BY MATT MUNOZBakotopia.com editor

mmunoz@bakersfield.com

Carlos Santana still travelslike a rock ’n’ rollshaman guided by thepowers of the universe.

After 40-plus years on thescene, his enigmatic presenceresonates the same as it did at theoriginal Woodstock, when theyoung teen from San Franciscowas introduced to the world.Invoking the gods of rhythm infront of a sea of psychedelichumanity, his show-stopping per-formance of “Soul Sacrifice,” cap-tured in the landmark documen-tary film “Woodstock,” trans-formed him into an almost myth-ic figure. Fans continue to followhis every nomadic move.

Appearing Tuesday night atRabobank Arena, the 64- year-oldrock icon will be bringing all thecolors of his life, his art and spiri-tual musings that have traveled tothe ends of the earth and back.

“I follow the green light, andthe green light has been takingme to Jerusalem and to Russiaand other different placesbecause my family has reallygrown — the family that I am,” hesaid during a telephone interviewwith The Californian. “Right now,the green light takes me to Bak-ersfield.”

Besides being heralded as oneof the greatest rock guitarists,Santana enjoys one of the mostenduring careers in music. Helaid the foundation for Latin rockwith reworked covers of WillieBobo’s “Evil Ways,” FleetwoodMac’s “Black Magic Woman” andTito Puente’s “Oye Como Va,”early records that became bigcommercial successes. In thedecades to follow, touring wouldbecome much of Santana’s breadand butter, with virtually none ofhis music heard on radio. Delvinginto jazz and experimental music,and teaming with artists JohnMcLaughlin, Miles Davis and oth-ers outside of rock, he put outmusic that required something

more from the average listener.“I’ve been accused of commit-

ting career suicide at least seventimes because of the people thatI’ve chosen to play with,” he said.“Whether it’s Miles or AliceColtrane or John McLaughlin, butI need to grow. I’m not a littleMexican that’s just gonna playpiñata music — that’s not gonnahappen. I was never that. I lovepiñata music and I love beingMexican, but you can’t reduce meto that.”

All those years on the roadhave generated a rabid followingof fans and, like fellow jam rock-ers The Grateful Dead, Santanahas become something of a busi-ness and lifestyle brand himself.

“When people see who we areand what we do, it’s so differentthan with all respect to otherbands. Because other bands, theydon’t have as powerful passionfor compassion, or passion forjust, excuse the expression,‘Whoopin’ some serious (exple-tive.)’ Because a lot of bands myage, and even bands half my age,they don’t play for three hourswith that kind of intensity. Youknow, they do the rope-a-dope alot and they kind of put it oncruise control. We like to put it onall cylinders hot.”

That commitment to the liveexperience may have been goodenough to keep the artist going,but a meeting with music pro-ducer Clive Davis would prove toSantana that his life on the chartswasn’t over. Yet before he signedon for what would become thesmash of his career, the mega-selling “Supernatural,” he didsome serious soul searching.

“Clive Davis was the first to tellme, ‘I’ve seen you live. You havesomething that is really incredibleand we haven’t worked togetherin a long time. Do you have thewillingness to go into a different

arena and invite and allow RobThomas, Lauryn Hill, everyone towrite a song with you and foryou?’ And I said, ‘Yeah.’ And hesaid, ‘OK, because what you dolive, you’re incredible in the ring.But there’s another ring — it’scalled radio, and you haven’tbeen there since ’73 or ’72. And ithas changed, so I wanna know ifyou have the capacity to havewillingness to open yourself up tothese new young writers and pro-ducers to come and share withyou?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I havethe willingness.’”

Upon the release of “Supernat-ural” in 1999, there was no escap-ing radio singles like “Smooth”and “Turn Your Lights On.” Withthe chart success and the nineGrammys the collection wouldwin, Santana recalls the time asnothing short of otherworldly.

“It just happened — 25 or 27times platinum. It’s the samething that Cesar Chavez used tosay, ‘Solo se necesitan ganas’ —‘You only need willingness.’ Withwillingness you can create themiracle.”

Though his subsequent releas-es have enjoyed some success,nothing has lived up to the sensa-tion of “Supernatural.” Still, somefans longed for the unpredictabil-ity of early albums “Caravanserai”and “Borboletta.”

“You know, from ’73 to ’99 I didall of that, so I’m not a water boyfor people to tell me what to do. Ihave to follow my own voice.”

On a personal level, Santanahas achieved peace with hisrecent marriage to drummerCindy Blackman.

“I found this person — we bothlove the same things and we’reboth serious musicians. But thereason I’m really happy isbecause I’ve accepted a wholedifferent perception about my lifethan what I used to be. I used tothink I had to fight really hardbeing a Mexican. I grew with adistorted way of looking atmyself. I had to fight all the time,like the Black Panthers, or CesarChavez and Dolores (Huerta.) Butyou really don’t have to fight any-thing. All you have to do is acceptthat if you have hope, faith andtrust, that you open your armsand your heart, and the universeis ready to give you way beyond

what you think that you can get.”The new Mrs. Santana, who has

worked with Lenny Kravitz, isexpected to put in some timebehind the drums at some pointduring Tuesday’s show, which willbe one of the performer’s last ofthe year.

“The best is yet to come. I’mpossibly doing a song with JohnMcLaughlin and Jeff Beck. There’salso an album I wanna do withjust my band, kind of electric jun-gle music. I’m gonna stay in thestudio and just record a lot, possi-bly with Willie Nelson doing BobMarley songs. And you know, Ican play Norteno music, but Iwould have to put the ska in it.”

Eye StreetEditor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com

Santana’s still supernaturalGuitar icon refusesconventional ways,ho-hum creations

18 The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, September 22, 2011

IndexBuck Owens: Bound for Bakersfield ........ 19Salt-n-Pepa................................................ 21Arts Alive .................................................. 22Theater on Kern........................................ 23The Lowdown with Matt Munoz ............ 24Doobie Brothers ...................................... 25Community Concert Series ......................26Calendar .............................................. 29-31

SantanaWhen: 8 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Rabobank Arena,1001 Truxtun Ave.

Cost: $28 to $88 plus servicecharge

Information: 852-7777 orticketmaster.com

Win Santana ticketsTune in to Californian Radiofrom 10 to 11 a.m. today forthe chance to win two pairsof tickets to Carlos Santana’sshow Tuesday at RabobankArena. Lifestyles Editor Jen-nifer Self will also interviewBuckaroo Jim Shaw on a newcollection of the earliestrecordings made by countrymusic icon Buck Owens, andwe’ll give that CD away to alucky caller. Tune in to 1230AM and call 631-1230 duringthe show with questions andlisten for your chance to win.

“I’m not a little Mexican that’s just gonna play piñata music — that’s not gonna happen. I wasnever that. I love piñata music and I love being Mexican, but you can’t reduce me to that.”

— Carlos Santana

ZUMA PRESS

Besides being heralded as one of the greatest rock guitarists of alltime, Carlos Santana enjoys the distinction of having one of themost enduring careers in music.

Thursday, September 22, 2011 The Bakersfield Californian 19

Eye Street

Before he found his sound

BY JENNIFER SELFCalifornian lifestyles editor

jself@bakersfield.com

The Telecaster is turned down lowerthan we’re used to, there are noheavenly Don Rich harmonies, andthe “freight-train” rhythm that

would become the signature sound of hisbiggest hits? That train had not yet left thestation.

But if you get past some of the polite,very un-Bakersfield Sound arrangementsand erratic experimentation of a kid insearch of a vocal style, you’ll swear that’s a

young BuckOwens hittingthose highnotes on anew albumset for releaseTuesday.

As it turnsout, youwould beright.

With thefull backingof the Owensfamily andBuckaroo Jim

Shaw, the official keeper of the legend’sflame, RockBeat Records is reissuing 24 sin-gles and demos recorded by Owens beforehis big break in 1957, when he signed withCapitol Records, the launch pad for hisprodigious career. The collection is called“Buck Owens: Bound for Bakersfield (1953-1956).”

“I think anybody who says, ‘Cool. I’m ahuge Buck Owens fan and this is a chancefor me to get something I haven’t heard’ —they could be disappointed if they’re notinterested in the historic and behind-the-scenes stuff,” Shaw said. “If they thinkthey’re going to get ‘Act Naturally’ or ‘Cry-ing Time’ with the Buckaroos, they’ll be sur-prised.”

Surprised, maybe, but the seeds of thedefinitive Buck sound are there on most ofthe songs, which include honky-tonklaments, a couple of rip-snorting rockabillysingles influenced by Elvis, even a credibleblues number.

Most of the recordings include alternatetakes, which yield a lot of interesting differ-ences, chief among them that Owens vacil-lated between going full bore, unleashingthe raw energy that distinguished his laterwork, and then reining in the gusto for a

more refined, radio-ready version.

But Shaw said theconflicting approachesmight be due less to theartist’s experimentationor the producer’s calcu-lation, than to the “doc-toring” over the years ofthe early masters.

“It was a situationwhere those masters werepassed around and soldand handed off to otherpeople and it bothered himin later years,” Shaw said.

“A lot of that stuff cameout bootlegged. When hebecame famous, peoplewould misappropriate thosecuts and make a buck off ofthem.”

The sting that accompanied that loss ofcontrol never eased for Owens, who wasdeveloping not just his artistry, but a deepdistrust of record companies as well as hissoon-to-be-legendary business acumen.

(Many years and millions of recordslater, Owens, still smarting over that earlylesson, played hardball with Capitol, refus-ing to renew his contract unless ownershipof his masters reverted to him. It was, atthe time, rare for an artist to make such ademand, Shaw said. “He was a ground-breaker.”)

As the years went by, Owens simply losttrack of any claims on his recordings fromthose murky pre-Capitol years. But about10 years ago, he decided to test the watersby partnering with the Country Music Hallof Fame on “Buck Owens: Young Buck,” analbum of his early recordings.

“Buck said, ‘I wonder what the deal is outthere. I wish I knew if someone had a con-tract signed or had some claims,’” Shawrecalled. “And I said, ‘Why don’t we beproactive here?’”

No one came forward challengingOwens’ rights to the music, and the Hall ofFame sold the CD at its museum inNashville. But Shaw felt an update wasoverdue and was eager to find partners withthe skill to remaster the tracks to his satis-faction and the energy to market thealbum.

“This time we went back and tried to getthe cleanest tape versions we could,because I’m afraid the first time some ofthe cuts were just transferred from the LPs,”said Shaw, who also relied on Bakersfieldresident Jim Nelson to do the analog-to-digital transfers.

Though “pleasantly surprised” by thesound quality, what stands out most to

Shawwhen he hears the

young Owens is the strength ofhis high tenor, particularly on “Down onthe Corner of Love.”

“When I hear him sing the verse in thatsong, I’m thinking that’s so high, what’sgoing to happen on the bridge, which iseven higher. And he gets there and goessoaring and I’m just, ‘Wow.’

“I don’t think he lacked in confidence inhis singing. He was just humble about it. Healways told me that he thought the bestsinger/songwriter ever born was MerleHaggard. And he wasn’t just blowing smokewhen he said that.”

As for Owens’ own proudest momentsfrom his fledgling recording career?

“He didn’t say he had a favorite of theseearly cuts or any that he hated. He was verymatter-of-fact about it.

“People talk all the time about him beingan artist, a creative guy and a singer, but hewas also a great businessman. He had a leftbrain/right brain thing going. He wasn’tone of those ‘Artistes.’ He was searching fora way to be commercial.”

Though the tracks on “Bound for Bakers-field” didn’t do much for Owens at thetime, the singer found chart success withseveral when he rerecorded them later.

It’s debatable whether the original ver-sion of “Hot Dog” beats the 1988 single, butthat’s not really the point for Owens com-pletists, who have the opportunity to goback to ground zero in the evolution of hiscareer.

“I think it’s hard for me to say how suc-cessful this will be. We’ll just put it out thereand see,” Shaw said.

“But people who are really a fan ofsomebody’s music, whether it’s BruceSpringsteen or Elton John or whoever —isn’t it interesting to see what they sound-ed like before they made it? It’s intriguingto me.”

