BUCK SHOT

Son of the Father, of Bakersfield Sound.
By Hank-Ray



GET READY FOR A HURRICANE!GET READY FOR A HURRICANE! at the crystal palace 6th Aug (Top photo: By Dr. BLT, photo below by Dr. BLT; Roxie Thiessen photoshop, all other photos by Ray Harwood)

A city struggling to find a new identity, or maybe retrieve a lost glory, since they lost their soul; the architect of the Bakersfield Sound, Buck Owens. The Bakersfield sound was a genre of country music developed in the mid- to late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California. Bakersfield country was a reaction against the slickly-produced, string orchestra-laden Nashville Sound, which was becoming popular in the late 1950s. Buck Owens and the Buckaroos and Merle Haggard and the Strangers are the most successful artists of the original Bakersfield sound era. Fender Telecaster "twang" with a driving beat!
Recently a large apportionment has been allotted to, restore North of the Kern River in Oildale, where much of the magic took place half a century ago. Included in the renovation a giant mural of the Bakersfield sound; Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and the ghostly images of the dust bowl migration. Many of the cities 322,500 Bakersfieldians don’t care, some even despise the legacy, and older country acts such as Hank Ray, The Blackboard Playboys, and Dr. Bruce Thiessen play in dark corners of the Bakersfield night without much fan fair, the Buck Owens Crystal Palace remains somewhat of a tourist destination.
There has been a VERY slight swell in the tide of Bakersfield country music recently with, younger, local Punk and Metals bands picking up telecasters and playing a heavier revitalized Bakersfield sound, the anthem being “Streets of Bakersfield”, made popular by the classic duet of Buck Owens and Dwight Yokam, many years ago. In 2005 a young punk band called the Kookoonauts received a fair amount of airplay on the local station, KRAB radio with a cow-punk song called Searching, the guitar was defiantly “TWANG” and the driving drums numbed the indo-cranial cavities. The band was disbanded when the guitarist was badly beaten in one of the downtown venues on brutal streets of Bakersfield. The iron Outlaws are a fantastic Bakersfield country band with definite “Bad Religion’ overtones, especially with their tune “If I could only die for love”. We are sure to see huge things from them, and I am sure some young Bakersfield ladies have hung out wanted posters on these Iron Outlaws! As far as perpetuating the legacy of the Bakersfield sound, it is coming soon, like a tsunami on the horizon, and it is coming from the very house of Buck.
I had just gotten through touring all the old abandon Bakersfield Honkytonks from the golden age of “Nashville West” with Mr. Lloyd Reading, an alumnus of the 1930s “Blackboard craze”. When Lloyd’s daughter Anna told me her son was also into country music, this sparked more than just a flash interest and when I heard the bands demo the ink in my pen began to boil over. The band had so much drive, power and freshness it blew me away, I must have listened to it over and over a hundred times or more, and I am actually listening to it now as I put pen to paper. The band sounds to me like a cross between Alan Jackson and Social Distortion; with some Mavericks thrown in for good measure!





The name of the band is “Buckshot” and they are locked and loaded, fully loaded for buck, Buck that is, for one of the lead singers is John Owens, son of the father, of the Bakersfield Sound. John has been a hard working ranch hand and foreman on the Owens’ Horse Ranch for most of his life; he is the quintessential American Cowboy persona and carries himself in accordance. He is a caricature the west; speaks in a direct manner, he is reserved with facial expression and tone. When we first met, I couldn’t help reflecting on the 1993 western movie classic “Tombstone”; when the character Mr. Fabian (the young actor) stated to Josephine Marcus (as they exit the stage coach), when it first arrives in the dusty streets of Tombstone: “you've set your gaze upon the quintessential frontier type. Note the lean silhouette... eyes closed by the sun, though sharp as a hawk. He's got the look of both predator and prey”.
John Owens has none of attributes of a musician, save one; he has a voice bestowed on him from the father; his father, the father of the Bakersfield sound. Mr. Owens truly has the best country music voice I have ever heard.
Aside from his extraordinary voice, his band is the perfect mix of talent. Meeting the band was much like the David Allen Coe song; “Desperado's Waiting on a Train” , they area group of friends that like to hang out together and maybe share a frosty adult beverage, one day at the beach they discovered John had the Owens gift. David Allen, rhythm guitarist, whom started his music career when he got out of the Navy, plays a beautiful flamed Fender Telecaster. The Fender Telecaster is the guitar that defined the original “Nashville West” rebellion decades before. David, like all the members of the band are hard core Bakersfield born and bred, most are relatives of country royalty but they all kept it pretty close to the vest. Despite their country roots, all the band members came from an assortment of local heavy metal bands that have been shaking the walls of Bakersfield for the last decade. David traded in his beloved Fender Stratocaster for the telecaster for this new venture. When I asked David to describe “Buck Shots” music, he relaxed his arms over his Telecaster, turned his head toward the band and remarked: “You gotta look, we got a bunch of rock guys with an old school country guy so of course it’s going to have an edge, and it’s almost southern rock”.



