Hey, local filmmakers: Here’s your chance to shine The Bakersfield Independent Film Festival, taking place Nov. 1 to 3 at The Empty Space, is looking for submissions from local filmmakers. Aiming to offer local artists a chance to screen their work for a bigger audience, the

festival is open to all kinds of material, including animated works, documentaries, shorts, features. This year’s festival, sponsored by Seat of Your Pants Productions, moves to The Empty Space after three years at the Spot-

light Theatre. In the past, BIFF has shown works from budding Kern County filmmakers from Hectic Films (who have been on the festival circuit with their feature “The Lackey”) and Dane Boedigheimer, a former Cali-

fornian multimedia intern who created the “Annoying Orange” animated series. Submit works to: Seat of Your Pants Productions, P.O. Box 10568, Bakersfield, CA 93389. For more information, call 846 2090 or email seatofyourpants@gmail.com.

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

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.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, October 4, 2012

Eye Street The Lowdown with Matt Munoz

Filthies shake off rust for gig Bakersfield punks reunite Saturday

ans of Bakersfield punk quartet The Filthies will have a chance to say farewell on the band’s home turf when the group reunites for a series of California shows, kicking off Saturday at On the Rocks. The band, which never officially broke up, said there are no hidden motives behind the sudden reunion show, other than to say thanks. “We had too much stuff going on in our individual lives, so we just stopped making time for the band and ultimately just stopped playing shows back then,” said Filthies lead vocalist and guitarist Kenny Mount. “People started asking when will there be a Filthies show on Facebook, not knowing what has happened with us. I kind of hinted at it with the guys, it started to circulate, and here we are.” The Filthies built a loyal following after forming in 2003, writing and producing a series of EPs and full-length CDs. Along the way they also toured when time permitted, hitting mostly West Coast clubs, also traveling as far as Ireland for a few self-financed performances. Their last CD, “Your Turn,” was released in 2009, just a few months before the band stopped performing the following year. “We are crusty-sounding,” said Mount of the group’s rehearsals in preparation for the show. “I figure we’ll be fine. We’ve played these songs for so long. We’ll do the ‘Your Turn’ album in its entirety, and a lot of

PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC

After surviving Monday’s blind audition round on NBC’s “The Voice,” Rudy Parris, a Visalia musician with strong Bakersfield ties, has just announced he will be performing a free show at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace on Oct. 19.

other tunes everyone will know.” Joining Mount will be original members Eric Bonilla, drums; Kelley Ratliff, bass; and guitarist Jeremy Gustafson, who will be taking a short break from ’80s glam-metal tribute band Glam Cobra for Saturday’s show. Mount added that curious fans will get a healthy cross-section of prime Filthies’ material, including “Donut Shop,” “Malissa’s Song,” “Hooray For Hollywood,” “Backhand” and “Embalm You.” “We’d like to say, ‘Thank you,’ to everyone one last time for standing by us. This is your last time to see The Filthies,” he said. Not entirely so. According to Mount, the band had to do a little wheeling and dealing in order to bring the reunion to fruition. “I had to bargain with Eric who said, that, ‘If we played Bakersfield, we’d play Santa Barbara,’ where he lives. Well, Kelley said, ‘If we play Santa Barbara, we have to play Las Vegas.’ Then Eric said,

‘Then we have to play Ventura.’” The Filthies won’t be the only band reuniting that evening. Opening the show will be the return of local post nu-metal supergroup Karmahitlist featuring former Cradle of Thorns/Videodrone lead vocalist Ty Elam, drummer Cesareo Garasa, bassist Mike Montano Jr., guitarist Jim Fendrick and DJ Alex Garza. Saturday’s showtime begins at 9 p.m. Admission is $10. On the Rocks is located at 1517 18th St. For more information, call 327-7625.

Rudy Parris on ‘The Voice’ After weeks of anticipation, Visalia singer-songwriter Rudy Parris, who has strong ties to Bakersfield, appeared on Monday’s episode of the NBC singing competition, “The Voice.” During Monday’s pre-audition montage, Parris opened up about his early musical beginnings in Visalia, growing up in a single-

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.

parent household and putting life on hold to raise his now-22-yearold daughter. Before taking the stage, Parris said, “Daddy’s done his work, and it’s time for Daddy to go play a little.” He did just that, with his acoustic guitar, for a soulful, countrified rendition of The Police hit “Every Breath You Take.” A few bars into the song, the response was immediate from celebrity judges Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green, who turned in succession to face Parris with a look of surprise, as the longhaired musician, dressed in all black, finished the song to rousing applause. Judges Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine were ineligible to vie for Parris because their teams were full. “Damn, you look cool,” said Green. Shelton chimed in with, “You damn sure don’t look country, but country’s still in there.” After a few moments of tug-ofwar between both judges, Parris went with Shelton. The next phase of competition will be the “battle round,” where the coaches start cutting their teams down. Each coach will bring only five contestants to the live shows. This season’s team mentors are Mary J. Blige for Levine’s team, Michael Buble for Shelton’s team, Matchbox Twenty singer Rob Thomas for Green’s team and Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong for Aguilera’s team. To find out how Parris fares in the battle rounds, watch “The Voice” 8 p.m. Monday on NBC.

Dressed up at Disneyland During my interview with Rusty Young of Poco, he shared a story about a memorable visit to the “Happiest Place on Earth,” where Buck Owens was appearing just prior to the formation of Poco: “We were in rehearsals in Los Angeles, and Gram Parsons was rehearsing with us, because we thought he might fit into the band at that point. “Buck Owens was playing at

Disneyland. Richie Furay wanted to go, and so did Gram, who also knew Buck. We all met there. This was late ’67 to ’68, and Gram has just come back from hanging out in London with David Bowie and Keith Richards, so he was in an interesting place. Richie and I were at Disneyland with our wives, and there’s this big commotion at the gate. We go down to see what it was about and it was Gram Parsons in a stand-off with his big security lady in uniform. “At the time, Disneyland had a ‘No gays,’ policy. If they thought you were gay, they would not let you into Disneyland. Gram was wearing a dress. He had this big long white dress on and had very tasteful sandals on. And you know, he was a pretty guy with long hair. They told him, ‘You can’t come in, you’re gay,’ and he’d say, ‘I’m not gay,’ and they’d say, ‘You’re wearing a dress, you’re gay then.’ “They had this big fight, and somehow Gram got ahold of Buck, and Buck sent his road manager to vouch for him and got him in. Gram was with his wife pushing his first daughter in a stroller. The six of us are walking down Main Street Disneyland, with Gram wearing a dress and pushing a baby buggy. “The tourists from Iowa were just flabbergasted. We got to the show, Buck did a great show, we went backstage after the show, and everyone was there — Johnny Cash and few people like that. Everybody started giving Gram a hard time about wearing a dress. Gram says, ‘I just got back from Europe, and mark my words, this time next year you’re all going to be wearing dresses.’” “The best part happened when Cash walks over with a completely straight face and says, ‘Well, do they make ’em in black?’ “When I was in Bakersfield back in 1990, I went to visit Buck up in his offices, and I asked Buck if he remembered that story. He remembered it, and we got a big chuckle out of it.”

Thursday, October 4, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

On Sale This Saturday! present

Music, cars on tap at Rocktoberfest event BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

ive music and classic cars will be in the spotlight as Taft presents this weekend’s Rocktoberfest festival. After evolving from what was known last year simply as Oktoberfest to the new and improved Rocktoberfest, the carnival vibe has been shifted to make room for more music-oriented fare. Taft Chamber of Commerce event coordinator Shannon Jones sees this year’s revamped theme and family-friendly offerings as a perfect opportunity to showcase all the city has to offer. “We like having these events for the community all year round, but they also help to bring people to Taft to show them some of the hidden gems in downtown.” Much like Bakersfield, Taft’s own First Friday event uses the evening to celebrate the inner workings of its blossoming downtown business district. Kicking off Friday evening’s festivities will be the popular Cruisin’ Center Street classic car cruise night featuring vintage rides parading and parking on Taft’s main drag. It’s a scene that Jones says shop owners look forward to every month. “A lot of businesses will stay open late for the people who line up on Center Street to see the cars.” Adding to the atmosphere that evening is an outdoor concert on the Fifth Street Plaza, featuring Bakersfield Celtic rockers 1916 and Taft rock band Artificial Euphoria. A beer garden will be set up near the stage with a $5 entry fee so concertgoers can enjoy some frosty brews or tasty cocktails while listening to the music. The festivities extend into Saturday night as the Taft Fox Theater opens its aisles for

Taft Rocktoberfest When: 5:30 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday Where: Fifth Street Plaza and Fox Theater, Taft Admission: Friday event is free; Saturday event is $10 general admission or $25 for VIP seats. Information: 765-2165 or visit taftchamber.com. *Mention The Bakersfield Californian and receive half-off pricing when you purchase pre-sale concert tickets at Taft Chamber office.

an indoor concert in the theater’s main room with local hip-hop artist CaliGEEK, Bakersfield rock band The Aviators and Frazier Park’s bluesy roots ensemble Mama’s Kitchen. Jones is excited to have the Fox Theater on board this year. “Working with the Fox has been a great addition to the event. They show first run movies and have really added to the downtown experience. They have a great stage in the main theater. We just approached them about having a concert, and they were very receptive to that.” According to Jones, last year’s event attracted a crowd of about 1,500. With the changes that have been made to this year’s party she hopes the allure of Center Street will continue to grow and crowds will be even larger. “There are a lot of new businesses that have opened up on Center Street over the past year. We’d like to see people open shops, continue to shop local and realize the potential of having a business and doing events in Taft.”

Go & Do Today “Boy Meets Girl,” presented by Bakersfield Community Concert Association, 7:30 p.m., Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $80 for eight concerts. bakersfieldcca.org or 205-8522 or 589-2478. “Cooking with Friends” Calendar Signing, by artist Claudia True (More on Page 28) Delano Harvest Holidays, golf and softball tournaments, junior livestock, carnival, games, live entertainment, food, 10K and parade and more, Thursday through Sunday, at various location throughout Delano. Free. Visit delanoharvestholidays.org or 725-2518. Garces High School annual fall barbecue: Steak or chicken, with all the trimmings, dinner from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Garces High School, 2800 Loma Linda Drive. $25. garces.org or 327-2578, ext. 118. Spirit Girls’ Night Out, presentations, shopping, food, health screenings, 6 to 9 p.m., JC’s Place, 1901 Chester Ave. Free. Registration, 324-7070. Talladega Frights Scream Park, 7 p.m.

Thursday through Sunday, 11811 Rosedale Highway, between Jewetta Avenue and Old Farm Road. $15 to $25. talladegafrights.com or facebook.com/TalladegaFrights. 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 “A Taste of Grace” Fundraiser, live music, silent auction, raffles, hors d’oeuvres, 6 to 9 p.m., The Gardens at Mill Creek, 712 19th St. $30; $55 for two; benefits Bakersfield Homeless Center and the Alliance Against Family Violence. 699-5880. “Dia de Los Mentos,” with Mento Buru and DJ Mikey, 9:30 p.m., Sandrini’s, 1918 Eye St. $5. 322-8900. Beladagio’s 13th Anniversary Party & Charity Gala, benefits the Alliance Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault; prizes, food, champagne, 4 to 8 p.m., Beladagio, 9500 Brimhall Road. Free. 829-2288. CAPK Food Bank’s Third Annual Fill the Bowl, (More on Page 25). Please see GO & DO / 32

Nov. 24 8pm Rabobank Theater •

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, October 11, 2012

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

Index ‘Stars of Beatlemania!’ ............................ 22 Arts Alive: It’s gangnam, gang................ 24 Shocking Bakersfield film........................ 25 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 26 Artist wins $25,000 ................................ 27 Your guide to Pride .................................. 28 Adieu to music mentors .......................... 21 Calendar .............................................. 36-37

For artistic direction, Carrie takes the wheel BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

As many of country music’s biggest stars find themselves caught in a flurry of artistic distraction, Carrie Underwood has always preferred trusting her instincts. “I enjoying making country music that everybody can like no matter what genre of music you listen to,” said Underwood, who will perform at Rabobank Arena Oct. 18 in support of her latest album, “Blown Away.” “Find a song, or find a story that you can really get into. I’ve been asked many times to make alternative versions of my songs, but I know how I grew up, the kind of music that I like and am comfortable singing.” Even seven years after Carrie Underwood her life-changing win on When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 “American Idol,” the perWhere: Rabobank Arena, former fans see today 1001 Truxtun Ave. isn’t that much different Admission: $41.50 to from the fresh-faced 21$61.50, plus service year-old who charmed charges Simon Cowell — save for the multiplatinum sucInformation: 852-7777 or cess she’s enjoyed in the ticketmaster.com interim. Underwood, 29, locked in to her musical identity as a child growing up in Oklahoma, where country music is part of everyday life. “We had so much country music on the radio where I lived,” said Underwood, who was proud to note a Bakersfield connection: Her mom, Carole, was born here, though she didn’t stay long. “People like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard were just a part of what was on the radio every day, along with newer artists. I don’t think at the time I even knew what Bakersfield’s ‘sound’ was. I just knew the artists and that they were a part of my life.” As a repeat co-host (with Brad Paisley) of the Country Music Awards, Underwood feels an obligation to see what her colleagues are up to musically, and though she said she likes a lot of what she hears, she isn’t that influenced by it. She’s too busy cultivating her own artistic identity. “When I turn on the radio, I don’t wanna hear the same song, I wanna know a certain person’s sound. When I hear a song, it’s like, ‘Ah, this is so-and-so.’ You know? I think it’s really great. I think there really is something for everyone." As for life on the road — a necessity for a performer of Underwood’s stature — it comes at a personal price. In 2010, the singer married professional hockey player Mike Fisher, who is based in Nashville. “The phone kind of becomes your best friend, and I know my husband and I really need to get better about talking on the phone. I don’t know, we’re not chatty people, so that gets difficult at times. But we see each other when we can and know that, at some point, I’ll be off the road and I can drive him crazy.”

ROBERT DUYOS / SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL VIA MCT

Carrie Underwood — singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XLIV — has a tenuous connection to Bakersfield: Her mom was born here, though she left as a small child and has no memories of living here.

Maintaining friendships is difficult as well, especially if the friends in question are just as famous. Underwood's phone contains some high-profile contacts, including singers Miranda Lambert and fellow “Idol” alum Kellie Pickler. “I’ll text Miranda from time to time and talk about how we really need to get together, but of course we’re never in the same place at the same time. It’s just really nice to have a lot of other females in the genre that are genuinely nice and normal, and you can have a conversation with them and get to be happy for them when good things happen.” But the singer has been able to forge a family of sorts on the road from the entourage of people who work to keep the Underwood machine going. “When you grow up and you think about being famous

and, ‘Oh, I wanna sing,’ you know it just seems so easy and glamorous. You think, ‘Oh, those musicians, they sleep all day and so many other people do everything for them, and they just get up and sing at night.’ But there’s just so much work that goes into it, and so many people involved. I never knew that side of it: how many people it took to make one person’s career go ’round.” The star, whose upcoming concert will be her third in Bakersfield since 2008, is eager to give local fans something new. “We worked really hard at making this show something that visually just tells a story, and makes sense from start to finish. You can follow it and love it, hear your favorite songs and be introduced to a couple new ones. I’m just really proud of what we’ve done with this show. So, I just want people to come take it all in."

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, October 18, 2012

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

Index Scary for Charity ...................................... 22 21st annual Fall Home Show .................... 23 Arts Alive .................................................. 24 K.C. Museum Halloween events .............. 25 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 26 Scott Cox .................................................. 27 Spook Out Cancer.................................... 28 Calendar .............................................. 31-33

Addicted to their art LA alt-rock icons come down mountain to Fox BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

iming has always been on the side of Jane’s Addiction. Beginning with their arrival in the mid-’80s against the backdrop of Hollywood’s glam metal scene, they bridged the gap as an alternative for those seeking intensified chaos as punk rock began to loosen its grip. In both their sound and image, the group embodied the state of the city’s burgeoning alt-rock movement with a combination of psychedelic flash and gothic artistry reflective of the dark urban underbelly of downtown Los Angeles. Singer Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery were able to bring the intensity of their live show to the studio, producing a trio of the era’s most iconic recordings before abruptly calling quits in 1991. After a few years apart to pursue other endeavors (Farrell and Perkins formed Pornos for Pyros while Avery and Navarro formed Deconstruction), the group has remained close for a series of extended reunions, new recordings and tours, including their latest, which comes to the Fox on Tuesday. Drummer Stephen Perkins, 45, said the group’s guiding principles today are the same as always, which is why the bandmates have remained close through the years. “You don’t do it for the money,” he said during a phone interview

Jane’s Addiction When: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday Where: Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Admission: $37 to $57 Information: 324-1369 or vallitix.com

from his home in Southern California. “You know, Jane’s Addiction breaks up, people offer us a lot to stay together. We can’t. If we’re gonna fake it, it’s not real.” Jane’s Addiction came of age at a time when commercial radio relegated anything “cutting edge” to late night, and videos too hot for MTV were censored, as was the case with many of the band’s short-form videos, including “Mountain Song.” There’s also the issue of sustaining a music career in the digital age, something Perkins said he’s adapted to. “Nowadays the business is just so different. I mean, people are just giving music away. It’s almost insulting to charge people to buy it. There’s almost no reason for people to buy it, so what do you do? You put on a great show, and there’s no way to replace that. Of course, everyone films your show with a phone and puts it on YouTube, two hours after you get on stage. We’ve always had performances, but the work is that you can still do it and still be relevant.” Jane’s Addiction sprang from the ashes of Farrell’s original band, Psi Com, an experimental quartet that saw brief success in the underground. The band was named in honor of Farrell’s housePlease see BAND / 29

PHOTO COURTESY OF JANE’S ADDICTION

Jane’s Addiction appears Tuesday at the Fox Theater. Pictured above from left: Stephen Perkins, Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro.

