Bakersfield Calendar Girls speak out against N.L. Belardes and Miss Bakersfield

Yes, there were a few Bakersfield models a little angry with me. Recently there was a bit of local controversy over a slinky calendar and one of its models. Or should I say, Matt Munoz of Bakotopia.com caught Tiffany Allen, A.K.A Miss Bakersfield red-handed posing for a skin-filled calendar of hot mama delights. Just read his article on "Little Miss Sunshine?" and you'll see what our resident leader ska-topian revealed. We all know what Miss Bakotronic had to say in her rebuttal, the Queen Strikes Back. But what about the rest of the Bakersfield Calendar Girls? Seems I stirred up a few emotions with this comment on the original revealing article:

Makes you wonder where some people draw the line, especially in today's age where pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry. No, this wasn't about porn, but if pretty girls are willing to bend rules and bare all "tastefully", how do we know that some girls won't go the "untasteful" route? Where's the fine line? What really are the goals of girls who want to show off their bodies on a bare-everything-except-for-my-nipples calendar? If you can't trust Miss USA and Miss Bakersfield to uphold integrity, does that mean many girls are just out for instant exposure... and I do mean the pun as well.

Sexy model Heather Rawlins of the infamous calendar has further revealed in a meeting at Bakersfield’s The Marketplace, that a few of the calendar girls took offense at what I wrote, and at what Miss Bakersfield had to say. She and at least one other model, Melody Dare, felt that not all of the story had been told. I think they didn’t like that the sexy Miss Bakersfield, Tiffany Allen, went on the record, and, well, slammed the Calendar Girls project as ‘dirty’ to perhaps salvage her integrity.

Here’s some of what Heather wrote to me over myspace:

I read your comments on bakotopia.com and they upset me. It is true not all of us were there for the same reason, but I know it's not just to have some guy drooling over my pictures. I want the right guy to drool over my pictures. And it's already happened. Three of us girls have already been contacted to do something else with modeling... and not like the calendar either: pictures with clothes on and commercials. The way Tiffany made everything sound made us look bad. It was really just a good opportunity to experience something we have never tried before… Just because we like to look good and feel good, doesn't mean we are dirty girls. I'm not trying to be rude or offensive… I was just letting you know.

My goodness. I can understand standing up for what you believe in. I told Heather I was glad she wrote me. We later had a nice discussion that included Melody Dare about opportunity, attention, and even the content of my website and book. Heather said: “It’s all about attention. You write for attention, don’t you? We just don’t like that some people are suddenly acting like the calendar was a bad thing, when it was just about a way for us all to get attention.”

(Read the full article and see my N.L. Belardes Bakersfield Girls Calendar 2007)
***************************************
N.L. Belardes is a novelist and blogger out of Bakersfield, California. He’s on myspace.com/nlbelardes and www.nlbelardes.com.

LIVE!! at Bakersfield Tattoo Expo 2006 10/22/06

-Sunday, October 22nd, 2006 - Rabobank Convention Center
-This was the Bakersfield Tattoo Expo 2006 !!!

Bakersfield tattoo artists, and the people that love them, gathered for a weekend of ink slinging goodness at Bakersfield's Rabobank Convention Center in downtown Bakersfield on Saturday and Sunday, October 21-22nd...

Some of the tattoo designers in attendance this year included:
- Bako's very own Mad Dog Tattoo
- Tried and True Tattoo from Arroyo Grande
-Vintage Tattoo from LA
-Bako's A.R.T. Studio, and Sacred Gypsy
-Darcy Nutt from Idaho
-Black Market Art Company
-Halo Tattoo from NY
-Plus many,many, more..

In year's past, the event had been held at the KC Fairgrounds, but due to unpredictable weather, cleanliness concerns, and "too many homie discounts," the only way to make sure the event was done professionally and safely was to move it downtown in a more controlled environment..

Tattooing is a big part of downtown Bakersfiel culture. If you're thinking about getting a tattoo, make sometime to visit the many great tattoo parlors all over Bakersfield. The artists there will make sure to guide you to the right ink.

An estimated 3,000 attended over the weekend, listened to some great music, paid tribute to those lost too soon, competed for the show's best tattoo, and partied outta control!

Onhand to MC the tattoo contest was President of Video Action Sports, Tom Allen of Pismo Beach, Ca.

Winning Saturday's "Overall Best Tattoo," was Bakersfield artist, Jimmy Bertram, whose winning piece was a large stomach tattoo with roses and snakes.

This was my third experience at the annual Bakersfield Tattoo Expo, and I always have a great time. It always ends up being an old school reunion, and a cool way to catch up with old friends, and check out the great work.

Mas Magazine photographer, Chanclas, came along to help cover the event! She was pleasantly surprised by the quality of work and looks forward to her first tat!

