Bakotopia

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Invasion of the Bakotopians, by NL Belardes
Topics: Bakersfield, Bakotopia, Bakotopia.com, music, Bakotunes, entertainment, Podcast, blog, Korn, Buck Owens, art, theater, Fat Tracks, Forcillo, NL, Belardes, Paperback Writer
Posted by thenovelist Sat Mar 3, 2007 12:23:26 PST
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0 responses 2 comments When I walked over to Bakotopia headquarters to pick up my review copy of the new Bakotopia compilation, Matt Munoz wasn’t in his cubicle. So I looked around. Photos of musicians and comedians adorn the walls of his workspace. Here’s a guy who lives for music. His space shows it, shows his pride not just for the famous he rubs noses with. There’s a big stack of fliers by his desk. This guy is down with the cultural side of Bakersfield’s underground sounds. Why?

When Matt came in holding the Bakotopia Volume One compilation in his hands, he looked like a kid after a first trip to buy music from Sam Goodies, Borders or Tower Records. You know the feeling: victory! I quickly stole away from Bakotopia headquarters, ripped off the plastic wrap and popped the CD into my work computer.

Music compilations—packaged and in a case they’re a reflection of our collective humanity.

Bakotopia Volume One is more than a reflection of Bakersfield’s human side expressed through song. The carefully mastered album is a journey that cuts listeners through a healthy slice of California's Central Valley culture. You can hear it in the songs almost like you’re tearing through neighborhoods and downtown areas. Step into the mixed genre of the music represented and you’re traveling on the East Side, through the rockabilly side of Buck's Crystal Palace, another and you’re in Oleander punk neighborhoods, and yet another and you’re in a dive bar, drinking to reggae riffs or celebrating the renewed vigor of Latino Ska. All with the exception of one band, Krotch. Their music represents all that is shallow in Hollywood (yet they are a Bakersfield band), but in a Spinal Tap sort of way...

I wanted to know more about Bakersfield's latest music compilation since Growing Up Fighting: Bakersfield Hockey Volume One. So I asked Matt a few questions about Bakotopia Music Compilation Volume One. Besides, he's also in the band, Mento Buru. They went into the studio just to record a song for the compilation...

THE INTERVIEW:

Noveltown: Whose idea was it to do the Bakotopia CD compilation? Why?

Matt: Before we go into that, let’s talk history…

(To read the interview, click here)
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Comment From: tumerband

Im really happy that some-one is finally putting all this music together. The Bako music scene is ready for something to happen, we have more bands than fans in this town. Mabye its just me, but it seems that no one goes out to shows any more. All these clubs are empty. Bakotopia putting the bands together in a package, that people can take home, is a perfect start to pumping up this town. Grab the bull by the horns, start Bakotopia Records!!! So, do we really suck so bad that we could not be on this album? Truth-fully? Comment From: matt

Tumer, you do not suck! I'm planning a harder / metal comp. in the future. Baby steps before we run..