Post-punk rock: three words that are not commonly heard in Bakersfield. Local four-piece band Black Sails Western Shores wants to change that.

The band described its sound as “catchy punk,” “a slowed-down version of pop-punk music,” and “down tempo punk rock.”

However, Black Sails guitarist and vocalist Matt Salkeld said the band has been labeled before. “It’s a silly term: beard rock. A lot of it is punk bands that were from back in the day that weren’t straight punk music, like Fugazi and Jawbox. Taking whatever that is and putting your own twist on it.”

Black Sails members Stephen Castro (lead vocals/guitar), Salkeld (guitar/vocals), Wes Walker (bass/backing vocals) and Brett Otterness (drums) have had their own local bands that ranged from fast punk to experimental.

Castro, however, points out that “None of the bands we used to play in are relevant to the music we play today. It was the demise of those bands that eventually made what we have now, which is awesome.”

Castro added about one of his past bands and how Black Sails started in 2009.

“The last bigger one [I was in] was a band called A Long Walk Home. We put out a record on a label. That went for about three years, then that broke up,” Castro said.

“I concentrated on working and put music to the side. I ended up getting laid off last year. I said, ‘I haven’t messed with music at all, so maybe I should.’ And that’s how our band started.”

Castro finds inspiration for writing and playing music from many sources. “As far as the inspiration goes – everything, from personal experiences to stuff we make up as far as stories. A lot of our songs are usually about something that happened to us.” Castro added about their music, “We’re just trying to give people a positive outlook on what’s going on, especially right now [with the economy].”

Salkeld said, “As a band, our big influences are Hot Water [Music], Jawbreaker and Nothington, more post-punk-type stuff.”

While Salkeld was influenced by heavier music, Castro talks about a similiar Bakersfield sound. “Right now, all I am listening to is old country songs: Jerry Reed, Conway Twitty, Willy Nelson and stuff like that because it just seems honest. As long as you can tell a story, good or bad, if you can paint something someone can see that they can really connect to, that’s what matters.”

When asked what he is listening to currently, Castro responded, “Right now, I’ve been listening to more country, but bands like Lucero, Drag the River, Nothington (which headlined a show with Black Sails on Jan. 21 at Sandrini’s Italian & Basque restaurant and bar), and the Anchor (a Texas punk band that opened for Black Sails on Feb. 4 at Sandrini’s). I’ve got into bands like Cavett, Minus the Bear, John Moreland and the Black Gold Band is something I’ve been listening to non-stop. Gaslight Anthem, [too], I’ve been listening to them for years.

The band’s roots are deeply engulfed in Bakersfield culture.

“It’s a town that’s built off the oil industry and of a lot of working class people who don’t necessarily make grips of money but are happy with what they do. For us, when we play or write songs we want people to just really be into it and like what’s going on. Not necessarily like the music but just know that there’s people out there that feel the same things that they do, that we have the same problems that they do and can put a voice to it,” said Castro.

“I’d like to say that our band is a working band. We’re all people who have jobs, who work their asses off in order to pay for whatever it is we need to pay for. That’s who we appeal to, that’s what we are as a whole.” Salkeld said, “I say we’re proud to be from here. If we weren’t from here, we all would have never met and Black Sails would never have started. We were here for a reason.”

“We respect all the bands. There are tons of bands in this town, not all of them appeal to us and we may not like all of them but we respect other artists. This town really is thriving with a lot of bands but nobody, besides Buck Owens or Korn, has taken the name for Bakersfield, especially in the independent music world, which is where we’re at.”

Despite their pride of Bakersfield, Black Sails’ Castro and Salkeld talked about their struggles in Bakersfield.

Castro talked about the local music scene, “It’s not musically a great town because not a lot of bands do diverse stuff.

“A lot of bands sound the same, which is fine, it’s just one of those things [of] when you go to a show, [and] you want to see something different.”

Castro added, “We’re concentrating on just trying to play music and just have fun doing it.

“Show people that there are other styles of music that you might not necessarily know.”

Salkeld said, “Bakersfield isn’t exactly the hotspot for D.I.Y. punk rock bands. It’s hard in this town for what we’re doing. The people that we appeal to genuinely like our music, it isn’t fake.”

Salkeld added about the band’s efforts, “We’re D.I.Y. Everything we’ve ever done, we’ve all [done] it ourselves. No help, no handouts, nothing like that. Working hard to get where we are and we’re nowhere yet. It’s only been a year so there’s still a lot of hard work ahead.”

The band’s first album, “Halfway Home,” is tentatively set for release this year.

“Our first record that we’re putting out is totally positive and driven. It’s easier to sit there and be sad, but it takes a certain type of person to say ‘shit happens, but it’ll be all right.’ That’s what we write music for,” said Castro.

Castro talked about the band’s plans after their first full-length release.

“After the record comes out, we’re just going to concentrate on touring. We actually have another record ready to go. Depending on what happens either waiting until next year or doing it this year. We’re going to do a 7-inch with Anchor and we’ll see what happens.”

Castro reflected on what their reasons are to play, “Really to just play music and do that as a living. Just to see the world and have fun what in what we’re doing. Like, going to play a show somewhere and have kids singing what we’re playing. That’s something that means more to us than making millions of dollars.”

On giving advice to local younger bands, Castro said, “If you’re wanting to do music, and it’s important to you and it matters, forget about trying to dress a certain way or look, just do what it is that makes you happy and that’s the only advice I could give. What’s most important is the music.

“If it makes you happy and it makes sense to you, then do it. If it doesn’t, and it’s a chore, then don’t waste your time.”

Castro revealed what their true sound is.

“Someone said that our music is like a night of drinking with your friends.”