I thought that shrinks wore spectacles--had little tiny beards. I thought that shrinks were nuts, and yo, I thought that shrinks were wierd--until the day I met a shrink who forced me to adapt. My biased view of shrinks it seems, was just a bunch of crap. 'Cause the shrink rapped. He danced around and clapped. He rapped into the microphone until his lips were chapped. His musical prescriptions were music to my ears, cause the shrink rapped all my blues away, and rocked away my tears. He rapped about emotions: like fear and guilt and grief. He said to let 'em out would be a way to get relief. Just mix a little rhythm with the music in your soul. The shrink rapped to the rhythm of that good old rock and roll. The shrink rapped. He danced around and clapped. He rapped into the microphone until his lips were chapped. His musical prescriptions were music to my ears, cause the shrink rapped all my blues away, and rocked away my tears. He said, "To err is human. Forgiveness is divine." He rapped upon my brain and then he rapped upon my spine....a modern day Pied Piper, he's Dr. BLT, and if you haven't guessed by now, that rappin' shrink is me. The shrink rapped. He danced around and clapped. He rapped into the microphone until his lips were chapped.

Karen Carpenter was a legendary singer. When she left us, due to complications of Anorexia Nervosa, she left a huge void that can never be filled. Her premature death opened the window so we could all take a closer look at this life-threatening psychological disorder. It's hard to understand why some young women (and some young men) will starve themselves for affection. 

The phenomenon is best understood in the context of the family and society. To gain a comprehensive grasp of the problem, we must examine society's expectations of women and their bodies. We must understand the roles that men's attitudes towards women and men's expectations about women play. 

Eating disorders, including both Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia, also involve a confluence of other factors, including low self-esteem, high achievement needs, peer pressure, the influence of the media, and unwritten rules and roles assigned within dysfuntional relationships. Individuals who suffer from this condition typically feel powerless, dependent on others, unworthy, alone, and ineffably afraid of intimacy. They often suffer from mood instability, unresolved anger, and typically have turbulent relationships involving a great deal of trauma. Many are victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and have concomitant conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. If you suffer from this condition, it is not enough that you get help (although that's a good place to start). Your whole family might need to become a collective patient. 

Society may also need to be a patient. This will involve collective soul searching to examine how each of us, with our attitudes and expectations, may be contributing to the problem though our actions and/or lack thereof. It's not a matter of assigning blame. It's a matter of feeling their pain. 

Just a little food for thought from Dr. BLT. Karen Carpenter was a legendary singer. When she left us, due to complications of Anorexia Nervosa, she left a huge void that can never be filled. Her premature death opened the window so we could all take a closer look at this life-threatening psychological disorder. It's hard to understand why some young women (and some young men) will starve themselves for affection. 

The phenomenon is best understood in the context of the family and society. To gain a comprehensive grasp of the problem, we must examine society's expectations of women and their bodies. We must understand the roles that men's attitudes towards women and men's expectations about women play. 

Eating disorders, including both Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia, also involve a confluence of other factors, including low self-esteem, high achievement needs, peer pressure, the influence of the media, and unwritten rules and roles assigned within dysfuntional relationships. Individuals who suffer from this condition typically feel powerless, dependent on others, unworthy, alone, and ineffably afraid of intimacy. They often suffer from mood instability, unresolved anger, and typically have turbulent relationships involving a great deal of trauma. Many are victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and have concomitant conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. If you suffer from this condition, it is not enough that you get help (although that's a good place to start). Your whole family might need to become a collective patient. 

Society may also need to be a patient. This will involve collective soul searching to examine how each of us, with our attitudes and expectations, may be contributing to the problem though our actions and/or lack thereof. It's not a matter of assigning blame. It's a matter of feeling their pain. 

Just a little food for thought from Dr. BLT.

