The Phenomenauts – Prima Donna – and Tanked – at B Ryders – Bakersfield, CA – August 24, 2012

 The Phenomenauts and LA based Glam-Punk band Prima Donna made their way to B Ryder's Friday evening supported by Bakersfield locals Tanked for a great night of musical entertainment.

Tanked is comprised of members of 90's Punk act Active Ingredients. After a long hiatus the guys came back together to for their current band "Tanked". They played a fun set with new material as well as Punk covers from bands like FEAR and Guttermouth. The crowd was barely trickling at that point, but none the less the guys rocked out and warmed up the stage for Prima Donna.

 

Prima Donna was up next. While they known all around the world, Bakersfield did't seem to be "in the know". As they were setting up, you could hear SoCal T-shirt, Flat-brimmed hat wearing, lifted truck driving douchebag meatheads saying things like "A saxophone?" and "They look pretty glammed up." I knew this would be a tough crowd for a band like Prima Donna. However as soon as they started their set they proved themselves as talented group of musicians with a refreshingly eclectic sound. They are categorized as Glam-Punk, but I saw them more as PowerPop Punk with a tinge of Glam. They won the crowd over with songs like "Ferrel Children" and "Soul Stripper".

Closing out the night was Sci-Fi Rockers The Phenomenauts. From start to finish, these guys had the crowd eating out of their hands with their elaborate costumes, props, and DEVO-esk stage performance. There wasn't a dull moment through the entire set. At one point they had the whole crowd crouched to the ground as they built up the momentum to the break down in the song. 

Towards the end of the set they brought out the toilette paper gun. It added an extra element of fun. If you haven't seen The Phenomenauts play, then this should be a show to add to your bucket list. 

Not only is the musicianship amazing (spanning thru several different genres all wrapped into one) but they are true performers. If you pay for a ticket to see them, they make sure everyone in attendance leaves with their money's worth, and most likely toilet paper stuck to their shoe. What a great show!

 

  More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-J.Moncrief-
Big Wheel Journalist

 

 

 

 

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