The Bakersfield Rollergirls were in attendance, as well as other representatives from Bako's unique social scene...Word!

<<<CHECK OUT ALL THE GREAT PHOTOS!!!

See you next year!!

Matt

LIVE! SIK World Circus returns to Vinny's: Part 1

10-14-06, Vinny's Bar, Bakersfield, CA, Sik World Rock N' Roll Circus RETURNS!

I know, I know, Halloween is way over, but I got plenty more photos to catch up on! Busy Mexicans who provide the fun are alloted only so much rest!

The Sik World Rock n' Roll Circus returned to Bakersfield's Vinny's nightclub with more noise and outrageous antics with Divided By Zero, and Bakersfield's own Endrio, and Stitch, plus one Sik World burlesque dancer, who reminded me of "Little Nell," from Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Bakotopian Big Ray, couldn't turn down a chance to see the spectacle of sin once again. Armed with camera in hand, Ray entered the Vinny's, Rexlan Acres area of Bakersfield, CA, with one thing on his mind..

"I gotta get a picture with Marc De Leon, so people will quit yelling at me walking downtown..I'M NOT MARC, MAN!!"

<<Check out a video by Sik World's Divided By Zero!

Jacque, our favorite Vinny's Bakotopia dweller invited Bakotopia over to cover the madness. THANKS AGAIN, JACQUE!!!

It was near Halloween, so if you notice a boob or two with some rotten flesh, don't be alarmed, it's only make-up..

Sword swallower, and all-around freak "Murrugun" was also back again with even more reasons to go church again. Ray managed to snap so many pictures (shocker,) I made a special Murrugun picture post for all of you to marvel at.

CLICK THE PICTURE BELOW TO SEE MURRUGUN...UNLEASHED!!!

Enjoy the photos...if you can..FIND OUT IF BIG RAY MET HIS TWIN!!!

Bless yourselves...

Matt

www.sikworld.com

SALSA CLASSES at STUDIO 9!

This is where’s it at!

These dance classes are really starting to TAKE OFF! I came a few weeks ago to Susie’s class, and there were 19 people at her class. Tonight, the studio had 20+ students from Asian, White, and of course Latino backgrounds of all ages who were ready to learn how to set the dance floor on fire. Students come from all walks of life…from teachers and waiters to mechanics and college students. It was a multi-race, multi-age, multi-profession salsa salad! You can expect that these classes will begin to grow as Latin Dancing surges here in Bakotopia Land. You thought it was over, but it never really began. Hopefully we will get to see local Salsa band, SALSA SOLUTION on the next Bakotopia Compilation CD.

Stay tuned for the real desmadre to begin!

Sal "El Patrio" P

STUDIO 9
Add Spice to Your Life with Latin Dance
SALSA LESSONS!

Monday:
7-8pm   Beginning Cha Cha Cha with TJ Salsa Mama

Tuesday:
7-8pm Starting March 6th, Beginning-Intermediate Salsa 5 week series class by Edgar Rivera, pre pay $30
8-9pm Beginning Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha with Susie Aguilera

Wednesday:
6:30pm-7:30pm Beginning Salsa
7:30-8:00pm Open Practice
8:00-9:00pm Intermediate Salsa with Billy

Classes are also held at Club Odyssey inside the Double Tree Hotel located on Rosedale Hwy:
Sunday:
4-5pm Beginning Salsa with TJ Salsa Mama
5:30-6:30pm Intermediate Salsa (Club Style) with Edgar Rivera
6:30-8pm Open Dance

Practice what you just learned to the Latin Mix of DJ Lorenzo

Class fees are $5 per visit per person unless otherwise stated.

Very Fine Dance Shoes now available at STUDIO 9!
Call Debbie at 333-3178 to place an order, visit:
www.VeryFineShoes.com to view selection!

DIRECTIONS TO STUDIO 9!
From Highway 99
Exit California Ave Heading West
Take The Second Right, Chester Ln.
Go Left On Easton Dr.
The Building Is Immediately To Your Right!

End of an era

End of an era
Plan your pilgrimage now - one of Buck’s places is about to close for business on April 1, 2008!

1213 N. Chester Ave. in Oildale, CA. on 3/14. Photo by Matt Munoz

By Matt Muñoz, Bakotopia Editor

Business was always just business to Buck.

But he knew that without good music, his business wasn’t worth much.

Closing the book on a historical local chapter in the careers of Buck Owens & The Buckaroos, KORN, and thousands of local and out of town bands, the original site of Buck Owens Studios, 1213 N. Chester Ave., is about to put the touches on its final mix this coming April.

<<VIDEO OF BAKO'S MENTO BURU RECORDING INSIDE STUDIOS! PLUS A NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE STUDIO'S LAST DAYS - THE LAST BAND!!

