N.L. BELARDES MUSIC REVIEWS - JENNA'S ARRIVAL - BY N.L. BELARDES February 12, 2005 9:36 am - There’s a fortune somewhere in music to be made. Just where such wealth lies and how today’s power pop bands get at it; well, that’s the mystery of rock and roll. Big lights, big cities, big bands, big contracts—it’s out there. Bands like Jenna’s Arrival—you can see the determination in how they’re striving for success in every song. They play hard and move fast; they reach out and grab you with each song as they masterfully play their own brand of power pop that could easily smash the airwaves.

Clearly enjoying the ride along the way, this band traveled far just to power up their amps in the old land of country music. Oh Bakersfield, where the ruins of the Bakersfield Sound of the 1950s and 1960s can still be heard in a smattering of smoky honky tonks and the Buck Owens shrine along the rustic Kern River. But that’s not downtown Bakersfield. Here, rock rules and a river doesn’t run through it, just around it. Get out of the way, mighty river, because here, indie music: alternative, rock punk, punk rock, hardcore, metal and power pop can sometimes be a nightly affair.

Lead singer Anthony, having taken off his trademark pink-and-black checkered tie smoked a cigarette after their set; he couldn’t help but talk about the excitement he has for Jenna’s Arrival, and how small town Bakersfield provides them with the fan base and vision they want for their own success. “Yeah, we drove all the way here and have to turn right back around for a big Tsunami benefit show in Arizona.” How’s that for a desert drive, sleepy 4 a.m. past the Sonora’s giant saguaro the endless creosote of the Mojave. That's no short trip. Just try that in monsoon weather. These guys are dedicated to building relationships with fans. Who else has pizza parties with street teams? Anthony leaned on a railing, his black hair still perfectly punked, his eyes just as fiery as during Jenna's set: “I can’t say enough for Bakersfield. This is our fourth time here. We just played in October. And the people? They’re down-to-earth. These are the fans we really want…” And that’s because small bands connecting to people in the big cities is difficult at times. His fellow bandmates agreed as they hung outside on the Kosmos patio in a perfectly cool Bakersfield evening. “Big city fans often only show support for bands affiliated with big labels, big contracts, and big money,” said they’re fast-rockin’ guitar player, Tyler. You can’t help but to think they’re right. There’s a fake glow to such big city skylines, it casts itself over venues, upon power-tripping people, where a band’s lost youth roots can easily be forgotten.

A five-man band from Phoenix, Arizona, Jenna’s Arrival is a bunch of exciting young musicians who have known each other for years. They finally got together three years ago to form a group inspired by the likes of Jimmy Eat World, a local Phoenix sensation. I’m excited to write about them. They drove all the way to Bakersfield just to play a rocking set of power pop that kept me lingering around to see if all their songs were just as powerful—and they were. I had intended to go see another band down the street, but the tightness of Jenna's Arrival, their clean power chord riffs, melody-driven vocals, and along with a mix of exciting drums and bass lines showed me that Jenna’s Arrival had indeed arrived.

* and a quick liner note: no guys you can't have my Star Wars jacket.