I always know good music when I hear it.  I am a big fan of Selena, I 'm a big fan of Frank Sinatra, I'm a big fan of Elvis, I'm a big fan of Bionce (is that how you spell it)..But I'm also a big fan of Country Music and expecially the Bakersfield Sound.  Buck put Bakersfield on the Map as far as being somewhere to go.  You don't hear of any other type of establishments where any other kind of music was played 50 years ago in Bakersfield that still exist. 

Sam's Place was written by Buck Owens and Red Simpson..Red still playes over at Trout's on Monday Nights. Buck probably changed the words during his performances to get the audience more into the shows.  His son Buddy is still singing over at the Crystal Palace.  The legacy of Buck Owens Still exists. 

Rockwell has hired an artist that has made some wonderful drawings of Bakersfield's past music artists.  You should drop by and see them.  You will see one of Buck, Bonnie, Merle, Red and so many more artists and Radio personalities. You will also experience different artists on their stage that bring that old sound back to the town that was originated off of country music. 

Sorry didn't realize you didn't know that song,..it's not Really famous, but then again around here it might be.  In fact the  front of the cover of that albumm was taken out at Hart park,.I do't know the release date ..i suspect early 70's.   I stand corrrected  about he title also I did my research. I wondered why no one caught it, The song was called Sam's Place,. oopsy. But I think he may have changed the words to it at some time and kinda threw his name in there.  See so Japo you can tell i'm not a Buck efficianado of Buck's songs. haha.   But it's ok  I don't know a  Selena song either so oh well.

See, I didnt even know that was a song, i just thought you meant the Crystal Palace. So i would appreciate it if you could make jokes that we could all understand (or at least me), i want to laugh too!

I know but the fact i mentioned a Buck Owens song in my last post was kinda funny to me. (Buck's Place). I worked for him he was  a nice guy if you didn't piss him off. If you did? There was hell to pay. As far as  his music personally I wasn't a fan. In his day there were equal or better (Johnny Cash) to name one. And yes, Merle Haggard. sorry Buck, I thought Merle was better.

When Buck Owens was alive(after finding out who he was), I said to myself , "Self, go just to say u saw him." As you can tell, I was more interested in the legacy not the music. But now that he is not around im not interested in seeing people who knew him play his songs, and did mention im not into the music?

never been to "Buck's Place" then huh Japo ;)

Twinkie: Im sure there is nothing wrong with Country Music, its just not for me. Im so bad with country music I didnt even know who Buck Owens was until they renamed Pierce Road and even then i thought he was just rich country music fan.

OK.. Tonight is Friday night and there is a live country music band on one stage and karaoke on the other.  Rockwell has something going on starting at 6:00 where there will be a live band and fish and chips. I think it cost $5.00 to get in.  Well worth for the entertainment alone...Come on by and give it a try. 

-Wendy

twinkie i wasnt talking to you. =D i lov you.

Japo... HEY    What's wrong wtih Country Music? LOL

I love country music. Old country is my favorite. When I had Sirius satellite I would keep it on the Outlaw station

All this talk about Trouts is making me hungry. And it's making me wanna go check it out. Maybe this Friday? Anything good going on this Friday? what band is playing, if any?

Im sure Oildale has changed but im also sure some people havent. So I hate to disappoint people by stating that I will not be attending trouts any time in the next 10 years (So there is hope in 2018). And its not cause i think Trouts is a bar of hate or because its in Oildale. The reason is.........darn it i forgot the reason! Hmmm...............................................................what was the reason........the OPW graffitis in the alley, naw thats not it.......the colorful tatted people with swastikas on their heads that wander the area, naw that cant be it either.......

I remember now: COUNTRY MUSIC..... thats the reason.

The last time I was at Trout's there were several African-Americans there.  They weren't trying to duck.  They fit right in.  Nobody threw beer bottles at them.  Eventually, the place may even become a breeding ground for "hick" hop music.  Who knows? The stereotypes folks may have about the place simply don't match the reality. 

