Rockin' Winterfest 2007
Rockin' Winterfest 2007
By: Matt Munoz / Bakotopia
Description: Jay Vilardi of The Almost rocks and loves his fans to the heavens. Appearing live with The Starting Line and others on 11/12!
Topics: Almost, Starting Line, Bakersfield, Bakotopia, Rockin' Winterfest 2007, 07, blog, music, bands, Golden State Mall, Tim Gardea Presents, Tooth & Nail, Underoath, MTV
Posted by matt Mon Oct 29, 2007 16:22:39 PDT
Viewed 4356 times
0 responses 0 comments Location: 3201 F St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Rockin’ Winterfest 2007
Jay Vilardi of The Almost rocks and loves his fans to the heavens. Appearing live Nov.12 at GSM!
(The Almost)
By Matt Munoz, Bakotopia Editor
If such a thing as global warming exists, Bakersfield’s first Rockin’ Winterfest just might be the most incorrectly titled mish-mash of sonic glory in the history of local music.
But summer-like winter conditions and name aside, festival co-headliners The Almost from Tampa Bay, Fla. will be right at home in our valley steam.
Coming rock the re-vamped and refurbished Golden State Mall, 3201 F St., on Monday, Nov. 12, as part of the all day festival with fellow melodic rockers The Starting Line from Philadelphia, and a host of other local and touring heavy hitters. Rockin’ Winterfest promises more than enough heat to deter any sign of frostbite.
“I’ve been to Bakersfield a ton of times,” said Almost guitarist Jay Vilardi via cellphone from the road driving to visit the home of fellow band mate and drummer Kenny Bozitch in Tampa. “I grew up in Southern California, so I know it well.”
(Jay Vilardi of The Almost)
Vilardi, who also works for Almost lead vocalist Aaron Gillespie’s other band Underoath, has literally been off and on the road for a year straight, but knows his role - wear many hats and get the band in gear.
“This is the story,” said Velardi. “Aaron’s in Underoath, I work for Underoath, but my other role with The Almost is to get the band together so we can go on tour and haul ass out as soon as Aaron gets back in town.”
Signed through a partnership between both the Christian-based Tooth & Nail records and the secular Virgin Records, The Almost’s debut CD “Southern Weather” shot to No. 29 on the Billboard charts when it was released in April 2007, and it has been buzzing above and below the alternative charts along with hit videos and magazine covers.
“It feels good, but we don’t take it for granted,” said Velardi of the bands ever-growing popularity away from the shadow of Underoath. “The fact is, is that we’re our own project, and as much people try to pretend that we’re not, we are.”
Writing songs filled with melodic riffs and a positive message for the listener, The Almost’s songs follow a tradition as part of the Tooth & Nail Records family, who have managed to have crossover success in the secular market while staying relevant to the Christian music scene.
“The big part of our faith is we believe that God loves everybody,” explained Vilardi. “That doesn’t make me any better than anyone down the street. It doesn’t matter what you believe — if you write a good song, kids are gonna like it no matter what. If you come to an Almost show, you’re not gonna feel left out, and if you do, then we failed.”
Also on board for the show is pop punk quartet The Starting Line, a band Vilardi knows well from previous tours, and a stint as a sub-guitarist.
(The Starting Line)
“Those guys are rad,” he said. “I had the pleasure of filling in for one of their guitar players when he had pneumonia. Their songs are great, and I know them personally.”
On the rise to become an even bigger hit on the post-Warped tour circuit, on MTV, FUSE, and the road, Vilardi maintains The Almost is on a level playing field.
“We’re no better than any other bands that are gonna be there (at the Rockin’ Winterfest),” he said. “With us, you’re going to watch a band that comes out and that really loves the place and the people that are there. I don’t care if a kid has his middle finger at me because I’m Christian. I love that kid. He made my day, because I am going to laugh about that kid all day long.”
Catch Rockin’ Winterfest 2007
with The Almost and The Starting Line
Plus: Moros Eros, The Stiletto Formal, Set Your Goals, Vogue In The Movement, Dressed for the Letdown, Bittersweet Awakening, The Axe That Chopped Down The Cherry Tree, Greeley Estates, and others.
• Monday, Nov. 12, 2007
• Golden State Mall, 3201 F. St.
• Doors open at 11 a.m.
• Tickets: $18 at outlets / $20 at the door
**$16 if you purchase from local opening bands!**
More info: www.timgardeapresents.com
*Originally printed in Bakotopia Magazine issue 14, 11 - 2 - 07
| Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |
Bakotopia helps people in Bakersfield, California find cool events, meet up, buy and sell stuff, find jobs and more. Learn more about us.
| Peeps to Meet | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meet More People
|
||
|
|
||
|
Who Knows Who?
Dizzyfingers
- 1469 friends
captainmorgan
- 990 friends
firebrats
- 921 friends
thenovelist
- 887 friends
matt
- 867 friends
>> Invite friends
to move up!
|
||
|
|
||
|
Meet People Who Like ...
traveling, camping, Computers, concerts, local bands, sleeping, laughing, Football, friends, mexican food, piercings, funk, Beer, the beach, Travel, bakersfieldbands, movies, hiking, The Beatles, music, comedy, writing, art, live music, sex, Guitar, beaches, chewing gum, Bakotopia, reading, Tattoos, Classic Rock, cooking, I love music in general. I range from outlaw country to Hip-hop , walking, Shopping, mento buru, shoes, Wine, good food, family, local music, Dancing, Fishlips, Poetry, singing, talking, cars, Photography, painting.
|
||
| View Them All | Add Yours! | ||
Local time is currently Tue Dec 2, 2008 7:15:55 am PST
Bakotopia is 100% local to Bakersfield, CA, USA