“It’s a wonderful place, with great karma,” said Rick Davis, who has been leasing the studio portion of the former River Theater/Buck Owens Studio building from the Owens family since ‘92. “After 16 years, I never did once consider it mine. It was great to be the caretaker.”

Relocating his Fat Tracks studios after Owens had vacated the premises that once also housed KDOB (Dorothy Owens Broadcasting), Davis continued to run the studio for local bands to record continuously until making the difficult decision to close earlier this year.

Vintage handbill from a Buck Owens & The Buckaroos concert

“This was strictly a business decision, and the Owens family has been nothing but great to work with,” said Davis who works full-time as executive director of the Kern County Board of Trade. “The recording business has changed, and big studios are closing now that bands have technology at their fingertips. Sadly, it just wasn’t profitable anymore.”

Built in 1939, The River Theater was an Oildale movie house for years, until it was purchased by Buck Owens who transformed it into the high-tech Buck Owens Studios in 1968.

1968 brochure promoting the opening of Buck Owens studios in Oildale, CA.

“Billboard Magazine had written it was the best equipped studio in the country when it opened,” remembered Davis. “Buck recorded several of his duets and important works there, and the Buckaroos helped develop a lot of talent in those studios.”

1968 brochure promoting the opening of Buck Owens studios in Oildale, CA.

Looking through a rare early brochure to promote the studio complete with many pictures from inside the facility, the Owens Studio boasted some of the best analog recording equipment of the day. One important feature was the acoustic sound-proofing studio walls - most of which is still intact, with only slight wear due to age.

1968 brochure promoting the opening of Buck Owens studios in Oildale, CA.

“Buck used to tell me, ‘Rick, I never made any money in that studio, it was the songs that were recorded that made me money. The studio was just a tool.’”

Like Owens during his recording heydays, a newer generation of Bakersfield talent would get their chance to record within the legendary walls as well - this time under the guidance of Davis and engineer Max Reese throughout the ‘90s.

from left: Max Reese, Jonathan Davis of KORN, and Rick Davis show off a gold plaque Jonathan Davis' band KORN inside Fat Tracks studio. One-third of KORN's debut record was record at the studio.

“KORN recorded a third of their first CD at Fat Tracks,” said Davis who also happens to be the father of KORN lead vocalist Jonathan Davis. “It was nice to help my son and the rest of the band who went on to become such a phenomenal success.”

Lining a side wall of the recording chamber are several record plaques to commemorate the success of some of the studios accomplishments. One of most attention grabbing plaques being the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers plaque. Contrary to popular belief the disc was not recorded at the Bakersfield studio.

“That belongs to Max (Reese), and it was from another studio,” Davis pointed out.

Recording history continued to be made on a variety of scales into the current decade - from locals to out of town bands and artists.

“We weren’t into taking advantage of the artists,” explained Davis. “And our hourly rate has not changed since we’ve been here.”

Although known primarily as Fat Tracks Studios for years, Bakersfield recording engineer/musician Nick Forcillo, the last of the studios resident engineers began changing the name of the studio to Pig Studio in 2004.

Forcillo who has engineered numerous projects is also credited with helping to popularize the digital ProTools recording process in Bakersfield.

Engineer Nick Forcillo

Included among his long list of projects include “Planets” by Adema, and co-producing the local Bakotopia Music Compilation Vol. 1 in ‘07. Two of the compilations songs - “The Bull in His Place” by Another Year, and “La Murga” by Mento Buru were engineered at the studio by Forcillo.

Geoffrey Dyer of the Iron Outlaws records at Fat Tracks in 2008.
Photo: Jessica Moncrief

As a veteran of the recording business, Forcillo expressed his disappointment, but said right now he only has time to keep working, as the studio became completely booked up as news of the imminent closing began to spread.

“The world we live in is changing,” said Forcillo. “Now everyone wants to come in and record here.”

AJ of the Iron Outlaws records inside at Fat Tracks Studios in 2008.
Photo: Jessica Moncrief

Although the studio is closing, he assures us he will soon be available at a local facility to be announced shortly for more recording.

“Pig Studio will live on,” he said.

Nearing the April 1st deadline, Davis looks back at all the wonderful memories made at the studio.

“I certainly will miss it,” he said. “In hindsight it was exciting to have that experience.”

Toying around with the idea of making the studio's final recording a special event, Davis still hasn’t decided to go out with a bang … or with Buck.

“Maybe we’ll get 50 artists to sing ‘Streets of Bakersfield,’” he said with grin. “Or maybe I’ll just put a Buck Owens tape and sing along with it.”

For more information, call the Fat Tracks - PIG Studio line at 393-6048, or engineer Nick Forcillo at 304-2649.

Story originally printed in Bakotopia Magazine, Issue 24, 3-20-08

WIN A PARTY IN THE PIT WITH KORN !!!

