Central Coast Music Spotlight: Guardsmen Productions

You have to be a drunk to live in “the happiest place in America.” Because anywhere you go in SLO, there’s wine. Rivers of it. And with the almighty grape, comes terrible music. There is no escaping it. Even if you get blackout drunk, the music still makes your ears wish they had a rusty knife between them. That is until, you stumble upon one of the thousands of flyers around town with Guardsmen Productions stamped on it. They’re promoting a Punk show with Agent Orange or the Exploited. At last, your ears can rejoice. You put down the blade and say to your inebriated self, hallelujah! Thank god there’s actually an outlet for the battered, bored, and broken. But who’s responsible for all of this underground music in the middle of all this happiness?
Well, Lynt will tell you who. Since 2004, it’s been Chris Sandoval that has brought Punk acts here on up through to Santa Barbara. He’s not flying solo. He’s been assisted by Kristina Kelly from the beginning until just recently, who had to leave due to personal reasons. Now, Helen Lewis has come along to give a much needed helping hand. Together, they have poured their hearts into each and every show. It’s astonishing how much effort Chris, who also happens to be a 15 yr. veteran, and Helen, who’s studying to become a registered nurse, put in just to make a show go on. They dedicate months contacting the bands, booking them, the venue, marketing the show, passing out flyers, and making sure the band gets paid in full. If there’s no turn out because of you‘re too hungover, Chris has had to hit up his own bank account to give the bands the money they deserve. He’s committed toward guaranteeing more acts will come to the CC despite all of the obstacles.
It’s not right that he has to devote his own paychecks to the scene while you’re at home spilling wine on your cardigan. If it wasn’t for Guardsmen Productions, you would have had to drive hammered 4 hours to the nearest venue to see a decent show. Chris and Helen bring them here right to your backyard. You must be grateful for this act of generosity and chance to get this up close and intimate with your favorite Punk band. If any band, mainly Punk, Ska, or Metal, you’ve been worshiping since childhood has not been here before, email Chris and he will get them here. Guardsmen are more than open to suggestions. In fact, they encourage it. Lynt encourages you to get off your happy, bored ass and quit watching reruns of Oprah. Support Guardsmen Productions. Who knows wino, you may even be able to weasel a couple of glasses of vino out of it…