Some Things Never Change

"There's been a fight almost every time I've been here," I said to Matildakay while standing outside the door of Jerry's Pizza, drinking a large Newcastle Brown Ale and getting acquainted with a new friend named Sheena the Punk Rocker. We were waiting for The Filthies to show up and treat us to their special brand of punk rock. Their flyer said "7:30." It was now 8:30 pm and nary has a single musician shown hide or hair. Later, guitarist and lead singer Kenny "Motor" Mount explained that they made their flyer that way because that was what they were told. I guess that's why he was still doing a job for his limo service at 9:30 when Active Ingredients finally went on.

"Hey, I just need to use the bathroom. Is that cool?" a young straggler said to me while motioning through the door.

"Yeah, it's cool. Just don't take too long or come pull you right off the crapper." I was standing at the bouncer position outside the door of Jerry's, yet I was not the bouncer for the night. I was just drinking a beer, talking and waiting. Many people mistook me for the guy at the door for the night's show. Some shoved money into my hand for admission. I could have taken it, but being the upstanding guy I am, I gave it back and explained they were to get in free because I liked their face.

After the first band, longtime Bakersfield punk staple Active Ingredients, showed up Matildakay, Sheena and I retired to a booth to continue our discussions. I was feeling very grateful to have two such lovely ladies for company when we heard a crash and a ruckus. Some guy just looking for trouble threw a chair at one of the members of the band Cacti Widders, who was scheduled to play for the night, and knocked him to the floor. The troublemaker was quickly removed. Unfortunately, the band packed up and went home without performing.

Matildakay details other happenings that took place in the night in her blog, such as the swarm of police who materialized during the first song of the Filthies set to bust one of the patrons enjoying the music in the basement (or likely just trying to hide out). As she very well points out, Jerry's can be fixed up to look good. By the way, I was quite impressed with the sound system. When I used to play there, it was either some borrowed piece of shit equipment or something one of the bands brought. But now they have what is likely the best sound system in town. Regardless, Jerry's is still Jerry's.

Now I must get going. I have to figure out some way to make my computer count the number of times "7" appears in the file or some shit like that.