Simon Faughn, as John Owens points out, is as far from country- in appearance- as a person could be; shaved head, Mr. Spock side burns, and two “sleeves” of tattoos down his arms. Simon sings lead along with John and their voices blend perfectly with each other. Simon describes his music relationship and influences with “Buckshot as such”: Once we start writing our own music, that’s when our real distinctive sound will emerge. Our roots will shine through; Hank III is my absolute favorite. The influential roots I pull from go way back, I like that old boon-docks –hillbilly-red neck sound, I LOVE THAT! John and I are the two lead singers and we go back and forth; he will highlight one song and then I’ll highlight the next and then we may do a duet.” Simon has played in many local metal bands over the years, in fact he is also concurrently in a popular metal band called 800LBS Gorilla, and where does and 800 lbs Gorilla sleep? Any where he wants to, even the world famous, Buck Owens ranch!


Mike Martin holds down the post of lead guitar and backup vocals, he sports a red white and blue Fender Telecaster in the tradition of Buck Owens, whose songs they cover so well. Mike screeches and twangs like the old masters and I am sure Buck would have approved. His vocal high notes are reminiscent of Buck's partner in rhyme, Don Rich. Like most of the dudes in the band Mike's family was steeped in the early Bakersfield music scene, his mother Anna was the one whom introduced us, his Grandfather, Lloyd Reading, was involved in the late 1930s honkytonk circuit.


The rhythm section of Buckshot is made up of DD Boutros on bass and Colby Swank on drums. They too came from “metal” backgrounds and sharpened their chops in Myndsick. Colby and DD create a wall of driving sound that sets the canvas for what is sure to be called a “new Bakersfield sound” masterpiece!
They started getting together and casually jamming at the Owens ranch, even today they say it is mostly for fun, from my perspective, phenomena.

BAKERSFIELD BLUEGRASS

Jammin’ in Bakersfield -- The first Monday of every month bluegrass jam at Rusty’s Pizza in Bakersfield is happening tonight. Hosted by Kelvin Gregory, the jam takes place from 6-9 p.m. and Rusty’s (in Von’s Shopping Center) is located at 5430 Olive Drive. For more information contact Kelvin at (661) 392-7973 or kelvin@gregspetro.com.

It is like "stone soup", one guy had a pot and he puts a stone and hot water in it and everyone in town puts a piece of food in it until it is soup. One at a time folks come in with their music instument until a hot bluegrass jam cooks up.

BAKERSFIELD BY MIKE NESS

BAKERSFIELD
By: Mike Ness, Social Distortion. (AS played by Hank Ray)

Take me down that line.
Iv’e got a heavy load
I can’t seem to make it on my own
Turn the lights down low
I can’t seem to get you
Get you out of head
Stranded here in Bakersfield,
You seem so close yet far away
Stranded here in Bakersfield,
You’re a million miles away.

I feel the heat comminn down.
Can’t make it through this day.
I can’t hardly fake it
I can’t fce this dayaWas it
something that I said?
Something that I didn’t do?
18 hours more till can be with you.
Stranded here in Bakersfield,
You seem so far away
Stranded here in Bakersfield,
You’re a million miles away.
Will you come be with me in Bakersfield
I am a million years away.

