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Under their spell
Topics: dirty spanglish, music, Harry, Potter, Hermione, Punk, Bakersfield, Vromans, Pasadena, Bakotopia, Belardes
Posted by thenovelist Sun Aug 26, 2007 16:09:33 PDT
Viewed 35244 times
0 responses 7 comments Location: 695 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101-2151

You could say that Dirty Spanglish is the perfect band to write the Harry Potter song, “Hots For Hermione.”

Pop culture influenced? Likely.

“Harry Potter came out when I was in the third grade,” says vocalist/guitarist Landen Belardes.

He’s 15 now, and like the rest of Bakersfield punk band, Dirty Spanglish, was more than ready for the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” at Pasadena’s Vromans — the oldest and largest bookstore in Southern California, on Friday, July 20th.



For Dirty Spanglish, the gig was all about Harry Potter fans.

They even brought their new song, “Hots For Hermione” just for all the fanatical book lovers dressed as their favorite black-robed wizards, tie-loving students and one-eyed prestidigitators.

“We wrote it just for the event, for all the book fans,” said Belardes, who’s also a big fan of the Harry Potter books and films.

So what was the book release party like?

Wall-to-wall screaming fans of all ages were dressed in their best Harry Potter-themed garb as representatives from KTTV Fox News 11, KNBC Channel 4, KABC Eyewitness News, the Pasadena Star and myself from ABC 23/Noveltown/Bakotopia were in the Vromans house to watch the excitement build to earth-shattering levels.

There couldn’t have been a better time for a Bakersfield band to hit a scene filled with wild young fans and a media frenzy.

Dirty Spanglish’s latest song is a catchy, Harry Potter pop punk piece that’s part of the new genre of rock called “Wizard Rock” or “Wrock” songs. Believe it or not, there are nearly 200 bands around the world who exclusively sing Harry Potter-themed songs.

Although Dirty Spanglish isn’t a full-fledged “Wrock” band, they don’t feel so bad. The entire genre started off that way — one “Wrock” song by a rock band. I won’t get into details. It gets complicated.

Anyway, Dirty Spanglish has been on a wild media ride lately as a result of their new song. They were mentioned in the L.A. Times story, “Harry Potter, the guest of honor: Booksellers are enlisting Snape debaters, wizard rockers and more to make the launch an event.”


(Emma Watson as Hermione Granger)

I found their “Wrockiness” media attention worthy and wrote a piece for ABC 23 titled, “Local Harry Potter Song ‘Wrocks’: Youth Band Takes Potter Pop Culture to Their School of Rock.”

Their song was even on KTTV Fox news L.A. as can be seen by the cameraman Sean Patrick Lewis filming these two “wrockerettes” wildly dancing to “Hots For Hermione.”

 Band members made several attempts at interviews with KABC Channel 4 and L.A.’s Eyewitness News. It made for good schmoozing from these young teenage rockers.

The party was already well underway by the 10 p.m. start of LA kid band, Wild Youth. They’re Disney friendly, with a bit of Alanis Morissette meets Avril Lavigne, mixed with a dash of the 1990s band, the Sundays.

Interesting band connection: Wild Youth’s self-taught keyboardist, Hank is the grandson of Bakersfield music legend, Tommy Collins, one of the fathers of the Bakersfield Sound. Also, the grandfather of Landen Belardes, guitarist/vocalist for Dirty Spanglish, once did a photo shoot of Collins and Buck Owens. A portion of a street in downtown Bakersfield was closed to shoot the cover for Collin’s album, “Callin’.”

Dirty Spanglish headlined and rocked the house with an 11-song set.

Girls and boys danced, although I noticed many wizard girls grooving.

“Hots For Hermione” was off the hook as every Harry Potter fan within earshot energized to frightening, “wizrockish” levels. They performed their Harry Potter-themed song twice.

Dirty Spanglish’s final hurrah was a rousing encore that led right up to the midnight book release frenzy.

While Dirty Spanglish signed autographs, I wandered in the store to capture the historic first purchase.

Hilarious, the girl who bought the book refused to talk to media and ran off, disappearing into the crowd.


(Hermione takes a Corona break)

Outside, Dirty Spanglish talked to young wizards while people literally poured out of the store, some with arms filled with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

Note: Harry Potter fans can purchase “Hots For Hermione” on a special collector’s $5 CD that Dirty Spanglish made for the book event, or find the band on the Bakotopia Music Compilation Vol. 1, and hockey compilation: Growing Up Fighting Vol. 1 available all over Bakersfield!

Bakotopia.com/users/dirtyspanglish

*Story originally printed in Bakotopia Magazine, issue 7, 7/27/07

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Comment From: matt

Bravo Dirty Spanglish!! Gracias Neecolas for the articulo! Comment From: twinkie

I want a Dirty Spanglish t-shirt!!!!! Comment From: matt

I want the shirt that Twinkie gave me, that Nick can't seem to part with. Thanks Nick! Comment From: dirtyspanglish

Thanks for the awesome article! Comment From: thenovelist

It was a splendid evening of Harry Potter Rockerness... Comment From: Kindra79

"Hots for Hermione" rocks! I had it on my page for a week or so, just might put it back because I find myself walking around the house singing it outloud! Comment From: matt

Peeps be diggin' the Potter..