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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, January 5, 2017
EYE
STR E E T
THE LOWDOWN
LA punk icon heading to The Mint
G
iven our current political climate, an evening with Los Angeles punk rock pioneer Alice Bag sounds like the perfect way to release some tension to kick off the New Year. Joined by her band the Sissy Bears, the singer-songwriter, author, educator and punk feminist icon makes her return visit to Bakersfield for a free show at, you guessed it, beloved local dive bar The Mint on Thursday night. “I did a reading at Going Underground Records and I really enjoyed it,” she recalled recently during a recording studio break, referring to her last visit in 2015. “I did some acoustic music with some friends and as we were leaving I forgot my backpack in the store. We were well out of town when I realized I didn’t have it and we had to come back. We stumbled into The Mint where we found allies who helped us get in touch with the record store owner and provided us with friendship and liquid comfort.” Who says Bako has no heart? “We had a great time here, so I wanted to come back.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF A CHISEL PIXEL PRODUCTION
Bakersfield actress Prymrr LoBasso, pictured above at right, and actor Justin Pelovello, left, appear in the new music video for “Never Give Up,” by best-selling artist Sia. The video made its world premiere on Wednesday. PHOTO BY LOUIS JACINTO
onstage stands as one of the film’s most memorable scenes. The Plugz, X, Circle Jerks “For me, my experience and others who helped being part of ‘The Decline’ lay the foundation for the is largely negative because scene in the late 1970s — my band was in the proAlice Bag (real name Alicia cess of breaking up. We Velasquez) is one of the few were literally captured in women to take a lead role decline and it’s difficult in a music scene mostly, for me to watch that. I do but not entirely, dominated appreciate that it provided by men. an introduction “I have a to punk to peowebsite where ple all over the I’ve interviewed country and I women who am grateful for were involved having been a in the early LA part of it.” punk scene Selected for because a lot of preservation those women’s in the National early contribuFilm Registry MATT MUNOZ tions have been FOR THE CALIFORNIAN by the Library overlooked. of Congress I think what in 2016, “The made LA’s early punk scene Decline” continues to be so special was the huge discovered and rediscovnumber of women that ered by punk music fans of were involved in creating all ages. it.” For Velasquez, it’s but For many, including one small chapter in a myself, Alice Bag’s inmuch larger story. troduction to the punk “I think the film doesn’t consciousness outside truly show the origins of the the LA underground was LA punk scene. It depicts a through her performances transitional period between of “Prowlers in the Night” the earlier and quirkier and “Gluttony” in the 1981 Hollywood punk scene and documentary “The Decline the more male-centered of Western Civilization.” hardcore scene. The scene Dressed in pink and dodgthat I remember only lasted ing stage-diving audience a couple of years. It was a members, her commandvery small, intimate scene ing and chaotic presence where everyone knew
Alice Bag performing with her band The Bags in the ’80s.
Widely known as the founding member and singer of The Bags — among the first wave of Los Angeles punk bands along with Black Flag, The Germs,
PHOTO COURTESY OF PRYMRR LOBASSO
Bakersfield actress Prymrr LoBasso.
everyone.” Three decades later, Alice Bag is busier than ever, where she belongs – the stage. “I’ve been playing music in bands pretty consistently since 1977, except for the first couple of years after I became a mom. During that time, I was overwhelmed and I neglected my music. It was a very difficult time for me. I didn’t realize that having a musical outlet can actually make you a hap pier and better parent. Taking time to express my own creativity is something that is essential to my mental health. I’d never taken breaks from music until then and I haven’t since. Lesson learned.” And what are her views on the Los Angeles punk scene she helped pioneer?
“LA is so big and punk is so widespread that I think there are multiple scenes, which occasionally overlap. The shows I like to go to are the ones where there is diverse representation and what is valued is being weird, original and creative. That’s still out there, but you have to look for it.” Rare original recordings from The Bags can be found on the compilation “All Bagged Up: The Collected Works 1977-1980,” as well as the self-titled Alice Bag solo album released last year. There’s also “Violence Girl, From East LA Rage to Hollywood Stage — A Chicana Punk Story” and “Pipe Bomb for the Soul,” two books that offer an even deeper dive into the raucous life and mind of Alicia Armendariz and Alice Bag. “I never thought I’d be an author. I always knew I wanted to make music and art. I also knew I wanted to help shape my world. Three of those things came as no surprise but the writing — that was unexpected. I’ve started touring again and I’m really enjoying it. I love going to new cities and meeting new people.” Thursday’s showtime is 9 p.m. Admission is free; 21 and over only. The Mint is Please see LOWDOWN | 19