CONTEST IS OVER! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED!!

Bakotopia is giving away 2 pairs of pit tickets to the February 24th show at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, CA, PLUS a limo ride to and from the show, with Kenny Mount of The Filthies as your personal driver AND AN AUTOGRAPHED POSTER FROM THE BAND! How cool is that?!!

Here's all you gotta do:
-You must have a Bakotopia profile to enter. If you haven't got one, sign-up! It's EASY!
-Sign In to Bakotopia with your username. Don't forget to fill-in your profile!
-Post a public comment below to this post about your favorite KORN song and why we should send YOU to the concert. Your entry will be posted on Bakotopia.
-Make sure your username is public, so we know who you are.

**2 Winners will be drawn at random and contacted via e-mail by 5:00pm on Monday, February 20th.

**Must be 18 or older to enter & win. Bakersfield Residents Only! No employees or family of The Bakersfield Californian and it's affililiates may participate.

To purchase tickets, call 661-322-2525 or visit ticketmaster.com.

STAY IN TUNE WITH BAKOTOPIA.COM FOR THE BEST CONTESTS IN BAKERSFIELD!!

DON'T FORGET TO LISTEN TO:

BAKOTUNES

Word!

BAKO Halloween Happenings 2007

*Yo!Don't have a baby vampire cow if you don't see your event listed here. Send me a shout with all the details, and I'll add it!

BAKO Halloween Happenings 2007
Top reasons to leave the coffin leading up to the big night, October 31st!

(Halloween 2006)

By Matt Munoz, Bakotopia Editor

Bako’s favorite time of the year without a doubt is Halloween.

So to make things easy, Bakotopia has handpicked the best places to be leading up to the big night!

Last year Bakotopia's own ‘Tekwiz’ took a load of photos that raised the blood pressure of many web-readers, making this year a tough one to beat when it comes to costumes.

Sexy, scary, hilarious, and gross….Let's do it again, shall we?

Our cameras will be out in full force all over downtown and beyond!

Start out by checking out ‘The Chamber’ Haunted House (read the story HERE), then work your way through the list below!

HOLD UP!
LOOKING FOR FAMILY FRIENDLY HALLOWEEN FUN INSTEAD?
(CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW)

October 20
-Bakersfield Rollergirls 2nd Annual “October Fright
Night”

-The Finish Line Bar & Grill, 2400 Camino Del Rio Ct. (next to Red Lion)
-Costume Party & Contest
-8 p.m. / 21 & Over
-327-0681

October 26
-Scary Sarahfest at Backstage

-1201 20th St. (corner of 20th & M streets), Downtown
-Suffocate, Your Own Destroyer, Indiscriminate Gunfighter, Her Black
Despondency, The Walking Desecration
-Prize giveaways all night long!
-8 p.m. / All Ages / $10 adv - $12 door

-HowCool.com Halloween Party at Amestoy's
-Amestoy's, 2303 River Blvd.
-Three Chord Whore performing plus DJ
-Free! Costume Contest! Drink Specials!
-8pm-close / 21 & over only

-Halloween Party at The Dome
-2201 V. St.
-From Ritual To Romance, Dirty Spanglish, Envy Against Heroes, Dressed   To Kill, All Is Lost, and more
-6:30pmAll Ages / $8 (Buy Tix From FRTR - $3!)
-661-327-0190

October 27
-Fishlips 5th Annual Halloween Haunt

-Fishlips, 1517 18th St., Downtown
-The Just Dave Band, Iron Outlaws performing live.
-Costume Contest at midnight - $150.00 1st prize
-9 p.m. - close
-$5 / 21 & Over

-The Strawberry Switchblades' Graveyard Cha-Cha
(proceeds to benefit Valley Fever research)
-Narducci's, 622 E. 21st St.
-The Councilman plus Greg from The Mint's new punk band and a
DJ!
-Costume Contest with prizes galore / $2 Jello Shots
-$5 / 21 & Over
-661-324-2961

-Club Replay's 1st Annual Halloween Masquerade Ball
-Club Replay, 4500 Buck Owens Blvd.
-Costume Contest / DJ Damage and DJ Razor Plus all night long!
-9pm - close
-$20 pre-sale tix / 21 & Over (661)324-3300

-3rd Annual Syndicate Lounge Halloween Party
-Syndicate Lounge - 19th & Eye St. - downtown
-Costume Contest / DJ Nick / Drink Specials!
-8pm - close
-21 & Over!

