Bakotopia

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The second party to celebrate the release of Bakotopia Music Compilation Vol. 1 was another mash-up of Bakersfield eclectic music scene!!

In the house were some of the regulars we've come to love, like Matildakay, JR, and Chingpea, but now we saw some new faces who will most likely be the new regulars to invade the scene and introduce Bakersfield to the edgier side of life.

Local rock photographer, Punky, and I hung out talking shop and trading ideas. Did you know her house also doubles as a tour stop? Yeah! She's so supportive of the struggling bands she helps out, her living room is often used as a crash pad for the struggling. Man, these bands today..LUCKY to have Punky on their side. What a good samaritan..

Noveltown made an appearance to push their upcoming project, The Noveltown Review, and even brought some copies of the Growing Up Fighting: Vol. 1 hockey music compilation that also featured Bakersfield bands. Word is that he's also selling them for just $5, so why don't you have one!!

The Dome is one of the best places to have a show in Bako. The owners and promo team are always professional and know how to treat their bands.

So, let's get down to business and talk about the show....

The Silence Club's Aaron Novak started the night off proper-like, with his very original style of acoustic alternative storytelling. This was a night of many firsts for me. The Silence Club are very active on Bakotopia, with probably the most songs of any artist on the site. His song "Harry The Ghost," also on the Bakotopia CD, is just one of my favorites from his mini-catalog. He's Bako's very own Danny Elfman! One of Bako's most original artists in a longtime. See this guy LIVE!!

The pride of BHS, Dirty Spanglish whom I've seen quite a few times, get better with each show. This was by far the best show they've done. Maybe it was because they were playing with Krotch? Hmmm.. In 30 minutes these guys were able to run the gamut of Ramones inspired power-pop punk, then off to the Bostonish Bako gutpunk of The Filthies with their cover of "Donut Shop." The future of Bako punk is Dirty Spanglish, and if you don't like that, then pess off!

Seed's a band that have stayed steadily under the radar for a few years now, but ocassionally resurface at some our favorite watering holes. A solid trio bringing  LBC inspired reggae with some roughness courtesy of lead vocalist Chris, who manages to bring a little bit of what we love about the late Sublime and mix it with some whisky soaked tones. From the first time I heard the opening riff to "Move On," I knew I had to have them on the Bakotopia CD. Burnin'....

Shontice and Hayes Field, awwww, yessss. It's a like phat spliff with some Santana in the mix and a cool breeze, baby. I've talked about this band many times, so it was inevitable that they would be featured on the Bakotopia CD. "Baja California," has been getting raves reviews and deserves to be on the radio. I heard the band is getting ready for a mini-tour of California? Yeah...That's Hayes Field, always thinking about the future and the next party...Hayes Field..ROOTS!

And that was just before it got heavy with From Ritual To Romance, and nasty with Krotch!!

CLICK ON THE PIC BELOW FOR PART TWO OF THE PARTY!!

MISSED THE PARTY? GO BUY YOUR CD NOW AT WORLD RECORDS IN BAKERSFIELD! WORLD RECORDS IS LOCATED NEXT TO TRADER JOE'S! CD IS ONLY $5 ! CALL: 661-831-3100 AND TELL THEM BAKOTOPIA SENT YOU!