Talking part:
I walked out of that lonely truck stip with my head down, How the fuck did I get into this mess. What would Buck Owens have done? He would have gone home and grabbed that old guitar and wrote a love song, Not just any love song, The one that would make a grown man brake down and cry.

Stranded here in Bakersfield,
You seem so far away
Stranded here in Bakersfield,
You’re a million miles away.
Will you come be with me in Bakersfield
I am a million years away.

Buddy Allen Owens Show at Buck's

Photo by:
Buddy Allen Owens Played The Crystal Palace Last Night




Buddy Owens played some songs off his record last night as well as an awsome medley of his father Buck Owen's songs. Buddy's step father, Merle Haggard, had many of his songs played as well.




Buddy Allen Owens (Buck Owens's son. This photo was taken by BLT with Hank Ray



Kim Macabe was Buddies co-singer and she sand just as good as she did with Buck Owens years ago.




DATA FROM ANSWERS.COM :
"Singer, songwriter and guitarist Buddy Alan, born Alvis Alan Owens, is the son of country legends Buck and Bonnie Owens. While growing up in Bakersfield, California, he listened to country and rock & roll and formed his first rock band, the Chosen Few, at the age of 14. He switched to country music by his late teens and in 1965 moved to Arizona with his mother and her new husband Merle Haggard. That year he also sang for the first time at one of his father's Christmas concerts.

Buddy Alan's first single, a duet with Buck called "Let the World Keep on a Turnin'," was released by Capitol in 1968 and made it to the Top Ten. That same year, he also recorded his first solo single, "When I Turn Twenty One," written by stepfather Haggard; this one made it to the Top 60. By 1969, Alan had spent a summer touring with the Buck Owens Show and was working at a country music nightclub. That year he released two more singles and also recorded his first album, Wild, Free and Twenty One. He then joined his father's All American Show and continued touring the country. His popularity grew, and he starred in his own shows and made regular appearances as a soloist and musician on Hee Haw for the next seven years. Alan again made it to the charts in 1970 with the single "Santo Domingo." In late 1970, he and Buckaroo lead guitarist Don Rich recorded the popular "Cowboy Convention," and Alan was named Most Promising Male Artist by the ACM. From 1971-1975, Alan continued to release modestly successful singles. Alan was signed to Capitol Records for eight years, but despite his initial promise as a performer, he never made it to the big time. Alan left the music business in 1978 to attend college in Arizona. He then went back to radio as Buddy Alan Owens and became the music director at two local stations in Tempe, Arizona. He was voted Billboard's Music Director of the Year four years running during the late '80s and early '90s. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Music Guide"

Hank Ray with Bakersfield Royal Family Part 2

Hank Ray with Buddy Allen Owens (Buck Owens's son. This photo was taken by BLT at the Buck Owens post office unveiling in August of 2008.

DATA FROM ANSWERS.COM :
"Singer, songwriter and guitarist Buddy Alan, born Alvis Alan Owens, is the son of country legends Buck and Bonnie Owens. While growing up in Bakersfield, California, he listened to country and rock & roll and formed his first rock band, the Chosen Few, at the age of 14. He switched to country music by his late teens and in 1965 moved to Arizona with his mother and her new husband Merle Haggard. That year he also sang for the first time at one of his father's Christmas concerts.

Buddy Alan's first single, a duet with Buck called "Let the World Keep on a Turnin'," was released by Capitol in 1968 and made it to the Top Ten. That same year, he also recorded his first solo single, "When I Turn Twenty One," written by stepfather Haggard; this one made it to the Top 60. By 1969, Alan had spent a summer touring with the Buck Owens Show and was working at a country music nightclub. That year he released two more singles and also recorded his first album, Wild, Free and Twenty One. He then joined his father's All American Show and continued touring the country. His popularity grew, and he starred in his own shows and made regular appearances as a soloist and musician on Hee Haw for the next seven years. Alan again made it to the charts in 1970 with the single "Santo Domingo." In late 1970, he and Buckaroo lead guitarist Don Rich recorded the popular "Cowboy Convention," and Alan was named Most Promising Male Artist by the ACM. From 1971-1975, Alan continued to release modestly successful singles. Alan was signed to Capitol Records for eight years, but despite his initial promise as a performer, he never made it to the big time. Alan left the music business in 1978 to attend college in Arizona. He then went back to radio as Buddy Alan Owens and became the music director at two local stations in Tempe, Arizona. He was voted Billboard's Music Director of the Year four years running during the late '80s and early '90s. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Music Guide"

The Farewell Session, an EP, Record Review

The Farewell Session, an EP, Record Review DR. BLT



I really enjoyed this record and love the theme.