-The Red Cock Halloween Hutzpah
-Le Corusse Rouge, 4647 White Ln
-DJ all night long
-8 p.m. - close
-21 & Over

October 30
-Edward's Stadium Cinema presents 'Halloween'
Double Feature!
-9000 Ming Avenue (at The Marketplace)
-DOUBLE FEATURE! Halloween 4 & 5 & Documentary - Halloween: Faces
of Fear!
-7:30PM / $10 / All Ages

October 31
-Fright Fest at The Fox Theater

-The Fox, 2001 H St., Downtown
-10 a.m. - midnight
-Heffalump Halloween Movie - 10 a.m.
-The Skeleton Key - 5 p.m.
-The Exorcist - 8 p.m.
-Free / All Ages admitted
-324 - 1369

-Kickin' Karaoke Halloween Bash
-The Empty Space, 706 Oak St.
-8PM – 1AM.
-Featuring DJ Michelle Weingarden
-Costume contest, prizes, games, raffles, complimentary appetizers, $1
beers!
-$10 (includes one free raffle ticket and all you can eat appetizer spread)
-327-PLAY

-Rock N' Rave at The Dome
-2201 V st.
-7pm to 8pm DJ club music
-8 PM live on stage = The Late Reactions
-9 PM live in concert = Immortal Vendetta
-9:30PM TO 11PM = Rave music mix show by DJ Michael Anthony!
-$7 at the door $5 with costume ALL AGES WELCOME!
-661-327-0190

-The Nile Halloween Bash & Costume Contest

-The Nile Bar, 1721 19th St., Downtown
-Big Cash Giveaways - Scary Drink Specials - Live DJs
-Bottle Service & Table Reservations Available
-Best Costume contest - $500, $250, $100
-Hottest Looking Costume Contest - $500, $250, $100
-9 p.m. / 21 & Over
-$10 (1/2 price ad available inside magazine!)
-21 & Over
-323 - 8575

-Halloween Night Reggae Freako Nightmare
-Fishlips, 1517 18th St., Downtown
-George The Giant Freak Show, and SEED performing live!
-Costume Contest at midnight - $150.00 1st prize
-9 p.m. - close
-$5 / 21 & Over / 661-324-2557

-Amigo's Cantina Halloween Bash
-Elevation 406 performs classic rock / Costume Contest / Scary drink
specials!
-Corner of District & Gosford
-7:30pm / Free / 21 & Over / 661-398-1300

-Scaryaoke at the Lone Oak Lounge

-The Lone Oak, 10612 Rosedale Hwy
-8 p.m. - midnight
-21 & Over
-Wear your favorite costume and sing your favorite tunes.
-Best costume will win a prize.
- 589 - 0412

-Halloween at The Holiday Inn Select
-Holiday Inn Select, 801 Truxtun Ave.
-7-10pm.
-Featuring Paul Haag Saenz & Christina Tevez performing live old school,
latin, and rock music
-FREE!
-661-324-7595

-Party With Stabby & Jefe at The Syndicate Lounge
-Syndicate Lounge - 19th & Eye St. - downtown
-Downtown drunks will out in freaky force. What else do you need?
-8pm - close
-21 & Over! Free!

November 2
-Dia De Los Muertos / Day Of The Dead at The Nile

-1721 19th st., Downtown
-Art, Altars, Sugar Skulls, Face Painting, Music, Food, Poetry, Traditional
Folklorico Dancing, MENTO BURU performing live
-12 p.m. (public viewing begins) and runs until 9 p.m.
-Free / All Ages admitted
-323 - 8575

RELIVE LAST YEAR'S HALLOWEEN HAVOC!
(CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW!)

*Originally printed in Bakotopia Magazine, Issue 13, 10 - 19 - 07

Introducing Silversun Pickups

<Listen to interview with Silversun Pickups drummer, Chris Guanlao!

From the Corner of Silver Lake and Sunset, Here Are Silversun Pickups

Silversun Pickups' most endearing quality may be that they have no faith in making plans for the future.

The Silver Lake-area quartet has been thrust into the spotlight as the current voice of Los Angeles’ indie rock set, but has chosen to break the rules of the strict DIY credo without apology.

“We love indie music, but we don’t wanna be just indie,” says Silversun drummer Christopher Guanlao via telephone. “We don’t want to put any parameters on what we’re doing.”

Convincing words from a band just seen on both The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Late Night with David Letterman, network variety shows known for showcasing the latest top 40 act along with the occasional off-the-radar buzz band. If that’s not good enough, the band has also landed a coveted spot performing at the Coachella Music Festival on Friday, April 27 alongside Björk and The Jesus and Mary Chain.

“The way we look at things now is, we put the blinders on and we’re just looking forward,” says Guanlao. “And build up this experience and knowledge.”

Currently on tour in support of the latest CD, Carnavas, both as opening band for Scotland’s Snow Patrol and as headliners, Guanlao felt the oncoming weight of road time even before the band left L.A.

“This tour is about two months long, but it feels like we’re going to be gone for the rest of the year,” he remarked prior to the tour’s launch.