Jane’s muse wasn’t Jane; it was Casey Bakersfield native reflects on her long romance with Perry Farrell

he’s known as the “Classic Girl,” written about in the Jane’s Addiction song of the same name and seen in countless images from the band’s early years. But what many fans don’t know is that Casey Niccoli also happens to be from Bakersfield. Niccoli dated Perry Farrell from 1982 to ’93, and through those years witnessed

first-hand the evolution of Jane’s Addiction as both girlfriend and creative muse. Currently living a quiet existence in Los Angeles, the reclusive Niccoli is reticent about looking back on her years around the band. “I’m actually trying to be more open to it,” said Niccoli, who attended Highland High, during a recent phone interview. “You know, I’m a little older now, a lot of time has passed. I’m secure. I always wanted the band to play my hometown, and here we are 20-something years later

and I have nothing to do with it.” Niccoli’s current lifestyle as a working mother is a far cry from the wild rock life she led alongside Farrell, whom she met in Hollywood a few years after following her then-boyfriend from Bakersfield to the big city. “I was 18, and I really wanted to move,” she recalled. “L.A. was so exciting to me. I had $250 to my name, packed up my car and moved to L.A. I felt like I belonged here. I got into the punk scene, and three Please see NICCOLI / 30

PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

Casey Niccoli of Bakersfield and singer Perry Farrell are shown in a scene from the Jane’s Addiction video “Classic Girl.”

Thursday, October 18, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Chance to ‘Voice’ your support Local vocalist on singing contest appears at Palace BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

t took only a few bars to convince singer Blake Shelton that Rudy Parris was still his voice of choice during last week’s battle round segment on NBC’s “The Voice.” After being chosen by Shelton to join his team of contestants during the blind auditions of the popular show earlier this month, Visalia singer Parris has been reveling in the extra attention he’s been receiving from the exposure. Parris has appeared at an autograph and picture signing, performed a public acoustic show, and now plans to bring down the house when he performs a free concert at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace on Friday. “Things are great,” said Parris, 46. “It’s been an amazing experience, that’s for sure. I went from just playing in clubs to the national stage in the blink of an eye. It was a fast transition. I’ve been playing in clubs for about 29 years, and then within a few months, it’s been on a whole other level. It’s been intense. I wish I had about five managers.” Parris’ televised battle round appearance last week against contestant Charlie Rey was edited down to an intro and a snippet of each singer performing a few bars of the pop hit “Bad Day” by Daniel Powter, followed by coach Shelton critiquing Rey’s shaky performance and ultimately picking Parris as the winner. Although he was unable to share too much information about his experience before heading into the next round, Parris took the opportunity to praise team leader Shelton.

Rudy Parris When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. Admission: Free Information: 328-7560 or buckowens.com

“The thing about the Team Blake is that he is such a big heart and such a good person, that I think the other people in the competition that were big-hearted and good people gravitated towards him because of that fact. We all get along really good. There’s no drama between anyone. It’s incredible how a leader like that can attract the same kind of people as them.” So has sudden fame changed Parris? “The thing for me, I feel like the same person that I always was, but people are looking at me differently. That’s something that’s going to take getting used to. “There was a young lady, about 11 or 12. Her mother came up to me and said, ‘My daughter is your biggest fan. We saw you on “The Voice,” started following you on YouTube, know all your music, and really, really, like you. Can we take a picture with you?’ When I said hello to (the girl), she was shaking, and she started crying. I know that there’s certain people that I’ll meet in my life that’ll make me feel that way. I was just really touched that there was something that I do that touched that deeply, and it made me cry. That was an awesome experience.” Admittedly anxious for response from the public, Parris said he’s never shied away from comments about his appearances posted on all major social networks. “I’ve totally looked at all the comments on blogs, YouTube, I’ve Googled myself and am very grateful and fortunate that I’d say a good 90 percent of the reaction to me

PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC

Rudy Parris, a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice,” will be performing a free show at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace on Friday.

has been positive. I know some of the other contestants on the show haven’t been as fortunate, and I can understand when we talk and they’re upset.” Though he made it out of the blind auditions with a rootsy rendition of The Police hit “Every Breath You Take,” Parris said fans can look forward to more countryleaning fare on Friday when he takes the Crystal Palace stage for a full show. “I don’t get to play a lot of country music because there aren’t many venues and it isn’t as popular as it was in the ’90s when there was line-dancing and all that. So any chance I get to play country music, I’m stoked.

“At the Crystal Palace show, there’s not gonna be any rock — all country music with the exception of the ‘Every Breath You Take’ single. I’m gonna do some of my old favorites: Sammy Kershaw, Alan Jackson.” Parris added that, regardless of the outcome, he appreciates all the support he’s received and the life-changing experiences he feels blessed to have been given as a participant on “The Voice.” “It’s amazing, just what making the blind auditions has done for my life. If that’s all that happened, that’s all I needed.” “The Voice” airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on KGET-TV, Channel 17.

Turner’s golden baritone sells out Fox Country singer the hottest ticket around BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

ountry troubadour Josh Turner has been traveling across America singing to one of the most loyal fan bases in the genre — so loyal, in fact, that his show Sunday at the Fox Theater has sold out. “I am on the road a lot though these days, so the fans can come see me anytime,” said Turner, 34, in an interview with The Californian. Not one to rest on his laurels — 5 million records sold, plus a slew of music industry awards

Josh Turner When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday (show is sold out) Where: Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Admission: $35 to $60 Information: 324-1369 or vallitix.com

— the “Long Black Train” singer follows a classic work ethic while out promoting his latest release, “Punching Bag” and his new live album, “Live Across America,” which showcases the energy of his concerts and features the culmination of the best of his performances recorded over the past four months. The live album, released

exclusively through Cracker Barrel, will be available for sale at Sunday’s show. It’s on that record that you can hear the greats who influenced Turner. “I grew up listening to all kinds of music except for heavy metal,” said the South Carolina native. “I have always leaned toward country and bluegrass music. My five main influences are Randy Travis, John Anderson, Johnny Cash, Vern Gosdin, and Hank Williams.” To be placed in that company — as Turner was in 2007 when he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry — has been a humbling experience, one he calls his greatest professional achievement. “Getting inducted into the

Opry was a dream come true. I was surprised at how early it happened in my career, but it’s been great because I’ve been part of other artists’ inductions, including Keith Urban’s, and it’s given me a lot of credibility.” Though Turner is pleased to be regarded as one of the top draws in country music today, he’s ambivalent about the current scene. “I think the country music scene is very fresh in that artists are always searching for that new sound, but at the same time I feel like we’ve lost sight of what country music is, with TV and the Internet, and so much emphasis being put on image. I think there’s an imbalance.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH TURNER

Country singer Josh Turner appears Sunday at the Fox.

Thursday, October 18, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Chance to ‘Voice’ your support Local vocalist on singing contest appears at Palace BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

Rudy Parris When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. Admission: Free Information: 328-7560 or buckowens.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC

Rudy Parris, a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice,” will be performing a free show at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace on Friday.

Turner’s golden baritone sells out Fox Country singer the hottest ticket around BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

Josh Turner When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday (show is sold out) Where: Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Admission: $35 to $60 Information: 324-1369 or vallitix.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH TURNER

Country singer Josh Turner appears Sunday at the Fox.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, October 18, 2012

Eye Street

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or four years later I met Perry. My boyfriend’s band played a benefit show with Psi Com (Farrell’s former band). I just showed up, and I was immediately just mesmerized, fell in love, I wanted to have his babies, and I just couldn’t stop talking about him. I was obsessed at that point.” Niccoli and Farrell began dating a year later. “His style was a lot more extreme than when he was in Jane’s Addiction. Very artistic, spiritual, a different vibe that kind of reflected what he was into at the time.” Niccoli described Farrell’s creative mindset at the time prior to the formation of Jane’s as that of an ambitious visionary running on all cylinders. “Perry was and still is, I’m sure, just a very inspired, very driven person. He really put his ideas into motion. He was fearless in the way he approached his art. He didn’t really think about what people were gonna think or how people were going to accept it. It was kind of something that happened. I’m very shy, private. He used to tell me, ‘You make a terrible celebrity,’ because I didn’t kind of fit the bill.” Niccoli’s relationship with Farrell would heavily influence the band’s visual aesthetic: She was the model for the conjoined twins on the iconic cover of the album “Nothing’s Shocking,” and she was featured in the video for “Mountain Song” and the controversial short film “Gift,” among others. But perhaps Niccoli’s biggest claim to fame was as the object of Farrell’s affection in the music video for the song “Classic Girl,” from the group’s album “Ritual de lo Habitual.” “We just had a magical connection.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CASEY NICCOLI

Casey Niccoli, the muse of Perry Farrell in the early days of Jane’s Addiction, is a working mom who lives in Los Angeles, but she frequently visits family and friends in Bakersfield.

I just believed in him so much. He was so talented and so unique. He was a graphic artist when I met him. We both had day jobs. I would have loved him just as much had he not been in a band. We just clicked.” Niccoli, who is considering writing a book on her life’s adventures, hasn’t spoken with Farrell since their breakup but shared a few friendly words with guitarist Dave Navarro during a book signing in Los Angeles. “It’s always going to be a part of my life. I get tagged with videos on Face-

book. I take it with a sense of humor. I’m not looking to score off it. It’s nice to be liked; it feels good.” Though she visits Bakersfield regularly to see family and friends, Niccoli has no plans to attend Tuesday’s show. “Perry’s got a new life and a relationship where he really honors his wife. I respect that, don’t try to contact him and leave him alone. I wish I could just be a face in the crowd and be like everyone else. Maybe one day.”

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, October 25, 2012

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

Index Bakersfield Comic-Con ............................ 22 Dia de los Muertos bike run .................... 23 Arts Alive .................................................. 24 Medieval Faire .......................................... 25 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 26 Local dancer on ‘Today’ .......................... 27 Scott Cox.................................................. 28 Calendar .............................................. 32-33

Rockin’ Halloween on tap Clubs, bars decked out for grown-up celebrations BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

ith so many awesome Halloween events around town, picking the best place to don your scary/silly/sexy/bizarre costume creation can be tough to narrow down. From family fun at the Kern County Museum to live rockabilly and gothic deejays in Old Town Kern, we’ve rounded up the best Halloween events from across the city, so you don’t have to worry about a thing, except finding the perfect costume. As always, make sure you keep an eye out for young trick-or-treaters, have a designated driver and party responsibly.

Club Nile: ‘Biggest night of year’ Preparations for the annual Club Nile Halloween show commence months in advance, and all the planning shows: Crowds are monstrously huge in the 500capacity nightclub. Nile promotion manager Frank Kruz hopes to see the historic former movie theater filled up once again on Friday and Saturday. “It’s the biggest nightclub in town, so it’s the one place you can be seen by everyone. Doing the decorations, we all get together the week before and transform the Nile into a haunted theater. I really look forward to that. Definitely our biggest night of the year.” The Nile has become a priority stop for those into the competitive side of Halloween. Walking across the stage throughout the night as resident deejays spin, you’re guaranteed to see some of the more elaborate costumes both eerily jaw-dropping and scantily creative. “It’s intense. People must spend weeks making their costumes. Everything from giant robots to very sexy vampires, because ladies love to do the sexy, so there are plenty of that. Scary, gross, and some well-engineered tech costumes have been big the last couple of years. There was once a dead zombie baby hanging out of someone’s stomach. That was pretty awesome.” Those hoping to get in on the costume contest for cash prizes should plan their arrival early due to large crowds after doors open at 9 p.m. According to Kruz, costume contest signups are closed at 11:45 p.m. Judging begins at midnight.

Glam Cobra at On the Rocks On the louder side of Halloween, Bakersfield ’80s rock tribute band Glam Cobra are promising a fist-pumping, head-banging wild night at On the Rocks on Saturday. Lead vocalist Nate “Zack Magnum” Antoine said it’s a show audiences can really sink their paws into. “I’m dressing up as a kitty cat because money is tight this year, but we always

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANK KRUZ

The annual Club Nile Halloween bashes are a big draw for Bakersfield revelers who like to dress up for the occasion.

plan a lot of surprises for the Halloween show, beginning with the fact that we have to dress up as our alter-ego, dressing up as a character.” Forming in 2007 as The Afterparty before resurfacing as Glam Cobra following some personnel changes, the band has become a major draw in Bakersfield and along the coast. Performing in over-the-top spandex outfits and wigs straight out of a 1980s Motley Crue or Poison MTV video, Glam Cobra offers an outrageous live show that isn’t just a tribute to one band, but a wild romp through an entire era. Whitesnake, Journey, Bon Jovi, you name it, they know it. Audience members are encouraged to dress in their favorite costumes, and don’t forget to tease your hair to scary heights. “We want all the girls to be as sexy as they can, because when you have a club full of sexy Little Bo Peeps on Halloween, there’s going to be madness.” The show includes a costume contest for cash and a 42-inch HD flat-screen TV.

Rockabilly at B Ryder’s What’s so Halloween about the pinPlease see HALLOWEEN / 29

PHOTO COURTESY OF GLAM COBRA

Glam Cobra, Bakersfield ’80s heavy metal tribute band, appears Saturday at On the Rocks.

Thursday, October 25, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street HALLOWEEN EVENTS For adults Oct. 26 The Darkside Halloween Bash, with the Goddamn Gallows, DJ Josex, Dead Ashling, Cher impersonator, tarot card reader, costume contest, ghoulish drink specials, cash prizes, 7 p.m., Narducci’s Cafe, 622 E. 21 St. $10 advance; $12 at the door. Visit tgptix.com. Bakersfield “Black Hole” Halloween Party, with The Hazmat Boyz, Latin Breeze, DJ Jerome, food, raffles, 7 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday, Iron Horse Saloon, 1821 S. Chester Ave. $5. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society kids club. 706-9294. Club Nile Halloween Bash Night 1, deejay dancing, costume contests, drink specials, 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Club Nile, 1721 19th St. Friday Before Halloween Bash, with Good Question, The Lebecs, costume contest, 42” LCD flat screen TV giveaway, 8:30 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday, On The Rocks, 1517 18th St., $5. 327-7625. Rumbaween 2012 Latin Halloween Party with deejays Andy and Regulator, costume contest, giveaways, 10 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday, Anita’s Mexican Bar & Grill, 4240 California Ave. 371-9458. Illrotica Body Art Ball, with deejays Eriq Avalon, NS5 and host Tino Cochino, 9 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday, Replay Lounge & Grill, 4500 Buck Owens Blvd. 364-6968. Nightmare on V St., with Vlad Arthur, Down Finger and special guests, 7 p.m., The Dome, 2201 V St., $6, all ages. 327-0190. Harvest Fest, with Dub Seeds, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Happy Hydro, 1708 N. Chester Ave., $10. 393-9493. Oct. 27 Rockin’ for Relay Halloween Party, live music, raffles, door prizes, costume contests, 6 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday, Lone Oak Lounge, 10612 Rosedale Highway, 589-0412. Halloween Spooktacular!, music by Members Only, drink specials, costume contest, 9 p.m., Narducci’s Cafe, 622 E. 21 St. $10; 21 and over only. 324-2961. Halloween Costume Party, with live entertainment by Versatil, 8 p.m., Tam O’Shanter, 2345 Alta Vista. $5. 324-6774. Halloween Bash, music by Alone & Forsaken, Stockz & Blondz, 8 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday, Cactus Valley Restaurant, $5, 21 and over only. 633-1948.

2012 Halloween Ball, with Big Sandy and His Fly Right Boys, Karling & the Kats, Lone Troubador, costume contest, 8 p.m., B Ryder’s Sports Bar & Grill, 7401 White Lane. $10 advance; $12 at the door. 21 & over only. 397-7304. Halloween Bash, music by Arvizu Brothers, drink specials, costume contest, 8 p.m. to midnight, Ethel’s Old Corral, 4310 Alfred Harrell Highway. Overnight camping available. Free. 873-7613. Halloween Bash, costume contest, music by Really Big Midgetz, prizes, 9 p.m., Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge, 3090 Brundage Lane. Free. 325-2139. Dusk Til’ Dawn Halloween Event, deejay dancing, costume contest, drinks specials, 9 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday, Replay Lounge & Grill, 4500 Buck Owens Blvd., 363-3709. Iron Horse Halloween Party, DJ, drink specials, costume contest, 8 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday, Iron Horse Saloon, 1821 S. Chester Ave. Free. 831-1315. Scary for Charity Halloween Bash, hors d’oeuvres, DJ, costume contest, silent auction, raffle, 7 p.m. to midnight, Marriott Hotel, 801 Truxtun Ave. $50. 21 and over only. Visit scaryforcharity.com. The Mothership DJ Night “Halloween Edition,” guests deejays, costume contest, 10 p.m., Sandrini’s Bar, 1918 Eye St. $5. 322-8900. Rockin’ for Relay 2012 Fundraiser Halloween Party, music, raffles, costume contest, 6 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday, Lone Oak Inn, 10612 Rosedale Highway. $5. On The Rock Halloween Bash, with Glam Cobra, costume contest, two 46” HD flat screen giveaways, 9:30 p.m., On The Rocks, 1517 18th St., $5. 327-7625. Club Nile Halloween Bash Night 2, deejay dancing, costume contests, drink specials, 9 p.m., Club Nile, 1721 19th St., Halloween Bash, music by Alone & Forsaken, Stockz & Blondz, 8 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday, Cactus Valley Restaurant, $5, 21 & over only. 633-1948. Oct. 31 Halloween Comic Fest, free comics, giveaways, candy, costume contests, book signing by local comic artist Matt Adams, 3 to 6 p.m., Russo’s, 9000 Ming Ave. Free. Visit halloweencomicsfest.com or 665-4686.