Track list1. “Blue Love” (with studio chatter)(1953)

2. “Down on the Corner of Love”(alternate take) (1953)

3. “Down on the Corner of Love”(1953)

4. “It Don’t Show on Me” (alternatetake) (1953)

5. “It Don’t Show on Me” (1953)

6. “The House Down the Block”(alternate take) (1953)

7. “The House Down the Block”(1953)

8. “Right After the Dance” (alter-nate take) (1953)

9. “Right After the Dance” (1953)

10. “Hot Dog” (1955)

11. “Hot Dog” (overdubbed single)(1955)

12. “Rhythm & Booze”

13. “There Goes My Love” (alter-nate take) (1956)

14. “There Goes My Love” (1956)

15. “Sweethearts in Heaven” (alter-nate take) (1956)

16. “Sweethearts in Heaven” (1956)

17. “Honeysuckle” (1956)

18. “Country Girl” (Leavin’ DirtyTracks) (1956)

19. “You’re Fer Me” (1956)

20. “Blue Love” (1956)

21. “Please Don’t Take Her FromMe” (1956)

22. “Three Dimension Love” (1956)

23. “Why Don’t My Mommy WannaStay with Daddy & Me?” (1956)

24. “I’m Gonna Blow” (1956)

“Buck Owens: Bound for Bakersfield (1953-1956)”Suggested retail price:$14.98

Available at Buck Owens’Crystal Palace and rock-beatrecords.com

Liner notes written byrespected West Coastmusic historian RichKienzle

Rare Owens collectionshowcases early cuts

20 The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, September 22, 2011

Eye Street

BY SUSAN SCAFFIDIContributing writer

While most of us were gettingready for work or school andmerely thinking about what

we might do at the Kern County Fairon opening night, 16-year-old AshlyBulford was already there, milkingone of her goats in a competitionthat’s a side event in the fair’s annualJunior Livestock show.

Ashly is one of about 1,500 contest-ants between the ages of 9 and 19who are showing between 6,000 and7,000 animals. In addition to showingvarious breeds of goat, there are com-petitions for dairy cattle, beef cattle,swine, poultry, rabbits, horses andsheep. These contestants, who com-pete in various events year-round,started moving in earlier in the week,and will virtually live in the livestockpavilions for a good part of the fair,tending their animals and participat-ing in various events until the finaljudging.

Ashly, a home-schooled studentfrom Turner Christian Academy, anda member of the Heart ‘n’ Home 4-Hclub, is showing four goats this year,including her 18-month-old Swissdairy goat.

“Her mother was a thoroughbredAlpine and her father was a thorough-bred Toggenburg,” said Harold Bul-ford, Ashly’s grandfather and her 4-Hproject leader. “She’s a mix, but she’sregistered.”

“They’re experimenting with a newbreed,” Bulford said.

On opening day morning, Ashlywas the first entrant in the goat milk-ing competition, one of those sideevents associated with the livestockshows. Another event this week is“Goats and Gold,” a costume compe-tition for student and animal.

All the fun aside, Ashly, who hasbeen raising and showing goats sinceshe was 9 years old, said she’s learneda hard lesson over the years.

“That goats take a lot of responsi-bility,” Ashly said, while admitting shehas sometimes had to be reminded ofthat fact.

Ashly said those responsibilitiesstart at about 7 every morning whenshe feeds oats to her small herd,which includes three other goats stillat home. She must milk the produc-ing goats twice a day, clip hoovesonce a month, groom her animalsand of course clean up the “pellets.”

“They’ve got to learn to take care oftheir animals before they take care ofthemselves,” Harold Bulford said.“There’s a lot of maintenance, and we

make the kids do everything.”That includes administering vacci-

nation shots for worms, tetanus andother disease, a task Ashly said was“the hardest thing to learn.”

The teen has even had a taste ofentrepreneurship while raising goats.Because she has a younger sister whois allergic to cow’s milk, not only issome of the milk used for drinking,but some is also made into soap,which the family sells. Ashly saidwhen the herd gets too big, some aresold, and the remaining goats areused for breeding.

Harold Bulford said the livestock —the other side of the noisy, bustlingfair — is its own community.

“These kids have all seen each

other at these things for years,” Bul-ford said. “It’s a real friendly competi-tion.

“No one gets mad at the other per-son for winning because they’re all sofriendly,” Bulford said.

Ashly will be able to compete untilher 19th birthday, when she will nolonger be eligible to compete at thejunior level.

As to her future, she said she’suncertain. She could follow her olderbrother, whose own career in raisinggoats inspired her to participate. He’snow studying animal science at UCSanta Barbara.

But college is still years away, andright now Ashly has to take care of hergoat.

No one gets her goatat milking contest

Today’s fair eventsKern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S.P St. 833-4900.

Advance tickets to the fair will besold at Albertsons stores untilOct. 1 or until sold out. $6 adults,$3 children.

General admission: $8 adults,seniors (62+) $7, $4 children (6to 12), free for active militaryw/ID, children 5 and under arefree. $5 parking.

Fair hours: 3 to 10 p.m.

The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie,8 p.m., Budweiser Pavilion, Freewith paid fair admission.

Kids Daze, children 12 and underare admitted free 3 to 9 p.m.

Sole competitor forthis round wins easily

WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THESE SPRING GUESTS

SAN JOAQUIN PEST CONTROL SAN JOAQUIN PEST CONTROL

832-3182 1-800-398-8518

Fall Special

$ 66 Initial start up charge,

then $66 every other

month with one year

pest control service.

Price good for up to 2000 sq. ft. home.

Fleas and Ticks extra. Offer expires Oct 31, 2011.

You will like the clean, neat, inexpensive way we get rid of these and other pests.

Web Control Included Locally Owned & Operated Prices quoted over phone!

Licensed & Bonded

P. O. BOX 41705, BAKERSFIELD

HIGHEST PRICE PAIDHIGHEST PRICE PAID HIGHEST PRICE PAID

CASH FOR CASH FOR GOLD GOLD

& & SILVER SILVER

& & STERLING STERLING

SILVERWARE SILVERWARE

FABRIE JEWELERS 4560 COFFEE RD. • HAGEMAN & COFFEE

588-7503

COMPETITORS SAY ITCOMPETITORS SAY IT COMPETITORS SAY IT

WE DO IT!!!WE DO IT!!! WE DO IT!!!fabriejewelers.comfabriejewelers.com fabriejewelers.com

KARATE LESSONS $ 24 95

Includes FREE uniform

2 weeks

Offering classes for: Tiger Cubs – 3 to 5 year olds Karate Kids – 5 to 9 year olds

Students learn: • Respect • Discipline • Self Control • Self Determination

CALL 345-4371 TO ENROLL TODAY GOLDEN TIGER KARATE GOLDEN TIGER KARATE

CLASSES FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY Students with Special Needs • ALL AGES WELCOME

And the winner is — Ashly Bulford,right, as judge Rebecca Ludwigweighs the pail of fresh goat’s milkduring the early-morning competi-tion.

CASEY CHRISTIE / THE CALIFORNIAN

Ashly Bulford, a member of Heart ‘n’ Home 4-H group, gets into the taskduring Wednesday's goat-milking competition at the Kern County Fair. Shewas able to fill half the pail with fresh goat’s milk. The event was part ofthe American Dairy Goat Association milking competition and Bulford willreceive credit for participating. Her goat Licorice is used to being milkedand was a good sport at the competition.

Thursday, September 22, 2011 The Bakersfield Californian 21

In a nice change-up from thetypical classic rock and coun-try acts booked every year, the

Kern County Fair will presentgroundbreaking duo Salt-N-Pepa,who, since their explosive debutin the 1980s, opened the door forjust about every female rappersince.

We asked a couple of fans — DJNoe Garcia and Tai Coronado —to tell us what Salt-N-Pepa havemeant to the scene and to them-selves personally.

Noe GarciaI was in a store in town called

Eastside Records when I firstheard one of the first female rapsongs called “Push It” by Salt-n-Pepa. I was amazed that thesound of what became a big clubhit was actually produced by oneof the first-ever female rap groupartists.

The group, consisting of CherylJames, Sandy Denton and Deidre“Dee Dee” Roper (DJ Spinderel-la), would go on to win Grammys

and influence several otherwomen, including Queen Latifahand Roxanne Shante.

When I heard they would beperforming at this year’s KernCounty Fair, I was so excited,knowing that a rap group I’vebeen following since the ’80s andwhose hits I still have in myplaylist would be here.

It brought back many memo-ries of all the house parties, clubsand weddings I deejayed at. Iwould mix the main song every-one knows, “Push It,” and watchall the people on the dance floorgo nuts. In 2002, the group calledit quits with no reason given. Salthad found God and Pepa kept iton the grind, appearing on sea-son five of “The Surreal Life,” onVH1. It looks like they overcametheir differences and are giving itanother go at performing. Hope-fully, God can keep these two tal-ented female rappers togetheragain.

So, twist and cut your hair onone side, get out your high-topsneakers and make sure youcatch them live at this year’s KernCounty Fair.

Tai Coronado During a time when hip-hop

was still finding its way, only ahandful of females dared to enterthe male-dominated industry.MCs like Queen Latifah, MonieLove and Mc Lyte, came hard andheld their own lyrically againsttheir male counterparts. But itwas Salt-N-Pepa that used their

femininity and sex appeal tomake their mark on hip-hop.

As a product of the “Yo! MTVRaps” era, I was raised on the clas-sics. Who can forget “Shoop,”“Let’s Talk About Sex” and my per-sonal favorite, “I’ll Take Your Man.”

Salt-N-Pepa’s contributions to

the hip-hop culture are undeni-able. Not only were they the firstfemale rap crew (can’t forgetabout DJ Spinderella) they werethe first female hip-hop artists towin a Grammy.

Most recently the twoappeared on their own realityshow on VH1 called “The Salt-N-Pepa Show,” where viewerswatched them as they hashedout their issues and reunited.They are also currently touringon the the Legends of Hip HopTour with Doug E. Fresh andother legends.

Feeling a little nostalgic? Not toworry, fellow ’80s babies. You cansee the legends of hip-hop in ourown backyard on Monday at theKern County Fair.

Salt-N-Pepa still mighty spicyRevolutionary duo back,playing Monday night

Salt-n-PepaWhen: 8 p.m. Monday

Where: Kern County FairBudweiser Pavilion

Cost: Free with fair admis-sion

Information: 833-4900 orkerncountyfair.com

Eye Street

PHOTO COURTESY OF NOE G

Noe GarciaPHOTO COURTESY OF TAI CORONADO

Tai Coronado

22 The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, September 22, 2011

Eye Street

In a twist on the world-famousmusical “Phantom of theOpera,” the Gaslight Melodra-

ma has created its own residentghost.

“It’s very tongue in cheek; we’rereally poking a little fun at our-selves,” said Michael Prince, thewriter and director of “Phantomof the Melodrama,” which opensFriday at the Gaslight.

Here’s the topsy-turvy plot: Theowner of a fictional melodrama isweary of being told what he doesis not “real” theater. Determinedto be taken seriously, he decides tostage “Phantom of the Opera.” Hefires his star funny man and hiresa famous actor to play the part ofthe phantom. But the displacedcomedian turns the tables on theowner and proves how importantit is to make people laugh.

“Part of the show even includesa filmed fake newscast, where dif-ferent members of the communi-ty express their concern with the(make-believe) melodrama goingserious,” Prince said. “We got sup-port from Michelle Guerrero Tol-ley and Bob Kempf from TheEmpty Space, Tom Rockwell fromTrout’s, local attorney BobbyCloud and many others.”

“Phantom of the Melodrama”features — live and in person —Ken Burdick, Jill Burdick, JenniferPrince, Katie Metz, Jay Stodder,Matt Thompson, Charlie Gambleand Cody Huckabee.

The main show is followed by“Merry Ol’ England,” a vaudevillerevue, written and directed byWarren Dobson. Performancescontinue through Nov. 12.

Guitar lessons at BealeIf you’re going to play the guitar

— or just about any other musicalinstrument — you better makesure it’s in tune before you startstrumming.