Formed in 2000 by frontman Brian Aulbert and bassist Nikki Monninger, Guanlao joined the duo in 2002, but it was with the addition of keyboardist Joe Lester, who had previously played with the band onstage, that Silversun Pickups felt complete.

“Joe would come up and play on one song during every show, but it got to the point where he was playing more and more songs," says Guanlao. “We told him he’s gotta join the band, and to just figure out something for the songs he’s not playing on.”

Named after a favorite convenience store located on the corner of Silver Lake Blvd. and Sunset, the band often makes up stories when asked about the origin of its moniker.

“We tell people that our name involved being out in the desert with peyote, but it’s really from a neighborhood liquor store called Silversun,” says Guanlao. “We made a lot of pickups there.”

Going from straight ahead rock to post-grunge, keyboard-infused fuzz, the band entered the studio to record its 2005 debut EP, Pikul, on the Warner Brothers’ based Dangerbird Records, building a loyal fanbase with their single, “Kissing Families.”

In July 2006, their full-length CD Carnavas, was released to ho-hum national response, but with mass distribution and backing from its label, the band feels confident about the future.

“As the months go by, the record’s been picking up steam,” says Guanlao. “The label saw there’s been a snowball effect going on here, and that they could nurture this.”

Todd Clifford, owner of Sea Level Records in Echo Park and newly crowned Silversun Pickups tour merch manager, has seen the value of that cultivation at his store, where the band also sold its early demos. Clifford remembers the day the full-length dropped, when the band did an impromptu in-store signing session for fans.

“When the CD first came out, we sold 80 copies the first day,” Clifford reflects. “The CD came out on Nikki’s birthday, and we’ve been selling them like crazy since.”

Carnavas became the #1 seller of 2006 at the store, even beating out Cat Power’s The Greatest, released the same year. The Greatest sold well, but not enough to beat the local favorites.

“Carnavas sold double the numbers our #2 seller did all last year,” says Clifford. “It’s been exciting to see the band do as well as they are.”

The album is a striking reminder that popular music was, and still is, a viable source of soulful nourishment. The band has also been compared to legendary foursome The Pixies in many rock music journals, not just in sound, but also in appearance. (Guanlao, like Pixies’ Joey Santiago is Filipino, and Monninger, like bassist Kim Deal, is also female.)

Coincidences aside, Guanlao and his bandmates don’t seem to mind the comparisons.

“We’re definitely influenced [by] and love the Pixies and a lot of other things too,” he said. “I don’t think we necessarily go out there to sound like them, it’s definitely an unconscious thing.”

A hit on L.A.'s Indie 103.1 F.M., college radio stations nationwide and MTV, “Lazy Eye,” from Carnavas, has been a butterfly for the band.

“'Lazy Eye' is one of the first songs we ever played, and it’s been through a metamorphosis since then,” says Guanlao. “The way it transformed is the way we’re headed, so in that sense, I guess it is representative of what we’re doing.”

Originally performed much slower and longer in length, the song has quickly become the band’s signature tune. With a catchy, mid-tempo groove that builds on an emotional twist of effects, Silversun Pickups have successfully created something that reminds you of everything you loved about the best bands of the '90s, minus the annoying pretentiousness of Seattle.

Throughout the rest of the CD, songs like “Well Thought Out Twinkles,” and the opening track, “Melatonin,” consistently make Carnavas one of the more interesting reintroductions of 2007.

Preparing for a potential breakout from the confines of indie stardom, Guanlao says the band has also discussed the possible end of the thrill ride.

“If we can be as big as the The White Stripes, then let’s shoot for that, but if this is our last tour, we’ll know we’ve done the most we can.”

-Matt Munoz, Bakotopia

-Request "Lazy Eye" on KRAB radio: (661) 842-KRAB(5722)

-Catch Silversun Pickups live at Coachella 2007, Friday April 27th!

-www.silversunpickups.com

Pick up Carnavas, available now!

*Story originally printed in The Rockit News, Los Angeles, CA, April 2007. Interview conducted on 2/15/07

The KOЯN Factor

The Factor
KRAB radio’s Danny Spanks explains the lasting impact of Bako’s native sons

By Danny Spanks, Bakotopia.com contributor

It’s easy to take for granted the influence KOЯN has had on not only KRAB Radio, but ALL rock radio stations across the country.

Before Korn, you wouldn’t really hear bands like Slipknot, System Of A Down or Disturbed on the radio - it was almost as if hard rock was non-existent on the airwaves.

That is until our local boys busted onto the scene and changed the sound and style of heavy metal as we knew it.

KORN’s success paved the way for heavier and innovative music to make it on the air and connect with a much larger audience.

KORN pushed the envelope lyrically as well. Many of the emotions they expressed, and subject matter they dealt with, became much more commonplace in the years that followed, in the form of bands like Linkin Park, Papa Roach and Staind.