The Farewell Session is truly sang from the heart of BlT he has the sand and grit to be a true Bakersfield underground country music legend! A great trbute to the Old Buck Owens Fat Track Studio!
The Farewell Session, an EP featuring a collection of songs written as tributes to the history of the old Buck Owens recording studios which evolved into Fat Tracks, and, eventually into Pig Studio. The solo project was the last to be completed at the very site it pays tribute to, before it closed down. Song: There's a Ghost in this Building (a song about BLT facing off with the spirit or ghost of buck Owens), The Last Man Standing (the story of BLT’s being the last solo act to ever record at the historic fat Track studios of Buck Owens),, Walls of Sound (BLT plays with the tragic end of the historic music land mark), The End of The World ( A songBLT peened about the lonely end of our local record store World Records), and Phat Chance (a play on words about Fat Track Studio, BLT watches the second hand tick away as he goes though a nail biting hold as the last solo act…will someone else slip into the studio and be the last man standing there? This song and “Last Man Standing’). The CD release show at Russo’sBook Store made the Channel 17 News last night. The EP also showcases local guitar hero and recording studio legend Reggie Sangenborfer.
"Dr. B.L.T. (Bruce L. Thiessen, Ph.D.), but you can call me Bruce or Dr. BLT. I'm a singer/songwriter who writes, records, and produces his own music in his own storytelling style, but he also brings in other artists as performers, vocalists, and co-writers who offer their own creative interpretation of his unique style. My music credentials include: recently placing a song on the top 30 at #21 at mp3000.net with a song that has become known as The Black Santa Song; getting national airplay; and having a cameo on an MTV-award-nominated music video by Cake for a song called Short Skirt/Long Jacket. In addition to being a singer/songwriter, I have a day job. I am a clinical/forensic psychologist, a university instructor. I was born and raised in Canada, but I am a dual citizen, a long-time resident of California, and a current resident of Bakersfield. For ten years, I've been write articles that integrate psychological principles and spiritual insights for Vocations and Prayer magazine. For nearly as long, I've been writing an advice column, writing interview/profile pieces, and doing CD reviews for the e-zine, Phantom Tollbooth: http://www.tollbooth.org I am the "Fan in Black," who wrote and released an entire CD featuring original songs about the life and music of Johnny Cash. If you've visited Russo's at the Marketplace recently, you'll also notice that I've released several other CDs, including Confessions of a Buckaholic, a Buck Owens tribute CD featuring original songs about the life and music of Buck Owens. I listen to, write, and record modern rock, alt rock, retro rock, classic rock, country, alt country and many more styles of music. I write and record a new song almost every day. What can I say? Music rocks! PS: "I am always looking for vocalist and other musician to perform, and record my many many songs. So if you live in the Bakersfield area and would like a chance to record one of my songs please contact me" THIS IS FROM BAKOTOPIA.COM

BLT speaks about the historic session:
"The significance of The Buck Owens Studios Farewell Session, lies not in the fact that it was the last solo project to be completed at the old Buck Owens Studios (which became Fat Tracks, and then Pig Studio). Moreover, it matters not that I was the solo artist who recorded the last solo project, recorded in its entirety and engineered by Nick Forcillo on April 2, 2008.