And that’s the focus of a freeguitar workshop being held thisevening at Beale MemorialLibrary. It seems that Scott Freder-ick, a librarian who initiated the

workshops, hasnoticedmore thana fewunavoid-able sournotes from

the atten-dees, most

of whom are beginners.“Scott realized a lot of the peo-

ple that were attending came withun-tuned guitars,” said AndreaApple, head of the library’s publicservices programs. “He wasspending a lot of time helpingthem tune their instrumentsbefore the class even started.”

To remedy the problem, a rep-resentative from Guitar Centerhas volunteered to come to themeeting and show the would-bemusicians how it’s done. A sec-ond workshop on Sept. 29 will beconducted by Frederick and willbe devoted to learning how toplay basic chords and songs.

By the way, if you’re a bookishperson who’s concerned aboutthe noise, don’t be. The workshopis being held behind closed doorsin the Tejon Room, which is in adistant corner of the second floorat Beale.

“I just love to see folks walkinginto the library with guitars hang-

ing off of them,” Apple said. “It’snot your typical scene at a library,and I love that visual image.”

CSUB presents West African music

Drummer Lukas Ligeti andBurkina Electric, an ensemble theNew York Times described as an“irresistible brew of West Africanmusic and electronica,” will per-form Friday at the Dore Theatre.

Local trumpeter Kris Tiner, anadjunct lecturer with the Cal StateBakersfield music department,says it’s a “one-of-a-kind” con-cert. He’s familiar with thegroup’s music and has playedwith Ligeti.

“I have played with Lukas threetimes — in L.A., New York, andlast January here at Dagny’s,”Tiner said. “He stopped in for aquick minute as he was on hisway to accept the prestigiousAlpert Award at Cal Arts (Califor-nia Institute of the Arts). I’ve onlyheard recordings of Burkina Elec-tric, but Lukas has been telling meabout them for years. We are veryexcited to present them at CSUB.”

The group originated in theinterior of West Africa. Some of itsmembers are based there whileothers live in New York and Dus-seldorf, Germany. It includes fourmusicians and two dancers.

Tiner said the ensemble com-bines the traditions and rhythmsof West Africa with contemporaryelectronic dance culture, as wellas musical genres and soundsfrom throughout the world.

BMT musical at HarveyA lively and colorful Andrew

Lloyd Webber musical with a fas-cinating name opens this week-end for three performances atHarvey Auditorium.

“Joseph and the Amazing Tech-nicolor Dreamcoat,” a humorousretelling of a biblical story, is the

season-opener for BakersfieldMusic Theatre. It began as a pro-duction of the Stars School of Per-forming Arts’ teen workshop butthe young actors’ record of pre-senting quality shows has movedthem up in the world of local the-ater.

“Jim Fillbrandt (BMT/Starsexecutive director) and the audi-ences have been so impressedwith our first two teen workshopperformances — ‘Footloose’ in2009 and ‘Little Shop of Horrors’in 2010 — that we have beenadded as the first show in the reg-ular 2011-2012 BMT Harvey sea-son,” said Jennifer Resolme, thedirector of “Dreamcoat.”

And it’s definitely a youth-filledshow. Cast members range in agefrom 12 to 19.

The musical is a version of aBible story of Jacob and his 12sons. It’s about the journey hisfavorite son Joseph, played byStockdale High senior DanielMcDonald, takes to become thesecond in command to thePharaoh, portrayed by Jacob Har-mon, a junior at Ridgeview High.

For the BMT production,Resolme has divided the part ofthe narrator into six separateparts, so the role is shared byCarissa Alexander, Cassidy Fraley,Ally Bryant, Nicole Despain ChloeDzierba and Julie Foth.

Potiphar will be portrayed byEvan Stevenson, who hasappeared in several BMT shows.Jordan Payne, who has performedwith Civic Dance Center for morethan 10 years, plays his wife.

Choreographer is Natalia Mal-lory, whose sister, Sasha, was run-ner-up on the recently concludedseason of “So You Think You CanDance.” Vocal director is CharGaines and Resolme’s assistantdirector is Patrick O’Brien. Thefinal performance is at 7 p.m. onSept. 30.

Dukes concert series beginsSanctuary Jazz and Dr. D’s

Debris will open the new seasonof the Fred and Beverly DukesMemorial Concert series at FirstCongregational Church.

The group has performedtogether for 25 years and has wontop honors in the Pacific CoastJazz Festival in Berkeley.

As you may know, Dr. D is bet-ter known as Bakersfield Jazz Fes-tival impresario Doug Davis,who’s back in the classroom atCal State Bakersfield after taking aone-year sabbatical during whichhe found the time to composesome new music. We can expectto hear a few of those new tunesat the concert on Sunday.

For this concert the groupincludes Davis on piano; Ken

Bausano, trumpet; Mike Raney,alto saxophone; Paul Perez, tenorsax; and Glen Fong on bass.

Dates and performers sched-uled for the other four concerts inthe 2011-2012 season are:

Nov. 6: “The Earth Remem-bers,” poetry and music by NancyEdwards and Howard Quilling;Feb. 6: “Duo Cantilena,” LauraPorter, harp; Nancy Ayala, flute;March 18: Bakersfield CollegeConcert Choir, Ron Kean, direc-tor; April 22: Liz Cervantes &Company.

All concerts begin at 4 p.m. onthe scheduled day and admissionis free.

Gaslight to scare up some laughsGuitar WorkshopWhen: 5 p.m. today andSept. 29

Where: Beale MemorialLibrary, 701 Truxtun Ave.

Admission: Free

Information: 868-0760

‘Phantom of the Melodrama’When: 7 p.m. Friday and Sat-urday, 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Gaslight MelodramaTheater & Music Hall, 12748Jomani Drive

Admission: $23; $21 seniors;$12 students and children 12and under

Information: 587-3377

Lukas Ligeti & BurkinaElectricWhen: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Dore Theatre, CalState Bakersfield, 9001Stockdale HIghway

Admission: $10, $8 seniors,faculty and staff, $5 students,free to CSUB students with ID

Information: 654-3093

‘Joseph and the AmazingTechnicolor Dreamcoat’When: 8 p.m. Saturday and 2p.m. Sunday

Where: Harvey Auditorium,13th and G streets

Admission: $20

Information: 325-6100

Sanctuary Jazz and Dr. D’s DebrisWhen: 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: First CongregationalChurch, 5 Real Road

Admission: Free

Information: 327-1609

Camille Gavin CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

GO & DO

Camille Gavin’s “Arts Alive”column appears on Thursday. Write to her via e-mail at gavinarts@aol.com

Melodrama does itstake on ‘Phantom’

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL PRINCE

Cody Huckabee and Charlie Gamble in a scene from “Phantom ofthe Melodrama,” which opens this weekend at Gaslight.

Matt Thompson is the ghost ofMr. Henry Jastro in “Phantomof the Melodrama.”

Thursday, September 22, 2011 The Bakersfield Californian 23

Eye Street

BY CAMILLE GAVINContributing writer

gavinarts@aol.com

Margaret Lemucchi, a member ofthe Arts Council of Kern board ofdirectors, came up with the idea

of hosting an event to benefit Bakersfield’sfive nonprofit theaters, mainly out of grati-tude for the entertainment they provide.

“I really believe in local theater; they dosuch amazing things,” she said in a phoneinterview. “I like how they’re becomingmore diverse and I like that they’re doingmore with youth theater, too — all thosesummer workshops.”

Both she and her husband, Tim Lemuc-chi, are regular attendees at just aboutevery locally produced live stage show intown throughout the year.

I asked Margaret if there was one theatershe preferred over the others and sheanswered with an emphatic, “No — we goto all five of them all the time.”

This is the second year the couple havehosted Theater on the Kern, which takesplace Sunday afternoon in the spaciousterraced gardens of their home, whichoverlooks the Kern River northeast of Bak-ersfield. It also includes brief performancesfrom the theater folks.

“I appreciate them (actors) coming andgiving up an afternoon to do this,” Mar-garet said. “It’s quite commendable.”

The purpose of the event is to raisemoney to pay for an advertising campaignto help build audiences for the five the-

aters. As it did last year, proceeds will beused to pay for weekly advertisements inThe Californian that will list the currentshows at each playhouse.

Above all, though, Theater on the Kern ismeant to be a party, and the hosts want tomake sure everyone has an enjoyable time.All of which takes a lot of planning andpreparation, and the Lemucchis are han-dling a good part of it with the assistanceof the Arts Council.

“We start with getting the gardening per-fect, of course,” Margaret said. “We haveterraces here, and Alex Neal from Spotlightwas very helpful in helping me pick out aplace with the best visibility so people cansee (the performers) from above andbelow.”

Other tasks have included selecting thewines to be served, and I’m betting Mar-garet, who made Lemucchi’s TamO’Shanter one of the most popular restau-rants in town for the 18 years she ownedand operated it, is an expert on the subject.

Then there’s taste-testing and finalizingthe choice of hors d’oeuvres from MooCreamery, as well as more mundane thingslike ordering chairs for 125 guests and evenarranging for sanitary facilities.

“We’ll have an air conditioned Porta

Potty,” she said. “It’s a little building with amen’s side and a ladies’ side and it hasbasins and running water and everything.”

The party starts at 4 p.m., and the pro-gram is set to begin an hour later. It willinclude the title song from Stars’“Cabaret”; selections from “Nine People’sFavorite Thing,” by The Empty Space; “CellBlock Tango,” sung by a chorus from Bak-ersfield Music Theatre’s “Chicago”; a med-ley from Spotlight Theatre’s “SweeneyTodd”; and a song from Bakersfield Com-munity Theatre’s “A Light in the Piazza.”

After the 60-minute show, the actors willstick around and mingle with the guests onan informal basis.

Laura Wolfe, Arts Council developmentdirector, said the event was a sellout lastyear, so if you’re planning to go, she sug-gests contacting the council office as soonas possible.

The Lemucchis’ home is located offRound Mountain Road, on more than twoacres of land along the banks of the KernRiver north of Hart Park and three mileseast of historic Gordon’s Ferry bridge.

Couple turn yard into a stageOutdoor event benefitslocal theater troupes

Theater on the KernWhen: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday

Where: 6501 Uplands of the KernDrive

Admission: $35; $30, Arts Councilmembers

Information: 324-9000

www.shopchristines.com

4915 Stockdale Highway • 661-834-3068 Monday - Friday: 10-6 • Saturday: 10-5

GRIFFITH PARK collection

Now available at Bakersfield’s

original

Brighton ®

store.

Tehachapi Society of Pilots Presents

9th Annual Celebration of Flight

Air Fair & Fly In

Sept 24 - 25, 2011 Tehachapi

Municipal Airport Gates Open 7 am

Static Displays “New & Antique”

www.tehachapisocietyofpilots.org

Fun For All Fun For All

Come Fly With Us Come Fly With Us

Free Admission Free Admission

BBQ, Wine Tasting, Beer Garden, Avaiation Art

& Gift Booths, Movie in the airport Park,

Car Shoe, Tri-tip Lunch, Pancake Breakfast, Live Band, Bomfire

BBQ, Wine Tasting, Beer Garden, Avaiation Art

& Gift Booths, Movie in the airport Park,

Car Shoe, Tri-tip Lunch, Pancake Breakfast, Live Band, Bomfire

Young Eagle Rides, Helicopter Rides, Tethered Hot Air

Balloons, Stearman Bi-plane Rides & More...

Young Eagle Rides, Helicopter Rides, Tethered Hot Air

Balloons, Stearman Bi-plane Rides & More...

SEPT. 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, OCT. 1 STARS DINNER THEATRE � 1931 CHESTER AVENUE

325-6100 � bmtstars.com

one of the best musicals ever made!

22ndAnniversary

of Stars!

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Timothy and Margaret Lemucchi will open up their backyard on Sunday afternoonfor Theater on the Kern, which benefits local nonprofit theaters.

24 The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, September 22, 2011

Eye Street

It’s no fun discussing healthproblems among musicians,especially when the thing you

love to do could be brought to ahalt in a split second.

Over the course of my ownmusical career, I’ve known manymusician friends who’ve falleninto hard times with their health.That is scary, especially whenthings on the outside appear tobe completely normal.

Such is the case with RobertTidwell, guitarist for Bakersfieldrockabilly blues quartet TokenOkies, who suffered a debilitatingstroke in April.

His medical setback is areminder about the fragility oflife, even when our artistic forcesmake us feel like we’re made ofsteel.