Since the release of their self-titled debut in ‘94 the band’s impact is still felt today, nearly 10 albums later.

You’d be hard-pressed to find bands that have survived, and remained relevant, for as long as KORN has. Think of all the songs and bands that have come and gone since you first heard “Blind” on KRAB Radio?

And keep in mind the opportunity for failure. How many bands have put out as much music in the same amount of time? With every new album and single, KORN delivers the goods and connects with old and new fans alike.

Throw in some cover tunes for fun along the way, and you’ve got a band that's always dependable, never predictable, and with the guts to risk it all as they continue lead, not follow.

Here are some of my most memorable Korn moments…
• Back in ‘92? Congratulating Sex Art (Jonathan Davis’ first band, that also featured
Dave DeRoo of Adema) on winning a Battle Of The Bands.
• Gazing up for the first time at the 30-foot photo of Jonathan Davis (alongside Cher
and Tim McGraw) inside Rabobank Arena.
• The first time I walked down Korn Row.
• Head coming to on the air with me to announce his departure from the band.
• Listening to “KORN On The KRAB” for the first time.
• Running my fingers over the bronze KORN plaque outside Rabobank Arena.
• Head showing up at a KRAB broadcast unannounced just because he happened to
be in town.
• Jonathan sitting two rows in front of me at a wedding here in town.
• Reading the “Streets of Bakersfield” quote inside the “Life Is Peachy” CD case.

KRAB

The Punisher: UNCENSORED

The Punisher: UNCENSORED
Graphic novel series gets extreme. Warning: disturbing imagery ahead!

By Zachary Smith, Bakotopia.com contributor

“Payback is a mother******…”

If you think payback’s bad, you haven’t met Frank Castle aka Punisher. These words define Garth Ennis’ removal of Punisher from the standard Marvel Universe into a darker, more realistic world.

There are currently two Punisher titles out right now, one is Punisher: War Journal, which keeps Frank Castle tied into the regular Marvel U. Then there is what this article is about, “Punisher: MAX.” Under the MAX imprint, writers and artists are allowed to take familiar characters into uncensored territory. The MAX flagship title is “Punisher” (other titles you can check out are “FURY,” “Rawhide Kid,” “The Hood” and “CAGE”).

Garth Ennis is one of my favorite writers, and he took over writing “The Punisher” at the turn of the millennium, rescuing Frank Castle from a bad decision to make Punisher a vehicle of vengeance for the lord. Ennis brought Punisher back to familiar territory: killing criminals and doing it with efficiency.

The problem Ennis encountered was that this book was still restricted and could not break boundaries of censorship, so he decided to make the book humorous as well as violent. He also had Punisher interact with his fellow Marvel properties: using Spider-Man as a shield during a beating, blasting off Wolverine’s face and testicles, beating up Daredevil and letting the Hulk loose upon all three of them.

After a few years of very entertaining work, Marvel allowed Ennis to take “The Punisher” to the next level.

The first work yielded was “Punisher: BORN.” This explored Frank Castle’s experience in Vietnam and how he was formed and shaped into the mass murdering machine he would eventually become.

Favorite moment: A man in Castle’s unit attempts to rape a Viet-Cong woman, but as he does Castle kills her to prevent it. When the soldier goes to the river to wash the brain matter from his face, Frank drowns the rapist soldier in the river. When asked why, Castle replies, “I wanted to punish him.”

During the “In the Beginning” series Ennis eventually received an ongoing storyline, and he let loose the beast that is Punisher.

Crashing the birthday party of a mob don by walking into the party and shooting the crime boss in the head, Castle walks back outside and waits for the henchmen and soldiers to react.

“It’s Omaha Beach, Wounded Knee, Rorke’s Drift - the killing fields … The first day on the Somme, World War Three in North Jersey. Only now, pouring automatic fire into a human wall - do I feel something like peace,” Castle tells himself.

Castle’s next move is to attack the funeral of the crime boss he murdered and kill a few dozen more criminals - all while being observed by a Special Ops team wanting to recruit him for America’s “War on Terror.” On the Special Ops team is Castle’s old partner Microchip who must recruit him or the team will kill Castle, which Micro doesn’t want.

Favorite moment: Frank’s time in Vietnam taught him more than the ability to kill, it also taught him about people in power.

“Fighting for the people who run the world gets you stabbed in the back,” he said. “You fight the wars they start and feed. You kill the monsters they create.

You die from handling depleted uranium while they get rich on oil. I’m not going back to war so colt can sell another million M-16s. I had enough of that in Vietnam.”