Halloween Bash, DJ, costume contest, drink specials, prizes, 9 p.m., Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge, 3090 Brundage Lane. Free. 3252139.

vendors, car show, pinup contest, safe Halloween, live bands, food, beer, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Rockabilly Swag, 1312 19th St. Free. 322-8783 or 323-7653. MS Walk 2012, live enterFamily-oriented tainment, drawing, costume October Fun Fest, activities contest, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., for children, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Yokuts Park, 4200 Empire Saturday and Sunday, 12:30 Drive. Free. walkMSsocal.org to 6 p.m. Monday through or 321-9512. Friday, now through Oct. 31, Halloween is “Going To The Murray Family Farms, 6700 Dogs,” hosted by Valley General Beale Road. $6.99 all Farmers Market and in conages; Saturday and Sunday, junction with the farmers $10.99. Children 3 years & market; dog agility demonunder free. 330-0100. strations, doggy costume Talladega Frights Scream contests, barbecue, music, 8 Park, 7 p.m. Thursday a.m. to noon, Golden State through Sunday, now through Mall, 3201 F St. Free. Nov. 4; and 7 p.m. Oct. 31, Oct. 28 11811 Rosedale Highway, between Jewetta Avenue and Fourth Annual Howl-OWeen Pet Festival, pet cosOld Farm Road. $15 to $25. talladegafrights.com or face- tume contest, pet adoptions and kid’s activities 1 to 5 book.com/TalladegaFrights. Banducci’s Family Pumpkin p.m., Self-Serve Pet Spa, 7401 White Lane, Suite 2. Free. Patch, cornfield maze, corn381-7699. stalks, field trips, pumpkins, Oct. 29 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday “Scary” Concert, hosted by through Saturday, 10 a.m. to American Guild of Organists; 6 p.m. Sunday, now through Oct. 31 (closes at 4 p.m. Oct. 7 p.m., St. John’s Lutheran 31), Banducci’s Family Pump- Church, 4500 Buena Vista Road. Free. 872-4733. kin Patch, 10747 Taft Highway, Bakersfield. Free. 832For kiddies 2332. Oct. 25 Oct. 26 October Classic Series, see Kids Night Out “Monsters the movie “Night of the LivInc.,” for ages 7 and up, ing Dead,” 7 p.m., Maya Cine- paint a monster pencil holder, mas, 1000 California Ave. $6. games, pizza, dessert, movie, 636-0484. 6:30 to 9 p.m., Color Me Mine at The Marketplace, Oct. 26-27, 31 Lantern Light Tour & Ghost 9000 Ming Ave. $25; $19 for Hunt, 8 to 10 p.m., Silver City additional siblings. Prepaid reservations required. bakersGhost Town, 3829 Lake field.colormemine.com or Isabella Blvd., Bodfish. $12 664-7366. per person of all ages. 760379-5146. Oct. 27 Oct. 26 Paint by Candlelight “Spooky Edition,” we’re Spookyville: A Penny Carnival, games, costume contest, turning down the lights and raffle, prizes, obstacle course, turning up the spooky-fun! pumpkin decorating contest, The “trick” is painting by candlelight and we’ll provide the 6 to 8:30 p.m., Boys & Girls “treats!” Wear your costume Club, 801 Niles St. A penny per game, so bring your pen- (or pajamas) for free studio fee. Choose the early seating nies. 325-3730. for families or later for adults Oct. 27 only, 6 p.m., Color Me Mine Healthy Halloween Carniat The Marketplace, 9000 val, carnival games, food, Ming Ave. $12 (price depends costume contest (kids on pottery painted). bakersonly), skateboarding demon- field.colormemine.com or stration, photo booth, bounce 664-7366. house, music, health screenOct. 30-31 ing (for adults), musical chairs and hula hoop contest, Safe Halloween 2012, with 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Kohl’s, 5385 trick or treat stations, cosGosford Road. Free. tume contest, haunted house, food and beverages for sale, Trunk or Treat Halloween Celebration, music, interac- 5 to 9 p.m., Kern County tive games, costume contest, Museum, 3801 Chester Ave. $6; $8 for children ages 3 to bounce house, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., located along the North 12 that are trick-or-treating. vallitix.com or 868-8410. Chester frontage road north of Norris Road, Oildale. Free. Oct. 31 Street Fair Fundraiser, ben- In-Store Trick-or-Treating, 5 efitting the California Veterto 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 4001 ans Assistance Foundation; California Ave. Free. 631-2575.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID HARRISON

Robert Williams, aka Big Sandy, co-headlines Saturday’s 2012 Monster Ball at B Ryder’s. HALLOWEEN: CONTINUED FROM 20

up/hot rod culture of rockabilly? Who knows, but Orange County roots rock legend Robert Williams, who co-headlines the 2012 Monster Ball at B Ryder’s on Saturday, has a thing for horror, as do his fans. Better known under his stage name, Big Sandy, Williams said Halloween is one of his favorite days of the year. “I grew up being a fan of all things horror,” said Williams. “Magazines like Famous Monsters of Filmland, all the Universal monster movies, and monster records by guys like John Zacherle (‘Dinner With Drac’) Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett (‘Monster Mash’), even Buck Owens (‘It’s A Monster’s Holiday’). It’s a lot of fun to be surrounded by the creepiness I enjoyed as a kid.” Also appearing with Big Sandy and his Fly Right Boys is UK rockabilly chanteuse Karling Abbeygate, who enjoys performing this time of year. “Halloween is seriously my favorite time of the year,” she said. “I wish every day was Halloween. I’m going to be dressed as a Zombie Queen of Hearts. I have a huge wig, a short dress and a bunch of white makeup. It’s a great opportunity to role-play and just be weird and have fun.” Both groups have tailored shows to suit the evening, which includes a costume contest and guaranteed shenanigans. “Saturday is gonna be a blast,” Williams said. “Our show will be our usual rockin’ and honkytonkin’ sort of thing, but with a few Halloween twists. We’ll have a couple of monster tunes thrown in the mix and we will be in costume, which will have to remain a surprise.” Abbeygate said fans might want to bring a fire extinguisher for her set. “Our guitar player is going to light himself on fire. Actually, he’s going to light his guitar on fire, but I’m guessing it’s all gonna go wrong as usual.” Also appearing are local bands Fatt Katt and the Von Zippers and Loner Troubadour.

What about the kids? Grown-ups may be excited about Halloween parties, but the kids will have their say when it comes to trick-or-treating. This year, there are scores of events to choose from. The ever-popular Safe Halloween at the Kern County Museum on Tuesday and Wednesday is a convenient way to get the kids an equal opportunity to fill their treat bags. Throughout the museum grounds, a number of trick-or-treat stations are set up to accommodate the throngs of children and families that attend every year. Those interested in more healthy fare can pack up the family for Saturday’s Healthy Halloween at the Kohl’s parking lot on Gosford Road, with skateboarding demonstrations, photo booths, a bounce house and more. If the sight of ghouls and witches is too intense for your little ones, a number of local churches hold harvest-themed carnivals to celebrate the evening. Plus, area farms have set up pumpkin patches, cornfield mazes and games to enjoy together for good, clean fun.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, November 1, 2012

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

Index Little River Band ...................................... 22 Arts Alive .................................................. 23 First Friday................................................ 24 Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” ........................ 24 Laf-A-Lot Dance Club................................ 25 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 26 Bakersfield Independent Film Festival .. 27 Calendar .............................................. 32-33

Just don’t call him an outlaw Church does it his way, but rowdy singer hates labels BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

e rose to fame as a rebel, but it would be hard to find a guy more beloved by the country music establishment than Eric

Church. On the strength of his 2011 CD, “Chief” — which spawned the hits “Drink in My Hand,” “Creepin” and “Springsteen” — Church is headed to Bakersfield on Tuesday with his “Blood, Sweat & Tears” tour and leads the field at tonight’s County Music Association Awards, with five nominations. “It’s surreal, because it’s not something I saw coming,” said Church during a recent phone interview. “I knew ‘Chief’ had been a special record, I knew ‘Springsteen’ was a monster of a song, but I didn’t see being most nominated. Neither did anybody else, so don’t let anyone kid you. I think it’s better that way because there’s no expectations for me. “It’s pretty cool for the industry, because at times I felt like I didn’t know where we belonged. I thought we were too rock for country, I thought we were too country for rock, I didn’t know if we had a home. So, for them to kind of open their arms and say, ‘You’re one of us’ is the biggest thing I took from being nominated.” That affirmation is all the more sweet, Church said, considering that he got his start not as a pretty-boy Nashville creation, but as a honky-tonk hero, grinding it out night after night in one sweaty barroom after another. Church, 35, broke out of a pack of fellow rowdy country rockers like Jamey Johnson, starting talk of a new generation of outlaws, the heirs of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Just don’t call Church an outlaw to his face.

KYNDELL HARKNESS / STAR TRIBUNE

Eric Church performs at the State Fair Grandstand in Falcon Heights, Minn., in August. He will be at Rabobank Theater Tuesday.

“I hate labels. It seems like we could come up with a different word. ‘Outlaw’ is a word that was issued 30, 40 years ago, and I think there’s a different theme now. I mean, yeah, our paths have been somewhat similar as artists from way back. Maybe finding some success outside of the normal parameters where people find success, yeah, I get it. I’m just not big on calling it this or that, and certainly not going

back to a word 30 or 40 years.” Not big on country music’s penchant for hype, the North Carolina native prefers to keep his material and stage show about the purity of a rowdy good time. “A lot of times in my career, especially from where we came from, it wasn’t busy. I’m just taking it in stride. It’s pretty simple for me now. You gotta keep it about the

Eric Church When: 7 p.m. Tuesday Where: Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Admission: $36 to $199, plus fee Information: 852-7777 or ticketmaster.com

Please see CHURCH / 31

‘John Williams of England’ debuts work with BSO BY SUSAN SCAFFIDI Contributing writer

ulti award-winning composer Christopher Gunning will be on hand to hear the world premiere of his latest work performed by the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra this weekend, in a program of storytelling music. Titled “Hector’s Return,” Gunning’s nine-minute musical essay is the composer’s description of a hero’s return, first inspired by lis-

tening to the music of Hector Berlioz. “The influence of Berlioz may or may not be evident, but as I was composing I was reminded of other Hectors, notably the Trojan prince of Greek mythology,” Gunning wrote about this piece. Gunning is renowned as a film and TV composer, winning four BAFTAs — the British equivalent of the Academy Award — as well as four Ivor Novello awards for the film “La Vie en Rose,” plus the

themes for “Agatha Christie’s ‘Poirot,’” “Middlemarch” and “Porterhouse Blue.” “He’s really kind of the John Williams of England,” said BSO conductor John Farrer. “It’s really hard to encounter any film in England he hasn’t had a hand in.” Farrer said he became friends with Gunning while making a recording in London. He said he told Gunning he should write an essay-length work for orchestra. Farrer said programming an

effective concert requires balancing long works, such as a fulllength symphony, with shorter works like an essay to provide variety for the audience. While composers are attracted to the challenges of writing the big works, Farrer said conductors want those shorter pieces as well. “There’s a vast audience for this, a need for this,” Farrer said. The orchestra has three other story-telling works on its program Please see SYMPHONY / 29

Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra When: Lecture 7 p.m.; concert 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Admission: $34-$50. Available at Rabobank Box Office, and ticketmaster.com

Thursday, November 1, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street “It’s not macabre at all. Mexican people are such endearing people. Many believe that you should never cry on Dia De Los Muertos, because the path back to the living world must not be made slippery by our tears.” — Cruz Reyes Ramos, organizer of the 20th annual Dia De Los Muertos Expo

They’re on leave from heaven community members honoring loved ones who have died. This year, Millis said there may be as many as 35 shrines, which people had to sign up for in advance. The altars will be on display in the museum’s gardens. If you’d like even more to look at, head into the museum for the ongoing exhibit “Paul Strand: Mexican Portfolio,” a collection of photographs taken in Mexico in the early 1930s. Millis said bilingual docents will be on hand for tours and information about the works. With a hearty helping of culture and art for such a good price — $1, free for children 6 and under — Millis said it’s the museum’s opportunity to connect with the community. “This is our big thank you to the community. Let them know that we’re here, and that we’re here for them.”

Departed souls join living loved ones for Muertos THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

ake no bones about it: Dia de los Muertos is firmly on the pop culture map. From more costumed skeletons trick-or-treating and at Halloween parties this year to a variety of local activities, the stage is set for celebrating the traditional Mexican holiday. And it is a celebration, despite the prominent calaveras, or skulls, in the imagery. That’s something the Bakersfield Museum of Art is emphasizing at its fourth annual Altares de Familia. “It’s a celebration of life. That’s one thing that people misconstrue,” said Amy Millis, the museum’s director of development and organizer of the event. This year’s event, which spans the museum grounds as well as the adjacent Central Park at Mill Creek, is poised to be the biggest yet. This year “we’re just bigger and better taking up more of the park. Most of Central Park is dedicated to the event. We have a bigger stage and more lights.” Activities at the park include an opening Aztec blessing by Mi Tierra around 5:30 p.m. followed by more folk dancing later in the evening, and performances by Kern County Youth Mariachi Foundation, SoLuna Mexican folk ballet and Escuelas Unidas. Along with dancing and music, the park will host about 25 vendors, a mix of sponsors, crafts and foods. Food vendors, including La Vaca Flaca, Choco’s Tacos, La Rosa, Taquitos Jesus, California Italian Ice and Irene’s, will serve traditional dishes such as chile verde, taquitos, tacos and burritos as well as kid-friendly kettle corn and pizza. After the kids are fed, entertain them with face-painting and the children’s craft area, which Millis said will be huge this year. Children completing each craft receive a stamp on a card, which can be used for trick-or-treating at the end of the line. Claydoh the Clown will make balloon animals to entertain youngsters as they wait.

— Stefani Dias

Dia De Los Muertos Expo

PHOTO COURTESY OF DON WHITE

Costumed dancers wait to perform during last year’s Dia de Los Muertos Expo at Golden State Mall.

Folks can decorate sugar skulls under the guidance of event committee member Eva Patino and her daughter, Felisa, who teamed on two recent workshops for the activity. The younger Patino will bring some of her Liberty High students to help with the project and crafts area, Millis said. Speaking of skulls, plenty will be on display inside the museum for the student competition, which has hundreds of entries this year. Millis said along with mini-altars recognizing a person — famous or loved one — who impacted the student’s life, young artists could opt to design calaveras to compete for cash prizes. “The skulls are fantastic. We wanted to make it fun and mix it up, and it’s such an integral part of the celebration. It goes on with our mission of education and art.” Of course, the big draw for many are the altars created by

At Golden State Mall, the festive sounds of dancing skeletons are what Dia De Los Muertos Expo organizer Cruz Reyes Ramos hopes will be an invitation to all happy spirits to join in the fun. “I was urged by people to start celebrating this event, because of the success we’ve had with Cinco de Mayo,” said Ramos. “In many Mexican and Peruvian cities like Aguas Calientes, they celebrate it in grand fashion. That’s what we strive for. Every year it grows in our community and people look forward to it. I’m very happy with the responses we receive.” Ramos began coordinating the popular cultural event in 1992 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Lamont under the guidance of parish priest Father John Schmoll. Within a few years, the feast outgrew Lamont, and after a few temporary stops, ended up at the spacious Golden State Mall. “Our mission is to convey to our multi-cultural audiences what we as Mexican-Americans believe. The signature images of calaveras (skeletons,) remind us of our mortality and represent the dead playfully mimicking the living, not a scary symbol. The colors are always so bright and flo-

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BAKERSFIELD MUSEUM OF ART

A woman arranges items on a table during last year’s Altares de Familia event at the Bakersfield Museum of Art.

