FEATURE STORY: THURSDAY NIGHT WAR - February 18, 2005 - What a great night for a battle of Bakersfield bands. The rain wasn't pouring so the puddles were still easy to step around out at the MWP mexican marketplace. There were punks, kids with strange glowing eyes, girls in dark clothes and make-up, hardcore hipsters, all mixed with toned-down folks like me in a Wilco shirt; along with great musicians who mingled with the crowd, making friends with everyone. And don't forget the pizza and burger stand, ninety-nine cent beers and Cokes in a bottle.

Vincent's Pizza must have been happy to get the concessions as the over-twenty-one's were just as happy to have their music and brews. By the time I arrived Prone had exited the stage (sorry about that guys). I hadn't seen Chris 'Flemdog' Fleming in some time as well as his cool-as-heck Security thug, Marky Pope (A.K.A Tule Fog), both Legends from the great in-line hockey days of Bakersfield yesteryear. Both had crushed me into the boards on occasion, and both had killer slapshots that could take your head off. Always better to play with them than against them.

Flemdog now runs CK Entertainment and told me about Freakfest and gearing up for that. "The biggest trouble is always the police. They make it hard to put on big shows for the 18-35 crowd in and around Bakersfield. But we'll do it. We make it work." Bakersfield always seems more lively for the over 40 crowd. But I agree, kids need an outlet. And MWP was the place for it. It was clean and cool and all the people involved from the Mexican ladies cooking burgers to the kid who kept closing the restroom doors were cool and gracious.

I caught most of Melodrose, saw all of My Dysfunctional Me, and missed Swag 667 while talking to competing band members and the frontman for Ridicule who gave me a lesson in band comraderie. How could I not listen?

Ridicule wants to make it big, and I was there to listen and learn. He threw names at me including one guy in particular who has helped local bands--some legend in American Standard... I have so much to learn. Dude, the bandana is so cool.

Melodrose is bestowed with the power of 'scream' like I have never heard before. They had an amazing first song that melted the crowd. I stood transfixed in space and time with such power. This was the energy I wanted to feel in Bakersfield when youth get together; and these guys were giving it by tearing into us with their jams. Call it Screamo, call it loud, call it really talented to put together a quick set with just a few minutes set up. They thought they did horrible. I thought they kicked ass. Bands are always their own worst critics, though.

I came back in time to see their last two songs. I didn't catch the names of their tunes after talking to their band, but what I liked was their energy and visual appeal. I didn't come to watch a bunch of stiffs on stage--these guys were exciting and fresh.

My Dysfunctional Me was as curious about me as I was about them. They asked me if I was with a magazine: no. Just who am I? Why do I want to write about them? Why not? I'm here to lift up the scene, not tear it down that's for sure. Like the frontman of Ridicule said, "In order to create a scene like Seattle, everyone and every musical style must be lifted up." Yes, let there be no division, people.

When I first arrived I was wearing what I thought was my signature Star Wars jacket, complete with skull and crossbones stormtroopa on the back. But to be outdone, frontman Steve had on the same jacket, plus make-up, bandana, the droop and, well, I gave up and put mine in the car. Who am I to steal a rock god's thunder?

Jokes aside, My Dysfunctional Me is a fast-tempo high-energy up-and-coming band. They played a solid set and wished they had more time to play songs. They're energy was still vibing up the place long after their set was over.

I talked to their drummer for a while outside, and we talked music and I could see that their restlessness would just be energy put forward in more great shows. They need to do this. You can tell.

They told me they sold out of their 2-song demo cds already and need to record more. I hope they do--they really had the crowd into their music, a heavy funk hardcore mix that had the crowd moving along.

I need cds of all this great music so I can add cd reviews to this page. Bands, get in touch with me if you want that...this site does get traffic. Remember that old Bono saying, "Rock and Roll stops the traffic..." Well it works.

Tell your friends, there's music about Bakersfield, from Bakersfield, and in tune with today's avante garde fast-charging styles right here in Bakersfield. Don't miss the next Battle of the Bands. -N.L.