Tidwell, 51, agreed to sharewhat happened to him with ourreaders:

It was another quiet sunrise atthe Tidwell residence the morn-ing of April 5.

Back to the daily grind after aweek of five consecutive shows,Tidwell was satisfied, knowinghe’d rocked the roof off BuckOwens’ Crystal Palace and Pyre-nees Cafe with his band.

“That week was a good run ofshows. We had a blast and torethe place up. It was like we coulddo no wrong. People were danc-ing and singing. You got themomentum going and everythingmakes you feel unstoppable,” he

said. “I was a lit-tle stressed bymy job, but Iwas trying to

relieve it byplaying music

like any-body

else

would.”Looking forward to the week-

end and another round of hell-raising, he couldn’t ignore thatthere was something noticeablydifferent about this day as he pre-pared to leave for his job as asecurity consultant. What wouldusually be a post-coffee swaggerin his stride seemed annoyinglyout of step.

“I get up at 6 a.m. and have tobe at work at 7:30 a.m. every day,”he said. “I just put the coffee on,watch the morning news andtake off. Sunday and Mondaywere both typical days. I felt goodwhen I woke up on Tuesday, thenI began feeling strange, kind of ina daze. My face was sagging. Icouldn’t whistle and control myfacial muscles. I sounded like Iwas talking with a mouthful ofmarbles.”

Tidwell’s wife, Angela, wassoon driving her husband to theemergency room at San JoaquinCommunity Hospital.

After being examined by doc-

tors, he got the official word: He’dsuffered a stroke sometime dur-ing his sleep.

Shocked by the news, angerand disappointment quickly setin along with a vision of hisfuture. Fearing his motor skillswould worsen, he thought hemight not be able to play musicagain. He was laid up for twodays in a hospital bed beforebeing transferred to another facil-ity to begin the rehabilitationprocess. Fortunate to walk andtalk better than some of his fellowpatients, Tidwell was still devas-tated.

“They describe the aftermathof a stroke as ‘the invisible injury.’People told me how I lookedphysically fit, and I had good skincolor,” he said. “No one in myfamily has ever had heart prob-lems. It’s very depressing to beincapacitated. I was just mad andI wanted to get over this thing.”

After another few days, the axman called for one of his guitars.

“The first time I played, it waslike dead strings, no sound. Icould feel it, and I didn’t losecontrol,” he recalled.

“My stroke was on the righttemporal lobe, which affects theopposite side of your body. Oddlyenough, it’s also the side thatcontrols your artistic ability. Myleft hand wasn’t respondingquickly enough and I realized Icouldn’t play. When I got home, Itried and tried. I fell into a deepdepression.”

For the next four months, Tid-well didn’t give in to the limita-tions imposed by his condition.He followed doctors’ orders andformed his own regimen of exer-cises to bridge his senses.

“The brain is an amazing thing.You find out how to deal withthings. I knew I’d have to thinkabout a pattern, and not just playchords on my guitar. I’ve beenplaying along with videos, down-loading tablature. I was trying to

work on my rockabilly and West-ern swing, the pulls and pushes.The timing was bad. Playing‘Tulsa Time’ is just two chords.You laugh at how easy it is before,but now nothing is easy.”

Feeling his licks return at last,Tidwell still isn’t rushing things.In August, he joined his band-mates for a show. But instead ofjumping back to rockin’ till hedrops again, he plans on givingfamily and friends a show of grat-itude when he takes the stagewith his band at the CrystalPalace on Wednesday and Thurs-day.

“Playing music and makingfriends over the years is some-thing I cherish. I was left wonder-ing if it was ever gonna comeback. I especially appreciate thesupport I’ve received from theCrystal Palace. That goes a longway. I’m still not 100 percentquite at what I was, but I’ll try.”

Without wanting to get preachyto his fellow musicians, Tidwellsaid he has changed his lifestylefor the better. And, for him, thebenefits have done wonders forhis groove.

“I started working on an exer-cise program and lost 20 pounds.

I got a couple road bikes I ride afew hours a day. I can’t drink likeI used to, only two drinks a day,beer or wine. No more liquor. I’mnot trying to portray myself as arock star; I just don’t take any-thing in life for granted.”

Joining Tidwell will be drum-mer Kirby Shropshire, bassistMark Powell, and Geri Boyd onkeyboards and vocals.

The Wednesday and Thursdayshows begin at 7:30 p.m. Admis-sion is free. Buck Owens’ CrystalPalace is located at 2800 BuckOwens Blvd.

Matt’s pickThe 44’s at Pyrenees Cafe,

601 Sumner St., 9 p.m. today, free,323-0053.

There’s blues, and then there’sthe greasy kind of blues thatmake you wanna jump out ofyour seat and stomp out loud.This L.A. quartet will have youdoing that and more when theyslide into town tonight. Featuringguitarist Johnny Main, formerWAR harpist Tex Nakamura,drummer Jason Lozano — son ofthe Los Lobos bassist ConradLozano— and Mike Turturro onbass, this is a tight group of Cali-fornia bluesmen.

“We play in-your-face, gut-bucket blues. We get there, plugin and tear people’s heads off,”said Main.

This will be the group’s secondappearance since opening forWhiteboy James in August.

“We got a really good response,better than L.A., where peoplehave their arms crossed,” addedTurturro.

Guitarist getting his groove backBakotopia UnpluggedOpen Mic Night With host Matt Munoz

When: 8 to 11 p.m. Wednes-days. Signups start at 7:30p.m.

Where: Fishlips, 1517 18th St.

Information: 324-2557 orvisit the Facebook page forupdates.

The Lowdown with Matt Munoz

Matt Munoz is editor of Bakotopia.com, a sister website of The Californian that devotes itself to promoting Bakersfield’s art

scene. Matt’s column appears every Thursday in Eye Street.

Token Okies playerback after stroke

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE 44’S

The 44’s — from left: TexNakamura, Jason Lozano, John-ny Main, Mike Turturro — per-form tonight at Pyrenees Cafe.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL CHADBURN

Bakersfield guitarist Robert Tid-well of the Token Okies creditsguitar playing with helping himrecover from a stroke.

Thursday, September 22, 2011 The Bakersfield Californian 25

Eye Street

BY MATT MUNOZBakotopia.com editor

mmunoz@bakersfield.com

The Doobie Brothers have alwaysbeen a band that knows how toroll with the punches.

Starting as a power trio catering tobiker crowds, they grew into anunstoppable super-group of the1970s, featuring a revolving cast ofdistinctive multitalented songwriters,vocalists and musicians. Their firstsingle, “Listen to the Music,” usheredin a Doobies decade of hits like“China Grove” and “Long Train Run-ning,” securing a spot for themselveson every FM playlist in the country.

The Doobies’ American blend ofBay Area roots rock and country soulis reflective of their San Jose origins.Still plugging away in an industry thatbarely resembles the music culture ofthose prime years, this older andwiser band of brothers take the stageof the Budweiser Pavilion at the KernCounty Fair Friday night.

“The band is better than it used tobe in the old days,” laughed singerand guitarist Tom Johnston during atelephone interview. “Because every-one is a lot more intent on practicingand there’s also the partying that’snot going on anymore. I think every-one is a lot more serious and proud ofwhat we’re doing right now.”

Home on break from a summertour in support of their 13th album,“World Gone Crazy,” Johnston’s voiceis featured on the Doobie Brothers’early run of hits. One of the foundersof the group, he was a primary song-writer on most the band’s best-sellers.

“We’ve been out a lot lately. I don’twanna use the word ‘brutal,’ butwe’ve been through a lot of towns,doing a lot of dartboard touring, fromEast to West Coast,” he said.

If you follow the group’s history,you’ll know there are two eras of Doo-bie Brothers popularity: Johnston’sand the one featuring keyboardistMichael McDonald. The latter forma-tion drew some heat from some fans,who criticized the group for becom-ing a glorified backup band forMcDonald. Johnston, who had leftthe group in 1975, said his absencewas out of necessity, not internal con-flict.

“I had a bleeding ulcer, so I had nochoice of the matter but to leave,” hesaid. “I came back after things hadcalmed down inside me. When Icame back, touring resumed, but Iwas still having problems. I said, ‘Youknow what? I’m going to hang it up

for a while.’ I went home and startedplaying softball and getting myselfback in shape.”

After McDonald left for a solocareer, the Doobie Brothers disband-ed, leaving them to seek their ownfortunes with moderate to no success.As with all great rock stories, thebreakup was not to last and sevenyears later, upon the request of drum-mer Keith Knudsen, they reunitedwith both vocalists for a concertfundraiser to benefit Vietnam veter-ans. After that show, the original line-up extended the reunion for a fewmore concerts.

“We needed a catalyst to bringeveryone together,” said Johnston.“Had Keith not called about doingthat benefit, I don’t think we wouldhave ever reunited. We did two moreshows afterwards to pay for getting allof us together to rehearse.”

The following year, Johnston andbassist Patrick Simmons continuedperforming as the Doobies in variousincarnations, but with the permanentreturn of guitarist John McFee anddrummer Michael Cossack, the bandwas back to its core, minus the verydistinctive voice of McDonald, whostill is not touring with the band.

“I think we’re very fortunate tohave a new album out and still be

around after 40 years and still have anaudience. Airplay is what keeps bandsaround. We just dropped the newalbum and single, and that’s kind ofwhat’s made the band continue to doas well as it does. If you go out andtour behind it, you’ve got that muchmore strength and it keeps you on theaudience’s mind.”

Their first new collection in 10years, “World Gone Crazy” featuresspecial appearances by Willie Nelsonand Michael McDonald, and comeswith a DVD documentary on the his-tory of the group. It’s a fine represen-tation of a band with a legacy fewother groups can ever hope toachieve, even if the Rock and Roll Hallof Fame hasn’t come calling yet.

Not that Johnston cares.“I don’t spend that much time on

it,” he said, though the band wasincluded in a list compiled by Timemagazine of the top snubs by the hallof fame. “It’s kind of pointless. I knowwho runs it and that there’s a reasonthat this is going on. There’s muchmore things to worry about — whatyou’re going to do onstage, writingsongs, then the ‘honey, do’ list — pay-ing bills, fixing the refrigerator.”

For fans preparing for a big a sing-along of their favorites on Friday,Johnston said to get ready for a littlebit of the new and a lot of the old.

“We’re very grateful for those fans.We hear from them on a regular basisand we see them at shows all over thecountry. We have a set list we wakeup to every day and it’s up to us todeliver those 90 minutes of solidmusic to the best of our ability. Noone’s complained yet and the peopleare up screaming and dancing everyshow.”

Rockin’ down thehighway to Bako

Venerable Doobie Bros. are still going strong

The Doobie BrothersWhen: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Kern County Fair Budweiser Pavilion

Cost: Free with fair admission

Information: 833-4900 or kerncountyfair.com

VALLEY PLAZA MALL, WIBLE ROAD AT HI-WAY 99

FORMERLY PACIFIC THEATRES

Showtimes Valid Only 9/22/11Bargain Shows in ( ) � Pass/Discount Restrictions Apply

“LIKE” READING CINEMAS VALLEY PLAZA 16ON FACEBOOK FOR SPECIAL PROMOTIONS!