Rap music has taken a beating for its worship of bling, its fasination with promiscuous sex, and its emphasis on violence as the primary means of problem solving.   Furthermore, critics claim that rather than lifting the listener, and elevating the mind, it caters to the lowest common denominator.  Is rap morally bankrupt?  What about the slang-slinging?  Does playing rap music contribute to a weakening in phonological awareness, speech perception, cyntactic proficiency?  Certainly there are exceptions.  Eminen's Stan tells a story and is quite effective in delivering a moral.  Certainly the same can be said for some of Tupac's material, though both artists are equally as capable of putting out songs that are morally and linguistically bankrupt.  In a song and an article (both posted at Phantom Tollbooth), I generally try to stay positive with my songs, and since I'm so far from perfect, I try not to judge other artists.  But I picked on 50 Cent for being A Day Late and a Dollar Short.  And in the same publication, I picked on Lil' Kim and the rhyme crime I feel she's committed against youth----a rhyme crime I refer to in a song called Assault with a Deadly Woman.  Did I do so unfairly.  Am I missing something?  Am I culturally benighted, or cross-culturally challenged?  If you feel I've given rap a bad rap, and you honestly believe it has redeeming value, then offer your comments below.  I want to believe that there is redemption for rap and the "pimps" who pump out the rap jams.  I believe rap can be used as a vehicle for change, as I've tried to demonstrate in this rap song of my own:

From One Brother to Another
Dr. BLT
words and music by Dr. BLT: Shrink Rap Records (c) 2006
http://www.drblt.net/music/...

http://www.drblt.net

 

In existential philosophy and it's offspring, humanistic psychology, there exists the premise that human beings operate in accordance with two pervasive, all-consuming fears: Fear of life, and fear of death. Life and death, in these schools of thought, go well beyond the notion of a physical life and a physical death. Life, in humanistic terms, means living autonomously, putting yourself out there, making yourself vulnerable. When you live in this way, you risk ending up rejected, isolated and alone---profoundly so. So, to avoid such an end result, many shelter themselves, become engulfed in drugs, excessive work, or dysfunctional, symbiotic relationships that suck the individuality right out of a person. In existential terms, they opt for a premature death for fear of life. Those, on the other hand, who fear death, or the prospect of losing themselves in another person or persons, often rule out any possibility of real intimacy with another human being and/or the possibility of a divine or spiritual relationship with God. It's quite a dilemma. I fear life, yet I choose life. I fear death, yet I won't run from it. No wonder I always find myself between a rock and a heart place.

Thanks to all who responded via email with myriad German to English translations, varying dramatically in terms of precision.  The winning translation comes from Erika who has German friends in high and low places.   Here it is:

Ein Song über die Bee Gees von Dr. BLT [A SONG ABOUT THE BEE GEES BY DR. BLT] Dass Bee Gees Songs gecovert wurden und noch immer werden, ist nichts Neues. [It's nothing new that Bee Gees songs were and still are covered(?)]Da sind Überraschungen in jeder Hinsicht möglich (ohne die grässlichen und zumeist hochnotpeinlichen Bee Gees Cover Bands da mit einzubeziehen!), positive wie negative, interessante wie uninteressante.[It's possible to have surprises in every way (without dragging in the awful and mostly embarrassing BeeGees cover bands!), positive, negative, interesting and boring. 

Was andreres ist es allerdings, wenn ein Musiker einen Song über die Bee Gees schreibt. [But it's another thing when a musician writes a song about the Bee Gees.] Warum auch immer er das tut. [For whatever reason he does Der amerikanischen Musiker Dr. BLT hat auf seiner Webseite massenhaft Songs zum Anhören (und Kaufen), die allesamt mit Größen aus der Rock- und Popmusik zu tun haben, viele davon Eigenkompositionen, manches sind einfach Coverversionen. [The American musician Dr. BLT has lots of songs on his website to listen to (and buy), that are all about the greats of Rock and Pop music, many of which are his own compositions, some are simply cover versions.] 

Und natürlich hat er auch einen Song über die Bee Gees: Download. [And naturally, he also has a song about the Bee Gees: Download) Kategorien: Bee-Gees, Dr-BLT, Bee-Gees-Cover, Download, MP3 

Thank you, Erika.  And thank you, Germany, for making me the big star that I am (not) today! 

http://mcdustsucker.blogspo... <http://mcdustsucker.blogspo...>

People who drive drunk are playing Chicken: the solitary version. Others on the road who are driving sober don't ask to play the game. We are S.A.D.D.! We are S.A.D.D. for all those innocent victims who lost their lives at the hands of a drunk driver. We are S.A.D.D. that people are still playing the game of "Chicken." They are playing with their own lives, and the lives of others. 