20th annual Dia De Los Muertos Expo When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday Where: Golden State Mall, second floor, 3201 F St. Admission: Free Information: 472-6836 or 345-5842

Altares de Familia PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BAKERSFIELD MUSEUM OF ART

Decorated skulls are prominent at the Altares de Familia event.

ral. We are focusing on respecting life.” More than 80 dancers will exhibit elaborate Mexican folk dances from SoLuna Mexican Folk Ballet, Grupo Folklorico Escuelas Unidas and the St. Augustine Skeleton Dancers, who will depict through special choreography the way celebrants believe God grants permission to the deceased in heaven to come down to the living world and be honored at a special francachela, fandango, or party. “It’s not macabre at all. Mexican people are such endearing people. Many believe that you should never cry on Dia De Los Muertos, because the path back to the living world must not be made slippery by our tears.” In addition to marking the 20th anniversary of her first event, this year’s expo takes on particularly special meaning for Ramos as she will be adding a special display in memory of her brother Isaac J. Reyes, who passed away earlier this month. Ramos will place the tribute to her brother — nicknamed “Purple Haze” for his admiration of rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix — alongside the altar dedicated to her late father, Pascual. “I will be placing 58 purple flowers as a birthday symbol, because I’m sure Isaac would

When: 5 p.m. Friday Where: Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 R St., and the adjacent Central Park Admission: $1; free for children under 6 Information: 323-7219 or bmoa.org/altares-de-familia

Dia de Los Muertos When: festivities begin at 5 p.m.; Dub Seeds performs at 9 Where: Muertos Kitchen & Lounge, 1514 Wall St. Alley Admission: $10 reserved seating, $5 general admission for the show Information: 324-2557

understand I couldn’t have 58 candles. We miss him very much. His sense of humor was really something.” According to Ramos, 19 colorfully elaborate family altars and offerings have been confirmed for exhibit with more to be added. Along with muertos crafting, sugar skulls, and art on display, traditional food and beverage vendors will be selling specially themed food items such as spicy tombstone tamales, Mexican panecito exquisito de muertito, or “exquisite sweet bread of the dead” and more. Plus, there will be special recognition of “La Calavera Catrina,” a popular etching by famed Mexican political artist Jose Guadalupe Posada. Please see MUERTOS / 31

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, November 1, 2012

Eye Street

Music doubleheader at Sam Lynn BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he roar of cheering baseball fans will be traded for the sounds of music when pop rockers the Little River Band and Stray Cats’ bassist Lee Rocker perform a doubleheader at Sam Lynn Ball Park on Sunday. Thomas Rockwell, president of Trout’s Corp., organized the show and is styling it after “Day on the Green”-type outdoor festivals. The afternoon concert is part of an ongoing wish list of entertainment events he’s been planning. “It’s all about getting some of these artists when they’re touring in the area,” said Rockwell. “When you can make it happen in the community like this, there’s no downside.” Rockwell said his choice to have the show outside the first weekend of November is based on a combination of weather research he conducted and securing an ideal location that will allow locals to kick off their shoes one last time before winter hits. “I found that in the last 15 years, this weekend has always had great weather in the 70s or higher. Probably the last great weather weekend of the year.” When he’s not booking live music at Trout’s honkytonk, Rockwell has been busy promoting shows through his production company Rockwell Opry Productions. Already, country singers

Little River Band and Lee Rocker When: Gates open at noon, concert at 1 p.m. Sunday Where: Sam Lynn Ball Park, 4009 Chester Ave. Admission: $25 to $250, plus service charges. Tickets and information: Emporium Western Store, 1031 19th St. 325-8476; Trout’s, 805 N. Chester. 3998600; or online at brownpapertickets.com

Pam Tillis, Mark Wills, Bryan White and the Doo-Wah Riders have appeared, both at Trout’s honkytonk and at the Fox. “These shows were just the beginning. Bakersfield will have more shows to look forward to like this as we progress into next year.” The Little River Band, an Australian group that found most of its success in the States in the mid-’70s, is no stranger to Bakersfield after selling out Fishlips bar twice. Original Little River Band bassist and vocalist Wayne Williams, 62, said the group’s lasting radio hits have always been the lifeblood of the group. Their baby boomer-rich discography of 15 studio albums includes hits like “Lonesome Loser,” “Lady,” “Cool Change,” “The

Night Owls” and “Reminiscing.” “People come usually for two or three songs they’re intent on hearing, and then they get the other six or seven they don’t realize were also part of the band’s history or part of their radio listening back in the day. So, you definitely get people saying, ‘Oh, I didn’t know you guys did that song.’” Still heard regularly on adultcontemporary radio or in commercial and films during flashback sequences, the group feels fortunate to resonate with younger fans as well. “The mix of people at the live shows who reconnect with our songs is incredible. I think a lot of artists take it for granted and literally cast aside their past, because it’s not the new thing or what they’re doing now. That’s not what people come to these shows for. We’re not going to carve new ground or re-invent the wheel. Fans come with their memories intact. There are a couple of new twists to the hits, but what I like to call it is like an ‘interactive scrap book.’” Memories were a factor playing into why Rockwell booked the group for the show along with Stray Cats’ bassist Lee Rocker, who also makes a return visit to Bakersfield to open the show. “Little River Band to me is like having my 1968 GTO back, because that’s the cassette somebody left in the back seat. Then

PHOTO COURTESY OF LITTLE RIVER BAND

The Little River Band appears at Sam Lynn Ball Park on Sunday.

you have Lee Rocker from the Stray Cats in the ’80s. You hear that music that just starts triggering something.” Sunday’s show will be held on a raised stage in the left-field grass area away from the bleachers. Open seating will be split into five sections, starting at general admission and going up to preferred seating from there. The top ticket price, $250, includes admission to the Little River Band’s encore performance the following Tuesday at Trout’s. Lawn chairs and blankets will be allowed in all sections. Once inside a number of food and beverage vendors will be on hand selling concessions. No outside food and beverages are allowed inside the park. In addition, there will be a classic car show in the Sam Lynn parking lot and a pin-up girl con-

test onstage during the concert. Williams said he’s had an affinity for Bakersfield after the group’s previous shows turned into wildly festive occasions. He expects even more dancing out in left field on Sunday. “It never fails that, by the time the night is done, people are saying, ‘What a great party. Thanks for keeping it alive, and bringing all those memories back.’ That’s the kind of day it is.” Following the concert, an after party will be held at Trout’s in Oildale. Tickets for Tuesday’s concert with the Little River Band at Trout’s are available for $100. Tickets can be purchased separately at Trout’s. Classic car owners and models interested in entering the pin-up contest can call 724-OPRY or email therockwellopry@ yahoo.com.

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Eye Street MUERTOS: CONTINUED FROM 21

The 102-year-old image of “La Calavera Catrina,” or “The Elegant Skull,” is the skeleton of an upper class woman with a large feathered hat and one of the most popular figures seen at Dia De Los Muertos celebrations. “It’s like a family reunion, complete with a banquet. The person of honor will not be forgotten.” — Matt Munoz

Dia de los Muertos at Muertos Honoring loved ones is a cause near and dear to Shawna Haddad-Byers, who will host a Dia celebration at her aptly named Muertos Kitchen and Lounge. The theme behind the restaurant, which opened this summer, honors Haddad-Byers’ grandmother in the menu and atmosphere. “My Sittie was all about simple but very flavorful foods and loved ones around as much as possible. I feel this is what is happening at Muertos, and I feel very blessed

as I know she has guided me through this amazing process. The warmth and support we have received from Bakersfield has been incredible.” Embracing the tradition of face-painting, Bonnie Forston of Atomic Kitten Salon will be on hand offering her makeup skills for looks ranging between $5 to $20. And don’t be afraid if you spot a few stylish skeletal figures downtown, Haddad-Byers said, since Forston’s children Zoe and Zane, along with Haddad-Byers’ son, Hudson, will hand out fliers promoting the makeup work. “Zoe will be featured as the Corpse Bride, and Zane and Hudson will be her handsome escorts.” Also flexing her creativity is artist Lysa Luna, who will be selling her dolls. A big fan of Luna’s work, Haddad-Byers owns two dolls “She hand-crafts these brilliantly romantic, haunting dolls. I have two at Muertos, Ivan and Matilda. Lysa names all her dolls.”

Earning some name recognition of her own is server Sarah Ketchum, who followed her boss to the new restaurant after the December closing of Fishlips, which Haddad-Byers co-owned. Among the new menu and drink items available Friday is her newly created pomegranate margarita. If you want to secure a seat for dinner or the performance by reggae-rockers Dub

Seeds, call for reservations. Reserved seating is $10 and general admission, which starts at 8:30 p.m., is $5. “We are very excited. The band starts about 9 and will play a few sets. The first set is an acoustic set tribute to the Grateful Dead. Then they will play their usual fan favorites.” — Stefani Dias

Presents The 23rd Annual

Holiday Home Tour December 7 & 8, 2012 • 10am to 4pm CHURCH: CONTINUED FROM 20

music, and about the shows you gotta play. Let the rest of the noise be noise.” Speaking of noise, Church was invited to turn it up to eardrum-shattering levels this year when he was tapped to open for Metallica at the group’s Orion Music and More festival in Atlantic City. Though he cut his teeth performing at biker bars, Church — the only country singer handpicked by the metal gods for the show — admitted to some nerves. “I was scared to death because I’ve been to Metallica shows and seen the audience turn their back on the opening acts. (Metallica guitarist) James Hetfield walked out and introduced us, and that certainly helped, but it’s one of those things. Their fan base didn’t really know who we were. It took a little bit to breakdown, ‘Who is this guy?’ I even said, ‘You don’t know me, and I don’t really know you, but I promise we come from the same background, and we listen to the same music. I played my song, ‘Jack Daniels Kicked My (expletive) Again Last Night,’ and it all started to change. By

46th Annual CMA Awards

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the end of the set, it ended up being one of the best crowds we’ve had. And I love it, because it really was on the backs of the music at that point in time. It wasn’t about who was communicating the message or where it came from. It was about the songs, and I think that’s what the festival was about, and certainly one of the highlights of my career.” Like that fateful night with Metallica, Church hopes tonight’s CMA appearance will make a similar impact, as well as his Bakersfield show, which happens to fall on Election Night. “If I win five awards, I’m gonna make the same record and play the same inyour-face show if we win 0 when I go to Bakersfield. In all my years, I’ve never played on Election Night. I’m not big into politics — just a lot of people talkin’ and yellin’ at me.”

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Presents The 23rd Annual

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, November 8, 2012

Eye Street

Busting rhymes and doing time Author explores courts’ perception of rap lyrics BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

he controversy surrounding the lyrical content of rap music in the courtroom will be the focus of a lecture by visiting author Lily Hirsch at Bakersfield College on Wednesday. Hirsch will present a selection of high-profile and noteworthy court cases in which rap lyrics have been used against the accused. Hirsch Hirsch holds a Ph.D. in musicology from Duke University and has taught at Cleveland State University. Her 2008 book, “Hitler’s Jewish Orchestra: Musical Politics in the Berlin Jewish Culture League,” explores the only Nazi-era institution in which Jews were allowed to both participate as musicians and audience members. Her latest book, “Music in American Crime Prevention and Punishment,” is a further exploration of Hirsch’s argument that music often is misused to both control and punish, most prominently in the rap music genre and specifically the artists behind the

Lily E. Hirsch: “Rap Lyrics as Evidence of Crime” When: 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday Where: Norman Levan Center for the Humanities, Bakersfield College campus Admission: Free. Open to the public. Information: 395-4339

music. “What I see happening here in the courts is they’re using rap lyrics as evidence of crime supposing there’s some sort of oneto-one correspondence between what a rapper writes and who he is. That’s a very Romantic-era idea, that the composer composes who he is and the music reflects who he is. That’s a really problematic idea, especially in rap music, where normally it’s not just the one rapper who’s writing this music, there’s a whole host of people that have input. That being said, that’s just one issue.” Included in her research is the case of gangster rapper Corey “CMurder” Miller, convicted of second-degree murder in 2002. During the trial, Hirsch said, the prosecutor often referred to Miller by his stage name, C-Murder, rather than his given name. “I think it displayed awareness of how the role of just his persona

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as a rapper played in his conviction. It’s not always just about the lyrics. Even if there’s no direct point of reference from a page with verses, you’ll have some sort of reference to the person as a rapper.” Another case discussed in Hirsch’s lecture will be that of rapper Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus, arrested in connection with the 1993 shooting death of gang member Phillip Woldermarian by Broadus’ bodyguard, McKinley Lee. Broadus, as the driver of the vehicle from which the shooting had occurred, was charged with murder. Both men were acquitted, but Broadus remained entangled in legal battles surrounding the case for three years. Hirsch said Broadus’ troubles intensified following the release of his 1994 album, “Murder Was the Case.” “I’m really tracing and discussing the problem. First, it’s not just one single rapper writing about his life experience. Second, rap is not some sort of authentic extension of the rapper. Oftentimes, it’s a whole projection or character. You see that especially with rappers like Eminem, who has so many characters involved in his rap, it’s not just who he is as a person. “Also the violence, especially in gangster rap, is metaphorical — it’s about power, not actually about a specific crime or glorifi-

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Snoop Dogg, seen grooving at the VICE Magazine party in September in Toronto, is among the subjects examined by Lily E. Hirsch in “Rap Lyrics as Evidence of Crime.”

cation of violence. It’s about some sort of lost power, so this sort of direct reading of rap that’s happening at court, ‘this violent act was written by the rapper, therefore he would do something like this,’ is really super-problematic.” Hirsch’s book includes a brief section on heavy metal rock lyrics. “It seems like, in general, heavy metal and rap are the two most suspect genres of music in our society, based on how the courts treat them. I do think rap is probably treated a little more suspect, but I think its pretty close.”

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During the hour-long multimedia presentation, other topics will include music and violence, music in prison, how music is being used as torture in the War on Terror, the use of classical music to repel teenagers and the punishment of noise violators. “It’s so funny and horrifying at the same time, but today you’re starting to see it enter academia. (Rap producer) Swizz Beatz was a resident composer at NYU. So, it’s starting to have some sort of respectability. But I think it’s based on how the courts are treating rap music.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, November 8, 2012

Eye Street

This cat keeping the music jumping, jiving Frontman takes reins to lead band into new territory BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

fter jumpin’ and jivin’ across America for decades, Rick Estrin wants to paint the rest of the globe a thick coat of royal blue. Touring as ambassador of one of our most beloved musical artforms, the energetic pompadour-coiffed blues vocalist and harp player continues house rockin’ as the longtime front man for his band, the Nightcats, a position he previously shared with former guitarist Charles “Little Charlie” Baty until his retirement four years ago. Today Estrin continues blazing his own path while remaining loyal to his roots, with a new show he promises will get audiences shuffling on Friday when he stops by the DoubleTree Hotel as part of World Records’ No Stinkin’ Service Charge Blues Series. “When Charlie first retired I knew I had to start positioning myself to keep working — nobody really knew my name,” said Estrin during a telephone interview. “The band was Little Charlie and the Nightcats, so people would just call me ‘Charlie’ or say ‘Hey, Charlie,’ everywhere we went.” With nearly 36 solid years of performing and recording under the “Little Charlie” name, Estrin was concerned over possible negative reaction to the band’s name change. Hoping to avoid confusion, Estrin stepped away temporarily from live performing to remind listeners of his skills, first producing an instructional CD on

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLIGATOR RECORDS

Rick Estrin and the Nightcats appear Friday at the DoubleTree Inn.

blues-harp playing, followed by a series of tours in Europe and South America, where he says the blues thrives. “I booked myself a tour of Brazil and Argentina with a Brazilian band,” said Estrin. “It was surprising to me that the bandleader would email me, asking what material I wanted to do, and I would email him back with names of songs and MP3s. He would email me back, ‘Oh that’s a classic.’ Well, those were my songs, and if there were people like that in Brazil — younger guys who learned how to play listening to us and from guys that we listened to growPlease see ESTRIN / 36

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, November 8, 2012

Eye Street

Blues singer learned in school of hard knocks

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Friday night we have a chance to see and hear an amazing artist whose talent and passion enabled her to carve life, hope and joy out of a childhood steeped in incredible tragedy. Janiva Magness was born in Detroit and fondly remembers the early years listening to her father’s blues and country albums, and the Motown soul of her hometown. Then when Janiva was 14, her mother took her own life. Two years later Janiva’s father also ended his life. Along with steady use of drugs and alcohol, Janiva spent the next two years living on the street among 12 different foster home placements. At 17 she had a baby girl and put her up for adoption. Janiva’s last foster mom was into music and encouraged Janiva to sing along with the radio. One night Janiva sneaked into a club to see blues great Otis Rush perform. “He just blew my mind. He made me feel things I didn’t know what to do with. The music spoke to parts of me that had never been addressed. It opened up some other place in me, like letting oxygen into a sealed crypt for the first time.” She continued to go to as many blues and soul concerts as she could and took an intern position at a recording studio in St. Paul, Minn. “One night I was tracking demos for an R&B project. It was 2 or 3 in the morning, and I had my head down on the desk when they buzzed me: ‘We need some background vocals.’ It was a terrifying proposition to me, but I went back there and sang. Somebody else heard me and said, ‘That was great!’ and I started to think, I can do this.” Janiva spent many years as a background vocalist and eventually struck out with her own band in the early ’80s. Gradually, critical praise began to mount. After a series of awards and accolades, Janiva Magness, in 2009, became the only woman other than the great Koko Taylor to receive the most coveted blues award, BB King Entertainer of the Year. “For me the blues has been about redemption, about healing,” she said. “This kind of music requires that you

PHOTO BY JEFF DUNAS

Blues singer Janiva Magness appears Friday, along with Rick Estrin at the Nightcats, at the Doubletree Hotel.

don’t hold back any pain, and you don’t hold back any joy. You have to put it all out there. And it has saved me. To me, blues is like a balm for the wounded.” Janiva Magness tours in support of her 10th and latest release, “Stronger for It.” What an appropriate title. Pat Evans, owner of World Records, is founder of the No Stinkin’ Service Charge Blues Series.

