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LIVE! 2007 Rockin Roots Fest Bakersfield 6/2/07!
Topics: Bakersfield Rockin Roots Gardea Bakotopia Fishbone 2007 Music Li, blog, art, Culture, Kottonmouth Kings, Guttermouth, Korn, Buck Owens, Technorati, Bakersfield Rockin Roots Gardea Bakotopia Fishbone 2007 Music Li
Posted by matt Tue Jun 12, 2007 17:17:06 PDT
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0 responses 5 comments Location: 3805 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301

June 2nd, 2007 - Stramler Park, 2007 Budweiser Rockin' Roots Fest!


Well kid's, it was freakin' hotter than the devil's butt crack, but we stuck it out most of the day..

A gazillion bands landed at Bakersfield's official outdoor venue for rowdy concerts - Stramler Park in Bakotopialand on Saturday, June 2nd, beginning at 12pm, until 11:30pm!

Headlining the show was the '08s favorite stonerrific band of merrymen, Kottonmouth Kings, along with LA's original ska-punksters Fishbone, old school punkeros Guttermouth, screamo dudes with cool hair, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, and Sublime / Pepper / Slightly Stoopid / Bargain Music clone - The Expendables.

When we first showed up at the fest, we were very impressed with the set-up: five stages with live bands going all day long. We pitched our tent near the mainstage, and hung out most of the day listening to about 20 bands who only knew one type of musical expression - to SCRRREEEAAM!!!
(kinda like this)

After the first band, Esiah, from that mecca of Rock n' Roll, Taft, Ca. took the stage and launched into their first couple of songs, it was pretty clear, today was all about screamin' roots, and plenty of it. I can't remember every band's name, but I can tell you that From Ritual To Romance, Keruption, State of Insomnia, and the headliners played. Oh yeah, and the headliners!!

Over on the other stages, it was pretty much the same thang...scream, yell, grunt, roar, and so on...

<<CHECK OUT THE VIDEOS! YOU MAY BUST A GUT IN THE PROCESS!

Finally at about 3:30pm, the official "reggae" stage came alive. Bako homies: Seed, Hayes Field, Mento Buru, and Vanity Avenue, stepped up. It was pretty funny to have all the local reggae / ska bands together, but looking out at the girls and guys who finally got to dance, it was a great idea, Thanks Tim!

After the local ska / reggae contigent ended their set, it was time for the almighty Fishbone from LA to hit the stage. The kids of Bakersfield were introduced to the godfather's of the Warped Tour sound and style, and even though the band is pushing the years, they threw down like a bunch of teenagers on their first show. Stage diving, stage diving, and even more stage diving was the theme for their show, but it wasn't until the band tore into their cover fo Sublime's "Date Rape," that the crowd went bonkers. Hopefully after the show, the kids will do their homework and seek out the roots of the skate rock, punk, blah, blah, blah, sound kids are into.

After Fishbone left, we went back to the reggae stage to see a little OP Stylee. I remember seeing OP for the first time at Cheney's Lounge next to the Nifty 50's cafe in SW Bako back in the '90s. The band has aged (as we all have,) but the vibe is still there. Nice to see the boys still kickin' it with a new drum machine (wink-wink.) Angelo Moore from Fishbone was havin' a goodtime watching OP, complete with Mickey Mouse ears and shaved ice...lol.

After that, the crew was beat, and we took off. Sorry Kottonmouth!! See ya at the next smokeout!

Thanks to Tim Gardea Presents for all the generosity and for bringing back the annual festival. An overall improvement from previous years. Bravo! Til' next year!!

Peace....

Matt (with Bakotopian, belvy - lovely reggae fan and Seed chica)

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Comment From: belvy

love the pics and the belvy love! cheers to bakotopia!!!!!! Comment From: tashkajones

haha... oh man... i'm sad i missed it... and for finals no less... geesh... that second video is hilarious... they were all in sync there for a minute... looked like an aerobics class... Comment From: bakotunes

Seriously, they're going to start a new trend in pitting...SYNCHRONIZED MOSHING? It could be a new item at the next olympics..All metal soundtrack...LOL! Comment From: Tammyj

Looks like everyone had a great time! That synchronized moshing video looked like tai chi, in fast forward, hehe!! Comment From: purplerain82

that was hilarious. we had the safety dance now we have the safety mosh.... mixed with tai bo ... nice little swimming motif the youngsters had going on.. left right left right up down up down left right walk.... yep I call it the safety mosh.. haha I wish I was there I would have showed how to get real .... and mosh oldschool... but then we probably would have gotten in trouble.. well safety mosh it is.. ha ha -t