A FEW NOTES - BY N.L. BELARDES February 16, 2005 6:48 am - Got a couple of interesting emails yesterday. One was from LD Entertainment. The man involved with that is Loren De La Rosa. I hadn't heard the name in years. I think I first heard that name back in grade school. 3rd grade maybe? He was one of those cool Latino dudes that everyone needed to know. Same thing in the ensuing school years, and was always a cool guy to me. He's one of those guys that just wants fair treatment, you know? As JR might put it: He wants some promos from us scribes. I think I can handle that. I am here to support the local scene.

A little more on JR: I forgot to mention that I did ask him where the Ill News came from. He said he used that title in music newsletter he did for a while. But then he took it further back. He said, "Ill is a manner of speech. Ill describes how I and a few friends look at the world. Something's always a bit off. It's Ill. I used to say that. It fits." I agree. Bakersfield is a bit off, a bit on, a bit put dwn, a bit lifted up, a bit conservative, a bit not. No one really knows where its center is; that might even be the music scene...but Jr is right, it is ill. No need to look at it straight forward.

I also got kudos from Kenny Mount of the Filthies. He wrote that my review of the Filthies gig at Kosmos fired him up so much that he wanted to see his own show: "Love the write up, after I read it, I wanted to go see a show when we play. Got me all pumped and ready to sock people. Very nice and thank you." Thanks Kenny to you and the Filthies for firing me up about local music in Bakersfield. When I find myself singing locally made tunes in the shower, it's not that I'm some homoerotic masturbator. Bakersfield music is really rocking this town. If the high schoolers get wind of such talent, they would come out in droves like they do in Fresno. C'mon Bakersfield bands! play from the top of the Valley Plaza Mall! Get the young crowds involved!