Monty Byrom made me like Mustang Sally again
Saturday night Monty Byrom and his band performed at Fishlips. Monty is a rock and roll legend that made it big three times in the music industry with Billy Satellite, Eddie Money and Big House. A real rock and roll legend just like Buck Owens’ Country music legend status living right here in Bakersfield California. Although I remember Eddie Money and Big House, this was the first time I had ever seen Monty Byrom perform. Let me just say I was blown away.

Monty Byrom is probably the most talented guitarist I’ve ever seen in Bakersfield. The other band members were just as talented and also long time rock and roll legends who write songs for big name performers. They played two incredible sets full of original songs, Big House songs and amazing covers. Covers like Jimmy Hendrix’s Little Wing and the Beatles Dear Prudence among others.

I grew up on Sting’s music and have always loved his version of Hendrix’s Little Wing but Monty Byrom’s amazing original version had me sitting on the edge of my seat and covered with goose bumps.

“Oh my God, that was amazing!” I said to NL at the end of Monty’s version of Little Wing.

“Yeah it was!” He exclaimed.

“I can’t believe we haven’t seen him perform before now.” I said.

“I know.” He replied awed.

“I feel like I’m at a huge concert, not just a local music show at Fishlips.” I continued.

NL nodded his agreement and went off to take more pictures of Monty shredding his guitar in yet another amazing guitar solo.

Fishlips was packed. Packed with a different mix of people than the usual local music show crowds. I looked around at the women and men who looked like they had been in high school during the 70’s. I was in high school during the 80’s. Usually when I attend local music shows I’m the older person in a crowd of people who were in high school during the 90’s or the 2000's and look like they stepped out of an Abercrombie and Fitch magazine ad or a vintage clothing store. But that wasn't the case Saturday night. Saturday night, Fishlips was filled with big-boobed women in animal print tops and leather pants shaking their buns on the dance floor for Monty and long-haired, pony-tailed men trying to keep up. No matter their age or look, everyone in the house that night had a great time listening to and dancing to some great music.

And then in the middle of the second set Monty Byrom said: “This song is dedicated to the late great Wilson Pickett”, the crowd went wild, but not me.

“Oh no! Not Mustang Sally!” I wailed to NL.

He just smiled. He knew why I hated the song Mustang Sally.

I lived on Myrtle Street for two and a half years right across the street from a horrible garage band I called: ‘The Myrtle Street band’ because I didn’t know their real name. I swear they had the loudest PA system I’ve ever heard and they performed so loudly and horribly every weekend they made the dogs next door to me howl in agony. On three day holiday weekends ‘The Myrtle Street band’ performed marathon performances, all day and all night for three days straight. The family that lived in the house was a large Mexican family and I imagined huge Mexican family barbecues complete with performances by ‘The Myrtle Street band’. The Myrtle Street band’s favorite song was Mustang Sally, which they butchered badly and performed over and over again. There were times when I couldn’t take it anymore and I would call up NL pleading…

“Help! They’re playing Mustang Sally again!” I would plead.

“Light a candle and chant Mustang Sally, Mustang Sally.” He would tease.

“Uuuggghhhhhh!” I would wail and hang up the phone as he laughed.

When I moved from Myrtle Street to where I live now and left the ‘The Myrtle Street band’ behind for good, I was never so happy in my life to know that I never had to hear Mustang Sally again. And now Monty Byrom was going to play Mustang Sally. I just couldn’t believe it. There was nothing I could do but sit and listen as more big-boobed women and long-haired men crowded on the dance floor during Monty’s rendition of Mustang Sally.

I sat and I listened as Monty Byrom took a song I hated and played it in a way I had never heard Mustang Sally performed before. It was original sounding and full of guitar solos. Monty Byrom is so talented he made me like Mustang Sally again. And that’s a near impossible feat.

I am looking forward to hearing more of Monty Byrom’s amazing music and guitar solos.  posted by Matildakay at 11:20 PM