Although only one member of the Kern River Band originally hails from Kern County, that hasn’t stopped the band from showing their appreciation for the Bakersfield Sound. Southwest resident and band leader Laurence Impastato sums up the band’s style with this phrase, “If country music was sausage, we’d be it.�?In their pursuit to keep traditional country music alive, the group is more likely to perform songs by Ernest Tubb, Red Simpson, Asleep at the Wheel, or Hank Williams Sr. than those by more contemporary country artists. Kern River Band blends old country, western swing, and even gospel into a fine blend of “sausage.�?/P>

Kern River Band got its start when co-workers, Steve “Buck�?Buchanan, also a Southwest resident, and Ed “Eddie Ray�?Quijano were talking over dinner about their mutual interest in playing guitar. Ed launched into such a detailed onslaught of ideas about forming a band that it prompted Buck to reply, “What got into you?�?/P>

What got into Eddie Ray was band fever that soon spread to another co-worker, Marty “Moon Pie�?Moon, who soon joined in to play lead guitar. Laurence “Fat Daddy�?Impastato was already involved in other local bands, but he caught the fever, too, and wanted to be a part of Kern River Band. He mixes some salsa into the band’s sound with shrill licks coming from his lap steel guitar. Mike “Mudbug�?Hollier then got the fever and came on board a few months ago to add texture to the music with his washboard and bass guitar.

Fat Daddy has experience with other bands, but for the most part Kern River Band is composed of guys who are either just starting out as musicians or just getting into country and western music. Their love of that music style propelled them to form the band and gives them the desire to perform live. In preparation for their premier performance at the Kern County Fair, Kern River Band performed an impromptu acoustic concert at River Walk Park, playing to people enjoying the bike path on Labor Day. Eddie Ray points out, “We mainly wanted to get out in front of people and get a feel for performing, so we only told our friends and family about this performance.�?/P>

The band takes its name from a local landmark �?the Kern River. Eddie Ray and his wife came up with the name while driving up the canyon to Lake Isabella. The name reflects their love of the mountains, and it represents something special about this part of California. The guys in the band liked the name because it also fits with their love of the music tradition here in Bakersfield.

Bakersfield has always been a maverick in contrast to the Nashville music machine. Unlike the more processed sounds of its cousin in Tennessee, the Bakersfield Sound is raw and honest, and that’s what Kern River Band hopes to capture in its performances. Although the band would never put down contemporary country artists, they’ll joke around saying, “We don’t play none a that foo foo country.�?/P>

With influences including Buck Owens, the Hag, Junior Brown, and Bob Wills, the band says they can’t help but be drawn to the gritty, heartfelt sounds that elevated those artists to country legend status. Now that makes for some good country “sausage.�?/P>

My Space Link

http://www.myspace.com/kernriverband