by Mike Generic

Well, well, well ... here come the bad quality pictures again. Actually, I'm only using one snapshot since I've only taken about 4 photos for the night and only one came out decent.

Last night, Hayesfield and New California Rock performed an acoustic set @ The Silver Fox Bar. The show was scheduled to start around 10 PM. So, I arrived at the scene around the time they're supposed to start the show. To my surprise, the show started exactly at 10 PM, well for NCR at least because Hayesfield already played :-(

Silver Fox Bar is definitely one of my favorite bars in town, the other is the Mint Bar. SFB isn't as big as you think it would be from the grandier sound of the name of the bar itself. It'll probably fit about 50 people inside but the atmosphere inside that bar is always friendly. Everyone seems to know each other when in fact they really don't know each other that well. SFB provides the vibe that everyone is welcome and right when you get in there, you'll definitely feel like you've just arrived at your friend's house to party.


Left to Right: NCR - Tim, Matt, and Philippe

So, walking inside the bar I heard New California Rock already playing their first acoustic song. They played about 7 to 8 songs and every single one of those acoustic songs sounded great. Tim and Matt performed in behalf of the rest of the band members. I sat right in front of the band to feel the acoustic better and while they were about to play their last song, I spotted a really cool looking tambourine. I grabbed it and asked Tim if I can play it along with them. "Go for it Mike," he said.

After their set, I talked to Chris ( Hayesfield-guitarist ) and I asked them if they're playing next and he said, "nah dude, we already played." I was bummed. I wanted to see and hear some cool dubbed reggae from Hayesfield and with a talent like Shontice ( Hayesfield-vocalist ), you can't really deny the fact that they produce an amazing sound with her voice.

I left the scene around 12:15 PM.

by Mike Generic

Warning: You are about to see some shitty ass pictures, so beware. Actually, the flash light for my digital camera is broken, so deal with it.

Last night, Rocky Nash, Mento Buru, Krotch, and Dirty Spanglish performed @ Studio 99. Brighthouse Network's TV show called Damaged TV was in the house as well. Yes, there were video cameras rolling, pictures taken, and a decent size crowd to watch the bands rocked the studio. Meathead from 106.1 KRAB Radio was there to facilate the entire show and from what I've witnessed, I think he's in charge of Damaged TV.


Damaged TV ( Brighthouse Network ) ... Yes, it's a full moon, I think.

I don't know what made me interrupt my own quiet and peaceful hybernation but there I was, taking pictures and enjoying the Bakersfield music scene again. Well ... Is it because Damaged TV is there to film the entire show? Or to finally watch Krotch and Rocky Nash play live? Or is it because I really wanted to see these young Bakersfield punk rockers called Dirty Spanglish? Or it is because of NL Belardes' catchy plug about the show on his very own website, which I visit on a daily basis. Is it because I enjoy watching and listening to Mento Buru's amazing music? Or did I just want something to do? Actually, all of the above.

It was nice to see a few familiar faces. Nick Belardes, Matildakay, Matt Munoz of Bakotopia.com and Mento Buru, Cesareo, Daniel of 99 Ways Management, Meathead and so on.


Left to Right: NL Belardes, Matt Munoz, and Rocky Nash.

I knew I wouldn't be able to see the entire show from 7 PM to about 10:30 PM. I had a class that night from 6-8 PM. Mr. Matt Munoz himself advised and told me to leave early out of class and what did I say? ... HECK NO! because I'd rather learn how stroma and thykaloids function within a chloroplast during the process called photosynthesis. Okay, well ... not really and I would have left early anyways, like Matt mentioned. But I did stay for the entire class lecture which ended short at 7:30 PM, luckily.

Unfortunately, during the time I was still in class lecture, Rocky Nash and the boys were already up on stage rocking out Studio 99. I thought to myself, man! I'm missing out! I'm thinking of this while I hurried and struggled to get out of a lecture class with 126 students. At this time, I had promised my friend, who was still in class, to give him a ride back to our apartment. I waited for him outside for a good 10 mins. Time was tickin' so I decided to "ditch" his ass on campus. I drove my way to Studio 99 and got there around 8:06 PM. Just in time for Mento Buru. I've been wanting to see Rocky Nash perform on stage but didn't see or heard a tune from them, too bad. I guess life goes on.


Previous Rocky Nash performance @ Studio 99

Arriving at the scene, there were a lot of cars outside so I had to park farther away from the venue. So I hurried my way to the entrance and there I dished out my cinco dolares to Daniel. "Hey, sorry for cancelling the show ( April 7th )," Daniel explained. "Nah, it's cool man. Bad Religion played in town so, it was actually a good idea to cancel it," I said and continued ... "It's been a while since I was @ Studio 99, gonna see what's going on inside." I mentioned as I headed toward the inside of the studio.