Again, Trout's has 3 security officers on the weekends.  I've been going to Trout's for 15 years.. I'm an old roxanne's groupie and have went to Rock n' Rodeo a few times when they were open.  All in which  had many fights.  I started going back to Trout's about 5 years ago.  I have yet to see a fight in there.  I do karaoke at Loneoak as well.  They have a fight every night.  EVERY NIGHT!  So whoever thinks there's nothing but trouble at Trout's, I have to say you are dead wrong.  It is a safe place to be. It has changed. 

Oh and as far as Rock n' Rodeo goes, I know Gary the old Manager of Rock and Rodeo. He lived in a place where I do accounting.  It wasn't the Cowboy's fighting the Rockters or beeboppers..Or Cowboys and Hispanics or Cowboys and African Americans fighting.  It was the Rocksters, Cowboys, Hispanics,African Americans fighting amongst themselves.  Gary told me that the only fights that broke out in Rock n' Rodeo were people fighting there own kind.  And that last little gun fight they had in the parking lot didn't actually originate in Rock-n-Rodeo (so Gary says)...I have yet to see a Gun pulled out at Trout's..Hasn't happened at least in the last 5 years..

True I don't think I'd want to go hang out in Lamont at some of the bars  where only spanish is spoken I only mention Lamont is because i lived there for 5 years fro 80 to 85. I would think i'd be handed my hat, or at least very dirty looks. But then again as far as growth there, once again growth,..is a few years behind the times.

Wow twinkie! Female, minority AND a retard, if you owned your own small business you'd make bank off the government in contracts.

/I kid, I kid

I was an 08er for years. Peoples concerns are valid.  But, yeah, it's changing....

I was going to write a book about Oildale at one time. It's rooted in the dust bowl, and the connection to Oklahoma is apparent on every block. It's a place where people who were born and raised in California speak with Oklahoma accents. Bakersfield Okies.... It has a lot of cool aspects-- city homes that reflect all the atributes of a Midwest homestead; In some ways, it's like driving through Appalachiia. I don't think the concerns of Twinkie and others should be put down. Hey, Trout's is in Oildale, and Oildale is what it is.

Bakersfield has a lot of different special ethnic areas. Some of them should be considered dangerous. I wouldn't worry about going to Trout's, or any place in Oildale, allthough I might be on my guard....... But I don't think I would want to get into it if I were Hispanic. There's other parts of Bakersfield that I'll drive through, but wouldn't stop and get out of my car....  Bakersfield is not homogenized. Everything is not beautiful. People's concerns are valid. Much work needs to be done before we all feel free to go wherever we want whenever we want to.....

FIRST OF ALL.... Annie, take a chill pill. ;) I'm just sharing what MY impression was of the place. Which is to show how word of mouth plays a big part in promotions of clubs.

Also, keep in mind I haven't been 21 and in the "club" scene for a while and maybe things have changed in Oildale. Maybe they haven't at all and the racism thing was always just a myth? I wouldn't know. I've never been there. Not just because I'm Mexican. Just because life has never taken me down that road.

SECONDLY... Joe, I don't know why I said Rock' N' Rodeo. I've never been there. I actually meant ROXANNES. And I saw a few fights there. It's inevitable. Bunch of drunks at a bar? Testosterone and hormones flying left and right? Bound to happen. Unfortunately now they're not just fist fights. They end up in gun battles.

And lastly I just want to admit that YES in fact I AM a retard. There's nothing wrong with that, though. Is there?

Oh Twinkie I must point out  I saw more fights at Rock N Rodeo then I've ever heard of  a fight at Trouts. I probably can say it was  because of the size too. But I think it had more to do with music culture rather then ethnic culture.  I think you put  Rock n Roll on one side and Country on the other you might have problems with some mocking the other and causing problems. I saw more girl fights than anything at Rock n Rodeo. I used to go back in hmm 2002 I think to 2003 almost every Wed. or Thurs.

Well Chase it has changed and in my life time I remember the rep Oildale had. It was much like you might think back then.  But I knew a Hindu cashier at 7/11 there. ( delivered donuts in Oildale stores back in 95)  The guy was an ass. But he was there. I dated a black woman and she lived in Oildale (a very attractive Halle Berry look alike I might add, no she wasn't on drugs) I have known plenty of Hispanics  that have lived in Oildale and  went everywhere that whites have. There are a few blacks there too. There was a recent story about two years a go that a black woman was harassed there, so yes the bad element  hasn't completely erased but as people grow this too will go away. 

