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The Iron Outlaws: Loaded
Topics: The Iron Outlaws, Bakersfield, Bakotopia, CD Release Party, Take It or Leave It
Posted by matt Tue Nov 11, 2008 14:24:18 PST
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0 responses 4 comments Location: 1517 18th st., Bakersfield, CA 93301

The Iron Outlaws: Loaded
Local band prepares to release long-awaited debut with a bang at Fishlips, Nov. 15.

By Matt Muñoz, Bakotopia Editor

The Iron Outlaws country ruckus could easily be labeled “Bakersfield Sound” - but let’s refrain from name-calling for now.

Instead of dropping them into another Americana pigeon hole, take a closer look and listen to what this real rockin’ roots band has to offer.

Preparing for a rowdy night of gun blazin’, punk rockin’ mountain music at 9 p.m. on Nov.15 at Fishlips, 1517 18th St. - these local bandits want to smuggle out their debut CD, “Take It or Leave It.”

“The name of the CD has a double meaning,” said lead vocalist and guitarist, Danny Garone. “Either you like it, or you don’t, but for the fans - we want you to take it,” he laughed.

<CHECK OUT DOCUMENTARY - "THE LAST BAND"!



Forming out of the ashes of Garone’s former band, Moonshine Deathbed, that also featured drummer Cesareo Garasa, Garone knows the difficulties that come with trying to form a band in Bakersfield where the average lifespan is often two gigs.

“Moonshine Deathbed broke up in November of ’06, and I got a call from a friend who needed a band to open up for Bob Wayne & The Outlaw Carnies at Fishlips that following January,” he remembered. “I called Cesareo and ‘AJ’ (Alex Lopez, bassist), who just got a stand-up bass. We learned a few songs so we could do the gig.”


Danny Garone

Local musician Steve Nuckles was a member of the original Outlaws line-up, but subsequently moved on from the band to pursue other musical projects.

As the January show neared, Garone and mates would run into multi-instrumentalist, Geoffrey Dyer, who also happened to play “lap-steel” - a common sight with country bands but rare among the hybrid groups that line country sub-genres. The band and Dyer soon clicked, but that wasn’t the “end o’ the line-up.” Enter violinist Paul Cartwright and banjo player, Peter Shubert - the final missing links. Both musicians subsequently became permanent members of the band, completing Garone’s vision.

After numerous local opening slots and headlining shows of their own throughout the following year and a half - it was time for the studio.

“The more we played, it just all came together,” said Garone of the long jam sessions that would eventually shoot forth the songs that would make the CD’s 11-track listing.”

Directing the conversation back to the title track, Garone went on to explain his personal commitment to the music, and like a true artist - the sacrifices and decisions he’s had to make in the process.

“I wrote that song to the band,” he said. “Do you want to punch a time-clock or leave with the band and go all the way?”


Above: The Iron Outlaws - l to r: Peter Shubert, Geoffrey Dyer, Danny Garone, Cesareo Garasa, Alex 'AJ Lopez', Paul Cartwright. Photo by Julie Marie Cartwright

Fans of Flogging Molly and classic Cash, will find themselves right at home with The Iron Outlaws’ new CD. Tales of rainy days and long highways, songs like “The Weather” and “Die For Love,” follow in the tradition of the masters like David Allen Coe.


Above: Banjo player - Peter Shubert records inside the legendary Buck Owens studio in Oildale, Ca.

But it’s not all tears and beers, the disc is a barnburner. Check out “Left For Dead” with thumping-bass and lead vocals by bassist Lopez. Drummer Garasa provides a solid beat throughout, while Cartwright Shubert, and Dyer add the hillbilly creep, much to the delight of their local fanbase - a mix of tattooed “Betties,” gearheads and Latinobillys.

“We’re kind of a weird band,” smiled Garone.

Recorded during the last days of the legendary Buck Owens Studios in Oildale, under the direction of local sound-dog Nick Forcillo, Buck’s spirit seems to have blessed their efforts. Before the studio closed in April earlier this year, the Outlaws were embroiled in a controversy over “who was the last band” to record in the house that Buck - and KORN (if you wanna get technical) - built.



“We were the last band, but it’s not that big of a deal,” said Garone of the experience, which was also part of a video documentary titled “The Last Band” by NL Belardes and was featured on YouTube and at Bakotopia.com. “It was cool recording in there.”

After their CD release party on Nov. 15, Garone plans on playing as much as possible - especially away from the coziness of Bakersfield, to build their name on both the alt-country and punk circuits.

“We’ve done pretty good around here,” he said. “But it’s time to travel.”
“Take It Or Leave It” can be purchased at all Iron Outlaws shows, and will soon be available in local stores.

On the web: www.bakotopia.com/users/garone

The Iron Outlaws CD Release Party
-w/ guests: Fatt Katt & The Von Zippers and Karling Abbeygate
- Saturday, Nov. 15
- Fishlips, 1517 18th St.
- $5 /9 p.m. / 324-2557


Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 41, 11-13-08

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Comment From: jr

So I'm a Latinobilly? Comment From: hanajayne73

Been waitin forever for this CD...love these boys!!! Comment From: soulajarmusic

Hope to make it out to the show! Comment From: thenovelist

I really enjoyed putting together "The Last Band." Took a lot of shit over it, but also got some kudos too. Bakersfield.com wrote an article about it. That was nice. It's good that it has some shelf life. It's a slice of history and would be nothing without the great music of the Outlaws in it. I love the sequence where they sign guitars at Trouts. Thanks for the mention, Matt! And I hope the Iron Outlaws have a great show on Saturday. I'm going to try to make that after watching my kid's band, Dirty Spanglish at the Marketplace at 1 p.m. It's going to be a Bako music scene kind of a day!