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LIVE! From Ritual To Romance, 01/01/07
Topics: Bakersfield. Live Music, FRTR, From Ritual To Romance, Bakotopia, Bakotopia.com, Bakotunes
Posted by jr Mon Jan 1, 2007 18:41:29 PST
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0 responses 2 comments Just when I thought I was out,  the scene keeps dragging me back in!!

No matter how much or often I think to myself, "I'm so through with reporting exclusively on the local music scene," the scene finds away do drag me back in!?

So where else do I find myself on New Years Eve? Yep, the From Ritual To Romance mansion, a comfy little house party with about 30 or so guests! A bunch of drunk happy people ready to ring in the new year with one another. Then, no sooner does the new year ring in and Ruben of FRTR starts rounding everyone up. "Everybody to the band room!!," he's yelling, rounding up people from all parts of the house. Oh shit, are these dudes getting ready to play??

Yes, they were! I ran and grabbed my camera. By the time a made it back into the band room it was standing room only, as the entire party had crammed into a tiny room and FRTR was ready rock, instruments plugged and tuned.

Dude, there was no where to sit let alone stand. So I figured since I had to stand anyway I might as well get the best sound quality I could possibley get and I stood right in the middle of the band. Drums behind me, bass and guitar to my left, guitar keyboars and dual vox to my right. People crammed into every possible corner all around.

The sound was great. All in my face and blasting out loud...In tune, in time, in sync with one another. These guys were great. Ruben's keyboards add a flava to the sound, which helps keep them unique during a time when screamo music is "chic," so to speak. The dual vocals also help keep the music moving, and there's never a dull moment. And that kid Marco, or whatever his name is, with his Gibson Les Paul! Fucking amazing, I think I may have drooled all over his guitar or worse during one of his solos. It was awesome. Thanks guys for letting me stand right in the middle of the room, and sorry if I messed you guys up! ;-)

I have to give much credit to this band for sticking together for something like two years now. At a time where I've seen band after band break up and be no more, these FRTR dudes have stuck together and have a massive core audience to show for their efforts. I recently asked a co-worker of mine what he thought of FRTR's.. Hallloween show. He told me he it was, "the best Halloweeen show he'd ever been to!"

Every time I ask someone what they think of FRTR they rave to me about how awesome they are live. I'm stoked I finally got to see and hear for myself what everyone has been talkin about.

Go see this band live! I promise you will not be dissapointed, I wasn't.

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Comment From: thenovelist

I totally agree with you. There's been a lot of band break-ups since I've been covering the scene the past 2 years. FRTR has a good sound, and all the guys I met in the band have a lot of heart. Ruben "Big Daddy" Val Verde is the bomb... Comment From: matt

Yes indedee, and awesome group! So awesome I had to include them on the upcoming Bakotopia Music Compilation Vol. 1 coming in February!!