The Xmas Traveling Rock & Roll Revival – Featuring X – Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss – at The Crystal Palace

The Buck Owens Crystal Palace has become a symbol of Bakersfield's rich musical roots. Whether you like it or not, if you live in Bakersfield this is your heritage. This town has spawned Country and Western legacies such as Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, served as a surrogate home for many famous musicians throughout  the years, and has inspired tons of great songs from all genres of music. However, tonight The Crystal Palace would be hosting one of the baddest punk shows all year!

My mother, who has since passed, used to tell me as a child about one of her first jobs as a driver for Buck Owens. Mounted over the bar is a piece of my family history, the infamous 1972 Pontiac Convertible with bull horns and silver dollars lining  the interior that she had  bragged about driving so many times.

Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss are well know in the music scene for their association with acts such as Throw Rag and The Circle Jerks, however, they have seemed to find their niche as a laid back Outlaw Country duo. While their melodic soulful sound is easy on the ears, don't be fooled by the facade, their lyrical content is punk as fuck! They played a full set including "So Low She Rose" , "Good Pussy", and  "Comin' as I'm Goin''".

The crowd grew anxious as the minutes leading up to X's arrival on stage grew closer and it was clear who everyone came out on this cold Wednesday evening to see.



Last year's turn out was mostly middle aged fans who were reliving their youth. But this year brought out a much younger crowd, and the movement on the floor proved it.

X opened their set with "Your Phone's Off the Hook, But You're Not". and played all of the fan's favorites such as "Johnny Hit and Run Pauline", "We're Desperate, Get Used To IT", and "Los Angeles" Time hasn't seemed to affect this band, more than 30 years playing shows and they sounded better than ever as they blistered through more than an hour of material.

What a great way to break up the mid-week monotony. For the majority, this would be the last show attended in 2011, but I think it's safe to say, that for many who made it out that night, it would be their most memorable show of the year as well.

 

-J.Moncrief-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 
             More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 

 

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