It was initially announced that the studio would close its doors on April 1, 2008. That date was extended to April 30 to accommodate projects like the Farewell Session, and a project by Iron Outlaws that had started even earlier. By the way, L. L. Bernardes did an excellent documentary on some of the last work done at the studio. The Last Band Documentary

I don't blame him for leaving my project out. Unlike the other artists that recorded there in the studio's dying days, the management of the place afforded me the singular luxury of a "no TV cameras allowed" policy, apparently in an effort to protect my privacy, to preserve the artistic integrity of the recording, and to prevent the session from becoming a media circus. Also, I'm sure they were aware of my marked disdain for fame

The significance of The Farewell Session, if, in fact, there is significance, and what makes it stand out among other final projects to be completed there, is that the songs are about recording art, by much more influential artists than me who recorded before me, and who made history in this building, located on North Chester Avenue in Bakersfield, California. The parade is long, beginning with Buck Owens himself, who took what was the Old River Theater, and made it into his own studio, one that would serve the likes of Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Dwight Yoakam. Jim Shaw sat behind the engineers desk in those days and engineered some of the studio's great country hits, with the Buckaroos backing some of the finest tracks to be produced at the old place.

The studio evolved, and changed hands. As Fat Tracks, under the direction of Rick Davis, Jonathon Davis's dad, it took in artists like Korn, who created some of the early Korn tracks there. It eventually became Pig Studio, as Nick Forcillo took over the soundboard, adding increasingly modern software and equipment to the mix.

Nick Forcillo engineered The Farewell Session. He wasn't the easiest chap to warm up to, but he did a fine job and mixed this entire EP (with deft skill, I might add) without the 3 hours that were reserved for the recording and the mixing.

The Farewell Session EP will be officially be released on CD at a CD release party at Russo's Books at the Marketplace on Ming Avenue in Bakersfield on June 7, 2008, beginning at 7 pm. Hank Ray will back me up as a lead guitarist and will open the show with a few of his own originals as we perform songs from the EP, songs I've written and recorded in the past, and songs from the forthcoming CDs, From Buck Owens Blvd. to Merle Haggard Drive and Altar'd Hymns, both full-length CD, both scheduled for release within the next few months. "

Bakersfield Country Music Awards IsTonight At Trouts

Bakersfield Country Music Awards




Tonight is the Bakersfield Country Music Awards! I am sure some of the movers and shakers and the bender sand twangers are going to be out in force. However hard some folks try to kill Bakersfield Country music it keeps coming back, its' like cock roaches dudes - you just can't kill it.There is a new song by Dr. BLT called "Kick Ass Country" that chronicles the slow underground rumblings of a new volcanic like explosion of new country music out of Bakersfield, a large part of this most is certainly Rockwell and the Bakersfield Country Music Awards...andperhaps BLT himself...












Bakersfield has long been noted or its' own brand of country music. With this event, "Bakersfield Country Music Awards" some folks here in "Nashville West" will get their horns tooted! Its' about time...(<:

The photos above are Trouts, Thersa Spanke and Howard Yearwood at Trouts, local legend Red Simpson, Bryan Gunther and below DR. BLT


Quotes about the B/C/M/A/ after the facts:



HERE IS SOME QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEWS AT THE B.C.M.A.:
Bakersfield Country Music Awards: Sound to live again?
Unique country style on life support, some say
BY JOE BOESEN, Californian staff writer
e-mail: jboesen@bakersfield.com | Monday, Jun 9 2008 10:38 AM
Monday, Jun 9 2008 2:34 PM Bakersfield Californian

“This is a drive to embrace contributors of all avenues of the Bakersfield Sound,” said T. Rockwell, spokesman for one of Kern County’s few surviving honky tonks. Rockwell said contributors to the Bakersfield Sound were receiving certificates of recognition on behalf of Bakersfield.
The award ceremony doubled as a reunion for those people involved in creating the Bakersfield Sound. Red Simpson, 84, was greeted with the whispers due a local legend as he walked through the honky-tonk’s door. Simpson composed 30 songs with Buck Owens and six with Merle Haggard.
Later, as he took a drag on his cigarette outside, Simpson said he considers all the folks inside as “old friends.”
Bruce Thiessen, 47, of Bakersfield was handing out business cards for his blog, bakersfieldsoundunderground.com, which focuses on connecting the old Bakersfield Sound with new artists trying to revive the movement.
“I would love to get guys like Sonny (Langley) and young guys together in the studio,” he said. “It’s like the past meets the present.”
New Entry at Bakersfield Sound Undergroud
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 8:22 AM
From:
"Bakersfield Sound Undergroud"
Add sender to Contacts
To:
"HANK RAY"


Bakersfield Sound Undergroud published a new entry entitled "Trout's Country Music Awards rocked, but the elephant in the room was the Bakersfield Sound generation gap" on 6/10/2008 1:11:32 AM, written by drblt.




