“Giant Ants Ate the Blues Player,” an entry on Undead Backbrain

“Giant Ants Ate the Blues Player,” an entry on Undead Backbrain


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Giant Ants Ate the Blues Player
Kaiju Search-Robot Avery has discovered that Bakersfield, California country blues player Hank Ray is making a movie about giant ants.





Taking the classic truth-in-advertising approach to titles, it’s called Giant Ants Eat Bakersfield. It will be about 30 minutes long and the director hopes that it will be available online after a run at the Kern Country film festival. He’s billing it as:

The first Country Music Horror Film ever! It’s A Musical And It Has Giant Ants Eating Bakersfield.




Apparently, filming began about a year ago. Hank commented to Avery: “I filmed this all over Bakersfield. We almost got busted filming on the roof of the old BUCK OWENS recording studio. The film is not finished, and I sort of put it on the shelf. I have had some really good feed back lately so I will start on it again this weekend. Yours was the best feed back so far. I will keep you updated.”

So Avery’s enthusiasm for no-budget independent monster flicks may have caused a potential renaissance in the Bakersfield Giant Ant film industry.

Below is a conceptual image for the film (NOT the real advertising poster), which Hank bodgied up from a classic poster from one of his film’s inspirations, the greatest giant ant movie of all time — Them!




According to Hank, the giant ants are a metaphor for the way the New Country music has come in and taken control of the Old. Now that’s a metaphor that hasn’t been explored in giant monster films before this. He told the Backbrain:

Well, Bakersfield used to stand for an underground or rebellious response to Nashville country Music. When Buck Owens passed away a while back, I went to his funeral. I later wrote some songs about that and one was called “Giant Ants”. It was as though corporate music was like giant ants that took over country music and Bakersfield was one of the things the corporate ants ate. I suppose I am a nut.

Here are the lyrics of Hank’s song on the subject:


ACT ONE SONG:
The old country music is gone

The old country music is gone
You know it never had a chance
The old country music is gone
Corporate music killed it just like giant ants.
Corporate music came to call
Like some giant ants they killed it all
I’d like to hear more like Clarence and Hank
But big corporate music owns all the money in the bank
The old country music is gone
You know it never had a chance
The old country music is gone
Corporate music killed it just like giant ants
America has sold it’s music out
They forgot what Bakersfield and Nashville was all about?
Watch ‘em on TV become a Nashville star
I can’t believe it’s gone this far.
The old country music is gone
You know it never had a chance
The old country music is gone
Corporate music killed it just like giant ants.

The film is meant to be a take-off of those really old B-moster movies where the monsters are so fake that they are cool. Like the tree monster and some of the ones on the old Star Trek.

Anyway, I went to Buck Owen’s ranch and made a mini film of Buck’s son’s band BUCKSHOT for Brighthouse. It showed on cable. That’s how it started. I have others that are helping — Dr. B.L.T., a local song writer, and some local hot-rod club members. My friend Ron Ramos, who almost got pinched on the Buck Owen’s studio roof, helped a lot.

The reason we had to get on the roof was, the studio had just sold, so we made a sign — like the studio was still open and put it on the marquee . Then we took a giant ant off an old pest control truck and painted it with rubberized undercoat, so it looked better. After that I bought some fake human skulls at the holloween store in Bakersfield and some dry ice for smoke.



One night I was wrestling the ant under the giant Bakersfield Arch sign at Buck Owen’s Chrystal Palace. It was so bizarre a sight that the 99 Freeway slowed to a crawl above the Palace.

A lot of the film footage got ruined when I spilled beer on it at a local honky tonk where I’d been filming.

Ah, the unique difficulties that come with country music monsterdom!










Below is a clip of Hank singing a song about a mastodon:

Woody’s Dream


Good luck with the film, Hank.

Source: Hank Ray via Kaiju Search-Robot Avery
Hank Ray’s Journal
Hank’s MySpace page (where you can hear more of his music)

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Published: Apr 19 2009 / 10:03 am
Category: Big Bugs, Film, Giant Monsters, Kaiju Search-Robot Avery, Music, News

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3 Comments
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Avery

04.19.09 / 10am
A country musical with giant insects?! I can’t wait to see more from this cool little big bug flick! It looks like a blast. Hank’s a great guy too! Lots of fun!

Giant Ants Ate the Blues Player

04.19.09 / 10am
[...] Original post by Undead Backbrain [...]

Topics about America » Archive » Giant Ants Ate the Blues Player

04.20.09 / 2am
[...] After Armageddon created an interesting post today on Giant Ants Ate the Blues PlayerHere’s a short outlineKaiju Search-Robot Avery has discovered that Bakersfield, California country … America has sold it’s music out [...]

Status On Giant Ant Movie

Ran Ramos, his Daughter and I were running all over Bakersfield and Oil dale the other night filming scenes for the film. The I went down to LA and filmed Jeffery Michaels' Band and than last night my son and I recorded song #1 and then I drove over to the "Buck-a-room" and recorded another ant song with Dr. BLT. Last Sat I filmed some of the bluegrass jam at Dagny's Coffee house.








