Azul’s Electric Holliday and the Filthies Rock a Doodle Doo
Fresh off the plane from my Hawaiian vacation I couldn’t wait to re-immerse myself back into the local Bakersfield music scene. My first opportunity was at Azul’s where Jimmy Holliday’s band Sioux City Sarsaparilla was setting up when I arrived. Jimmy Holliday was sporting a shorter haircut, a thicker beard and him and his band mates had electric guitars. Jimmy Holliday and gang had gone electric! Sioux City Sarsaparilla’s new electric sound was amazing. I think they finally found their niche`. While I like their acoustic sets-- electric they stepped to the next level. I once told Jimmy Holliday, in a long musical conversation outside of the Boiler Room, that his music reminded me of Joe Firstman who is from the South and his album The War of Women was described as rock-folk music. Jimmy had never heard of Joe Firstman, but I am a big fan. I had the opportunity to see Joe Firstman in concert when I took my Goddaughter to see Jewel at the Fox Theater a couple years ago and he was the opening act. With Sioux City Sarsaparilla’s new electric sound, they reminded me even more of Joe Firstman’s style. The two are not exactly alike: Jimmy Holliday’s lyrics are a bit more angst filled and Joe Firstman has a few more rock-folk ballads that are piano driven and can be a touch ‘poppy’ at times; but when their bands go electric, you’re in for a soulful ride of rock and folk music that I really like.

Even though I was tired and jet lagged I hung out with friends NL and Flower in the Dale for a while in Azul’s quaint brick neon blue bar and had a Kamakazi and conversation with Cesareo of Karmahitlist, who always makes me and everyone else feel at home in the music scene.

A few nights later, the Filthies played at the Red Rooster and put on a memorable Rock a Doodle Doo show to a packed house. Flower in the Dale and I are both avid Filthies fans and we flocked out to the newest hen house in town for some good ole` Rural Rock Punk music.

Earlier that day, I had received an email from Kenny Mount of the Filthies who had read about my ill- fated Limousine Scene fiasco in my blog The adventures of 4 traveling women and he informed me in no uncertain terms that: I WAS IN TROUBLE!

Having never been in trouble with a rock star before… I sent this message to NL:

“I just got in trouble with Kenny Mount.”

NL promptly called me, and then Kenny, to get the scoop. I explained the situation and read Kenny’s email to him.

“I was reading your blog and came up on the part with the Limo.....oooooh, you're a very bad girl and I WILL spank you! What about the filthie limo? 100 inch stretch with a full bar, Black, long and best of all, I would have been you're personal driver for half of what the Scene charges.... How do you think I get extra money for my calve implants? How will I pay for my hair plugs and self tanning lotion? Please promise next time you will call me if you need a limo. I am sooo on time you would faint. I run to the airport all the time, LAX, John Wayne, Burbank..... all of them girl. I'll let you off the hook this time.
Love, Kenny.”

I just love getting emails from local rock stars! ;)

We both had a good laugh… I love Kenny Mount’s sense of humor! I wasn’t really in trouble, but I had learned something very valuable-- the Filthies limo was for hire with a rock star driver for all your limo, traveling or airport needs at half the price of the Limousine Scene. Keep that in mind folks the next time you need a limo ride or a way to get to the airport and you won’t have to suffer the ill-fated limo fiasco I suffered and be left high and dry without a way to the airport. Plus, we as Filthies fans need to keep Kenny in calve implants, hair plugs and tanning lotion; after all… he has a rock star image to keep up.

That night at the hen house there was definitely a rowdy rooster in the crowd. Rob Shock tells the tale of the Red Rooster’s almost cockfight during the Filthies set. Flower and I just tried to stay out of his way. Rowdy fans like that do their best to spoil good rocking Rural Rock Punk music for the rest of us. JR was in the hen house hanging out and we talked a little bit about my recent trip to Hawaii before the Filthies took the stage and he danced and sang along to their rocking set. NL popped in at the hen house for a few minutes during the Filthies set and left soon after missing all the drama.

The Filthies were in rare form that night at the Red Rooster. Their unique style of Rural Rock Punk music had engaged and captured the crowd as well as the band members. Gus shred his guitar making it sing while Kelley rocked out on his bass and sang along. Guppy kept the beat and Kenny’s guitar and vocals were right on in fan favorites: The Donut Shop, Hooray for Hollywood, Take My Ass Home, Dramarama's Anything, Keeley Marie and Embalm You. It has to be a good feeling for a band when the entire crowd is singing along with you. I am always blown away by how good the Filthies are every time I see them-- and that night was no exception. They have a gig coming up in September at the Key Club in Hollywood and are trying to put together a bus of fans to go along with them. Everyone should sign up and show their support for Bakersfield’s own Rural Rock Punk band-- The Filthies.  posted by Matildakay at 6:34 PM