________________________________________
Trout's Country Music Awards rocked, but the elephant in the room was the Bakersfield Sound generation gap
I thought maybe some of the last bands and artists to have recorded at the old Buck Owens Studios (aka Fat Tracks/Pig Studios) would have showed up to honor the living legends that have contributed, in collosal ways, to the Bakersfield Sound.
They were conspicuously absent. I'm sure they were all very busy. I've been busy myself, and haven't always attended functions that have honored the pioneers, the past they represent, and rich heritage. they have brought, and continue to bring, to this community.
I was about the youngest one there, with, perhaps one or two exceptions. That's pretty sad. The elephant in the room was the phenomenon I call the Bakersfield Sound generation gap. At least 2 generations were missing in inaction at the 2nd Annual Bakersfield Country Music Awards.
The 50 to 100-year-olds put my generation, and younger, to shame, with their heart-felt appreciation for the givers that keep giving, whose legacies are forever etched in stone in the very heart of Bakersfield.
I guess old guys do rule (and old gals too). They certainly know how to honor their own. My generation (with notable exceptions) has cut itself off from its roots, and we wonder why a musical identity crisis has ensued.
This trend appears even more pronounced in the very town that gave birth to the likes of Homer Joy, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Billy Mize, Sonny Langley, Red Simpson, and the many other Bakersfield Sound pioneers, many of who were the honorees of the evening.
I'll get off my soapbox now. After all, I live in a glass house (well, at least the windows are glass), and I certainly don't want to come home to find them shattered.
50 Cent, you've got nothing on Terry Keplinger (pictured here), and the Fifty Buck Band. They brought the rafters down at my favorite honky tonk, Trout's on North Chester Avenue, in Bakersfield California as they introduced the 2nd Annual Country Music Awards.
bakersfield californian story by Joe Boesen
Rockwell was a terrific, affable host, and MC, once again. But the show was all about the honorees, and their legacies, both individually, and collectively, and, in that respect, these kings of Kern County country really shined.
As for the food, well, it wasn't anything too fancy, but, if you're a mid-western, meat and potatoes guy, and you were sick of beef, this ham dish was just the ticket. It could have used one more item on the plate and a desert, but that would have caused me to be even more of a pig than I already am.
I met Monty Byrom for the first time. The Bakersfield Life took our picture together, and he said, "I've only known this guy for about 5 minutes." I told Monty that "the value of my CD's just doubled." I met Sonny, and we talked about what seem to be good prospects for a forthcoming interview. I had a brief, but rewarding talk with Red Simpson, and was inspired to write anew tribute to him called Turning Red.
It was a great time had by all. It was a great opportunity for the new generation to follow the example of the drummer from Sum 41 (I believe his name is Steve Jocz, who jumped at the opportunity to play on a tribute to Buck Owens performed at the 2006 Country Music Awards.
Unfortunately, for the youth missing in inaction, it was a missed opportunity. Some of these cats won't be around too much longer. I'd like to assure you that there will be plenty of opportunitiees to mingle with the Kern County country kings again in the future, but that's a promise I can't make.
Bakersfield Sound Underground

Permalink: blog.bakersfieldsoundunderground.com/2008/06/10/trouts-country-music-awards-rocked-but-the-elephant-in-the-room-was-the-baker

HANK RAY PLAYS GUITAR FOR BLT'S NEW RECORD

THIS IS A BLOG FROM BLT'S SITE: (actually, the clock just struck twelve, and so now it's officially yesterday's) underground recording session at Bakersfield School of Music and Recording. The session featured me, Dr. BLT, and the Starbuckaroos. They joined me in the recording of several original new songs from my forthcoming CD, From Buck Owens Boulevard to Merle Haggard Drive.