We are Songwriters Against Driving Drunk. We are not against the drunk driver, just drunk driving. People who drive drunk don't do so because they are monsters. They don't necessarily care less, but they engage in careless behavior. 

We all know what's it's like after having a few drinks. You feel like nothing can touch you. You feel like you can do no harm. We are against the behavior, not the person who exhibits it. That's where we depart from M.A.D.D., though we salute their intentions and we want to work with them. We are not about shaming. We are not about blaming. We are simply a newly forming, heretofore loosely structured group of songwriters who are writing songs that remind party people to remind themselves in advance never to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. 

As John Lennon once sang in IMAGINE: "I hope one day you'll join us, and the world will live as one." We're S.A.D.D., and we're SAVING VICTIMS OF DRUNK DRIVING... ONE SONG AT A TIME. For more a little more information, contact me, the founder (that's me, Dr. BLT): drblt@drblt.net http://www.drblt.net

Chicken

Words and music by Dr. BLT ©2006

 

There’s a boy behind the wheel

And he’s bin drinkin’

He’s the designated driver of the bunch

And he’s taken on a dare

They’re playin’ chicken

Yes he’s gotten in a pickle

With a crunch

 

There’s a boy behind the wheel

Who’s rather reckless

And his mom and dad

Just haven’t got a clue

If they knew

That this was Chucky’s

Favorite pastime

‘ Couldn’t handle it

They’d probably come unglued

 

He’s playin’ chicken

They’re playin’ bump cars

And it’s a metaphor

For how he lives his life

He’s playin’ chicken

They’re playin’ bump cars

And he doesn’t know

It’s a deadly set of dice

 

Go Chucky…go Chucky go!

 

There’s a boy behind the wheel

His name is Chucky

And he’s lucky

‘cause he doesn’t crash tonight

So we’ve got to intervene before his life ends

Yes we’ve got to get this boy to see the light

 

There’s a boy behind the wheel

And he’s bin drinkin’

He’s the designated driver of the bunch

And he’s taken on a dare

They’re playin’ chicken

Yes he’s gotten in a pickle

With a crunch

 

He’s playin’ chicken

They’re playin’ bump cars

And it’s a metaphor

For how he lives his life

He’s playin’ chicken

They’re playin’ bump cars

And he doesn’t know

It’s a deadly set of dice

My guitar and I have always been partners in rhyme. One early spring day in May, 2003, in front of a nationally-famous establishment that serves coffee on Coffee Road, in Bakersfield, California, my guitar was apparently an alledged accomplice in an alleged crime. I was an alleged witness. I won't tell you who the main alleged culprit was because that person apparently split the scene and is presently wanted in connection with that alleged crime. What was said crime? Playing guitar and singing el fresco, at a table adjoining the premises alleded to be the location of the alleged crime. It allegedly led the then managers of said establishment to call in a retired sheriff who subsequently allegedly threatened the alleged assailant with jail time for the alleged crime. The accomplice doubled as a 6-string weapon of mass construction, used for the intent purpose of raising community awareness about the needs of homeless people and others who have endured human suffering, poverty, disease, and the like. Yes, it allegedly happened in this town. Yes, if you're a street musician, it could allegedly happen to you!

One morning while I was sitting right next to Starbucks at Rosedale Highway, working on a brand new song, underneath the Rubio's umbrella, a young man who worked for Starbucks who had been listening to the song I was struggling to write, politely waited until I stopped playing for a moment, and then he cautiously approached me. "You know, you should really be a rock star." He went on to tell me that he and his friends were listening to one of my songs on his car stereo the night before when he came to this conclusion. I asked him what his name was, and he said, "Andre." I said, "Andre, because you believe in me, and in my music, I'm going to incorporate your name into this song I've been working on. The song was yet untitled, but Andre became the inspiration to the lyrics for what at that moment had been a lyric-less song. In the song, I humbly confess, "I'm just a humble man, with a humble plan, to be a rock star." Is that really my plan? If it were, I probably wouldn't admit it. Many people would laugh to my face if they only knew of such a secret plan. Plenty of folks have told me to my face, "Your music sucks." And that's about the kindest of the insults I've received. It goes down hill from there. I rarely get compliments on my music, so when somebody finally pays attention, and actually believes in me, and in my tunes, well, it kind of inspires me to keep plodding ahead. Will I ever make it? Probably not, but I plan to have lots and lots of fun along the way. Yes, and if I actually harbored such a plan, the plan would be mighty presumptious. Such a plan, if I possessed it, would be exceedingly shallow, and incredibly unrealistic. And yes, the odds would be against me. But right now, if I do conceal such a plan in my heart, it's the only plan I've got. Heck, why not just come out and say it: That's the plan, and I'm sticking to it.

