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E-mail StorySlim the Drifter: July 20, 1960-May 25, 2007
The godfather of Bakersfield’s underground music scene lived hard and died young. But with a rousing concert Wednesday, his friends and musical peers aren’t about to let him go quietly
| Tuesday, Jun 26 2007 8:52 AM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Jun 26 2007 9:31 AM
If you think Bakersfield’s reputation for edgy music started with Korn, you’ve probably never heard of the late Scott Sturtevant — or Slim the Drifter or any other name this iconoclastic performer used while pioneering the local alternative scene.
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Punk, cowpunk, Tom Waits-meets-Johnny Cash-style grit — Scott Sturtevant aka Slim the Drifter (pictured in 1992) was a dabbler in music styles and personas, say his old friends, who are grieving his untimely, though not altogether surprising death in May, at his home near Reno, Nev. He was just 46.
Scott Sturtevant, aka Slim the Drifter
Scott Sturtevant, aka Slim the Drifter, as he looked in 1992. Sturtevant was uncompromising about his art — for good and bad, say his friends.
Scott Sturtevant, aka Slim the Drifter, pictured in 1992.
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Punk, cowpunk, Tom Waits-meets-Johnny Cash-style grit — Sturtevant was a dabbler in music styles and personas, say his old friends, who are grieving his untimely, though not altogether surprising death in May, at his home near Reno, Nev. He was just 46.
“I rate him up there with Buck and Merle and Monty,” said his old friend Jean Erassarret III. “I think he’s part of the Bakersfield Sound. He’s right up there with those guys. But he’s underrated.”
Fellow musicians, friends and Sturtevant’s wife, Deborah, will honor his memory with a tribute concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Fishlips Bar & Grill, 1517 18th St. in downtown Bakersfield. There’s no cover charge.
Highlighting Sturtevant’s far-reaching impact as an artist, the concert will feature a diverse lineup of musicians, including Billy Russell and Chuck Seaton of Hot Taco, Matt Munoz of Mento Buro, Artie Niesen, owner of Front Porch Music, Jenny Angel from The Dusk Devils, Monty Byrom and others.
You can expect to hear them sing some of Sturtevant’s songs, as well as songs they wrote about him. They also plan to share their memories of this eclectic, talented man.
Portrait of the artist as a young man
Niesen, owner of Front Porch Music in downtown Bakersfield, remembers when he met a teenage Sturtevant, who would visit the original Front Porch, Niesen’s actual front porch in Rosedale.
“He sang me songs he wrote. I wasn’t real impressed but he was into it and he sure had a lot of songs,” Niesen said. “I encouraged him to keep going.”
That, he did.
Sturtevant, around 1980, started one of the first punk rock bands in Bakersfield, Teen Suicide.
“He helped pioneer the alternative music scene,” said Munoz, who works for bakotopia.com, a Californian sister company.
Sturtevant’s career extended beyond punk rock. He went on to perform as Slim the Drifter, a character his friend Erassarret described as “the embodiment of a songwriting, drifting cowboy punk” influenced by Johnny Cash and Tom Waits
Erassarret, who organized the concert, met Sturtevant when they were sophomores at West High School. Erassarret remembers Sturtevant as a charismatic and funny teenager.
Sturtevant left Bakersfield for Hollywood in the 1970s, just as the punk scene there was emerging. That’s where Sturtevant and Seaton, also from Bakersfield, crossed paths. Seaton was in a band in Hollywood and remembers Sturtevant as a burgeoning photographer, always with a camera in his hands.
But Sturtevant hung out with Seaton’s band and the two later wrote some songs together.
“He always had a keen, creative mind,” Seaton said, noting that when the two of them sat down together with their guitars, “the lyrics would just pour out. He was a bottomless pit.”
According to Erassarret, Sturtevant returned from Hollywood a changed man — totally “punked out.”
Sturtevant eventually got out of the hard-core punk scene and became more of a roots performer. His music was reminiscent of Johnny Cash, his idol. Joe Feldt (“Joe Citi”), a drummer who works at Front Porch, sees Sturtevant’s legacy as that of a “cowpunk — proud to be from Bakersfield, but not country.”
Feldt said he performed with Sturtevant about five years ago during bluegrass jams at a joint on Baker Street. He also saw Sturtevant perform at Fishlips. He said his music “was good. It was kind of dark, kind of like he was — short, direct and to the point.”
Feldt said Sturtevant “was easygoing, straight and direct. … He was pretty harsh but he was a good guy.”
Erassarret said he hopes Sturtevant is remembered as Slim the Drifter, “as this iconic, mysterious, drifting soul with great music. He created a great persona. He had a gift for that,” which Erassarret attributes to his friend’s love of theater.
According to those who knew him, Sturtevant lived a hard life.
“He more than dabbled in drugs,” Seaton said. He believes Sturtevant was determined to live the lifestyle he projected on stage.
Seaton and Sturtevant kept in touch by phone and e-mail after Sturtevant moved to Nevada.
“We just talked about the good old days,” Seaton said. “I’m going to miss his wild ass.”
Slim the Drifter Tribute Memorial Concert
When: 7 p.m. today.
Where: Fishlips Bar & Grill,1517 18th St., downtown Bakersfield. 324-2557.
Admission: There is no cover charge.
The lineup: The Tanner Byrom Experience; The DJ Drifters (Dave from the Buckaroos and Jean from 20 Years After); Billy Russell and Chuck Seaton from Hot Taco; Glenda Robles; Brad Coats; Three Chord Whore; 5th Wheel; Otis Paul & Mark Powell from OP Stylee; Ernie Lewis from The Moosehead Band; Tony Flores from Retro Guru; Artie Niesen from 20 Years After; Eddie Ruff from The Terrorists; The Antman; Jenny Angel from The Dusk Devils; Greg Goodsell; Dizzy Fingers.