ESTRIN: CONTINUED FROM 34

December 1, 2012 7:00pm Olive Drive Church 5500 Olive Drive Start your holiday season with a performance featuring selections from Handel’s Messiah with professional soloists and full orchestra plus more, including a Christmas Carol sing-along!

www.BakersfieldMasterworks.org

Tickets sold at: California Keyboards Music Center, 100 Oak Street Russo’s Books at The Marketplace, 9000 Ming Avenue Berean Christian Store, 2140 Wible Road Adults $20 • Students $10

ing up, then I assumed there’s guys like that all over Europe. It took ’em awhile to catch on because it’s a foreign culture, but over the last 10 to 15 years, all that’s changed.” Estrin’s discovery kept him busy, and soon his overseas connections began to match what he’d cultivated stateside, making him reconsider the future of the Nightcats. “I decided I’d like to have different bands in different places, where I can just fly in and play. Kind of like a lowbudget version of what Chuck Berry does and without the headaches of having a band to take care of.” But back home, remaining members of the Nightcats — drummer J. Hansen and bassist Lorenzo Farrell — were eager to pick up where they left off, this time with Estrin solely at the helm. “They wanted to keep it going, but Little Charlie is such a unique guitarist and an exciting player. I didn’t know anyone who could play like that. I didn’t want the group to become a diminished version of what we had before. I wanted it to be

Rick Estrin and the Nightcats When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: DoubleTree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court Admission: $25 to $30 Information: 831-3100 or shopworldrecords.com

something as exciting and different. I just couldn’t think of who to get.” Enter Norwegian blues guitar slinger Christoffer “Kid” Andersen, whom Estrin had met while recording his solo instructional CD. Andersen, who at the time of their initial meeting was a member of Charlie Musselwhite’s band, soon injected his youthful flash and technical wizardry into the group’s first recording as the newly revamped Nightcats, producing and performing on 2009’s “Tempted.” Hailed as a rebirth, the group’s latest critically acclaimed CD, “One Wrong Turn,” is affirmation of Estrin’s mission. Kicking off with “D.O.G.,” a down-

and-dirty electric romp, the meter continues simmering with the followup jump blues burner, “Lucky You,” before scaling back to a mid-tempo shuffle on “Callin’ All Fools.” Estrin’s soulful vocals are as sly as they’ve ever been, with a mix of big-city grit and Leon Redbone/Tin Pan Alley charm. Fans of the group’s earlier works are sure to find “One Wrong Turn” a spin in the right direction for Estrin and his trio of valiant bluesmen. “The recording process was exactly how I’d always wanted it to be. Everyone had these contributions to the vision I had for the record.” Despite Baty’s retirement, Estrin said you may catch a glimpse of the guitarist on select dates next year. But don’t avoid the current lineup, hopeful for a reunion. The new Nightcats can cook. “We go all out, man. We don’t mess around. Come and see us and you’ll be thoroughly entertained.” Also appearing is blues vocalist and winner of the 2009 B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Blues Music Award, Janiva Magness.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, November 15, 2012

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

Index Catch a $1,000 fish .................................. 24 Bluesman not so blue anymore .............. 25 Arts Alive: ‘Wrinkles’ is back .................. 26 Out of Bob Marley’s shadow .................. 27 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 28 Christmas comes early ............................ 29 Scott Cox: Micky and the Motorcars .... 30 Calendar .............................................. 33-35

So nice to see you again! Thanksgiving eve a big night on social calendar BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

hanksgiving eve — the night of a thousand reunions — is among the busiest evenings of the year for Bakersfield restaurants and pubs across the city. In fact, restaurant owners have taken to calling the night “Black Wednesday” — both for being a red-letter day for overindulgence and its role in getting cash registers ringing. Being the kickoff to the holiday season, there’s an undeniable festive spirit in the air, owing to the return of scores of college students, other family and friends and working stiffs eager to clock out early to get the party started. And nowhere is the tradition more established than at Wool Growers, the unofficial hub for mixed crowds of all ages. “In my 41 years here at Wool Growers, I see up to fourth generations coming in with their babies,” owner Jenny Maitia-Poncetta said. “It’s neat. My mom says she loves watching all these families, and when the kids come up and introduce themselves as ‘so-and-so’s son, and ‘I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid, you remember me?’ You see all kinds of people, especially young people, who are all very respectful to the older patrons.” Most of her customers have become accustomed to the change in atmosphere on this particular night, though MaitiaPoncetta added that she still makes a point to remind them. “Realize, it’s not going to be a nice, quiet evening. If they’re thinking about being somewhere it’s nice and quiet to be able visit with their family, that’s not what they should be expecting. It’s a lot of people and a lot of noise. For older people I can see where it might not be that much fun and a little chaotic. But it’s fun.” Beyond the large groups of families filling up the Wool Growers banquet room, Maitia-Poncetta said the scene resembles a college campus, with students eager to let off some steam between studies. “It’s like having spring break, but indoors. It’s gotten a little bit better with everyone having cell

“It’s like having spring break, but indoors.” — Jenny Maitia-Poncetta, Wool Growers owner

phones now but, before, everyone was looking for each other and they came here searching. The chaos has become a bit more organized now, and the last two to three years have not been as crazy, but some years I haven’t been able to leave the back register because of the amount of people.” Maitia added that another highlight of the evening is watching the girls come and go. “I see it all. The girls dress up in outfits you would not believe. They dress up like they’re getting ready for New Year’s Eve. They’re really here to impress. It’s kind of nice — you see these beautiful, young women all dressed to a tee.” One of the ways the restaurant stays organized, Maitia said, is by making menu adjustments designed for serving larger-thanaverage crowds. “We usually pick six or seven of our best sellers, like the shrimp scampi and of course the lamb chops and ox tail stew, all of the ones that we think are the most popular, so the kitchen can get it out faster. All of our staff will work, and not one complains because the servers make some pretty good money. They’re happy to work.” Maitia recommends reservations — and making them soon. “I always tell people: It’s not a typical night at Wool Growers. We have our normal seating arrangements, so that everyone can get done early and head home to spend time with their family, but it has never quite worked out that way. We serve until everyone gets fed properly.” After four decades, there isn’t any particular moment that stands out in particular for Maitia, though she does marvel at the stamina of her younger clientele, who, after filling their bellies, are ready to keep the party going. “We start to wind down about 11:30 to midnight, and you’ll see them all jumping into cabs. I have to admit they are pretty responsible. I’m proud of our young people.” Wool Growers is located at 620

CASEY CHRISTIE / THE CALIFORNIAN

Narducci’s Cafe, in Old Town Kern, has become a popular destination for those looking to have a celebratory meal with friends and family the night before Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving eve events

PHOTO COURTESY OF DUB SEEDS

Bakersfield reggae rock band Dub Seeds will perform at J&M’s Bar and Grill at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving eve.

E. 19th St. For information and reservations, call 327-9584, or visit woolgrowers.net.

Narducci’s A few blocks away, Narducci’s Cafe has become another popular destination for those looking to have a celebratory meal with friends and family the night before Thanksgiving. Narducci’s owner Julie Shine said her cozy restaurant and bar has figured out how to handle the

influx of both the hungry and thirsty crowds streaming through her saloon doors after she opens at 9 a.m. “Anyone coming in from out of town usually comes over straight for lunch or dinner right off the road. We are busy all day and all night, but the huge crowds usually hit right after dinner, mostly college kids, a younger crowd who can walk from all the Basque restaurants and bars. We will get Please see PARTIES / 35

Thanksgiving Eve Party with Truxton Mile (formerly Good Question), The Aviators, Amity Flow, Wednesday 7 p.m., B Ryder’s Bar, 7401 White Lane, $7, 3977304. Annual Night B4 Thanksgiving Jam with Mento Buru and DJ Mikey, 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Muertos Kitchen and Lounge, 1514 Wall St. Alley, $7, 324-2557. Revenge II Dance Party with deejays Alex G, Sparkle, Phat E and more, 9 p.m., Wednesday, Club Odyssey at the DoubleTree Inn, 3100 El Camino Court, free, 323-7111. Night Before Thanksgiving Party with Dub Seeds, 9 p.m. Wednesday, J&M’s Bar and Grill, 10801 Rosedale Highway, free. 589-3042. Thanksgiving Eve Bash with Glam Cobra, 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, On The Rocks, 1517 18th St., $5, 327-7625. Night Before Thanksgiving Blowout with Members Only, 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sandrini’s, 1918 Eye St., $5, 322-8900.

Thursday, November 15, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Band carries on legacy of Bob Marley BY MATT MUNOZ

The Original Wailers

Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

hough three decades have passed, the memory of sitting bedside with friend and reggae legend Bob Marley in a German hospital as he lay battling the cancer that would end his life is etched on the memory and soul of guitarist Al Anderson. Despite his weakened condition, Marley’s spirit remained unbroken. “He said, ‘Please don’t forget my own contribution, but also write your own music.’ “I was the last musician to leave him in the hospital in Bavaria before he took his journey. He told me to ‘keep the band together’ because he thought I had some sort of idea of how to keep a band together, and I do. It takes a lot of love, a lot of herb and a lot of gigs. The Wailers love to smoke herb and play music live for people.” Today, Marley is more popular than ever via the singer’s rich discography, a fiercely guarded estate, and appearances by his sidemen, like Anderson, who appears at Narducci’s Cafe on Tuesday with his group, The Original Wailers, to promote their five-song EP, “Miracle.” Anderson, an American, joined The Wailers in 1974 just before Marley entered the studio to record his third album, “Natty

When: 9 p.m. Tuesday Where: Narducci’s Cafe, 622 E. 21st St. Admission: $20 (all ages) Information: 324-2961 or timgardeapresents.com

Dread,” and worked extensively with the singer. In the years following Marley’s death, Anderson has continued working steadily, performing under the Wailers name and — due to legal considerations — treading carefully in how he promotes the show, never using the singer’s likeness or name in advertisements. “We’re not a tribute to ourselves,” said Anderson during a recent phone interview. “What we’re trying to do is portray ourselves as a group that produces, writes and arranges their own music and at the same time had a huge affiliation with Bob Marley. The name belongs to Bob, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer, the three who formed the group, and all the musicians who put a decade of their life into touring and the agony into making The Wailers a success.” The partnership between Anderson and Marley happened by accident. Working as a studio musician in New York, Anderson moved to England in the ’70s on the recommendation of col-

leagues who’d already found success as session players across the ocean. Soon after arriving, he got the opportunity to rub elbows with just about everyone in the rock elite: members of Traffic, the Rolling Stones and drummer Keith Moon of The Who. One day, Anderson was summoned by Island Records to lay down bass tracks for rising musician Bob Marley, who at that point had released two albums that met with moderate success, though not in the U.S. Anderson recalls their initial meeting. “I went over to the studio and there’s this real small guy with a lot of hair. He had a really heavy accent. I had no idea what he was saying. First thing he says is, ‘Yeah mon, we play some music, here’s a spliff (marijuana.)’ So, I asked him, ‘What do you want me to play?’ He asked if I’d heard his albums, ‘Catch a Fire,’ and Burnin’. I knew who he was and that I knew who played on the record, but I didn’t know about ‘Simmer Down,’ ‘African Herbsman,’ ‘One Cup of Coffee’ and all the old songs. I wasn’t familiar with him as a guitarist and a songwriter. So he basically asked me, ‘What do you hear?’ I told him, ‘acoustic guitar, slide guitar, and lead guitar.’ And he goes, ‘Go ahead, you’re on your own.’” Anderson said Marley gave him a chance to expand on ideas, but

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ORIGINAL WAILERS

The Original Wailers appear Tuesday at Narducci's Cafe. Pictured from left: Al Anderson, Marty Batista, Steve Samuels, Desi Hyson.

within hours had other plans. “I played really hard rock with a big amp. He didn’t like that, so we scrubbed that. We kept some tracks, but most never made the album. I thought I played better a lot louder and more aggressively for his music. He didn’t want that. He wanted something that was just like how the ‘Natty Dread’ album was. It was very conscious. He was like the Martin Luther King of reggae. He wanted that type of backing behind his lyrics, not too cutting as a lead in his sound. So I gave him that on ‘No Woman, No Cry,’ ‘Rebel

Music,’ ‘So Jah S'eh,’ ‘Talkin’ Blues.’ These are the songs I remember very well. He was very happy and most of the songs that I did for ‘Natty Dread’ took about an hour.” Following the release of “Natty Dread,” Marley’s career soared, with Anderson alongside for much of the ride. “I just came in and I was just lucky. I threw dice and he loved everything I did.” Also appearing Tuesday are Amity Flow, The Easy In, Mah Op, Acapulco Sunrise, and Kaptain Krunch and the Cereal Killers.

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Thursday, November 15, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street GO & DO: CONTINUED FROM 34

Music showcase The Prime Cut, 9500 Brimhall Road, 8311413; featuring local artists, 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays.

Oldies KC Steakhouse, 2515 F St., 322-9910; Jimmy Gaines, 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; Jimmy Gaines, Bobby O and Mike Halls, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m., with Glenda Robles, 8 to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Old school Que Pasa Mexican Cafe, 2701 Ming Ave., 832-5011; Al Garcia & the Rhythm Kings, 8 to 11 p.m. Thursdays.

Open mic Fiddlers Crossing, 206 East F St., Tehachapi, 823-9994; 7 p.m. Wednesdays. $5. Juliana’s Art Cafe, 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays, 501 18th St. 327-7507. Free. On the Rocks, 1517 18th St., 327-7625; 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Free.

Rock B. Ryder’s Sports Bar & Grill, 7401 White Lane, 397-7304; Fan Halen (Van Halen tribute band) Black Water Soul, 9 p.m. Friday. $10. Rockstarz Party Bar, 7737 Meany Ave., Suite B5, 589-6749; live bands, 9 p.m. Thursdays.

Tuesday 11/20 61st annual Sportsmen’s Night Dinner, vendors, social time, doors open 5 p.m., dinner 7 p.m., Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P St. $30. 805-5766. Bakersfield Youth Symphony Orchestra, performing works by Aram Khachaturian, Peter Tchaikovsky, Richard Wagner, Carl Maria Von Weber, 7 p.m., CSUB, Dore Theater, 9001 Stockdale HIghway. $10; $5 students; free for 5 and under. 203-2233 or bakersfieldsymphony.org/byso/. Condors vs. San Francisco Bulls, 7 p.m., Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $8-$25. Tickets: Rabobank box office, bakersfieldcondors.com or 324-7825. CSUB Men’s Basketball, vs. Westmont, 7 p.m., CSUB, Icardo Center, 9001 Stockdale Highway. $5-$20. gorunners.com or 654BLUE. Thanksgiving Storytime, 11 a.m. to noon, Beale Library, Arkelian children’s room, 701 Truxtun Ave. 868-0770. The Original Wailers, Amity Flow, The Easy In, Mahop, Acapulco Sunrise, Kaptain Crunch and the Cereal Killers, 6 p.m., Narducci’s Cafe, Narducci’s Cafe, 622 E. 21 St. $20. facebook.com/events/ 291297490975208.

For a roundup of Thanksgiving eve events, turn to Page 22.

Thursday 11/22

On the Rocks, 1517 18th St., 327-7625; Karling and the Atomics, FattKatt and the Von Zippers, 9 p.m. Friday. $5.

Soft rock

Friday 11/23

Steak and Grape, 4420 Coffee Road, 5889463; 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Free. Juliana’s Art Cafe, 501 18th St. 327-7507, Without A Paddle Band, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday. Free.

“Christmas Around the World” Holiday Event, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, through Dec. 29 (excludes Dec. 24-25), Timeless Furnishings, 1918 Chester Ave. $8; $7 seniors; $5 children; 5 and under are free; $20, family of four. 3260222. “Gaslight Holiday Extravaganza,” 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday, Gaslight Melodrama Theatre & Music Hall, 12748 Jomani Drive. $12 to $23. 587-3377. Feast for the Beasts, donations will be accepted in lieu of admission fee, items accepted per person are: two large bags frozen blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries; two reams of white multi-purpose copy paper; four boxes Ziploc freezer bags (quart or gallon); two large bags of frozen mixed vegetables, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., CALM, 10500 Alfred Harrell Highway. 872-2256.

Songwriters The Bistro, 5105 California Ave., 3233905; Brent Brown, 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays.

Trivia night Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge, 3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139; 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Chuy’s, 2500 New Stine Road, 833-3469; 7 p.m. Tuesdays. On the Rocks, 1517 18th St., 327-7625; 8 to 10 p.m. Monday. Sandrini’s, 1918 Eye St., 322-8900; Trivia Night with Dave Rezac, 10 p.m. Tuesdays.

Variety Golden State Mall, 3201 F St., 872-2037, Joe Loco Duet, 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays.

UPCOMING EVENTS Monday 11/19 Bakersfield Winds Fall Concert, 7:30 p.m., Olive Drive Church, 5500 Olive Drive. $5. bakersfieldwinds.com. CSUB Student Guitar Recital, noon, CSUB, Music Building, Room 128, 9001 Stockdale Highway. Free. 654-2511.

Narducci’s Cafe is located at 621 E. 21st St. For more information, call 324-2961 or visit blowflyofficial.com.

Sasha Mallory It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from Bakersfield dancer Sasha Mallory after her appearance on the Fox talent competition, “So You Think You Can Dance,” last year. Mallory can currently be seen as a backup dancer on pop singer Madonna’s MDNA tour.

Matt’s picks Tribute to Steely Dan at Sandrini’s, 1918 Eye St., Saturday, $5, 9 p.m. 3228900 This show marks the debut of a longtime project by local troubadour Chris Carton, who’s assembled 14 local musicians with one goal: deconstruct the music of songwriters Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, known as Steely Dan. While it’s unclear exactly how much material the group will cover, it has been confirmed the group will present Steely Dan’s 1977 classic “Aja” in its entirety, along with a wealth of other material. If only Sandrini’s served grapefruit wine. Highly recommended.

Wednesday 11/21

Veterans Thanksgiving Lunch, for all veterans and their families, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Grace Assembly of God, 2800 Larson Lane. Free. Reservations, email nachorboy@msm.com, lupeairman@yahoo.com or call 378-1781, 345-6450.

Rockabilly

LOWDOWN: CONTINUED FROM 28

hit documentary on his life titled, “The Weird World of Blowfly.” “It ain’t called the ‘Weird World’ for no reason! Nasty music is universal, and I make the best there is,” said Reid in a recent email interview, most of which can’t be used due to its colorful Blowflycentric foul language. For an example of Blowfly’s music, do a Google search for his infamous spoof of “What a Difference a Day Makes,” titled “What a Difference a Lay Makes,” a spoof that landed Reid in court when composer Stanley Adams objected. Although the case was settled, Reid says Adams needs a sense of humor. “He was also the president of ASCAP at the time, and how dare he make me more famous.” Reid’s new comedy album is titled “Black in the Sack” and will be available for purchase at Friday’s show. In addition, Reid can be seen in indie director Otto Von Schirach’s upcoming sci-fi film, “Supermeng” as his Blowfly character. “You know it’s gonna be messed up.” Friday’s showtime is 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. Also appearing is Potty Mouth and DJ Renato.

PARTIES: CONTINUED FROM 22

some of the overflow crowd from some of the other restaurants, but we will be full for dinner either way.” Narducci’s menu is available from opening until the kitchen closes at 9 p.m. And like at Wool Growers, Shine recommends making reservations now. “If they’re coming for dinner, they need to do so as soon as possible. Lunchtime they don’t need to, but it’s always best to call early. A lot of people forget how busy we get. We take dinner reservations and give them an hour and a half allotment. We take them in advance but are starting to fill up now.” Following dinner, the festivities continue throughout every area of the establishment, from the large banquet room, smaller dining room, outdoor patio and

rear lawn, if need be. There will be a deejay and $5 cover charge for those arriving after 9 p.m. “This night is much more relaxed and less formal than New Year’s Eve,” Shine said. “You don’t have to worry about your outfit, expensive dinner, and those types of things. We have room for people to filter into so they’re not just stuck at the bar. We have the dining room, the main banquet room, the patio for people to filter into so they’re not just stuck at the bar.” Narducci’s Cafe is located at 622 E. 21st St. For reservations and information, call 324-2961. Other Basque restaurants in Old Town Kern are Pyrenee’s Café, 717 East St., 3230053, and Noriega Hotel, 525 Sumner St., 322-8419.