Most of us experience feelings of rejection from time to time. I did recently, after being banned at the Marketplace for breaking Castle and Cooke's rules against performing as a way of raising money for charity without a permit. Music is against the law in Bakersfield. I'm kidding. I was operating according to the rules of Sacramento where I had been jamming in the streets for years. So it was my own fault (in a sense) for not realizing how strict this development company in terms of enforcing the rules concerning street musicians. But I felt rejected, nevertheless. And every songwriter has to have "the man" to blame, so I blamed "the man" for banning me--the man with the white hair and the splenetic visage. So how did I heal? I followed the rock n role model of Janis Ian, who wrote what is arguably the greatest rejection song of all time, "At Seventeen." I wrote a song about it. But you don't need to be a songwriter or a singer to use music as a therapeutic means of self-help. Songs about rejection, lonliness, and the pain that comes from feeling isolated and alienated from the world are all over the internet and all over the radio. They fill up volumes of CDs and DVDs. Some of the rarest and greatest rejection songs can only be found on old vinyl.

When you listen to a song that relates to a problem you have, and expresses feelings similar to your feelings, you are vicariously experiencing what the songwriter experiences. This vicarious identification can have a marked cathartic effect. Sting wrote the first big hit for the band he once led--The Police. In Sending Out an S.O.S., he saturnine message of sorrow in a bottle in which he cries out to the world to save him from his isolation. Instead of a typical "answer," he receives "a hundred million," bottles with the same message. This becomes his "answer." All we need for surviving our sorrows is to know that we are not alone.

When I used to play for small change up in Sacramento, it landed me a cameo on an award-nominated MTV hit music video. News crews would stop by every few weeks and have me write a song on the spot to share with early birds on their way to work in the morning. All of this over my decision to opt for humble beginnings as a singer/songwriter on the streets of Sacramento: http://www.newsreview.com/s... I guess I was destined to become even more humble (if you can believe that). When my wife and I moved back to Bakersield, I tried the same gig at Starbucks at the Marketplace and before too long (though the people were very welcoming) I was banned by a property manager with white hair and an iracilble disposition. I eventually found a nice spot right beside Starbucks at Rubios and occasionally other musicians will join me for early morning jam sessions. Of course greater demands at my work site and other newly acquired obligations have prevented these early morning gigs from becoming as frequent as they once were, but I have lots of memories of my life as a street musician and I will forever treasure the memories: both good and bad.

It happened one morning, on April 19, there he was---old Mick Jagger, in the middle of my dream. I had one back-stage pass to an old antique store. Mick stood there smilin', as he answered the door. He was packin' his clothes, he was slick in his duds---painted felt shoes, and he wiped off the mud. He said, "Pleased to meet you," then he said my name. He said, "You're one step closer to fortune and fame." "You'll be the opening act for the Rolling Stones---name up in lights. 'Bin heretofore unknown. You'll be packin' your bags and all that you own. You'll be the opening act for the Rollin' Stones." Paint it black and blue, too good to be true. Pass the baton, I'll be rockin' for you. Mick will be there, sittin' up on his thrown, I'll be the openin' act for the Rollin' Stones. You're one step closer to fortune and fame." I'll be the opening act for the Rolling Stones---name up in lights. 'Bin heretofore unknown. I'll be packin' my bags and all that I own. I'll be the opening act for the Rollin' Stones.

You may find yourself forgetting how to spell his name, but you will find yourself by losing yourself in his books and articles depicting the "optimal human experience." Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has made it his passion to observe common elements in human activities which allow individuals to lose all track of space and time as they become wholly absorbed in an activity which gives them complete freedom, divine serenity, and ultimate pleasure. Music does that for me, whether it involves performing, recording, or listening. It can tap into pleasurable places in the brain, or even take me to places of new spiritual depths. What is your idea of the optimal human experience?