In fact I may end up moving  into a house that is in between  Olive Drive and Robertson Lane still I'm sure considered Oildale. Nice place  all hard wood floors fireplace and a pool  and for 150.00 I'd say that's not bad. Mostly older people there. So you can see  if I might consider a place there it's not bad. I wouldn't put up with discrimination around me! 

Although I've never really been to Trouts, that doesn't mean I don't know Mexicans that go there. I know of a few that have been friends of mine that have went there many times.

I hear it is slowly changing.  Hopefully it can make a huge shift as far as image and social construction goes.  I spent a good portion of my childhood there and I know that there can be a lot of the reinforcers of those stereotypes walking around.  But I don't know how quickly that is changing.

Some people think Oildale is a racists town.  Maybe in past but not so much anymore.  Yes grant you their are a few groups that reside in Oildale that will never change (shame on them) but the majority of people have learned that it's simply not cool to be racists.  As I drive down the streets of Oildale I see homes where hispanics live and then 2 house down I see an African American family.  There is never a time I go through Oildale and don't see hispanics and African Americans..This has been changing for some time now and I see more and more of these races living there every year.  So if your not going to Trout's because of this reason, remember yesterdays Oildale is history.  Todays Oildale is a growing population of ALL races..And, they are all accepted!

Regardless, White, Hispanic, African American....All are welcome.  Trout's is not and has never been racists..In fact I think they are talking about maybe starting a Latino Night..They are always open to ideas on how to accommodate every person who walks through their doors..  Come down and see for yourself.

What does being Mexican have to do with going to trouts. Are you racist? You don't think Mexicans belong in Trouts? You maybe be under the impression that Mexicans aren't allowed in Oildale. But if you are understanding you are a retard cause there are Mexicans all over the place there, my friend lived on Wilson growing up she is a Mexican. and that was int he 80s.  So, I wouldn't worry about it if i were you. I guess i should say i haven't been to the east side cause I'm white. or the west side cause im white.

;)

I have many hispanic friends that go to Trout's..My friend Carlos (Trout's customer for nearly 15 years) will vouch for that!  gbriano- you should go down to trout's and talk to Rockwell.  He's always there.  Or talk to Linda.  She can help as well.  I think the place will surprise you.

joe, I LOVE country music and always have. In fact "I was county when country wasn't cool"

I used to hang out at Rockin' Rodeo when it was still there and line dance and then go to other smaller venues to two step my night away but I was always told to stay away from Trouts because of what I've already shared in my post above.

I like Twinkie's idea cause I've always heard much of the same. If anyone has noticed my video posts, and know the owners, let's get together. I don't mind doing a piece on something that has that much history and mystique. I'm assuming of course. I'm mexican and thus have never ventured there. ;)

Hey Twink there's plenty of mexican's in trouts as much as anyone else.  so it's coo

I hate to say it but it has nothing to do with the rep. people have a more  diverse ear. Back in the day everyone loved country and western as it was called in the day. There are more people here that  came from other areas, or were grown up  that just don't care for the muisc that's played there,.that's nothing against them.  It's less of appeal yes, even in Bakersfield.

Great post Wendy! The only thing I've ever heard about Trouts is that if you ain't white, you ain't right and you get stared at all night and made to feel uncomfortable.

If this is just an old rumor that is still out and about then blogs like yours will help break that stereotype. Keep it up.

Hey maybe next time you're out you can take pictures and post them in your next blog? I'd love to see the changes you're talking about.

I'm writing a song about this very issue for my forthcoming Trout's Tall Tales CD.  It's called They're Leavin' the Country.  I'll be releasing a sample of the song shortly here, and over at Bakersfield Sound Underground. 

I think the problem is bigger than the issue of people not being willing to let go of a stereotype of an out-dated reputation.  I think people are out of touch with their roots, and are taking for granted the rich cultural heritage that is our inheritance as Kern County residents. 

One day I hope to be good enough to perform at Trout's and when I do, it will be a proud moment to stand on the stage where so many Bakersfield sound pioneers have performed. 

In the meantime, folks, get your butts out there to Trout's and check out the place where you will witness the re-birth of the Bakersfield sound!