ADVANCE TICKETS AT READINGCINEMASUS.COM 1-800-FANDANGO #2703

SENIORS (55+)

AND KIDSONLY

$550MATINEESBEFORE

6PM ONLY

$550GENERAL

ADMISSIONONLY

$8503D$11.00

3D$8.00

3D$8.00

EVERY THURSDAY

FREEPOPCORNANYONE 55 OR OLDER

$5 VALUESIZE

READINGC I N E M A S

BAKERSFIELD’SBEST MOVIE VALUE

BUCKY LARSON (R)

(12:30PM, 3:00, 5:40), 8:00, 10:10CONTAGION (PG-13)

(1:00PM, 3:20, 5:40), 8:00, 10:20WARRIOR (PG-13)

(1:00PM, 4:00), 7:00, 9:55SHARK NIGHT (PG-13)

3D: (3:40PM, 5:25), 7:302D: (1:35PM), 9:35APOLLO 18 (PG-13)

(11:40AM, 1:45, 3:45, 5:45), 7:45, 9:45

�

�

�

3D: (1:10PM, 5:30), 7:40, 9:502D: (11:30AM, 3:20)

(12:45PM, 3:10, 5:30), 7:50, 10:15(11:45AM, 1:00, 2:15, 3:30, 4:50),

6:00, 7:20, 8:25, 9:55

(G)

�

�

(12:25PM, 2:30, 4:40), 7:10, 9:20(PG-13)

(R)

I DON’T KNOW HOWSHE DOES IT

THE

LION KING

DriveSEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA (G) 6:45PM, 9:10SAVING PRIVATE PEREZ (PG-13)

(12:20PM, 2:45, 5:10), 7:30, 9:55DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK (R)

(12:40PM, 3:15, 5:35), 7:55, 10:10COLOMBIANA (PG-13) (11:40AM, 2:10, 4:45), 7:35, 10:00THE HELP (PG-13) (12:30PM, 3:30), 6:30, 9:30RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (PG-13)

(12:10PM, 2:40, 5:00), 7:25, 9:45THE SMURFS (PG) (1:25PM, 3:50)

�

(R)

�

WWW.THEMELODRAMA.COM

Opens Sept 23 rd through Nov 12 th

587-3377 For Reservations & Showtimes 12748 Jomani Drive

Grand Opening

www.RandDLeatherFurniture.com

Our New Address: 6801-B1 White Lane • 661-836-0070

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DOOBIE BROTHERS

The Doobie Brothers appear Friday at the Kern County Fair. Pictured fromleft: John McFee, Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons and Michael Hossack.

26 The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, September 22, 2011

Eye Street

BY SUSAN SCAFFIDIContributing writer

Asingle ticket price gets you ayear’s worth of jazz-pop, JohnDenver songs, Christmas car-

ols, Celtic and world music, Broad-way favorites, tenor soloists and atango dance revue in the BakersfieldCommunity Concert Association2011-12 season.

Pianist-singer-songwriter MichaelKaeshammer and his sextet open theseason Monday evening at theRabobank Theater with a blend ofboogie-woogie, jazz, blues, gospel,pop and jump tunes. Kaeshammer,an independent artist who has madehis own way with several well-received recordings and an extensiveinternational touring career, is anenergetic and engaging performerwith a diverse catalog of originalcompositions.

A native of Germany and a trans-plant to western Canada, Kaesham-mer discovered American-style pianoplaying as a child, quickly masteredboogie-woogie and jazz styles andstarted performing at jazz festivalsand other concert events. The 34-year-old Kaeshammer released hisfirst album, “Blue Keys” at age 19, andhas performed extensively throughoutthe United States and Canada, includ-ing performances at the Telluride JazzCelebration and Tanglewood Jazz Fes-

tival. Kaeshammer will have just per-formed in Shanghai and Beijingbefore performing in Bakersfield.

Musicians from CSUB will providemusic before the concert.

Tribute artist Jim Curry will per-form “Take Me Home: The Music ofJohn Denver” on Nov. 20. Curry pro-vided the singing voice of John Den-ver in the film “Take Me Home: TheJohn Denver Story,” produced shortlyafter the singer’s death in 1997.

The men’s choir Men in Blacquewill perform a concert of Christmasmusic on Dec. 4. Leading the choir,which is based out of UC Irvine, isJoseph Huszti, who directed the Bak-ersfield College choir in the 1960s.

The Celtic quartet Highland Waywill mark the birthday of Scottishpoet Robert Burns on Jan. 23. Thegroup will also perform for local stu-dents during the day as part of theCCA’s student outreach program.

Broadway performer Jeri Sagerbrings a one-woman show to theRabobank on Feb. 15. Sager, who hasfeatured roles in such Broadway pro-ductions as “Fiddler on the Roof,”“Evita,” and “Les Miserables,” is a

Come out for season of jazz,pop and other favorites

Bakersfield CommunityConcert Association What: Season opener withMichael Kaeshammer

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday

Where: Theater at Rabobank Con-vention Center, 1001 Truxtun Ave.

Admission: Season membership,$60 adults, $30 full-time collegestudents, $20 high school stu-dents. Available by calling 205-8522, online atbakersfieldcca.org, or at the door.

Terry &

Charlotte’s

STEAK HOUSE2515 F Street • 322-9910 2515 F Street • 322-9910www.kcsteakhouse.net www.kcsteakhouse.net

Buy 1 Dinner & Get 1

FFRREEEE FREE Maximum value of $10.95 only. One

coupon per table or party. Not valid with any other offers or Holidays.

HOURS Lunch: Mon-Fri, 11-2 Dinner: Mon-Thurs, 5-10; Fri & Sat, 5-10:30

Dine In Only Expires 9-30-11

Terry &

Charlotte’s

STEAK HOUSE2515 F Street • 322-9910 2515 F Street • 322-9910www.kcsteakhouse.net www.kcsteakhouse.net

Buy 1 Lunch & Get 1

FFRREEEE FREE Maximum value of $6.95 only. One

coupon per table or party. Not valid with any other offers or Holidays.

HOURS Lunch: Mon-Fri, 11-2 Dinner: Mon-Thurs, 5-10; Fri & Sat, 5-10:30

Dine In Only Expires 9-30-11

September Special

September Special

Named Bakersfield’s Favorite Pizza

in The Californian’s 2011 Readers

Survey

COME SEE RADIO CONTROLLED,

TURBINE JETS FLY! Featuring the Best Pilots In The World including, Ali Machinchy from the UK and David “Shui” Shulman from the U.S.

The Best In The West Jet Rally is an AMA Sanctions Event. Net proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles.

• Pilot & Manufacturers Demos

• Pyrotechnic Show • 6 Flight Lines • Food on Site

Vendors Spectator’s Choice Line-up

Spectator Seating (limited seating)

Camping on site (no hookups) 3,260 x 50 foot paved runway

No Fly Restrictions

Raffle Prizes and 50/50 Tickets

Awards dinner and Auction Banquet Show Announced by “World Famous” Sam Wright

ELK HILLS - BUTTONWILLOW AIRPORT - 8 Miles West of I-5

WWW.EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

The 34-year-old Michael Kaeshammer released his first album, “Blue Keys” at age 19, and has performed exten-sively throughout the United States and Canada, including performances at the Telluride Jazz Celebration andTanglewood Jazz Festival.

WWW.IMDB.COM

Jeri Sager has featured roles insuch Broadway productions as“Fiddler on the Roof,” “Evita” and“Les Miserables.”

Please see 27

Thursday, September 22, 2011 The Bakersfield Californian 27

Eye Street

The idea of nonprofit, community-based concert promoting came out offinancial desperation. In 1920, twoChicago-based music managers, DemaHarshbarger and Ward French were fran-tically trying to find work for their artists.Their idea: create a nonprofit group thatwould raise money in a short amount oftime — a week — by selling inexpensivememberships to an entire concert sea-son.

The idea was instantly successful, andquickly spread to other cities in the Mid-west. By the time of the stock marketcrash of 1929, there were 42 communityconcert associations. In 1930, the giantagency Columbia Artists ManagementInc. “adopted” the community concertsnetwork. With the slogan, “A CarnegieHall in every town,” CAM provided asteady stream of professional performersto the growing number of associationsacross the United States.

Despite the Great Depression of the1930s, or perhaps in response to it, theidea of cheap, high-quality live entertain-ment caught on, and by 1940, there were335 active associations often in smallcities and towns such as Redmond, Ore.;Muskegan, Mich.; Payson, Ariz.;Brunswick, Ga.; Elko, Nev.; and Bakers-field. After reaching a zenith of morethan 1,000 associations in the 1950s, thenumber of associations began to declinebecause of television, social change andeasier travel to large cities — today thereare about 400 associations in the UnitedStates, Canada, Mexico and theCaribbean.

But these organizations are surviving,even thriving, during the current eco-nomic decline.

Part of the allure is the cheap price —in Bakersfield, $60 gets you eight con-certs scheduled from September throughMay. The other part is the variety of per-formers and ensembles available in anyone season, including singers, chamberorchestras, dance troupes, jazz bands,choirs, tribute shows and other ensem-bles.

The Western Arts Alliance is at thenexus of association and artist. Accord-ing to executive director Tim Wilson,WAA represents a combined 600 associa-tions, artists and agents in the westernUnited States and Canada and bringsthem together at an annual conferencethat showcases talent to associationboard members.

“It’s a place where presenters or pro-grammers can see artists or agents, to seework, to talk with other programmersabout what they’re doing,” Wilson said.

Wilson said his organization helpsartists keep working by giving them theability to book full tours, and teachingthem how to manage their careers.

“Especially for a self-managed artist,you really have to know what people arelooking for,” Wilson said.

Wilson acknowledged the negativeimpacts of the financial decline since2008, but in comparing community con-cert associations to other performing artsorganizations, said the associations arefaring much better.

“They’re not reliant on professionalstaff,” Wilson said. “They have a longtrack record of patronage and support,and it’s not because (they’re employed)but because they are committed to themission.”

Locally, the 90-year-old BakersfieldCommunity Concert Association, with itsall-volunteer board, boasts not only along lifeline, but also a growing member-ship.

Last year’s membership subscriptiontopped 2,200 people, and according tospokeswoman Felice Durazo, this year’ssales have already passed the 1,900 mark.This comes at a time when other per-forming arts organizations have beencutting back.

Wilson said the current downturnactually has a silver lining.

“Organizations are recalibrating andadjusting to the ‘new normal,’” Wilsonsaid. “Everyone’s making adjustmentsand re-thinking how they work, andthat’s good.”

CONCERTS CREATED DURING DESPERATE TIMES

busy concert and cabaret performer.Festival of Four performs a variety of

“world music,” a blend of Spanish andAfro-Cuban music featuring flutes, guitar,mandolin and Flamenco, on March 14.Darrell Hicks, Michael Toby and MitchSeekins, performing as The InternationalTenors, follow on April 12. Mimicking othertenor trios, the singers will perform operaarias, musical theater pieces, “pop opera”and a tribute to three great tenors EnricoCaruso, Mario Lanza and Luciano Pavarot-ti.

The season concludes with “Rhythmand Passion,” a dance revue celebratingthe tango, salsa and gaucho dances.Dancers from the Otero Dance Company,the brainchild of Argentine siblings Gloriaand Claudio Otero, a Los Angeles-baseddance troupe.

Community concert associations suchas the Bakersfield chapter are part of ainternational network of concert presen-ters staffed almost exclusively by volun-teers. Members join by purchasing anannual season pass — the Bakersfield sea-son of eight concert goes for $60 per adult,$30 for full-time college students and $20

for high school students. According to spokeswoman Felice Dura-

zo, the CCA sold 2,200 memberships thisyear, with this year’s ticket sales alreadyapproaching that mark. “They’re just sell-ing so fast,” Durazo said.

“People really can’t believe you can geteight concerts for $60,” Durazo said.

While most memberships are sold at thebeginning of the season, Durazo saidmemberships can be purchased any timeduring the season.

CONTINUED FROM 26

WWW.TALENTBOOKINGUSA.COM

The International Tenors show featuresa stirring tribute to the famous tenors ofthe past: Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanzaand, of course, Luciano Pavarotti.

28 The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, September 22, 2011

Eye Street

BY STEFANI DIASCalifornian assistant lifestyles editor

sdias@bakersfield.com

Like skilled magicians — who makethe most complex tricks look likechild’s play — theatrical comedy per-

formers are best when they make theantics appear natural and spontaneous.But for anyone who’s performed on astage, it’s clear that the easier it looks, theharder it was to get there.

With that in mind, there’s no doubt thatthe cast of The Empty Space’s “Hay Fever”put more than a country weekend ofblood, sweat and tears into the show,which closes this weekend.

This is the best production I’ve seen atthe Oak Street theater. Full disclosure: I’ma sucker for comedies, and, with rapid-firebanter that shames “Gilmore Girls,” “HayFever” was a witty juggernaut that kept theaudience riveted for the nearly two-hourshow. (Obvious credit must be paid toplaywright Noel Coward, whose snappydialogue is an obvious forerunner of theWB mother-daughter dramedy.)

Catching a rare Sunday matinee (moreon that later), the cast of nine was in itselement with the classic 1924 play.