Freud believed that religion was a crutch for people who could not face their problems. Carl Jung, a student of Freud's, on the other hand, considered spiritual factors to be central to the study of the human psyche. He regarded religion and religious symbols to be a core element in the individual psyche and in the collective psyche. For Jung, faith was fundamental to the production of enduring change in individuals who suffered from a variety of psychological disorders. Though I consider myself a Christ-centered psychologist, I have the utmost respect for religious differences in my patients and I never impose my own Christian practices upon my patients. However, for those who share my Christian beliefs and practices, I consistently point to the power of prayer as a catalytst for spiritual and psychological healing. In certain evangelical circles, psychology, and the practice of psychotherapy are regarded as a threat to one's faith. Yet Jesus himself applied core psychological principles to his ministry and incorporated such principles in his teaching. Psychology as a field could use a new perspective, one that is born from a humble, prayerful posture. When one is on "bended knee," problems seem to diminish in their intensity. A new perspective is generated when one humbles oneself before God and acknowledges a power greater than his/her own. Therapy, in itself, can be incomplete. Prayer is ineffably powerful, but sometimes there are psychological barriers that prevent a person from approaching the thrown of grace with a sense of confidence. In such cases, I recommend something I call psychoPRAYERapy. Human beings have made great strides in the area of psychology and in the understanding of the human psyche, but prayer takes it all one giant step further. The next time you are perplexed or overwhelmed with your problems, try looking at them from a different perspective. Try looking at them "On Bended Knee."

If you ever stop by Starbucks on Rosedale Highway on your way to work in the morning, there's something you can depend on even more than the myriad coffee drinks and pastries that Starbucks has to offer. The group I proudly gave the name "The Starbucks Bible Boys" to will be there, gathering around, Bibles in hand, praying, worshiping God and studying his word. They are friendly. They won't bother you. They won't try to preach at you, but won't turn you away if you are hungry for spiritual truth and thirsty for living water. You can't help but notice. I did. Scores of coffee drinkers do. Northwest Voice did:http://www.northwestvoice.c... inspired me to write a song. Do they inspire any of you too? Either way, blog n roll ain't blog n roll without your input and interaction. Please supply that in the comments section below.

Daniel, I knew you could do it. It's now been officially one month, and nobody has even dared to challenge your title as Kern County's King of Christian pop. The contest never ends, so it's not too late for those of you who feel you are up to the challenge. Simply review the original blog thread for the simple rules and offer your best material for the chance to take Sisco's crown. http://www.bakotopia.com/ho...

I was wondering if any of you out there could provide a translation of the text linked below. I need to know whether the Germans are making fun of my music, whether I'm on my way to the top of the German top forty charts, or something in between. Once you hit the link, you'll need to scroll down just a little to find the blog thread. 

 

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrruce
aka Dr. BLT

http://mcdustsucker.blogspo...

Well, it's been nearly 2 months, and, so far, no Kern county metal band, or any metal band for that matter, has stepped up to the plate to challenge Metal2Metal for the title as Kern County Kings of Heavy Metal.  If you're band enough for the challenge, review the simple rules and challenge their heavy metal hegemony:

http://people.bakersfield.c...

Can CAUTION and CANDOR co-exist, or does CAUTION kill CANDOR and CANDOR kill CAUTION? When he was recently asked if Muslims go to heaven, Billy Graham said he would leave that decision up to God. Ask his son, Frankin Graham, who has inherited his dad's ministry, the same question and you will get a much different, less diplomatic response. Both preach and revere the same gospel. But both have decidedly different and disparate styles of delivery. While the Billy Graham association has dropped the "crusade" label from their ministry, you might say Franklin puts the "CRUSADE" in "CRUSADER." The decidedly different styles between father and son may be compared to the different styles between Pope John Paul II and the present pope, Pope Benedict XVI. Pope John Paul proceeded with caution. Pope Benedict doesn't exactly throw caution to the wind, but has a strong preference for candor as revealed in his recent comments concerning the Muslim faith, comments received as incendiary by Muslims, some of whom have taken the violent course the pope hinted Mohammed the Prophet had encouraged in his followers. How about you? What's your papal preference. Which pope do you prefer in terms of style and delivery? Which pope is greater suited for a post 9/11 world? I blog n roll. You decide. In the meantime, here's a free bonus track to set the tone for this debate: Heaven's Makin' Room for Pope John Paulwords and music by Bruce L. Thiessen, aka Dr. BLT (c)2006http://www.drblt.net/music/...

