  News, gossip and stuff to do ... all this week in Bakersfield * Local band urlLink Printed In Slovenia is now going by the name "Loveday.
" Guitarist Ben Gomez is no longer with the band and has been replaced by 21-year-old Matt Melton who last played with local band Bessemer Process. * urlLink Slim the Drifter has a new band ... The Slim the Drifter Band. They'll be playing Dagny's next week.
Details on the show are forthcoming ... * urlLink Eve Ensler shut down Ashley Bretz's production of " urlLink The Vagina Monologues " in LA. The show was a hit for The Empty Space earlier this year. Bretz took a lot of risks with Ensler's signature work, adding urlLink Bob Fosse -style dancing, more women and a "Cabaret" atmosphere. Bretz said she'd been going back and forth with Ensler's people for weeks. They wanted Bretz to stick with the "no more than three women on stage at once" and "no multimedia" clauses. Bretz said she got the OK, but after a benefit show where she invited out all the Hollywood types she was told to shut it down or get sued. More on this later ... * You got two more weeks to see " urlLink Hatikvah " in Los Angeles. That's Hal Friedman's play.
My predecessor Chris Page gave it good reviews and they've gotten both yeas and nays in the LA press. * "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" will open July 23 at urlLink Starts Theatre Restaurant . * urlLink The Spotlight Theatre's latest production "Ziggurat" is without a director. Word on the street is that he had to split due to personal issues. The assistant director will be picking up the slack. The Iraqi conflict-based play, penned by Friedman, is slated to open July 23.
* LA-based band urlLink Hoobastank's sleep-eyed lead singer Doug Robb has a crush on Penelope Cruz. Nothing serious. He just likes to tell interviewers that, but I'm almost positive he has a woman. Robb and the rest of Hooba will be in town Thursday, July 15 at urlLink Stramler Park . You can read about him and my interview with urlLink Phantom Planet in Wednesday's Eye section of urlLink The Bakersfield Californian .
* urlLink Monty Byrom and urlLink Mother Funk Conspiracy are doing regular gigs now at Fishlips. Friday nights. Show starts at 9 p.m. * Local purse/clothing designer urlLink Misa Misono's got hot summer stuff on her website. Go buy something. * Every Friday night from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., fashion show at urlLink The Bistro off California Ave. Food and drink specials.
Pretty girls in nice clothes. Jazz music. * In case you didn't notice, Bar Flies (next door to Downtown Records) is closed and no more, but word on the street is Shamiqster, Radio Shack Rahim (that's Beaux Mingus), is buying the space and turning it into a thrift shop. * Local band urlLink Near Miss Mallet is having their CD release party July 17 at Borders. Chris Page used to be the bass player before he ran away to Arizona to do theatre reviews. That's all for now! Have a good weekend! 
