A Filthies Road Trip
Friday night
Flower in the Dale,
NL and myself ventured north through the Southern San Joaquin Valley towards Fresno and Club Fred where the
Filthies would take the stage with the
Dalloways.
“We’re your official groupies for the night!” I exclaimed to the Filthies before we all left on our adventure. Flower and I had worn our Filthies shirts in support of the band.
Club Fred was the kind of bar I wish we had here in Bakersfield. Roomy enough for a crowd, a bartender that knows how to make good drinks, and a carpeted stage with lighting and a good sound system. I had been looking forward to this night of music-- two of the best bands in Bakersfield, the
Filthies and the
Dalloways, performing on the same stage!
Besides loving, let me say that again… LOVING the music of the
Filthies and the
Dalloways-- though their musical styles are very different, they are some of the ‘best’ musically that this Southern San Joaquin Valley has to offer. Besides their music what I love most about these two bands is their openness, friendliness, humility, and their love and support of other bands music. Gary, Nico, Matt, Aaron and Ricky of the
Dalloways along with Kenny, Kelley, Guppy and Gus of the
Filthies are all genuine artists who love music and who love the people that love music. I have not known the members of either band long or all that well… but all of them have reached out and made me feel welcomed as well as extended their friendship. After a week of non-stop running, of being pulled in every direction in my professional and personal life, after the death of a family member, and receiving heartbreaking news about someone I cared about-- the kindness and hospitality of these wonderful people and talented musicians was much appreciated Friday night.
The
Filthies on a blue shag carpeted stage with professional lighting and quality sound sang with such energy songs like
The Donut Shop,
Insomnia,
Keeley Marie,
Anything,
You Look Dead to Me and
Embalm You making fast fans out of the Fresno crowd. It was a very proud Bakersfield rock punk moment.
The
Dalloways took the stage and made that blue shag carpet sing. Weaving Brit-pop melodies and rock moments through the crowd in songs like
Penalty Crusade,
Cotty’s House,
Marriage Arranged and
Clarissa Dear bridging the gap between Bakersfield and Fresno creating Southern San JoaquinValley fans.
I would travel to see the
Filthies and the
Dalloways any time! And when these bands have record contracts and big time tours, (they will, it’s just a matter of time) I’ll pay $60 bucks or more for tickets to see them live, to hear, feel and experience their music, to listen to their ‘voice’.
The night ended late… on a dark road traveling sleepily south back through the Southern San Joaquin Valley towards Bakersfield and home…
My Photos...