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It's the people that make up a city, not the buildings.  And it's folks like Vern that built Kern.  Bakersfield is a city, not made up of stones, but of singers, and of songwriters, and of songs. 

That's where the new traditionalists, or, if you prefer, the new romantics, come in.  We're building a new sound on the foundation that's build supported by folks like Vern Hoover, the owner of Trout's who just passed away. 

Our sound is a work in progress and a sound in the making.  I call our sound nu bako, AmeriKERNa, or Krock (Kern County Country Rock).  It's still an evolving sound, and is still lacking in easy-to-define dinstictive characteristics.  We are a new breed, planting an old seed.  Each of us has one boot dug deeply in the ground of the Bakersield Sound and one boot kicking high towards the sky, representing the future of Kern County country music. 

We are the new traditionalists.  We're the new romantics.  We're loosely knit, but nicely fit into a futuristic old sound---an old twang with a new twist.  We refuse to bury the past, and we have a deep appreciation for those who built our county music and our city of sound, but won't let it be the final chapter.  We believe that our best way to pay tribute to the pioneers of the past, and the engineers of those pioneers is to follow in their footsteps and to create new music in their honor. 

Buckshot is the ideal band to foreshadow the future of Kern County country rock.  Members include two generations, one whose father was Buck Owens himself.  Hank Ray is also standing up bravely to the challenge.   Dusk Devils have been carrying on the tradition, as have Iron Outlaws and, in a bakobilly sort of way, Fatt Katt and the Vonzippers. 

These are true new traditionalists.  But I know there are more of us out there.  The Bakersfield sound pioneers, and the engineers of those pioneers are slowly passing away, one by one.  Some call them dinosaurs.  I call them legendary story-tellers and heroes of sound.  Who will be around to pick up where they left off and to keep their legacies alive?

Stand up and be counted, new traditionalists, wherever you are.  Kern County country rockers, cowboy up and ride.  The sun is setting on a new tomorrow.  Will you be there when "the sun also rises"?