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Saturday 11/24 “Christmas Home Decor” Workshop, learn the art of layering ornaments, blending textures and finishes and enhancing with ribbon, 10 to 11 a.m., Beladagio, 9500 Brimhall Road, Suite 705. Free. 829-2288. Cirque Dreams Holidaze, 8 p.m., Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $27.50-$55 plus fee. ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000. Condors vs. Ontario Reign, teddy bear toss night all teddy bears will be donated to United Way of Kern County, 7 p.m., Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $8-$35. Tickets: Rabobank box office, bakersfieldcondors.com or 324-7825. Kids Free Day, CALM, 10500 Alfred Harrell Highway. 872-2256.

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, November 29, 2012

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

Index Kevin Harvick Birthday Bash .................. 22 Holiday Lamplight Tours .......................... 23 Arts Alive .................................................. 24 Straight No Chaser .................................. 25 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 26 Masterworks Chorale .............................. 27 Guitar Day ................................................ 28 Calendar .............................................. 32-33

Still making the world sing Tireless Manilow embarks on new tour

HELP STUDENTS, GET FREE TICKETS

BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

e writes the songs that make the whole world sing, and after nearly four decades of hit making, Barry Manilow has no plans to settle down. With 29 studio albums, countless greatest hits and live compilations, plus more than 57 singles that helped secure his place as one of the biggest selling recording artists of all-time, the tireless 69-year-old pop icon is about to embark on a new tour celebrating his rich body of work that includes a stop at the Rabobank Arena on Dec. 7. From the infectious sing-along of “Copacabana (At the Copa)” and “Can’t Smile Without You” to the anthemic sweetness of “Looks Like We Made It,” “Mandy,” and countless others, few have been able to reach the level of Manilow’s success on the charts and as a pop culture icon. Through the ’70s and ’80s, he was a regular on radio and TV variety specials, and could even be heard as the voice of the theme song to “American Bandstand.” Today, Manilow stays busy with a variety of recording projects and his work as an advocate for the arts in public schools through his Manilow Music Project. His latest record, “The Classic Christmas Album,” a compilation of tracks from previously holiday releases just earned him his 50th Top 40 award, making him only the fifth artist to reach such a milestone on the Adult Contemporary music chart. Manilow took a few minutes for a phone interview to discuss his secret to crafting a holiday classic and the lasting effects of Manilow mania. As the pop music landscape has changed, how do you maintain your popularity? One of the ways of being commercial is to not try and be commercial. Every time I’ve tried to write a hit song, I’ve always bombed. Every time I’ve done stuff that just feels good, those are the ones that I have a shot with. Like “Copacabana,” for instance. Nobody believed in it. The record company thought it was a novelty cut that belonged

JACOB LANGSTON / ORLANDO SENTINEL

Barry Manilow (seen here at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., in 2011) comes to town Dec. 7.

“They want to hear these songs they love that I’ve done, and I’m happy to do it. It’s not a greatest hits show, but it includes more of the hits than I’ve ever done.” — Barry Manilow, on the angle for his latest tour

on the “Sonny and Cher (Comedy) Hour.” Nobody believed in it, and I loved it. Bruce Sussman (Manilow’s longtime collaborator) and I had a ball writing it with his lyric and my melody. Ron Dante and I produced it and that was it. The record company didn’t promote it, they just let it go, and they promoted all of the other big ballads that were on that album and here came “Copacabana” out of nowhere and the public just liked it. It

went up the charts little by little until it got to the Top 10. So, who knows how to write a good song? I don’t. I just do what feels good. What’s the extent of your online presence? I don’t use Facebook and I don’t use Twitter. I think it’s just a little too public for me. The people that run my management have a Barry Manilow Facebook page and I can go on there and check out what people are saying and see photos. You just scored your 50th Top 40 hit with a cover of “Santa Claus is Coming To Town.” How does it feel to keep collecting those awards? Isn’t that something? It’s just amazing. I just can’t get over it. I thought this would be over years ago, but the public is very kind to me and seem to be still interested in what the music I’m making. It’s just amazing to me. Your 1990 album “Because It’s Christmas” is a holiday best-seller. What draws you to the genre?

Barry Manilow When: 8 p.m. Dec. 7 Where: Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Admission: $7.99 to $137.85 plus service charge Information: 852-7777 or ticketmaster.com

For a Jewish guy, having three Christmas albums? I just love that kind of songwriting. When you do the classic Christmas pop songs, you’re going back to that world of the ’30s and ’40s, and that’s the world I love. The stuff that comes out of the Great American Songbook, written by some of the great songwriters, they’re in that Christmas catalog of music. So, I love arranging, producing and performing songs like that. It’s right up my alley. I love the “Because It’s Christmas” album because it’s my first (Christmas) album. Is it difficult to compose a Please see MANILOW / 29

Barry Manilow fans who want to follow his philanthropic example can also score a pair of tickets to his Dec. 7 show in Bakersfield. Through his Manilow Music Project, the artist will donates a Yamaha piano to launch a local instrument drive for the Bakersfield public schools. According to a news release, anyone who donates a new or gently used musical instrument to the Rabobank Arena box office will receive two free tickets (valid for preselected seats) for the local show. Manilow said he was inspired to jump into action after recalling the impact music had on his own childhood. “Where I grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, my high school was a dump, but my high school had an orchestra class. It was the thing that grounded me and it pointed me in the direction I needed to be in.” After launching in 2008, the Manilow Music Project has helped get instruments into the hands of middle school and high school students across the country, in areas where arts funding is low. “There may be a baby Barry out there right now that is filled with music and doesn’t know what to do with it, and the schools are not going to help them along, and it just kills me.” Manilow said the response from fans has been good so far. “This last tour, I decided to ask the audiences to help me out. They drop off used instruments they’re not using or collecting dust in the attic or basement at the gig or at a music store, and it’s been working. ... Every city that we’ve played, we’ve collected 75 to 100 instruments. We give them to the school district and they give them to the schools that need it. It’s a small organization. I just do it because I wanted to do it, and it seems to be working.” Rabobank Arena will be the base for the instrument drive in Bakersfield, from now through Dec. 7. They are able to accept the instruments in the Rabobank Arena Administration Office, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit manilowmusicproject.org or call 852-7300.

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, November 29, 2012

Eye Street

Harvick ready for fun at birthday fundraiser Craig Morgan show to benefit foundation that aids youths BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

ASCAR racing champ Kevin Harvick knows how to throw a party. Since collecting his 19th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at the AdvoCare 500 in Phoenix earlier this month, the Bakersfield native has been on a whirlwind of press tours across the country with racing enthusiasts following his every move. Now he’s ready to pull the brakes for a quick return to his old stomping grounds to celebrate his 37th birthday a week early with a big concert fundraiser featuring country singer Craig Morgan at the Fox Theater on Saturday. The charity event, which benefits the Kevin Harvick Foundation established two years ago by Harvick and wife DeLana, will also feature a special appearance by country singer Bridgette Tatum. According to Harvick’s website, the foundation provides scholarships as well as supports youth sports programs in underprivileged communities. “The foundation has had a lot of success in 2012, but I think the one event that stands out the most was the North High event we did last month,” wrote Harvick in an email interview. Harvick visited Bakersfield Nov. 7 to hand out a $11,000 in scholarships and present new uniforms to the wrestling team at his alma mater.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CRAIG MORGAN JEFF SINER / CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick Birthday Bash with Craig Morgan and Bridgette Tatum When: Doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Admission: $23.50 to $44.50, plus fees; $129, plus fees, for VIP package Information: 324-1369, vallitix.com or kevinharvickfoundation.org

“Having the opportunity to help four students with college scholarships, as well giving the wrestling program a new look when it comes to uniforms and travel apparel means a lot.” In addition to setting up an athletic scholarship program at CSUB and assisting the North High wrestling program, Harvick’s Foundation has also worked with the

Country singer Craig Morgan appears Saturday at the Fox Theater.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Las Vegas Camper Cabin at Victory Junction, the holiday Christmas For Kids gift program and more. Harvick said the response to the foundation has been overwhelming. “We have had a lot of positive support from both the NASCAR community as well as the local Bakersfield community.” Harvick also attributed much of its ongoing growth and success to his wife, whose direct involvement has proved to be invaluable while he’s on the racing circuit. “DeLana has been a big part of help getting the foundation started as well as where it is today.” Saturday’s concert headliner Craig Morgan is a best-selling country entertainer whose latest album, “This Ole Boy,” spawned three singles. Like Harvick, Morgan is known for giving back, actively bringing attention to programs in support of U.S. troops and their families. “Craig has some great music and we are

very fortunate that he was willing to come out and perform. We looked at a few different artists, but Craig seemed like the best fit for what we were looking to bring to the Fox Theater.” For adults wanting to feel a bit like celebrities themselves, there is a VIP package, which includes entrance to a pre-party (5 p.m.) and the VIP after party, both at the Padre Hotel. Tickets cost $129, plus fees. Affectionately nicknamed “Happy Harvick” for his temper outbursts on the tracks, NASCAR racing’s esteemed birthday boy anticipates a wildly festive night for his birthday and looks forward to seeing old friends and fans as he toasts to another successful year on and off the track. “Thank you to all my fans in the Bakersfield area that have supported not only myself, but the Kevin Harvick Foundation as well. It is going to be a great concert and a lot of fun.”

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street MANILOW: CONTINUED FROM 20

new holiday song after so many have become established classics? I got one that they keep going for, and it’s called “Christmas Is Just Around The Corner,” off the “In The Swing Of Christmas” album and they’ve played it a lot over the past four years. It is irresistible, and I think Bruce Sussman and I just nailed it. Bruce wrote a great lyric and I wrote one of those really catchy, commercial melodies. And the Christmas kinds of things are the only way you can get a song like that on the radio. Otherwise, it becomes old-fashioned. But you can get a song like that on the radio in the Christmas style. “Christmas Around The Corner,” “Because It’s Christmas” and “It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve.” Those are three that they play that are my originals, but you only get a month of play, and it takes a long time for those songs to become classics. That’s why “Jingle Bells” is such a classic — it’s a billion years old. Do you have any backstage rituals to prepare for your show? I always put my clothes on and try and look my best. Then, before I got onstage, I do get together with the band. We don’t hold hands and sing “Kumbaya” but we do get together in a room and just talk or have a CD player blasting. I think it’s important for us to become a group and walk together down the hallway up to the stage. For me, I really need to feel all of us are together. How do you pick a set list with such an extensive discography? Every tour I’ve done, I always sit down

Adam Carolla & Dr Drew’s Loveline Tour Friday December 7th

and take a look at my life and say, “OK, what do I want to say? For this show, what do I want them to walk out feeling, remembering or understanding?” It used to be based on the latest album. The whole evening would be based on that. Every time I go out, I always try to figure out what the angle is to this year. So, this year I see what the audiences want. They want the songs that they grew up with. They want to hear these songs they love that I’ve done, and I’m happy to do it. It’s not a greatest hits show, but it includes more of the hits than I’ve ever done. What kind of projects do you have lined up for the future? I’ve got an idea for the next album, but it’s taking me a long time. It may be in the style of an album I made years ago called “Paradise Cafe.” It was my first jazz album. So, I’m kind of toying around with that style, then I’ve got this Broadway musical that I’ve been trying to mount for years now, that looks good for this (upcoming) year. So, we’ll all cross our fingers for that. It’s called “Harmony.” Have you ever thought about recording a Manilow country album? I think it would be a little crazy. For a guy like me from Brooklyn, are you kidding? I think the country audience would throw me off the stage, but I did do a cover of Garth Brooks’ “If Tomorrow Never Comes.” I did my pop version of it, slowed it down, and added a backbeat to it. When I do it, the public loves it. It’s a country record, but I did it my style, which goes to prove that if it’s a good song, it will work in any style, arrangement or take on it.

Bob Weir with Special Guest Jackie Greene Sunday December 9th

Brian Setzer

Gloria Trevi

Thursday December 20th

Saturday December 15th

Jackson Browne

Styx Monday February 4th

Thursday January 31st

Sinbad Saturday March 16th

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE FOX THEATER BOX OFFICE, RUSSO’S BOOKS AT THE MARKETPLACE, EMPORIUM WESTERN STORE – 661-322-5200 - 888-825-5484 FoxTheaterOnline.com – Vallitix.com

Thursday, December 6, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Bring Your Friends! Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir appears Sunday at the Fox Theater.

Bakersfield Christmas Parade

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB WEIR

Grateful Dead alum Weir still truckin’ with his tour BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

t’s been a long strange trip for guitarist Bob Weir, who still finds joy in strummin’ his way around the globe. As one of the last surviving members of the original Grateful Dead lineup, the 65year-old singer/songwriter responsible for helping color the group’s classic rhythmic jam style stops by the Fox for a solo acoustic show on Sunday, complete with all the spirits of his past, as a holiday present for fans. Weir’s latest trek is another in a string of projects keeping him busy between collaborating with remaining Dead alums and those from the younger set. Weir has also developed a solid online presence through his official website bobweir.net. Once you’re there, you can find links to his Tamalpais Research Institute (TRI Studios,) the state-of-the-art video-streaming venue and recording facility created by Weir. It follows in the tradition of the numerous Dead resources for fans to be consumed with for hours. After a few attempts to reach Weir for a phone interview, the busy guitarist took a few minutes to answer some of our email questions before his show Sunday at the Fox, with special guest Jackie Greene. Do you enjoy performing as a soloist rather than with a band? The solo show has been a work in progress all year. Playing with Jackie Greene is more fun that a frog in a glass of milk, so we'll be playing a bunch together each night for sure. Who are some of the young acts out there that catch your ear? I had a blast doing a Headcount (voter registration drive) benefit from TRI Studios this past spring with The National and have also really enjoyed playing with Jonathan Wilson and Lukas Nelson this

“An American Christmas”

begins downtown

THU., DEC. 6

6 PM

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Bob Weir with Jackie Greene When: 8 p.m. Sunday Where: Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Admission: $30 to $50, plus service charge Information: 324-1369 or vallitix.com

past year. One of your TRI Studios video features a performance with reggae/rock act Slightly Stoopid. How did that come about? They were one of the first acts to come into my TRI Studios for a live webcast last year and as with most bands that perform there. If I'm around and they want me, I'll be there. What do you think about the Grateful Dead’s lasting impact on music and pop culture? People like adventure in life and in their music and I think that's what we provide. What other projects do you have lined up next year? More touring with Phil Lesh and our main band, Furthur, solo acoustic shows, working on another symphonic collaboration as I did last year with Marin Symphony Orchestra, hopefully with an East Coast orchestra this time. In the Bay Area, more unique projects out of TRI Studios and fun at Sweetwater Music Hall. You’ve always been an activist for a variety of social and environmental causes. What are your thoughts on budget cuts in music and arts happening in public schools? Music and the arts are a very important part of education. It's a terrible shame. What range of material will you be covering for this show? Every night is different.

Gloria Trevi Saturday December 15th

Brian Setzer Thursday December 20th

Jackson Browne

Styx Monday February 4th

Thursday January 31st

Sinbad Saturday March 16th

Coasters, Drifters & Platters Sunday, March 17th

An Irish Christmas

“Magical…glorious Irish music… Electric… pure joy… A great Irish night” – The Irish Herald

This Saturday Night! December 8th TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE FOX THEATER BOX OFFICE, RUSSO’S BOOKS AT THE MARKETPLACE, EMPORIUM WESTERN STORE – 661-322-5200 - 888-825-5484 FoxTheaterOnline.com – Vallitix.com

Thursday, December 6, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street Pour some Sugar on your holiday Cabaret dancers to kick up their heels BY ASHLEY FISCHER Contributing writer

ugar plums, beware: you won’t be the only ones dancing through people’s heads this holiday season. The ladies of Bakersfield’s Sugar Sugar Cabaret dance troupe will return to The Empty Space this weekend for their annual winter performance: “Seduce Me.” But troupe founder and director Diana Cortez is aiming to achieve a whole lot more with her show than some simple seduction; she hopes to delight and entertain audiences with her unique blend of modern dance performances and live comedy. “With my dance troupe, I wanted to go back to the vaudeville kind of thing; I just wanted to entertain,” Cortez said. “You’re going to see some character pieces, some comedy, and a lot of different dance styles all kind of meshed together. My main goal is for my audience to not be bored.” Packed into this twohour show (two acts separated by a 15-minute intermission), are 17 dance numbers, all choreographed by Cortez, with a little help from the other troupe members. Many of the acts will debut at this performance, while others are returning audience favorites. Each of the seven members of this diverse group of dancers has received assorted training, so audiences can expect to see (and hear) just about anything — hip-hop, jazz, tap and even belly dancing. More concerned with fun than technical perfection, Cortez has a friendly, open attitude toward dance that is reflected in the freewheeling format of her shows. “It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “Our emcee, Julie Jordan Scott, really engages the audience. And every show I do always involves some audience participation. At some point, everyone there gets up and just starts moving and dancing. Really, it’s anything goes.

Sugar Sugar Cabaret presents ‘Seduce Me’ When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday Where: The Empty Space, 706 Oak St. Admission: $10 Information: 327-7529 or sugarsugarcabaret@g mail.com Note: This group performs some “burlesque-style” dance not recommended for children under 16.