T'was christMAS in September, and all through the Nile, all the creatures were dancing, they did it in style. The stockings they wore, were worn out on the floor, as the Santa delivered a dozen or more, Salsa songs flavored with Latin and Rock, and Reggae and Jazz, as we rocked 'round the clock. And myriad restaurants provided the food, and we washed it all down with our favorite booze. Bakotopia, MAS and the Voices were hosts, but the biggest attraction was the band with the most. Louie Cruz and his reindeer delivered the gifts, with ineffable style, and incredible riffs. As visions of sugar plums danced in our heads, we would sleep good that night as we lay in our beds, and remembered the sounds of the band, and the sights, at the Nile at this christMAS event on that night.

OP Stylee: The Blog n Roll Interview with Dr. BLT:

It’s my business to help people when they’re down. Being down can range between a vague, mild feeling of the blues to a full-blown clinically significant case of depression. 

But being down doesn’t always mean being down and out. When an “in” person (a cognoscente if you will) is down with something, it means he or she is behind it, supportive of it and into it.  You might say that rather than being down and out, such a person is down and in. 

I won’t say that I’m a member of the cognoscenti. I won’t say that I’m hip. I won’t say I’m cool. I won’t say I’m in. Proclaiming oneself as such automatically places one in the “nerd” category. But I will say that I’m down with O.P. Stylee. I’ve been down with O.P. Stylee since the early 90s when I used to catch them in a jam at place once called Cheney’s on California Avenue near Stockdale Highway.

The shows were nothing short of spectacular---nothing short of electrifying. Back in the early 90s, there appeared to be two up-and-coming underground Bakersfield acts at the vanguard of all that was new and “happening.” 

In the world of roots-oriented rock---nostalgia mixed with a rare, raw punk energy, there was Brian Jones Was Murdered. In the world of Latin-laced world music, roots-oriented reggae, and tribal dance music, there was the one and only O.P. Stylee. 

Though there are now rumors (or is it simply reckless, baseless hype?) involving the prospect of Brian Jones Was Murdered getting back together, I doubt if that’s going to happen any time soon. For the most part, the odds of that are about as great as Brian Jones coming back to life, and opening for Merle Haggard at the Crystal Palace. 

Meanwhile, Korn has become the juggernaut of rock as far as “Korn” county is concerned. Their ascendancy is unmatched, and though they are now bereft of Brian “Head” Welch, who has traded in Korn for a crown of thorns, they show no signs of handing over their rock reign. 

Though the band has been in a moribund state for quite some time, I have no doubt that they will continue their reign over reggae/world/dance music in Kern County, and they may even extend their kingdom.  O.P. Stylee involves a new line-up, but the new line-up won’t stop the long line-ups at their shows. 

I spoke to the man at the helm, and sampled a few of the new O.P. Stylee tunes. As I did, I sensed that the spirit of O.P. is still very much alive.   I believe they are poised to recapture the magic of their 90s apex.  I'm getting a bit prolix in my introduction to a band that really needs no introduction.  Here is our recent conversation.  Feel free to easedrop: 

Dr. BLT: First of all, thanks for agreeing to participate in this interview series.  It's usually a tradition of mine to have interviewees give a shout out or to send out a greeting to past or future Dr. BLT interviewees.  Do you have anything to say to either Pat Boone, whom I interviewed back in December, or for John McCrae, frontman of Cake, whom I'm told by his people will likely be ready for a BLT interview in a few months, just prior to their Live at the Crystal Palace CD release?   If not, no big deal. 

OP:  Ask Pat if he is going to do another heavy metal CD if not, ask him if he would he try a reggae CD. I’d recommend Christafari's CD singer Mark Mohr to him. 

As for Cake , fortunately I love them! A Cake CD is one of the only CD's I have put into my PC.  Also: Are they putting photos on new CD? 

Dr. BLT: Let's take about OP origins.  First of all, where were you born and raised and what childhood event, if any, had an impact on your decision to follow a musical course? 