Studio 99 is a great venue, as far as their sound system, lighting, and the actual space inside. However, many people say that the venue is not on a great location. I just think they need a glowing sign outside that says "STUDIO 99" and they'll be just fine.


Stage at Studio 99 looks amazing.

I was just in time to see Mento Buru play. Just before they played, I asked Matt if I can use his cameras to take a few picture of their performs. He handed his camera to me and there I was, the Mike Generic with camera. Like always, they made several people tip-toed off their shoes and dancing through their entire set, including myself. They also played one of my favorite Mento Buru tunes, Double Jeopardy. After about 20-30 mins, I'm not quite sure really, Meathead headed towards the stage and gave Matt the "cut-throat" signal, meaning no mas amigos. "Oh we're done? okay ... thank you we're Mento Buru!" announced Matt.

I don't have any picture up on here because I was using his camera then.

By the end of their set, a friend of mind sent a text mesage to me around 9:05 PM. Remember my friend who I ditched over at CSUB campus? Yes, he's still there and did not have any means of getting back to the apartment. I drove back from Studio 99 to CSUB campus, then from CSUB campus to our apartment, then I grabbed my digital camera from the apartment and headed back to Studio 99. Still following me? Okay ... Well, that took me about 30-40 mins. Just enough to freakin' miss Krotch's entire set.

I knew Krotch was kickin' ass because just when I parked and ran towards Studio 99, I was able to hear their music and it sounded great. Right when I entered the studio, "Thank we're Krotch!" it was already over. Gar! I 'effin missed their set. Alright, so that's 2 bands out of 4 and I'll definitely not miss the next band. Dirty Spanglish.


Dirty Spanglish setting up their equipment on stage.

Dirty Spanglish is a 4-piece young Bakersfield punk rockers. By young, I mean early teenagers around 13-15. I have heard good things about these young musicians. They maybe young but they've already played a few gigs in town including the Frosty show and at the Bakersfield Condors' game inside Rabobank Arena.

Dirty Spanglish had several technical difficulties on stage. There was a problem with the drumset and I sawPreston Nash ( Rocky Nash band ) and Cesareo ( Mento Buru/Rocky Nash) walked up the stage to help. I can see that these young musicians are enthusiastic about their performance but at the same time, you can almost feel their anxiety just by the look on their faces. Meathead went on stage to perhaps give a few advice to the young punk rockers as they are about to be filmed for Damaged TV, which will be televised on May 4th.


Dirty Spanglish gets advice from Meathead.

Dirty Spanglish opened up with a cover of the Filthies very popular tune entitled Donut Shop. Read how N.L. Belardes unravel the story behind DS covering of the Filthies music. The guys from the Filthies have got to be proud of this cover.





As they were about to perform, I quickly mentioned to N.L. Belardes that I used to play in a rock and roll band at the age similar to Dirty Spanglish. I was in a band at the age of 12 through 16. I've been playing the acoustic guitar for the next 6 years until I found a few cool people to form a band. We named the band The 28's. We started late November of 2005. So, I have been playing for 5 months with an actual stage band instead of just acoustic and I'm certainly glad to be back in the scene, although the crowd is not as big compared to when I was younger, it's still fun. We just had gig over @ Sandrini's Bar last week with Order 66, Box Jumper, and The Filthies.

Dirty Spanglish reminded me of myself being young and on stage. However, I must say that these young punk rockers are better than I was on stage, including the talent and stage presence. I can see potentials with these guys. Like "they" say, when you start young, the possibilities are endless. Well, for as long as Dirty Spanglish continues to practice and write more songs, they're learn valuable lessons throughout the years.



During their set, Dirty Spanglish also performed a Johnny Cash cover, which actually sounded really good. I believe, from what I've heard from N.L. Belardes, they have about 3 original songs. I told the punk rockers that I'll capture their last song on video using my digital camera. So, I did ... but after I got home and realized that there isn't any sound coming out of the video, argh! Too bad, but I'll still show 'em the silent video.

Throughout their performance, Damaged TV cameras were rolling ...


Damaged TV video camera #1 ...


Damaged TV video camera #2 ...


Damaged TV video camera #3

I'd give it another five years and these young Bakersfield punk rockers will capture the attention of everyone here in town. Heck, they're probably popular at their school right now. They had a few chords thrown here and there, and some synchronize problems but overall, I was captivated by their performance last night. They're like the Bakersfield little Filthies. Good sounding punk music and good performance overall. *Hands down*

Last night was definitely a night well spent.

Here's a few pictures ...









And of course, major props to my awesome instruments. Not to mention, they're shitty and cheap but somehow worked perfectly for me. So, no comments like "Hey, that bass is cheap!" or "Hey, that acoustic is like $99 dollars." Trust me, they work perfectly ... just wait until The 28's debut album entitled "what a joke" comes out, you'll hear the sound.