Cortez wanted to avoid giving her show a holidayspecific theme; however, for those looking for a little bit of holiday spirit, there will be a few Christmas skits, and local performer Jordan Scott — “the mistress of ceremonies,” as Cortez has dubbed her — will be crooning a classic Christmas tune. Cortez, who recently turned 54, founded her dance troupe shortly after moving to Bakersfield from Ventura. Getting her start as a dancer in her 30s, Cortez wanted to encourage other women, no matter what their age, to get up and start moving. “Dance was always something I wanted to do as a child,” she said. “But I didn’t have a chance to do what I really wanted to until later in my life. I really want to encourage women my age to dance. It’s a fun environment, and it’s an excellent way to relieve your stress. You forget about everything else that’s going on in your life, and you just dance.” “Seduce Me” will run for two nights only: Friday and Saturday. This will be Sugar Sugar Cabaret’s only performance until they return for their spring show in April, so be sure to get your tickets if you want to catch this group in action. “I think many people come not knowing what they’re getting into. But basically, they’re going to be entertained. I hope they laugh, and I hope they enjoy the music and the dancing I put together for them.”

Still feeling the love Carolla reflects on Dr. Drew, impact

Adam Carolla and Dr Drew's ‘Loveline’ Tour

BY MATT MUNOZ

When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Admission: $32.50 to $47.50 plus service charge Information: 324-1369 or vallitix.com

Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

or years, radio listeners have relied on “Loveline” as a prescription for laughs when the old mojo is in need of a comedy tune-up. Broadcast live weeknights from Los Angeles, the call-in radio show has become a mainstay of latenight radio since its debut in 1984 with the mild-mannered Dr. Drew Pinsky. Following the introduction of comedic sidekick Adam Carolla in 1995, the show got a little spicier and a lot funnier as the two began offering medical and relationship advice to listeners, crossing demographics from teens to adults with a revolving door of surprise celebrity guests. Though Carolla left to build his own comedy empire in 2005, Pinsky still does the show with guest co-hosts, and the show can be heard Sunday through Thursday evenings locally on 106.1FM, KRAB Radio. The current tour, which kicks off at the Fox Theater on Friday, will be a reunion of sorts for Carolla and Pinsky, who is gearing up for the sixth installment of the series “Rehab with Dr. Drew” on VH-1. Speaking from his home, Carolla, 48, took a few minutes to recall his years on radio and his decision to reteam for the tour, which will feature stories and live audience interaction. This also marks Carolla’s second visit to Bakersfield this year after appearing at the Fox in March. What’s bringing you back together for this tour, rather than another solo trek? I’ve had Drew on to do radio shows and podcasts together, and at different points go out and tour around a show here and there. Someone suggested we go out and do more. Drew was just kind of up for it. It was easy as that and made perfect sense. Was the on-air chemistry between you and Dr. Drew instant when you began on “Loveline”? I’d been a fan of the show and listened to the

PHOTO COURTESY OF LIVE NATION

Comedian Adam Carolla and Dr. Drew Pinsky will appear Friday at the Fox Theater.

show for a long time. I knew about him before he knew about me. I was a fan of his, too, so I got an idea how to go about this before he did. Basically, I had been studying his game film for years, and to him I was a new expansion team. Drew is really easy and we’re able

to hit a rhythm pretty easy. Is there any symbolism behind your choice to kick off a tour like this in Bakersfield? You gotta start a tour somewhere, and it’s within striking distance. Drew and I can jump in a car and be there in 90 minutes from

our homes. There’s no symbolism behind playing Bakersfield first. I’ve played the Fox there and I like it. What kind of “Loveline” calls were your favorite? In all those years, I liked the guys with the smoke detector going on in the background of the call. It always cracked me up. I’d ask them, ‘You got a smoke detector going off there?’ You know, the low battery beep would go off every 30 seconds. They’d go, ‘No.’ I’d have them hold on, Please see LOVELINE / 30

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, December 6, 2012

Eye Street NUTCRACKER: CONTINUED FROM 20

audience doesn’t notice,” she said. “I know that Kristin has changed the lifts in the Arabian Dance. A few things remain constant, however, such as the story on which the ballet is based, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” a fantasy written two centuries ago by E.T.A. Hoffman. “We keep to the traditional story line and try to keep things the way the audience expects them to be,” she said. “Things like the cannons going off during the mouse scene — the kids love that.”

Characters on stage One scene that audiences find intriguing features a character called Mother Ginger, an adult dancer who glides onto the stage wearing an enormous hoop skirt. Under the skirt are about a dozen very young children who remain hidden until they pop out in twos and threes. And what most audiences don’t know is that Mother Ginger is actually a “he,” not a “she.” “Mother Ginger is always a male dancer,” Trueblood said. “The dress is very heavy and we have to have a strong guy to do it. This year it’s Marvin St. Pierre.” Nothing about this particular scene is random. It’s all choreographed, even the steps they take underneath the skirt. “It’s very dark under there and the children can’t see,” she said. “They load up one at a time offstage; and they have to pull up their dresses so they’re in their laps and then crawl with their knuckles on the floor.”

LOVELINE: CONTINUED FROM 27

we’d all be quiet and with my digital clock in the front of me in the studio I’d count the seconds. I knew from doing the show and from dealing with a lot of stupid people that there’s an OSHA safety mandate that says the low battery chirp on smoke detectors has to go off between 20 and 30 seconds. I know that because I’ve timed hundreds of them over the years. They’d deny it the first time I asked, then admit it was in the bedroom and has been doing that since they moved into the apartment seven months or longer. They’ve been sleeping in a bedroom with a smoke detector chirping for months. How far out of it can a person be? The answer is pretty damn far. Our local boys, Korn, used to be guests on “Loveline” fairly often. Did rock stars give good relationship advice? Korn, good guys, but almost no good relationship advice comes from rock stars. Every once in awhile you’d get Dicky (Barrett) from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones,

LOWDOWN: CONTINUED FROM 26

I was entertained by the show reviews that spare no detail about sneaking by nightclub bouncers, police harassment and uncensored rants from the frontlines. Mind you, these were kids. Essential reading for music historians and old punks who still own their original high school vinyl copy of Black Flag’s “Damaged” with the SST Records order form, filled out but never sent. “We Got Power!” is available for special order in Bakersfield at Russo’s Books, Barnes & Noble, and through a number of online outlets, including Amazon.com. For more information visit

Katie Walsh performs during rehearsal.

Evidently practice makes perfect. Trueblood said it’s so well-rehearsed that there’s never been a mishap during a performance. For ballerinas, the Sugar Plum Fairy is the most coveted role in the “Nutcracker.” This year Shelby Hagelstein has the part. Her partner is Austin Erwin as the Cavalier. The part of Clara, the little girl who is led into the magic kingdom by the Nutcracker Prince, David Moreno, is double cast. Jenai

Art (Alexakis) from Everclear, or the Bad Religion guys, but for the most part the rock stars were stoned out of their gourds and couldn’t string together a sentence. What do you think of “Loveline” today? I like everyone who’s involved with the show now, but I’m not in my car at 10 p.m. anymore. If I am, I’d definitely be listening. If I’m at home, I’m in my bathrobe watching TV probably. I travel so much that all I do is try to get caught up with my TiVo’d shows. I’ve done the new “Loveline” show a lot times, and it’s good. It’s not as good as when I was hosting, but it’s still good. How will you be re-creating the “Loveline” show live at the Fox? Drew and I are gonna have to get together and figure that one out. Before, we used to do Q&A, in between good “Loveline” stories, but we’ll split it up between walking down memory lane then talk with the audience, which is what people usually want. A fair bit of Q&A for sure to keep the audience engaged. They’re gonna love it.

wegotpowerbook.com.

Matt’s picks Classic Punk Show at Sandrini’s, 1918 Eye St., Friday, $5, 9 p.m. 322-8900 It’s a live musical tribute to the era that brought you the Circle Jerks, Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, TSOL, GBH, The Exploited, The Damned, Misfits, The Clash and more. Dust off your old leather jack with the faded “Anarchy” symbol, your oxblood-colored Doc Marten boots and mind your moshpit etiquette. Also appearing are KSVG indie radio deejays Jake Chavez and Greg Looney spinning vintage vinyl between sets.

ALEX HORVATH / THE CALIFORNIAN

Katelyn Deaton, Megan Baytosh, Olivia Davis and Jessica Wollesen perform during a “Nutcracker” rehearsal at Civic Dance Center.

Wilcox and Katie Walsh alternate in the role during the four performances. And once again, Cindy’s agile husband, Kevin Trueblood, age 56, will appear as Herr Drosselmeier, Clara’s godfather, who gives her the toy Nutcracker. Today and Friday morning the auditorium will be filled with schoolchildren from all parts of Kern County who have bused in

to see the ballet. Each child pays $3.50 for the abbreviated performance, which lasts about 45 minutes. “We’ll have close to 5,000 kids and many of them have never been to the auditorium or heard the music,” said Alice Oden who works in the symphony’s business office. “You should be there — they’re just in rapture.”

Go & Do Today 10th annual Holiday Lights at CALM, daily 5:30 to 9 p.m., through Dec. 31, 10500 Alfred Harrell Highway. $12; $10 seniors and youth 3-17; $6 kids 3-12. 872-2256. 30th annual Bakersfield Christmas Parade, 6 p.m., at 22nd and L. 637-2323. Bakersfield “Black Hole,” Raiders vs. Denver Broncos, 5:15 p.m., Pizza Bob’s, 2100 Alta Vista. 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. Starts at $20. 395-9787. Holiday Shopping Flurry, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Bakersfield Discovery Shop, 5420 California Ave. 324-1359. Visit with Santa, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Valley Plaza, 2701 Ming Ave. 832-2436.

Friday 23rd annual Chez Noel Holiday Home Tour, (more on Page 28). 7th annual “The Magical Forest,” presented by BARC; Grinchmobile, photos with Santa, 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday and

Sunday. $5 adults; $4 seniors; $3 children; ages 5 and under are free. barc-inc.org or 71-MAGIC. Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, presents “Nutcracker Ballet,”(More on Page 20). Barry Manilow, 8 p.m., Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $7.99 to $123 plus fee. ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000. First Friday Downtown, (more on Page 22). Guild House First Friday, music by Ken Fahsbender and Larry Peal, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Guild House, 1905 18th St. $10, includes light appetizers, dessert, one glass of wine. 325-5478. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony, 9:55 a.m., Union Cemetery, 730 Potomac Ave. 333-9774. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony, 12:15 p.m., Veterans Memorial Site, Truxtun Avenue and S Street. 333-9774. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony, 3 p.m., Minter Field Air Museum, 401 Vultee Ave., Shafter. 333-9774. Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra, featuring selections from Handel’s “The Messiah,” and the Gloria from Bach’s B minor Mass, 4 p.m., Country Oaks Bap-

tist Church, 20915 Schout Road. Free. 821-7511. Winter Playground, ice skating, Santa Claus, face painting and craft room, 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, San Joaquin Community Hospital Ice Center of Bakersfield, 1325 Q St. $11. 852-7404.

Saturday 16th annual Holiday Classic Jr. Steer & Heifer, 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P St. Free. 833-4934. “An Irish Christmas,” 7:30 p.m., Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $38.50$58.50. vallitix.com or 3225200. Book Signing, with coauthor Patti Blystone of “Desserts First: A Complete Cookbook,” 3 to 5 p.m., Russo’s, 9000 Ming Ave. 665-4686. 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. Christmas Craft Fair, hosted by Bakersfield Women’s Club 500; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Southwest Lanes, 3610 Wible Road. Free. Email gigideegan@att.net, 832-3846. Please see GO & DO / 31

Thursday, December 13, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Jackson’s ‘Hobbit’ takes the long route Middle-earth fantasy — part 1 — is slow-going BY BILL GOODYKOONTZ Gannett Chief Film Critic

“I

do believe the worst is behind us.” That’s what Bilbo Baggins says at the end of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” as he surveys an expanse of land before him. Let’s hope he’s right. Because with few exceptions Peter Jackson’s return to Middle-earth is a long slog to nowhere. With “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, also based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, Jackson captured real magic. Yes, they were long movies, but there wasn’t a lot of complaining about meandering plot threads and tossed-off diversions. But now his decision to make the slimmer book “The Hobbit” into a three-part series is looking questionable, to put it charitably. Scary is another term. The film picks up a bit toward the end, but at 2 hours and 46 minutes, the end is a long way away. On the plus side, Jackson has left plenty of room for improvement. The story begins with a framing device, in which the older hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) is preparing for a party. A chat with

‘THE HOBBIT’ MIDNIGHT SHOWS TONIGHT Edwards Cinema 9000 Ming Ave. 663-3042 Prices: $10.50; $7 children. 3D $14; $10.50 children. HFR 3D $14; $10.50 children. Tickets are still available

Maya Cinemas 1000 California Ave. 636-0484

his nephew, Frodo (Elijah Wood), gets Bilbo to thinking about a time, 60 years before, when he undertook a great adventure. And we are back in time, when Bilbo (now played by Martin Freeman), after a chat with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), gets an unexpected clump of visitors to his little abode. It’s a group of dwarves, seemingly intent on nothing more than eating him out of house and home. But then Gandalf arrives, followed by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), a warrior and heir to the kingdom of Erebor that was destroyed by the dragon Smaug, who also looted the kingdom’s coffers. Gandalf and Thorin want to travel to the Lonely Mountain, where Smaug resides, and reclaim what belongs to the dwarves.

Prices: $10; $8 children and seniors. 3D $13, $10 children; $9.50 seniors Tickets are still available

Reading Cinemas 2000 Wible Road 833-2230 Prices: $8.50; $5.50 children. 3D $11; $8 children. Tickets are still available

At this rate, they should arrive sometime in 2015. (There are sequels planned for 2013 and 2014, actually.) You shouldn’t be able to read a book faster than you can see it play out on-screen. To the chagrin of the others, Gandalf wants Bilbo to accompany them as the group burglar, even though Bilbo, a homebody, has never done that kind of work. But he reluctantly joins in, and they’re off. And off and off. Along the way they encounter many challenges, including trolls, goblins and stone giants. There are fights aplenty, and as you would expect, Jackson stages them expertly. Bilbo manages to win the respect of the others, first grudgingly and eventually wholeheartedly. Their journey is far, so much happens and then, by the end of

WARNER BROS.

Martin Freeman, center, stars as Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”

it, they are standing on a cliff, looking at the Lonely Mountain, which is still far away. Whew. It all just takes so long. A note about the look of the film: The version I saw was shot in 3-D, at 48 frames per second. That means it was shot at twice the normal speed. In theory, this means more than the usual amount of depth and clarity. In actual practice, it had a scattershot quality that often made chunks of the film look like a giant version of a hand-held video game. A sharp foreground image would be layered against a flat background (or sometimes vice versa). Not every theater has the capability to show the higher frame rate; you’ll miss nothing if you don’t have the option. For all this, there is one stop that proves worthwhile: When

‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ ★★ Cast: Ian McKellan, Martin Freeman, Ian Holm Running time: 169 minutes Rated: PG-13

Bilbo runs into Gollum (Andy Serkis). There, some of the old magic reappears. The two stage a game of riddles, and, even with all of the effects and jaw-dropping sets (virtual and otherwise) and whatever else Jackson throws into the mix, this simple exchange is the best, most genuine scene in the movie. Plus, Gollum drops this ring and Bilbo takes it. Ah, but that leads to another story. One that Jackson told much better.

Totsy melds music, humor with burlesque flair BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

eing on Santa’s naughty list isn’t a bad thing for the members of Totsy. Accustomed to raising eyebrows during live performances, the Los Angeles-based pop burlesque ensemble is currently enjoying a sleigh ride across the nation as the opening act on guitarist Brian Setzer’s latest rockin’ big band “Christmas Rocks Extravaganza” tour, which makes a stop at the Fox Theater on Dec. 20. For Totsy founders Brett Boyett and Beth Curry, landing a gig of this magnitude was a score beyond their wildest dreams after a brief two years together and a few public performances. “We’re a baby band, so this is a huge opportunity for us,” said

Brian Setzer Orchestra’s ‘Christmas Rocks Extravaganza’ with Totsy When: 8 p.m. Dec. 20 Where: Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Admission: $35 to $75 Information: 324-1369 or vallitix.com

Curry during a phone interview. “We were like, ‘How are we going to make this work?’ Touring is so expensive. We said yes, which is the important word to say and we made it work after that.” From appearances, the eightpiece band could be pulled from a Tim Burton film with their stylized, circus chic outfits and humorous onstage swagger. It’s an image Curry said is meant for

fun while giving audiences an added boost to their senses. “I think people will automatically think, ‘Oh, this is a sexy show,’ but there’s such a light kind of energy around the band. It’s actually a perfect fit for this tour, and people have been responding very positively.” Boyett concurred, emphasizing Totsy is suitable for all ages. “We’ve definitely put the focus on the integrity of the music,” said Boyett. “It’s taken on a life of its own, the way I think a band should.” Rounding out the band are established session players including Bakersfield multiinstrumentalist Paul Cartwright, who’s been a colleague of Boyett’s for years. “Paul is phenomenal and I think people are blown away when they see him playing five

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOTSY

Totsy founders Brett Boyett, far left, and Beth Curry, third from right, have assembled a group of established session players that includes Bakersfield musician Paul Cartwright, center rear.

instruments, and all of them extremely well. He’s bit of a freak of nature. You don’t always come across a person with that kind of talent too often.”

Prior to forming Totsy, both Boyett and Curry worked steadily in the entertainment industry: Curry in musical theater, and Please see TOTSY / 33

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, December 13, 2012

Eye Street “We’re going all out on the details of the guitars. They’re beautiful.” — Al Mendez, who is working Sebastian Muralles on a mural that will feature 25 Mosrite, Hallmark and Gruggett guitars.

Sebastian Muralles adds color to a Mosrite guitar.

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Al Mendez, left, and Sebastian Muralles are creating a mural celebrating guitars that were produced in Bakersfield by Mosrite, Gruggett and Hallmark. Commissioned by the Arts Council, the mural with have three 12-by-12 foot panels that will be installed on the east side wall of Front Porch Music, facing H Street.