As any of the show’s characters wouldattest, things run smoothest when thefocus is on the Bliss family, and that wasevident in the first act.

Setting up the premise of too manyguests invited for the weekend, EllieSivesind and Paul Sosa, as spoiled siblingsSorel and Simon, hit the ground runningwith a rapid-fire exchange of sibling rivalryand ribbing.

The melodrama builds with the arrival ofmatriarch Judith Bliss, the outstandingJaclyn Taylor. As the aging former actresswho refuses to be relegated to life in thecountry, Taylor conveyed a comedicpathos. Whenever she was on the stage, itwas hard to wrest your attention awayfrom her.

A particularly memorable moment iswhen Judith and her children re-enact ascene from one of her plays, “Love’s Whirl-wind,” which she hopes will mark herreturn to the stage. The overly dramaticreading perfectly depicts the absolute the-atricality of the Bliss family. The scene,when later revived as a performance fortheir house guests, leaves no doubt — forthe guests or the audience — that this is afamily of egotistical eccentrics.

A doorbell rings, ending the impromptuperformance and marking the arrival ofthe four guests. Of those, the entrance ofdiplomat Richard (Jon Sampson) and shyflapper Jackie (Amanda Monroe) was astunner. Where the Bliss family scenes area whirlwind of dialogue and physical ges-tures, the silence is deafening for the twoguests — invited by Sorel and father David(Beigher Taylor), respectively — who havenothing in common and, left to their owndevices, are forced to make small talk.

The awkwardness is only amplified asJudith waltzes in with ardent fan Sandy(Conner Campbell), completely ignoringthe pair as she puts on boots and heads tothe garden.

That evening, the guests are subjected toa beloved Bliss parlor game, Adverbs,which no one outside the family under-stands. Using it as a launchpad to turnagainst the visitors and one another, eachBliss exits with a guest other than theirown for what leads to romantic entangle-ments. Being an artistic family, the tete-a-tetes are grounds for the proposed dissolu-tion of David and Judith’s marriage andthe engagement of Simon and Jackie. Asemotions and misunderstandings runrampant, the Blisses revive the scene from“Love’s Whirlwind,” completely confound-ing the guests.

Like the arrivals, the mass exodus ofguests in the final act is a mix of well-usedsilence and underplayed performances.When the four slip out in the middle of afamily row at the breakfast table about thelocation of Paris’ Rue Saint-Honoré andPlace de la Concorde — which intersect inthe final chapter of David’s newly finishednovel “The Sinful Woman” — you canbreathe a sigh of relief that they’ve escapedthe Blisses.

As for the audience, however melodra-matic and infuriating the Bliss familyappears to be, it is a sad departure to leavetheir household for the real world.

Catch this ‘Fever’while you still canComedy of bad manners is a good time at Empty Space

‘Hay Fever’ When: Doors open at 7:30 p.m., showat 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Where: The Empty Space, 706 Oak St.

Admission: Free, but donations accept-ed. Suggested: $15; $10 forstudents/seniors.

Information: 327-PLAY or esonline.org

Applications are Available for the 2012 Bakersfield Pageant

www.thebakersfieldpageant.com The Bakersfield Pageant has been Directed & Produced locally by GT Productions for the past 18 years

Attend the Orientation Meeting for more Information

Monday, October 10th at 7pm

Westside Church of Christ, 7300 Stockdale Hwy.

Miss Teen Bakersfield (Ages 14-17)

Miss Bakersfield (Ages 18-24)

Mrs. Bakersfield (23+ Married at least 6 months)

Contestants must Reside, Work or Attend School in Bakersfield

Application Deadline: October 17th

BRADLEY REESE

br@bradleyreese.com • 661-331-9090

PHOTO BY MICHELLE GUERRERO

Ellie Sivesind and Paul Sosa play siblingsSorel and Simon Bliss in Noel Coward's“Hay Fever,” at The Empty Space.

Thursday, September 22, 2011 The Bakersfield Californian 29

Eye Street Authentic Pepperoni • Whole Milk Mozzarella • Fresh Ingredients

FREE PIZZA

Buy Any Large Pizza

at Regular Price and

Receive a Free 1-Topping

Large Pizza. + tax

Plus tax. Valid at both Bakersfield locations. Extra charge for delivery. Limited delivery area. Not valid with any other offer.

One coupon per order. Expires 10/15/11

FREE ORDER OF GARLIC

STICKS WITH CHEESE

OR POTATO WEDGES

with any large pizza

Plus tax. Valid at both Bakersfield locations. Extra charge for delivery.

Limited delivery area. Not valid with any other offer. One coupon per order.

Expires 10/15/11

LUNCH Monday - Friday 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

DINNER Wednesday 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

• Delivery Available

• Happy Hour 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

$6.50 all pitchers

• Watch your favorite NFL or MLB

team on our 4 flat screen TVs

Hours: Monday -Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. • Sunday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Delivery Available

• Watch your favorite NFL or MLB

team on our 4 flat screen TVs

NOW AVAILABLE AT

MOUNTAIN MIKE’S ORDER YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA FROM

YOUR COMPUTER OR MOBILE DEVICE! www.mountainmikes.com

GO & DO

TodayJohnny Mathis, 7:30 p.m., Bakersfield FoxTheater, 2001 H St. $47.50-$135.50. valli-tix.com or 322-5200.

The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, 8p.m., Kern County Fairgrounds, BudweiserPavilion, 1142 S. P St. Free w/paid fairadmission. 833-4900.

Kids Daze, children 12 and under areadmitted free 3 to 9 p.m., Kern County Fair-grounds, 1142 S. P St. 833-4900.

National Christian College Fair, morethan 30 Christian colleges and universitieswill be present, financial aid seminar, 6 to 8p.m., Bakersfield Christian High School,12775 Stockdale Hwy. Free. 559-453-5584.

The Art of Living: One Breath at a Time,seminar and screening for Alpha 1-Antit-rypsin Deficiency (AATD) and other respira-tory conditions, 6 to 8 p.m., Clerou LectureCenter at Mercy Hospital, 2215 Truxtun Ave.Free. 324-7070.

Beginning Guitar Tuning Workshop, 5 to6:45 p.m., Beale Memorial Library, TejonRoom, 701 Truxtun Ave. Free. 868-0770.

Applus RTD Valley Industrial X-RayDemonstration & Dinner, presentation onnew technology innovations in non-destruc-tive examination techniques used in oil &gas business, 6 to 8 p.m., 254 E. NorrisRoad. Free. 399-8497.

Friday20th annual Golf in the Sun & Underthe Stars Tournament, hosted by OptimalHospice Foundation, registration 3 p.m., din-ner 6:30 p.m., Stockdale Country Club, 7001Stockdale Highway. $150 per person.Includes dinner, green fees, cart, balls,prizes, raffle ticket. 716-8000.

Cody Simpson, 6 p.m., Rabobank Arena,1001 Truxtun Ave. $11 plus fee. ticketmas-ter.com or 800-745-3000.

Doobie Brothers, 8 p.m., Kern County Fair-grounds, Budweiser Pavilion, 1142 S. P St.Free w/paid fair admission. 833-4900.

Eager Breathers, meeting, with Dr. M.Ashraf, 11 a.m., Asmtha and COPD Educa-tion Center, 3300 Truxtun Ave. 319-2098.

FLICS International Cinema Society,presents “La Prima Cosa Bella,” 7:30 p.m.,Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $5.flics.org or call 428-0354.

Follow Your Heart 2011 World Tour,founders Puran and Susanna Bair of Insti-tute for Applied Meditation, 7 to 9 p.m. Fri-day; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 1p.m. Sunday, Four Points by Sheraton, 5101California Ave. Free. Reservations, 520-299-2170.

Senior Day, 10:30 a.m., Kern County Fair-grounds, 1142 S. P St. Free admission forseniors 55+. Parking is also free to seniorsuntil 4 p.m. 833-4900.

SaturdayBC Football vs. Citrus, 7 p.m., BakersfieldCollege, 1801 Panorama Dr. $3-$12 depend-ing on area of seating. 395-4326.

Book signing, with author Delores Fischerof “When the Enemy Comes,” 1 to 3 p.m.,Russo’s, 9000 Ming Ave. 665-4686.

Certified Farmers Market, 8 a.m. tonoon, next to Golden State Mall, 3201 F St.

Children’s Writing Workshop, hosted bySociety of Children’s Book Writers and Illus-trators, with facilitator Alexis O’Neill, 1:30 to4:30 p.m., Fairview Baptist Church, 113 E.

Fairview Road. $5 members; $10 nonmem-bers. Email the4george@cs.com or visitscbwicencal.org/events/9.24.11.shtml.

Disaster Preparedness Training, 10 a.m.to 12:30 p.m., The Friendship Center, 2424Cottonwood Rd. 559-455-1000.

Evolution, 8 p.m., Kern County Fair-grounds, Budweiser Pavilion, 1142 S. P St.Free w/paid fair admission. 833-4900.

Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., BrimhallSquare, 9500 Brimhall Road.

Fifth annual Health & Safety Fair, withfree haircuts, food, giveaways, entertain-ment and children’s activities, 9 a.m. to 1p.m., Corporation for Better Housing,Camellia Community Center, 1760Cheatham Ave. Free. 831-1643.

Geologic Car Tour of the San AndreasFault from Cuddy Valley to Gorman,with geologist Tim Elam, 8:30 to 1:30 p.m.,Ridge Route Communities, 3515 Park Drive,Frazier Park. $5. 245-7747.

Grand Opening of Bakersfield Vet Cen-ter, entertainment by The Latin Lobos andVets Quartet, lunch, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,Bakersfield Vet Center, 1110 Golden StateAve. 323-8387.

Kern Audubon Society, field trip to KernRiver Preserve Turkey Vulture Festival, meetat 7:30 a.m. at the Albertson’s parking loton Mt. Vernon. Bring water, snacks andbinoculars. kernaudubonsociety.org or 322-7470.

Kids Free Day, CALM, 10500 Alfred HarrellHighway. 872-2256.

Local History Lecture Series, with housedetective John May on tracing the genealo-gy of an old house, 11 a.m. to noon, BealeMemorial Library, Tejon Room, 701 TruxtunAve. Free. 868-0770.

Ninth annual Celebration of Flight, pre-sented by the Tehachapi Society of Pilotswith aviation education, booths, aircraftdisplays, hot air balloon rides, car show,wine tasting, live music, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.Saturday; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday,Tehachapi Museum, 310 S. Green St. Free.289-2084.

Which One’s Pink?, a Pink Floyd Tributeband, 9 p.m., Fishlips Bar & Grill, 1517 18thSt. $20; 21 & over only. 324-2557 or 852-3238.

SundayRestless Heart, 8 p.m., Kern County Fair-grounds, Budweiser Pavilion, 1142 S. P St.Free w/paid fair admission. 833-4900.

See You At The Pole Pre-Youth Rally, forjunior high and high school students, withAmberly Neese and the Atmosphere Wor-ship band, 6 to 8 p.m., First Assembly ofGod Church, 4901 California Ave. 323-9041ext. 16.

Please see 30

Posting an event for our calendars:Go to bakersfield.com, click on theKern Events box to head to kern-events.com. You will need to registerin order to add events. Once you’reregistered and logged in, you canbegin submitting events.

Update your Web browser bookmarkfor kernevents.com to make sure yourevent goes through. Some olderbrowsers do not work for the newkernevents.com, so please update yourbrowser to the latest version.