I think perhaps this entire project was a mistake, oh well -I'm doing it anyway.





ACT ONE SONG -The old country music is gone


-The old country music is gone
You know it never had a chance
The old country music is gone
Corporate music killed it just like giant ants.
-Corporate music came to call
Like some giant ants they killed it all
I’d like to hear more like Clarence and Hank
But big corporate music owns all the money in the bank
-The old country music is gone
You know it never had a chance
The old country music is gone
Corporate music killed it just like giant ants
-America has sold its’ music out
They forgot what Bakersfield and Nashville was all about?
Watch em on TV become a Nashville star
I can’t believe its’ gone this far.
--The old country music is gone
You know it never had a chance
The old country music is gone
Corporate music killed it just like giant


The 1st Country Music Horror Film ever!





The 1st Country Music Horror Film ever! It's A Musical And It Has Giant Ants Eating Bakersfield. Hank Ray is doing a musical with the theme of Zante Misfits or "THEM!" but it takes place in "Nashville West" that's the old name for Bakersfield, California. Bakersfield was the stomping grounds for such country music rebels as Buck Owens, Merle
Haaggard and Clarence White.
Hank Ray is making the low budget country horror musical short as a statement; "The ants represent the new musical styles coming into Bakersfield and the Ants prey represent the old school Bakersfield musical styles." Hank is a huge fan of all things "Bakersfield Sound" and the musical is made to pay homage to "Bucks music" as well as say a sad good bye to it, as it is really rare nowadays. Hank contacted many of the younger hold ons of the Bakersfield sound but none wanted to be in the film...image that!
One or two have expressed some interest however and I will blog those as they evolve.

Anyone interested in being a part of this film let me know...


MySpace URL:

http://www.myspace.com/hankraycountryblues


Dr. BLT is fired up to help on the project.

Fresh back from the Bakersfield Country Music Awards (BCMA) at Trouts Dr. BLT is fired up to help on the project. BLT is truly an inspiration and go between for underground country!


"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

The 1st Country Music Horror Film ever! It's A Musical And It Has Giant Ants Eating Bakersfield.

The 1st Country Music Horror Film ever!





The 1st Country Music Horror Film ever! It's A Musical And It Has Giant Ants Eating Bakersfield. Hank Ray is doing a musical with the theme of Zante Misfits or "THEM!" but it takes place in "Nashville West" that's the old name for Bakersfield, California. Bakersfield was the stomping grounds for such country music rebels as Buck Owens, Merle
Haaggard and Clarence White.
Hank Ray is making the low budget country horror musical short as a statement; "The ants represent the new musical styles coming into Bakersfield and the Ants prey represent the old school Bakersfield musical styles." Hank is a huge fan of all things "Bakersfield Sound" and the musical is made to pay homage to "Bucks music" as well as say a sad good bye to it, as it is really rare nowadays. Hank contacted many of the younger hold ons of the Bakersfield sound but none wanted to be in the film...image that!
One or two have expressed some interest however and I will blog those as they evolve.

Anyone interested in being a part of this film let me know...


MySpace URL:

http://www.myspace.com/hankraycountryblues


Dr. BLT is fired up to help on the project.

Fresh back from the Bakersfield Country Music Awards (BCMA) at Trouts Dr. BLT is fired up to help on the project. BLT is truly an inspiration and go between for underground country!


"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

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

BLT AND HANK RAY PLAY BENEFIT CONCERT AT STARBUCKS

BLT'S BENEFIT AT STAR BUCKS with HANK RAY

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"

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

HANK RAY'S Musical Journey In Bakersfield

Bakersfield guitar and vocal. Country Blues. Hank Ray only started this playing guitar again about a year ago to kill time at lunch break, hadn’t played for 20 years . He felt compelled to record a song for his younger brother’s funeral in July and did the other songs for fun. It was a last minute thing, the only recording facility willing to squeeze him in was “Electric Cowboy Records” of Bakersfield. Kelly White Vice President of Electric Cowboy Records was intrigued by Ray’s raw (sometimes down right crude) style and shinny chrome resonator guitar . Since it was for bereavement, and Kelly was generally curious, he made a slot for Ray and gave him the “bereavement fare”. Hank Ray was on A.M. 1560 on the 20th, 4 days after the recording session ,The Jaz Mckay show did a blues program at 2PM and they got down with some Hank! Jaz said "I love that Blues shit, it's friggin' great! This after playing "Bakersfield Blues" on Hanks demo record "Streets Of Heaven" on the Bakersfield Kookoonauts own Indy label "Rodent Sandwich Records" this is like home spun but gives it the underground country flavor. Recorded at: Electric Cowboy Studios in Bakersfield, Ca. (www.electriccowboystudios.com) The recording had only been made on July 16th (radio on the 20th) and was done as a live recording and took about 2 hours for all 5 songs (including set up, a quick mix of the tunes and 2 beers), I guess it shows in some of Ray’s fumbles and stuff, but Hank is coming to town dudes, traditional country blues is not dead here in Bakersfield!