“Kitchen Irish,” the next arc of the book, brings Ennis closer to home. Garth Ennis is an Irishman, and “Kitchen Irish” deals with Irish hoodlums in New York City and members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) hiding there. Castle is drawn into the mess as the diner he’s eating in is caught in the blast of a bomb set off across the street, in an Irish pub. As he watches an armless woman vomit up blood and glass, Castle knows he can't do anything about it. Frank

Castle is mad, and wants to know why this is happening? A mate of Castle's from M.I.6. (British special ops) is on the trail of the man who set the bomb, and he takes advantage of Castle's involvement, and uses the killing machine at his disposal.

Favorite moment: A man with a hole in his chest after the bomb went off asks Frank for help.

“So I do,” Castle says. “For no reason I can pin down it becomes very important that this guy makes it. Maybe he has a wife and kids. Maybe he wants to see them again like nothing else on earth. I find a rip in the pulsing wall and seal it with my thumb, the torn heart doing its best to pump itself to destruction. Snapped ribs gouge my wrist and I remember doing this before - under fire, in Vietnam. If a medic doesn’t show, I know what happens next.”

Good news, the man lives.

In “Mother Russia” Castle is recruited by Nick Fury to retrieve a girl who is host to a virus that the U.S. military wants. The problem: she’s stuck in a nuclear silo in Russia. Fury’s reason for picking Castle for the job?

“There’s no one left who can do the ... job anymore,” says Fury in the book.

Castle arrives in Russia on a H.A.L.O. drop. Castle encounters some trouble at the silo and gets stuck. He staves off wave after wave of Russian troops, all by himself in true Punisher fashion - all the while playing a deadly game with a Russian general.

How does he get out of the silo? He holds Russia hostage with the nukes at his disposal.

Favorite moment: Trying to comfort the little girl is a foreign experience to Frank, as his thoughts reveal: “Not feeling good about this. Don’t know if my Russian’s up to it. And the last kid I spoke to was my daughter, pushing her guts back into her belly - telling her she was going to make it.”

In the “Up is Down and Black is White” series, Ennis starts bringing characters back from previous arcs - a mobster named Nicky Cavella who was brought in to deal with Punisher after he laid waste to the group of mobsters from the first book; Rawlins, a government operative who was involved in the “Mother Russia” story arc; and O’Brien, an incarcerated CIA operative who was involved with the team from the first book who tried to capture Frank and use him.

(The book includes a sex scene between O’Brien and Castle, which I found much more disturbing than the violence.)

In the book Cavella finds a way to upset Punisher: Digging up the bodies of his family, urinating on them and releasing a tape of the act on TV so that Frank will see it - and he does.

What ensues is a killing spree never before seen by the people of New York City. Punisher murders criminal after criminal, leaving one man alive at every massacre with one message for the city: “Bury his family.”

Favorite moment: Castle reminisces about a dream he has. “There’s a dream I have from time to time ... I hold the trigger down until they’re all gone - but I don’t stop. The innocents are watching, just like always, the slack-jawed thousands, gazing at the beast. My family lay red and shredded in the grass. I face the crowd and bring the weapon to my shoulder. If my world ends, I tell them, so does yours. The recoil starts and I wake up. It’s just a dream, I always tell myself. It’s just a dream. It’s just a dream.”

“The Slavers” story arc is by far my favorite, and also the most disturbing. It’s about the real-world crime of sex slavery, girls abducted off the streets of their towns who are beaten, raped and forced into prostitution.

Frank is drawn into this world by a girl named Viorica who tells Castle of her journey and abuse. Through the book I found Castle’s character to be portrayed in the most violent and horrific manner ever. And though I want to talk about this book so much, I feel I would be doing this great work a disservice by giving something away.

“Later on she told me the whole story,” says Castle about the day Viorica left her village. “All about the old man, Cristu and Vera, about the thing her father said and about her baby. When she was done, I knew a lot of men would have to die.”

Favorite moment: Frank finds the madam who helped strip girls of their will to fight, in her office in a high rise building. The office is made of shatter-proof glass and Frank takes advantage of it by repeatedly throwing the woman against the glass - horrifically hurting her each time - until the frame of the glass bends and she falls to her death.

“It was in that moment that I realized something. A dull, blurred feeling that I’d had since this whole mess began, all of a sudden crystal clear. It had been a long, long time since I hated anyone the way I hated them,” says Castle as he gruesomely “punishes” the criminals.

If you have the stomach and are interested in reading more “Punisher: Max”

• “Vol 6. Barracuda” - Castle meets his match, taking a beating I’'ve never seen him take before.
• “Vol 7. Man of Stone” - the general from Mother Russia returns, as does O'Brien and Rawlins.
• “Vol. 8. The Widow Maker” - a group of women plot to take down the man who killed their husbands: Punisher - but a past mistake has come back to haunt them.

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*Originally printed in Bakotopia Magazine, Issue 19, 1 - 10 - 08

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