30 The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, September 22, 2011

Eye Street

THEATER“My Fair Lady,” doors open at 6p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. todaythrough Saturday, Stars DinnerTheatre, 1931 Chester Ave. $45 to$55; show-only tickets $35; mati-nee $45 to $50. 325-6100.“Hay Fever,” doors open at 7:30p.m., show at 8 p.m. Friday andSaturday, The Empty Space, 706Oak St. $15 general; $10 stu-dents/seniors. 327-PLAY.Improv Comedy Show, withCenter For Improv Advancement,8 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Satur-days, Ice House, 3401 ChesterAve., Suite M. Adults: $5, childrenunder 12 are $1. ciacomedy.com.“Real Women Have Curves,” 7p.m. Friday and Saturday, Spot-light Theatre, 1622 19th St. $25;$22 students/seniors. 634-0692or thespotlighttheatre.com.“The Phantom of the Melodra-ma,” followed by the vaudevillerevue “Merry Olde England” 7p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m.Sunday, Gaslight Melodrama The-atre & Music Hall, 12748 JomaniDrive. $12 to $23. 587-3377.“Lonely Planet,” 11 p.m. Fridayand Saturday, The Empty Space,706 Oak St. $5. 327-PLAY.“Joseph & The Amazing Tech-nicolor Dreamcoat,” 8 p.m. Sat-urday; 2 p.m. Sunday, BakersfieldHigh School, in Harvey Auditori-um, 1241 G St. $20 adults; $10students/children. 325-6100.Major League Improv, improvi-sational comedy show, appropri-ate for families, 6 p.m. Saturdays,The Empty Space, 706 Oak St.Free but donations are accepted.327-PLAY.“Theater on the Kern,”fundraiser for the community’sfive non-profit theater companiesfeaturing live theater performanc-es, wine and hors d’oeuvres, 4 to7 p.m. Sunday, at private resi-dence. $35 per person. 324-9000.

ARTClosing Reception for “TheAbstract Works of Jen Raven,”entertainment, refreshments, 2 to5 p.m. Saturday, The Empty Space,706 Oak St. 327-PLAY.

Photography Workshop withFelix Adamo, learn about thecamera’s controls and how toimprove your everyday shootingwhether it be portraits, sportsevents, people, landscapes, 9 a.m.to noon Saturday, BakersfieldMuseum of Art, 1930 R St. $35.Class limited to 16 people.bmoa.org or 323-7219.

Exhibits on Display, “LethalBeauty: A Collection of SumuraiWeapons & Armor,” “Conver-gence: Work by CSUB and BC artfaculty,” and “US: The ConnectingLine by Art Sherwyn,” now untilNov. 20, Bakersfield Museum ofArt, 1930 R St. bmoa.org or 323-7219.

Jim Bates, featured artist for themonth of September, Dagny’s Cof-fee Co., 1600 20th St. 634-0806.

Art for Healing program, ofMercy Hospitals of Bakersfield hasmany unique classes that mayhelp alleviate stress and anxietyresulting from illness, loss, grief orcaring for another. All classes arefree but some suggest a donationand are held at Mercy Hospital,Truxtun Campus, Truxtun and ASt. Visit mercybakersfield.org/artor to register, 632-5357. Juliana’s Art Studio & Gallery,offers youth art, clay sculpture,stained glass, silver jewelry,Juliana’s Art Studio & Gallery, 50118th St. For times and dates call327-7507.Native American Arts Associa-tion, meets to learn basketry,beadwork and more, 9 a.m. tonoon each Thursday, The Stock-dale Moose Lodge, 905 StineRoad. 852-5050.The Art Center, 1817 Eye St.,869-2320; offers a variety ofpainting and drawing classes. Callfor details. The Art Shop Club, 9 a.m. tonoon each Thursday, Friday andSaturday, The Art Shop, 122120th St. All mediums. 322-0544,589-7463 or 496-5153.

MUSICBluesGreen Frog Market, 3711 Colum-bus St., 872-7855; J.T. Butler andthe Horizon Blues Band, noon to 2p.m. Saturday. blues.The Prime Cut, 9500 BrimhallRoad, 831-1413; Electric Grease, 9p.m. Saturday.

Classic RockT-Bones Steakhouse, 8020 Dis-trict Blvd., 398-1300; Elevation406, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday.classic.

ComedyElevation Lounge, 818 Real Road,325-6864; Improv Tuesday - Live

comedy with DJ after party, 9 p.m.Tuesdays.

CountryTrouts & the BlackboardStages, 805 N. Chester Ave.,399-6700:, offers karaoke, linedancing, West Coast Swing amongother various activities. Call fortimes and days. Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace,2800 Buck Owens Blvd., 328-7560; Buddy Alan Owens & theBuckaroos, 7:30 p.m. Friday andSaturday.

DancingJoaquin Squares, 7:30 to 9:30p.m. Thursday, Rasmussen Center,115 E. Roberts Lane. $5. 324-1390,325-3086 or 399-3658. Folklorico Classes, advancedancers/performing group 6 to 8p.m. Fridays; and beginners, allages, 10:30 a.m. to noon Satur-days, Fruitvale-Norris Park, 6221Norris Road. $22 per month forbeginners; $25 per month foradvance dancers. 833-8790.Pairs and Spares Dance, withSteve Woods, 7:30 p.m., Ras-mussen Senior Center, 115 E.Roberts Lane. $5; $7 nonmembers.399-3575 or 332-1537.Dance classes, beginning westcoast swing,intermediate/advanced west coastswing with instructor Mimi Johan-son, at 8214 Mossrock Drive. Call927-7001 for details. Greenacres Community Center,2014 Calloway Drive, offers anumber of dance classes, whichruns six weeks; $35, $45 fornondistrict residents. 322-5765or 201-2105. The classes are:Ballroom dance classes, begin-ning I at 8 p.m., beginning II, 6:45p.m. Mondays, and beginning I,8:30 p.m. Wednesdays; EastCoast swing (jitterbug), 6:30 p.m.Wednesdays; Argentine Tango,7:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

Whirlaways Square DanceClub, has workshops every first,third, fourth and fifth Mondays,Park Stockdale Civic AssociationCommunity Center, 205 Rio BravoDrive. whirlaways.org or 213-3105.

African Dance for Fitness,taught by national touring artists,5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 1to 2 p.m. Saturdays, Su StudioDance Academy, 1515 21st St. $5-$7 per class.africandanceclasses.com or 760-917-3685.

Beginner Belly Dance Lessons,8 p.m. every Tuesday, CentreStage Studio, 1710 Chester Ave.323-5215.

DJRockstarz Party Bar, 7737Meany Ave., Suite B5, 589-6749;DJ James, 9 p.m. Thursdaysthrough Saturdays. Free. Banacek’s Lounge, 4601 StateRoad, 387-9224; with DJ CaseyOverstreet, 9 p.m. Fridays. Le Corusse Rouge, 4647 WhiteLane, 834-1611; with DJ Chill in theMixx, 5 p.m. every Friday until 2a.m. Saturday. Le Corusse Rouge, 4647 WhiteLane, 834-1611; with DJ Chill in theMixx, 5 p.m. every Friday until 2a.m. Saturday. The Bull Shed Bar & Grill, atHotel Rosedale, 2400 Camino DelRio Court, 327-0681; with Meg,7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Jazz Cafe Med, 4809 Stockdale High-way., 834-4433; Richie Perez,7:30 to 11 p.m. Thursdays.

Imbibe Wine & Spirits Mer-chant, 4140 Truxtun Ave., 633-WINE; live music & wine bar withfeaturing local artists, along with24 wines, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday;featuring Jazz Connection, alongwith 24 wines, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Sat-urday.

Imbibe Wine & Spirits Mer-chant, 4140 Truxtun Ave., 633-WINE; live music & wine bar withfeaturing Jazz Connection, alongwith 24 wines, 6 to 8:30 p.m.Tuesdays.

Karaoke B. Ryder’s Sports Bar & Grill,7401 White Lane, 397-7304; 8 p.m.Thursdays and Tuesdays.

Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge,3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139; 9p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursdays and Sun-days.

Cactus Valley Mexican Restau-rant, 4215 Rosedale Highway,633-1948; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.Thursday; beer pong and happy

hour all day Sunday.

Cataldo’s Pizza, 4200 New StineRoad, 397-5000; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.Thursday.

Don Perico Restaurant, 2660Oswell St., Suite 133, 871-2001; 7to 11 p.m. Thursdays.

Pour House, 4041 Fruitvale Ave.,589-9300; 9 p.m. Thursdaythrough Saturday.

T-Bones Steakhouse, 8020 Dis-trict Blvd., 398-1300; with IrishMonkey Entertainment, 6:30 to 11p.m. Thursdays. The Old River Monte Carlo,9750 Taft Highway, 837-0250;8:30 p.m. every Thursday. The Wright Place, 2695-GMount Vernon Ave., 872-8831, 8p.m. every Thursday. Corona’s Cantina, 9817 S. UnionAve., 345-8463; 7 to 10 p.m. Fri-days. Julie’s The Branding IronSaloon, 1807 N. Chester Ave., 6 to10 p.m. every Friday. Maria Bonita Mexican Restau-rant, 10701 Highway 178, 366-3261, 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays. All ages. The Prime Cut, 9500 BrimhallRoad, 831-1413; hosted by EdLoverr, 9 p.m. to midnight Friday. The Regent, 2814 Niles St., 871-4140; 8:30 p.m. every other Fri-day. Chateau Lounge, 2100 S.Chester Ave., 835-1550; 9 p.m.every Saturday. Del Rio Cocktail Lounge, 5840State Road, 393-0262; 8 p.m.every Saturday. Pyrenees Cafe, 601 Sumner, 323-0053; 8 p.m. to midnight Satur-days. Rocket Shop Cafe, 2000 S.Union Ave., 832-4800; 8:30 p.m.to midnight Saturday. Sports & Spirits, 6633 Ming Ave.,398-7077; 9 p.m. Thursdays andSaturdays. The Playhouse, 2915 Taft High-way; 397-3599; 7 to 10 p.m. Sun-days. Diana’s Pit Stop, 10807 RosedaleHighway, 587-8888; 8 p.m. Mon-days and Thursdays. Rockstarz Party Bar, 7737Meany Ave., Suite B5, 589-6749; 8p.m. Mondays through Wednes-days. The Wrecking Yard, 9817 S.Union Ave., 827-9192; 7 to 10 p.m.Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Best Western , 2620 BuckOwens Blvd., 327-9651; The Junc-tion with host Mac Clanahan, 8:30p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Big Daddy Pizza, 6417 Ming Ave.,396-7499; 7 to 10 p.m. every Tues-day; 8 to 11 p.m. every Friday. Cataldo’s Pizzeria, 6111 Niles St.,363-7200; 6:15 to 10:15 p.m. Tues-days. City Slickers, 1001 W. TehachapiBlvd., 822-4939; 7 p.m. Tuesdaysand Thursdays. DoubleTree Hotel, Club Odyssey,3100 Camino Del Rio Court; 8 p.m.to midnight Tuesdays. Le Corusse Rouge, 4647 WhiteLane, 834-1611; A to Z Karaoke, 8p.m. to midnight Tuesdays. Magoo’s Pizza, 1129 Olive Drive,399-7800; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tues-day. McMurphy’s Irish Pub & SportsBar, 14 Monterey St., 869-1451; 7p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesdays. Round Table Pizza, 2060 WhiteLane, 836-2700; 6 to 9 p.m. Tues-day.

Please see 31

CONTINUED FROM 29

Which One’s Pink?, a Pink Floyd Tribute band, 9 p.m. Saturday,Fishlips Bar & Grill, 1517 18th St. $20; 21 & over only. 324-2557 or852-3238.

GO & DO

PHOTO COURTESY OF DIRKBAG.COM

Paul Samarin and John Stack of Which One's Pink perform in a2010 concert.

Thursday, September 22, 2011 The Bakersfield Californian 31

Eye Street

The Bull Shed Bar & Grill, atHotel Rosedale, 2400 Camino DelRio Court, 327-0681; 7 p.m. Tues-days and Thursdays. Trouts & The BlackboardStages, 805 N. Chester Ave., 399-6700; 7 p.m. Mondays and Thurs-days, 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays,Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdaysand Sundays.

Latin/SalsaLatin Salsa Dancing, 8 p.m.Thursdays, DoubleTree Hotel,Club Odyssey, 3100 Camino DelRio Court. 323-7111.Tam O’Shanter, 2345 Alta Vista,324-6774: Salsa dancing, 7:30 p.m.Fridays and Saturdays. DoubleTree Hotel, Club Odyssey,3100 Camino Del Rio Court, 633-1949; various levels, 3 to 9 p.m.every Sunday. $5 per person, perlesson.

Mariachi Camino Real Restaurant, 3500Truxtun Ave., 852-0493; MariachiImperial, 6 to 9 p.m. Sundays.

Oldies KC Steakhouse, 2515 F St., 322-9910; Jimmy Gaines, Bobby O andMike Halls, 6:30 p.m. Thursdaythrough Saturday.