OP: I was born and raised in Bakersfield CA and at the age of 18 I split and worked ski resorts in winter and Santa Barbara Biltmore in summers, returned to Bakersfield around 23. No real event, music was something that was stressed in my family on both sides, instrumental and vocal, I played trumpet and baritone in band. I was also was in choir all through my school years, in high school I was a chamber singer.

Dr. BLT: What are the circumstances that brought the band together?   

OP: Well, O.P. Stylee started with myself and Dan Burt. We grew up together. I watched him play in bands for years. Then one day he asked me about my choir days when we were younger as he was hooking up a mic in his studio on Chester Lane and had me sing. I asked what to sing he said anything, so I did, and out of that came our first song, Tom Tommy. In about 4 weeks we wrote enough material to do over an hour show. Now, as for the new op style-- I was working on Mark Powell's ( Firebrats) roof. and somewhat the same think occurred: he asked what I’d been doing, then asked me to check out his studio, and there was a mic and now the show goes on!

Dr. BLT: Can you assign one word to the personalities of each band member?   How do you guys make it work, with all of the different personalities in the band? 

OP:  Both Mark and Brett are creative & cautious. Mark and Brett Beller have been working together for quite sometime and are somewhat brothers. Our personalities are pretty similar---so far so good--- no real roadblocks.

Dr. BLT: What have you accomplished together as a band, thus far, and what have you accomplished as an individual artist over the years? 

OP: Well, as new members we’ve only begun, but I’m sure we will be fine. We’re writing great stuff, and I can handle the cheerleading part just fine. As for myself, in the past I have played with so many different players throughout the US and have opened for Steele Pulse, Eek A Mouse, Untouchables, Big Mountain to Platters, and Edgar Winter to name a few.Dr. BLT: That’s impressive. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of performing and offering your music hear in the Kern County music scene?OP: Friends and family are the advantage. Disadvantages would be that to get your music heard on radio or sold in stores without being signed, you must take other routes, but that’s the case anywhere. Being in a city with few venues is easy if you play Wednesdays through Sundays. As op style, we did all originals 4hrs a night and got a little burned out. That’s not the case this time around.

Dr. BLT: What artists have had the most influence on your musical direction as a band?  Are there any local artists that you are impressed by or whose music has influenced you? 

OP: Christafari, Temple Yard, Bob Marley and every song I’ve ever heard on the radio. Locally. singers would be Glenda Robles. She knows every song I’ve ever heard on the radio. Then there’s Brett Beller, just cause homey can sing like a canary! Then there are the writers & trackers that I know---- Jean Errasarat, Rythem, and of course my pal, Mark Powell. As far as all around and good at a little of everything hats off to Matt Munoz. He is making it great for everyone. Thanks. Then there are musicians like Louie Cruz Beltran and there are far too many to mention. You guys know who you are.

Dr. BLT: Tell me a little bit about what the band is up to these days? 

OP: We’re writing and recording new material as well as re-recording old material, rehearsing and preparing to take this show on the road

Dr. BLT: How do you feel about musicians using their music to promote a political agenda or to make a political statement? 

OP: That's fine, but be careful. It could be dangerous, depending on who or what, especially if you’re politically right.

Dr. BLT: Does music hold any particular spiritual significance to you and/or members of your band? 

OP: Oh yes, I think anyone writing a lot has some kind of connection, whether good or bad. Myself, I'm always positive.  I  really try not to be negative.  

Dr. BLT:   What inspires you to write, record and perform music?   

OP:  You, doc, and everyone else that I might be able to bring a smile to, an impression on their mind, or a feeling in their heart. There is nothing like performing to a receptive crowd. I wish everyone could do it at least once, oh, and maybe a home I could live in (lol).

There are many questions that could be asked concerning a local radio interview with members of the infamous folk duo, Prussian Blue, and their misguided mother. Did local radio host Inga Barks fan the flames of nationalism, racism, and anti-semitism when she hosted twins Lamb and Lynx Gaede in a recent radio interview? Is she aiding their neo-Nazi message? Is she a boon to their already burgeoning popularity? But my main question, as a psychologist interested mimicing, mirroring and modeling (a phenomenon most succinctly described by psychologist Albert Bandura), is this: To what extent do you believe these twins of intolerance have internalized the views they espouse, and to what extent do you think they are merely mimicing, mirroring and modeling their misguided mom?