Walter Stormont played tambourine on the song you're hearing here, Average White Guy. The newest member of the band, Hank Ray played some killer lead guitar and Jerry Rothberg played drums and sax. Reggie Langendorfer, seated in this photo, is the studio engineer. He also fills in on various instruments as needed.

We recorded 6 songs in a period of 3 hours, and that's with lots of wasted time that I subjected my band mates too with myriad diversions. They are all nearly complete, but need to be mixed down. In addition to Average White Guy, the songs include Kick-Ass Country; If You Wanna be the Next Buck Owens, From Buck Owens Boulevard to Merle Haggard Drive, Country Punk, and Singin' is a Man's way of Cryin'.

We turn now to the Starbuckaroos, formerly known as Dr. BLT and the Rolling Scones and before that, Dr. BLT and the Yellow Submarine Sandwiches. Boys, how would you describe your experience in the studio?"

I met BLT at the Green room. Next we played together at this benefit. "Dr. B.L.T. (Bruce L. Thiessen, Ph.D.), but you can call me Bruce or Dr. BLT. I'm a singer/songwriter who writes, records, and produces his own music in his own storytelling style, but he also brings in other artists as performers, vocalists, and co-writers who offer their own creative interpretation of his unique style. My music credentials include: recently placing a song on the top 30 at #21 at mp3000.net with a song that has become known as The Black Santa Song; getting national airplay; and having a cameo on an MTV-award-nominated music video by Cake for a song called Short Skirt/Long Jacket. In addition to being a singer/songwiter, I have a day job. I am a clinical/forensic psychologist, a university instructor. I was born and raised in Canada, but I am a dual citizen, a long-time resident of California, and a current resident of Bakersfield. For ten years, I've been write articles that integrate psychological principles and spiritual insights for Vocations and Prayer magazine. For nearly as long, I've been writing an advice column, writing interview/profile pieces, and doing CD reviews for the e-zine, Phantom Tollbooth: http://www.tollbooth.org I am the "Fan in Black," who wrote and released an entire CD featuring original songs about the life and music of Johnny Cash. If you've visited Russo's at the Marketplace recently, you'll also notice that I've released several other CDs, including Confessions of a Buckaholic, a Buck Owens tribute CD featuring original songs about the life and music of Buck Owens. I listen to, write, and record modern rock, alt rock, retro rock, classic rock, country, alt country and many more styles of music. I write and record a new song almost every day. What can I say? Music rocks! PS: "I am always looking for vocaiist and other musician to perform, and record my many many songs. So if you live in the Bakersfield area and would like a chance to record one of my songs please contact me" THIS IS FROM BAKOTOPIA.COM

SONG WRITERS' WORKSHOP

REVIEW OF SONG WRITING WORKSHOP
Category: Music

REVIEW OF SONG WRITING WORKSHOP

I went out to the Black Board tonight, and all this week for a free songwriting workshop.
SONG WRITERS' WORKSHOP
The workshop was put on by Tom Rockwell, business manager at Trout's Nightclub, and the proprietor of the Blackboard stage and basement where the workshop was held. Rockwell (as he is known by all) is always on the move making sure everything is going right, to him everybody is important and everything that is going on in the place is meaningful. I am but a rank amateur at music but I love writing songs as a hobby, for fun and I tell you my skills were modified 10 fold by this exiting 3 day workshop. Some of the finest country music song writers in the world came in and helped out, including Red Simpson.



Rockwell did an outstanding job and was there filming and or recording the class the whole time. We each took turns in the "hot seat" where we got real world stage experience in front of the class and interested on-lookers. I admit I had some bad stage freight, but everybody made me feel right at home and by the end of the third night I was fairly confident, lots of encouragement… unfortunately I was just too tired to perform my tunes. I did get some good performance early in the week though, so I came out of it feeling pretty good about my stage experience. I learned that song writing is a lot about writing and rewriting lyrics over and over until you get the product you desire and then working out the music with other musicians. Some of the Blackboard Playboys were there with high degree of musical expertise and were very helpful in this process.. This was like an inspirational work shop for song writing! A fun, and highly recommended, experience. That's-a-foe-show---


Watch the Trout's' Blackboard calendar for future free workshops