Old schoolQue Pasa Mexican Cafe, 2701Ming Ave., 832-5011; Al Garcia &the Rhythm Kings, 8 to 11 p.m.every Thursday.

Open MicFishlips, 1517 18th St., 324-2557;Bakotopia Unplugged Open-MicNight, 8 p.m., signups begin at7:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

RockRockstarz Party Bar, 7737Meany Ave., Suite B5, 589-6749;live bands, 9 p.m. every Thursday. Sandrini’s, 1918 Eye St., 322-8900; Eken is Dead and Bridge-work Device, 9:30 p.m. Friday.

Top 40DoubleTree Hotel, ClubOdyssey, 3100 Camino Del RioCourt. 323-7111; 9 p.m. to 1:30a.m. every Friday.

Trivia nightBellvedere Cocktail Lounge,3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139; 7p.m. Tuesdays. Sandrini’s, 1918 Eye St., 322-8900; Trivia Night with DaveRezac, 10 p.m. Tuesdays. Chuy’s, 2500 New Stine Road,833-3469; 7 p.m. every Tuesday.

VarietySandrini’s, 1918 Eye St., 322-8900; The Mothership, 9:30 p.m.Saturday.

UPCOMING

Monday 9/26Bakersfield Community Con-cert Association, presents

Michael Kaeshammer, 7:30 p.m.,The theater at Rabobank Conven-tion Center, 1001 Truxtun Ave.$60; includes 8 concerts for 2011-2012 season. 205-8522 or 589-2478.Games Galore, doors open at 11a.m., salad luncheon at 11:30 a.m.,games such as bridge, bunco,Texan hold ‘em and others,Woman’s Club, 2030 18th St.Reservations not required but tick-ets can be purchased in advanceor $5 at the door. 325-7889 or412-4791.Hypnotist Tina Marie, 6 and9:45 p.m., Kern County Fair-grounds, Budweiser Pavilion, 1142S. P St. Free w/paid fair admission.833-4900.Salt-N-Pepa, 8 p.m., Kern CountyFairgrounds, Budweiser Pavilion,1142 S. P St. Free w/paid fairadmission. 833-4900.Senior Discovery Days, for sen-iors 60 and older receive 50 per-cent off admission, 10 percent dis-count in the gift store, CALM,10500 Alfred Harrell Highway.872-2256.

Tuesday 9/27Carlos Santana & the SantanaBand, 8 p.m., Rabobank Arena,1001 Truxtun Ave. $28-$88. ticket-master.com or 800-745-3000.

Crocheting at the library, 5 to 6p.m., Beale Memorial Library,Tejon Room, 701 Truxtun Ave.Free. 868-0770.

The Colors of Fall with PhyllisOliver, in all media, 9:30 a.m.,Bakersfield Art Association ArtCenter, 1817 Eye St. $100 four les-sons. 348-4717.

Uncle Kracker, 8 p.m., KernCounty Fairgrounds, BudweiserPavilion, 1142 S. P St. Free w/paidfair admission. 833-4900.

Wednesday 9/28Art Lessons, with Iva Cross-Fendrick, watercolor and ink, 9:30a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Bakersfield ArtAssociation Art Center, 1817 EyeSt. Free. 872-2332.

“Faust,” 8 p.m. Wednesday

through Friday, The Empty Space,706 Oak St. $15 general; $10 stu-dents/seniors. 327-PLAY.Fun with Watercolor with IvaFendrick, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.,Bakersfield Art Association ArtCenter, 1817 Eye St. $100 four les-sons; $25 per class. 872-2332.Gloriana, 8 p.m., Kern CountyFairgrounds, Budweiser Pavilion,1142 S. P St. Free w/paid fairadmission. 833-4900.“Taking Back the School” Doc-umentary, on the 1968 East LosAngeles Chicano student walk-outs, 7:30 p.m., CSUB, DorothyDonohue Hall, Room G102, 9001Stockdale Highway. Free. 654-2191.

Thursday 9/292011 Best in the West Jet Rally,come see radio controlled turbinepowered jets, pyro technic show,vendors, prizes, 50/50, 9 a.m. to 3p.m. Thursday through Sunday, ElkHills-Buttonwillow Airport, 3.5miles south of Buttonwillow. $5;children 12 and under. 310-350-1320.

Aces High Night, with RudySalas, cocktails 5:30 p.m., dinnerbuffet 6:30 p.m., Golden WestCasino, 1001 S. Union Ave. $100.375-7839.

Adult Ceramic Painting Class“More Pasta, Please!,” designon a large pasta server, 6:30 p.m.,Color Me Mine at The Market-place, 9000 Ming Ave. $40 pre-paid reservations. bakersfield.col-ormemine.com or 664-7366.

Beginning Guitar, on chords andsongs, 5 to 6:45 p.m., BealeMemorial Library, Tejon Room, 701Truxtun Ave. Free. 868-0770.

Kids Daze, children 12 and underare admitted free 3 to 9 p.m., KernCounty Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P St.833-4900.

March of Dimes SignatureChefs Auction, an evening ofworld-class cuisine and live auc-tion, 6 to 9 p.m., Marriott Hotel atthe Convention Center, 801 Trux-tun Ave. $100 or $1,200 for atable of ten. 369-1181.

Matthew West, 8 p.m., KernCounty Fairgrounds, BudweiserPavilion, 1142 S. P St. Free w/paidfair admission. 833-4900.

“My Fair Lady,” doors open at 6p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. Thursdaythrough Saturday, Stars DinnerTheatre, 1931 Chester Ave. $45 to$55; show-only tickets $35; mati-nee $45 to $50. 325-6100.

Friday 9/3011th annual Boots & BachelorAuction, benefits BakersfieldHomeless Center; featuring 18 eli-gible bachelors, live and silentauction, no host bar, 6:30 to 11p.m., Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace,2800 Buck Owens Blvd. $65,includes dinner. Tickets availableat Crystal Palace. 378-5646.

Community Resource Fair,hosted by the New Life TrainingCenter, 9 a.m. to noon, New LifeTraining Center, 3501 Edison Hwy.366-8003.

History Forum, with Dr. Mario TGarcia, professor of History andChicano Studies at UC Santa Bar-bara, and Mr. Sal Castro, an Ameri-can educator activist, discussing“The Chicano Struggle for Educa-tional Justice,” 4 p.m., CSUB, DoreTheatre, 9001 Stockdale Hwy. Freeparking in Lot C. 654-2166.

“Joseph & The Amazing Tech-nicolor Dreamcoat,” 8 p.m.,Bakersfield High School, in HarveyAuditorium, 1241 G St. $20 adults;$10 students/children. 325-6100.

Kids’ Night Out “AnimalHouse!,” for ages 7 and up, paintand design a dinner plate, pizza,and games, 6:30 to 9 p.m., ColorMe Mine at The Marketplace,9000 Ming Ave. $25; $19 for addi-tional siblings. bakersfield.col-ormemine.com or 664-7366.

Leon Russell, 8 p.m., Kern Coun-ty Fairgrounds, Budweiser Pavilion,1142 S. P St. Free w/paid fairadmission. 833-4900.

PRCA Rodeo, gates open at 6:30p.m., begins at 7:30 p.m. Fridayand Saturday, Kern County Fair-grounds, Grandstand, 1142 S. P St.$9-$13. vallitix.com or 322-5200.

Talladega Frights HauntedAttraction, 7 p.m. Friday and Sat-urday, 11811 Rosedale Highway,between Jewetta Ave. and OldFarm Road. $15 to $25. tallade-gafrights.com, facebook.com/Tal-ladegaFrights or 699-8633.

The Bakersfield Conference forWomen, with 10 practical, idea-packed sessions and more, 9 a.m.to 4 p.m., Four Points Hotel bySheraton, 5101 California Ave.$139 per person. skillpath.com or800-873-7545.

“The Phantom of the Melodra-ma,” followed by the vaudevillerevue “Merry Olde England” 7p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m.Sunday, Gaslight Melodrama The-atre & Music Hall, 12748 JomaniDrive. $12 to $23. 587-3377.

Saturday 10/12011 Concert Series, with LisaHaley and The Zydecats, 8 p.m.,Bright House Networks Amphithe-atre, 11200 Stockdale Highway.$10. ticketmaster.com or all Tick-etmaster outlets or by calling800-745-3000.“A Night of Tango,” presentedby CSUB music faculty with guestperformers from the BakersfieldSymphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m.,CSUB, Dore Theatre, 9001 Stock-dale Hwy. $10, $5 seniors/stu-dents, free for CSUB students withID; free parking in Lot B and C.654-2156.Book signing, with author CherieJohnson “Around the WorldTwice,” 1 to 3 p.m., Russo’s, 9000Ming Ave. 665-4686.

Certified Farmers Market, 8a.m. to noon, next to Golden StateMall, 3201 F St.

Eighth annual Walk to DefeatALS, check-in at 8 a.m., walkbegins at 9:30 a.m., The Park atRiver Walk, 11200 Stockdale High-way. walk.alsala.org or 664-1226.

Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1

p.m., Brimhall Square, 9500Brimhall Road.

“Faust,” 8 p.m., The EmptySpace, 706 Oak St. $15 general;$10 students/seniors. 327-PLAY.

Fourth annual “Ride 4 Youth”Benefit Motorcycle Ride, with abarbecue, raffle, giveaways, bikeshow, registration at 8:30 a.m.,the 50-mile ride begins at 9:30a.m. and will end at Peacock Park,Valley Cycle & Motorsports, 3917Buck Owens Blvd. $35 single rider,$50 for two. $10 for barbecue,children under 7 with a parent arefree. yfcride4youth.com or 323-9041.

Garden Project CommunityMeeting, learn how to plant yourown vegetable garden, 10 to noona.m., St. Luke Anglican Church,2730 Mall View Road. 332-3204.

Hypnotist Tina Marie, 6 and9:45 p.m., Kern County Fair-grounds, Budweiser Pavilion, 1142S. P St. Free w/paid fair admission.833-4900.

Just for Kids, 10:30 a.m. to noon,Buena Vista Museum of NaturalHistory, 2018 Chester Ave. $7adults; $5 students w/ID, seniors;$4 for children under 18; 5 andunder are free. Members are free.324-6350.

Kellie Pickler, 8 p.m., Kern Coun-ty Fairgrounds, Budweiser Pavilion,1142 S. P St. Free w/paid fairadmission. 833-4900.

Lancaster Bark at the Park,splash dogs, disc dogs, lure cours-ing, agility, canine good citizentesting, games, crafts, food, raffleand more, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Lan-caster City Park, 43011 10thStreet, Lancaster. Free. lancaster-barkatthepark.org.

Murray Family Farms’ October-Fest 2011, featuring Spookley theSquare Pumpkin kiddie maze,wasp & spider game corn maze,pig and duck races, giant jumpingpillow, pumpkin painting craft, antfarm, petting zoo and more, 12:30p.m. to 6 p.m. daily, now until Oct.31, Murray Family Farms, 6700General Beale Road. Mondaythrough Friday: $6.99 all ages;Saturday and Sunday: $10.99. Chil-dren 3 years and under free. mur-rayfamilyfarms.com or 330-0100.

Sierra Club-Buena Vista GroupProgram & Brunch, discussing“Fire & California Shrublands,” 10a.m., Camino Real Restaurant,3500 Truxtun Ave. 323-5569.

Third annual Bakersfield Okto-berfest, with German food,music, games, dancing, wine andbeer, 3 to 10 p.m., Stramler Park,3805 Chester Ave. $10 advance,$15 at the gate; “party pack” $40,$45 at the gate. Proceeds benefitM.A.R.E. Riding Center. bakersfiel-doktoberfest.com. Tickets can bepurchased at Lengthwise BrewingCo. 327-3825.

Sunday 10/2Mariachi Los Camperos deNati Cano, 7 p.m., Kern CountyFairgrounds, Budweiser Pavilion,1142 S. P St. Free w/paid fairadmission. 833-4900.

CONTINUED FROM 30

Johnny Mathis, 7:30 p.m.today, Bakersfield Fox Theater,2001 H St. $47.50-$135.50.vallitix.com or 322-5200.

GO & DO

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHNNY MATHIS