Artists in tune with local history BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

The artists use photographs as a guide to make sure they represent every detail of the guitars.

A new mural paying tribute to the history of Bakersfield guitar-making will be unveiled outside Front Porch Music early next year. “We’re really excited about this particular mural,” said Sebastian Muralles, 32. He and partner Al Mendez are working on the project in an unoccupied suite at the Bakersfield Ice House complex. The finished work will feature 25 Mosrite, Hallmark and Gruggett guitars. “A lot of people don’t know these brands started in Bakersfield,” Muralles said. A grant from the Arts Council of Kern is funding the project and the work of the two artists. “We have similar styles,” said Mendez, 54. “We’re still going through the process of picking guitars that were actually built and branded in Bakersfield. We exchanged some of them in the sketch to keep it

The steady hand of Al Mendez adds a highlight to a painting of a Mosrite guitar. Al Mendez adds detail to a Mosrite resonator guitar, part of a mural he and Sebastian Muralles are painting.

authentic.” Against a backdrop of golden hills and green orchards, the painting is a Dali-esque mix of various shapes and dreamy, floating images, including faceless male and females figures with guitars inside their body shape. “It’s like a dream,” said Muralles. “I thought of gui-

tars and music living inside of the people who play them, local agriculture, mountains.” The mural is being painted on three 12-foot-by-12foot panels, which will be assembled together on the exterior east wall of Front Porch Music at 19th and H streets, a space shared with the Padre Hotel.

The duo have a working deadline of Dec. 21 and a target installation date of Jan. 15. Mendez said he and Muralles aren’t taking shortcuts, adding that fans of these iconic guitars should be pleased with the tribute. “We’re going all out on the details of the guitars. They’re beautiful.”

A sketch shows how one of the three panels will look once it’s finished. The panels are 12-by-12 feet in size.

Thursday, December 13, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Christy Noll, right, has Sheila Brown take a photo of her Tuesday as she poses for a picture next to the famous Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, which was parked near 24th and F streets. The big dog will be at Bakersfield area Albertsons this week.

Come out to see one hot ride If every dog has its day, then today is the day for the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. The 27-foot-long hot dog has made Kern County its latest stop on its cross-country tour. Fun events are planned with the southwest Hotdogger team, which will also dispense famous Oscar Mayer Wiener Whistles. They’re also offering a sneak peek inside the 76-year-old Wienermobile. Stops run today through Sunday at the following Albertsons:

Today 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 6045 Coffee Road

TOTSY CONTINUED FROM 25

Boyett as a composer for TV and film. They decided to combine forces to create something unique based on their individual strengths. “I made all the costumes, and got really creative. I thought, ‘What if we start the show wearing weird muumuus and hats and kind of make it a strip tease?’ So, we’ve kind of kept that theme, but made it into more of a burlesque-style show.” Totsy’s latest CD, “Red Balloon,” is a fun representation of the group’s colorful gypsy jazz and vaudeville shtick, with Curry’s unique voice navigating through each of Curry’s Danny Elfman-inspired arrangements with dream-like ease. The group has also just released a new single, “Santa Likes Naughty Girls Too,” available through their website totsyband.com. “We were trying to use as much organic instruments as possible, which is what we’ve done with using trombones, violins,

ARTS: CONTINUED FROM 27

been in. Even with the recession, it could have been better. Some don’t see things improving if we stay on the course we’re on.” To right the course, the board is doing a variety of things, including initiating an external audit and exploring organizational and structural changes, according to board secretary Lynne Hall. But the real hit to funding came not from the recession but the unexpected loss of about $550,000 in contracts last winter, Fulton said. That figure represents nearly half of the council’s operating budget of

2 to 5 p.m., 8200 Stockdale Highway

Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 3500 Panama Lane 2 to 5 p.m., 7900 White Lane

Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1520 Brundage Lane 2 to 5 p.m., Albertsons, 2691 Mt. Vernon Ave.

Sunday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 13045 Highway 58 2:30 to 5 p.m., 1044 W. Kern St. in Taft — Oscar Mayer news release

a lot of classic instruments,” Boyett said. “We’ve assembled some really great musicians for this project.” This marks Setzer’s eighth year touring with his popular Christmas-themed trek that features a live presentation of material off the Stray Cats guitarist’s best-selling CDs, complete with all the glitzy production for which the festive road show is known. Those looking to buy tickets should do so quickly, as the Fox expects a sell-out. As for the members of Totsy, Curry said she and her bandmates are eager to bring some holiday cheer to Bakersfield. “We didn’t know what to expect on the road, but people of all ages come to the merch table — kids, older couples, 20year-olds. Everyone comes to the table and says, ‘This is so refreshing, I’ve never heard anything like it before. What do you call this?’ So, it feels good to be kind of on the forefront of a different sound. I think that’s the most rewarding feeling.”

$1.2 million. That blow has Egland and Lemucchi fearing for the future of the venerable organization, which has worked to promote the arts and artists, and educate schoolchildren since 1977. “I will say that the Arts Council plays a very vital role in the community,” Egland said. “Over the past decade, many counties lost their arts councils due to budget reasons, and Kern has always managed to keep going to find creative ways of addressing economic issues that face it. And it’ll be a great tragedy if the county loses its Arts Council.”

The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, December 20, 2012

Eye Street

Index Winter Playground .................................. 18 Moscow Ballet: “Nutcracker”.................. 19 Arts Alive.................................................. 20 New Year’s Eve events.............................. 21 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz.............. 22 Spectacular Christmas light display ......24 Ticket roundup ..........................................25 Calendar .............................................. 27-30

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

End of the world as we know it ... but it’ll be fine, with roster of spirited shows BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer mmunoz@bakersfield.com

here will you be partying when the world ends? That’s the question several local bands and venues will be asking when the long predicted “Mayan Doomsday” arrives on Friday. Though debunked by scholars who argue the ancient Mayan stone calendar has been misinterpreted, you never can count out a good old zombie apocalypse or alien takeover. In fact, any gimmick is a good one when it’s all in the name of fun. Whatever the occasion (or nonoccasion), Bakersfield grunge rockers Meditated Assault are up for it and have planned a multiband blowout titled “The Last Rock N Roll Show On Earth.” “If the world is going to end, let’s go out with a bang,” said bassist Micah Reeves, 27. “No regrets. Enjoy the moment.” Seated alongside Reeves during a recent interview were drummer Tony Pearce and guitarist and lead vocalist Rico Ponce, both of whom agree if it’s time, they’ll be ready to go out blazing. Not present at the interview was guitarist Bryan Quick, 25. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than play a final show with my best friends and roommates,” said Pearce, 23. “If zombies crash the party, I’ll be throwing drums, cymbals, and my drumsticks should be nice and splintered to take some out with.” Ponce, 26, who considers himself a doomsday hipster, or “doomster,” said it’s a moment he’s been preparing for since watching “Night of the Living Dead” with his mother at age 7. “If there’s going to be an apocalypse, I hope it’s more like that zombie movie than ‘The Road,’” Ponce said. “That movie was depressing.” Pearce fired back with his own doomsday cinema pick: “I saw ‘Independence Day.’ Alien ships aren’t hard to fly. If Will Smith can figure it out, so can I.” Whether you share in end-ofthe-world levity or not, there’s no denying the impact of apocalyptic scenarios on pop culture with TV shows like “The Walking Dead” and “Doomsday Preppers” promoting hysteria not felt since

‘The Last Rock N Roll Show On Earth’ with Meditated Assault, The Barstool Saints, Crooked Folk, The Cretins, Vinny’s Bar, 2700 S. Union Ave., 9 p.m. Friday, $5. 321-6041.

‘Dooms Day Reggae Fest’ with Amity Flow, White Glove Service, Easy In, On The Rocks, 1517 18th St., 9 p.m. Friday. $5. 327-7625. For more doomsday party shows, visit the Eye Street calendar section.

the Y2K scare of 1999. And the longer our conversation, the more each band member began to get into the spirit of the big day. “I always tell people, ‘I’m not fat. I really am a doomsday prepper,” said Reeves. “I would go to my friend’s cabin in the mountains and sustain myself on rice, beans, bread, water, and some other dry goods.” Meditated Assault are some seriously rockin’ party guys who formed their group five years ago. The group is opening and headlining shows here and in Hollywood after releasing an independently produced five-song demo circulating with fans and online at their web page, reverbnation.com/meditatedassault. The band also is a finalist in an online battle of the bands at macworldiworld.com after being selected from more than 350 entries. The winning band gets to open the annual Macworld/iWorld Blast party in San Francisco. “Everyone should come out to Vinny’s; don’t be afraid. It’ll be a blast,” said Ponce, adding the group has a special song suited for the occasion, appropriately titled, “The End.” “The lyrics say, ‘I’ll save tomorrow, if you’ll save today. We’ll watch the last sunrise before the end of days.’” Hoping to bring some easygoing vibes at a time of potential crisis are local reggae outfit Amity Flow, which plans to keep it mellow for “Dooms Day Reggae Fest” at On the Rocks. “It’s funny how people are making more of a big deal about this than Y2K, especially since all these shows on TV have been showing up, with the nation tuning in,” said Amity Flow vocalist and gui-

PHOTO BY ROBERT BEJIL

Meditated Assault appears Friday at Vinny’s. Above, from left: Bryan Quick, Micah Reeves, Rico Ponce.

tarist Drew Peterson, 24. “I’d like to spread some music and put people at ease with the reggae. It seems like nothing can really beat that. I’m super-excited about it.” It’s hard to imagine a reggae band exuding much rage onstage, but given that Amity Flow is preparing for its first headlining show, Peterson said there aren’t enough zombies to keep them from having a good time. “This is kind of a big deal, and we’re not really violent. But I work at a pizza parlor and have my weapon of choice picked out to slay zombies. We use it to cut cheese. I could mow some zombies down if they came at me with it. But if I was onstage, I’d just use my guitar.” At Friday’s show, band members will be giving away free copies of their latest CD. “As soon as midnight hits, I’m just gonna be glad this whole thing is over, but I’m also game to believe in it because it’s been a fun idea.” Like Meditated Assault, Peterson said his group has a special song to commemorate the moment, titled “Light the Fire,” which will make its debut when the clock strikes midnight. “It’s about finding a new brighter day for our country and our people. I think that would go really well with giving people encouragement and hope that

PHOTO BY DALLEN ULRICH

Amity Flow will perform at On the Rocks on Friday. Above, from left: Kevin Lundy, Andrew Whitmore, Drew Peterson, James Barron, Patrick Griffith.

one day we’ll get rid of all this violence and greed that overwhelms our country. Maybe the build-up of this whole apocalypse thing kind of feeds right into that,

where tomorrow we can wake up and find a new way instead of the way that we’ve been living over the past decade or so. It fits the evening.”

Thursday, December 27, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

Breakout talents of 2012 Eye Street staff selects artists who moved, entertained us

hen it comes to standout moments, it’s often an actor or musician up on stage that comes to mind. But our local visual arts scene proved its might in 2012, producing The Californian’s pick for the year’s breakout talent, Christina Sweet. Colorful and often whimsical, Sweet’s work was hard to miss this year. From Mercy Hospital’s Art and Spirituality Center for the Autumn Art Fest to the Festival of Beers at Stramler Park and the Padre Hotel’s Farmacy Cafe for her “Hooves and Horns” exhibit, Sweet shared her art in a variety of community venues. Of course, she made the biggest splash at local galleries. After being named best new artist in 2011 for “Latination” at Metro Galleries, she was awarded first place this year in the popular exhibit, the centerpiece of the biggest First Friday event of the year. Along with the show at the Padre in October, she also mounted a second solo show, “Other Side of the Rainbow,” at The Empty Space Gallery in June. Discussing the “Rainbow” show, she described her painting process, honed over 23 years, as transportive: “When I paint, I can be in my own world.” For the full-time insurance broker, that world’s physical location is on 19th Street above The Foundry gallery, which she started with four other artists in 2010. Along with developing her own art, Sweet has helped encourage the careers of The Foundry’s 80-plus members through solo and group exhibits, and small art shows throughout the year. Those members rallied in February when the gallery, then located one block over on 20th Street, was vandalized. Sweet worked with members Jesus Fidel and Jen Raven on a fundraiser to replace the damaged front windows. Of the fundraising, Sweet said, “I am humbled by their efforts and appreciation for what The Foundry does for our local artists.” This year was a big one for Sweet, but that’s bound to continue into 2013 and beyond as one of her passions is supporting the local arts community. “Having the ability to surround myself with beautiful art and wonderful artists is far more rewarding than I ever dreamed.” — Stefani Dias, assistant lifestyles editor

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Christina Sweet, photographed at The Foundry art gallery, is Eye Street’s top talent of 2012.

husband, Eric Tolley, on a collection of light fixtures and home furnishings for “Light Living” in November, both at the theater’s gallery. As a writer she was equally prolific, taking on a hot topic in “The Bullied” in August, penning comedy sketches for “Stripped” with her group The Tuesdays in September, and paying homage to Poe in “Once Upon a Midnight Dreary” at Bakersfield Community Theatre in October. — Stefani Dias

Other theater standouts Bethany Rowlee is one of those allround performers who brings energy to everything she does. Her ability to sing, dance and act was expecially memorable in two decidedly different roles at Stars this year — as a 19th century con artist in “Oliver” in August and as a versatile 1960sera rock-and-roll star in “Shout!”

Theater: Michelle Guerrero

— Camille Gavin, arts columnist

From writing to directing to art, Michelle Guerrero was all over the local arts scene. It’s no wonder that the marketing director for The Empty Space started the year being named the most valuable person at the theater’s annual awards show. As a director, she took on “Herstory,” a collection of monologues by local women for V-Day in February, and teamed on late-night shows “Marat/Sade” in March and “The Unexpected Man” in November. Artistically, she held “Arboresque,” a solo show of paintings and tiny terrariums, and worked with

With her full-bodied voice, Detreice Palmer was dynamic as the Lady in Brown in “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf” at Bakersfield Community Theatre. — Camille Gavin

Zachary Gonzales as Che in “Evita” was effective in carrying out the complex story line, giving a solid performance as the narrator/troubador in Stars’ production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. — Camille Gavin

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA MONCRIEF

After playing 100-plus shows and the release of their second album, rock/reggae band Dub Seeds enjoyed a busy and creatively fulfilling 2012. From left: Chris Taylor, Gary Rink and Anthony “Gizmo” Rodriguez.

Actress Libby Letlow took a real handson approach to her career in 2012. After a turn as Madame de Volaneges in “Dangerous Liaisons” at the Spotlight Theatre, she stepped into her big local role at The Empty Space in May. As a creative force behind the theater’s spirited production of “Avenue Q,” Letlow made all the puppets and coached the puppeteers. The actress

moved to Los Angeles in August, continuing her puppetry work, teaching classes at the Puppet School and in the cast of the Doma Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of “Avenue Q,” which runs through February. — Stefani Dias

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Thursday, December 27, 2012 The Bakersfield Californian

Eye Street

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Ephraim Penn, owner of PennPoint Dance Academy, received national acclaim in 2012. ARTISTS: CONTINUED FROM 19

Music: Dub Seeds Bakersfield reggae rock trio Dub Seeds were on a creative roll this year, with more than 100 live shows across the state and along the coast, not to mention the release of their second full-length CD, “Skunk Face,” just in time for summer. In addition to those milestones, band members Chris Taylor, Gary Rink and Anthony “Gizmo” Rodriguez dedicated themselves to expanding their presence on the Web, winning fan-voted slots on both the Sacramento Hemp Fest in August and the massive Cali Roots Festival in Monterey coming this spring with some of the biggest names in the genre. Capping off a stellar year, Taylor also just married his longtime girlfriend, Cynthia, and welcomed a new baby son, Elijah Robert. — Matt Munoz, entertainment writer

Other music standouts A multi-talented violinist, guitarist, trombonist and vocalist, 31-year-old Bakersfield native Paul Cartwright has been building his name in Hollywood circles for a few years now, scoring soundtrack work on hit shows like “The Walking Dead” and on Broadway. This year, he was seen on the road with Los Angeles pop burlesque troupe Totsy, as the opening act on guitarist Brian Setzer’s Christmas extravaganza. True to his roots, he made frequent trips back to Bakersfield to share his artistry with the hometown crowd, performing onstage with local Beatles tribute band The Abbey Roadies, among others. — Matt Munoz

After years of commuting between Bakersfield and Los Angeles, percussionist Louie Cruz Beltran had one of the biggest years of his career after releasing his starstudded new Latin jazz CD, “Paint the

Rhythm,” which helped propel him onto the playlists of jazz enthusiasts around the globe. That recognition also brought him to the attention of the prestigious Playboy Jazz Festival, which booked him to bring the sold-out Hollywood Bowl audience to their dancing feet. — Matt Munoz

Dance: Ephraim Penn Longtime Bakersfield dancer and instructor Ephraim Penn stepped into the national spotlight this year with an appearance on the “Today” show in October. Penn, who owns PennPoint Dance Academy in downtown Bakersfield, went on to win the “Show Us Your Moves” contest with his hip-hop freestyle dance explosion, in front of his biggest fan: son Devin, who was pulled from the crowd to do some poppin’ and lockin’ of his own. In an interview with The Californian in October, an exhilarated Penn, 35, said he was hoping the exposure would lead to other opportunities, but no matter what comes of it, students at his dance studio now know to listen up: their instructor’s still got it. — Jennifer Self, lifestyles editor

Another dance standout While it’s true that ballerina Tiler Peck hasn’t lived in Bakersfield in years, we proudly claim her as one of our own, largely because she’s never drifted far — in spirit, at least — from the town that shaped her. Each year seems to bring a new success for Peck, a principle dancer with the New York City Ballet, but she ended 2012 with her biggest honor yet: dancing a tribute to Russian-born ballerina Natalia Makarova at the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors and meeting the president, first lady and a slew of A-list celebrities, like David Letterman. — Jennifer Self