Wassup 805? Bill Locey here, neither in Studio 805 nor in Camarillo, but still gainfully employed by the Ventura County Star, at least for the next hour or two, kicking at my house, multi-tasking, writing about rock 'n' roll, watching the new season of "River Monsters" with the sound off and petting my cat, Nope, who is on my lap and as usual, in the way and doing his fair share as part of the worldwide feline anti-literacy campaign.
If I had a faster car, a richer girlfriend or even one with a job, here's where I'll be lurking in the back this week:
OK, tonight - Friday night, it's all the way to Hell-A but some people will do anything for some solid Americana - that could be Delta Spirit at the Music Box down on the Sunset Strip in Hollyweird, while at the cavernous Canyon Club in Agoura, it's one of the greatest bands of all time - yes, of all time - that would be the English Beat, making your feet are jumpy with tunes off the aptly named "Just Can't Stop It." Not far away, it's rockin' reggae with Urban Dread at Padri's Martini Bar, while over the hill, it's punk veterans, the Dickies at the Malibu Inn - they did the soundtrack for the greatest clown movie of all time, "Killer Klowns From Outer Space." And over a bunch of hills the other way - all the way to Simi Valley, the Beatunes will channel the Fab Four at Howie's while down in Camarillo, Air I Breathe and a bunch of other bands will be at Rock City Studios. Named for the scary clown in "It," its old school punk with Pennywise at the venerable Ventura Theatre. They have a new album, "All Or Nothing," just out on Epitaph. The Winchester Rebels will be across the street at the Sans Souci and the Preachers will play some rockin' blues at the Savory Cafe down near Oak and Main, also in Ventura. The wonderful Gurf Morlix - a guy who sounds like the result of a dream date with a Smurf and a Morlock - will play his own stuff, plus channel some Blaze Foley at Zoey's when he opens for Jen Foster. Check out my Gurf story in this week's Time Out - proof positive I'm hardly making any of this up. Hot Roux is having a CD release dance party at Yolie's in Ventura, while up Hwy. 33, Julie Christensen will play some tunes off her latest, "Weeds Like Us" at the Main Gallery in Ojai, while up the coast to S.B., it's Tommy & the High Pilots playing at homegame gig at the Velvet Jones. Wow - that's a lot of stuff for a Friday - choose wisely.
On Saturday, it's the wild and crazy, completely unpredictable and hook-friendly Brian Jonestown Massacre - is that one of the great band names or what? It's right up there (down there?) with John Cougar Concentration Camp - anyway, they'll be at the Wiltern in Hell-A. Check out the movie DIG, to see just how nutty rock 'n' roll can be - BJM along with the Dandy Warhols are in it. While up here in the 805 where we like it, Mark Masson will do an solo
acoustic gig at the French Bulldog in Camarillo - and over in Ventura, it's Kyle Hunt & King Gypsy, the Rubberneck Lions and a few others rocking out at Golden China down on Seaward in Ventura. Preachers & Pornstars will rock the Sans Souci, while up in Santa Barbara, it's pure power pop from the Tearaways - at it since there were still stop lights on the 101, maybe.
On Sunday, Frank Barajas will play some pop rock at Tutti's in Ventura and King Washington will continue their May residency at Zoey's, and guitar god Alastair Greene will be at Whiskey Richards in Santa Barbara.
On Monday - gotta love this one - Cluster Pluck will be at the Wrec Room in Ojai, which reminds me of the time we were lost in D.C. and hoping not to get jacked by the crackheads when we saw a restaurant called Cluck You's - I'm not making that up. OK, now skip a day to access the damage.
On Wednesday, it's those '80s legends out of Wisconsin - a state that will hopefully will give governor/corporate stooge Scott Walker the boot - it's the BoDeans at the legendary Troubadour in Los Angeles. It's the Conejo Valley's favorite band one more time - Urban
Dread - doing their dancey reggae thing at Bogie's in Westlake Village, while in Ventura, it's Band of Outlaws at the Sans Souci and there's acoustic guitar pyrotechnics at the Good Bar with Mark Masson and Bruce Kimmel and that All Star Blues Jam thing will be going off at the Bombay while another blues jam - this one the VCBS Blues Jam will go off at the Tavern down on Santa Clara - no report on the Green Art People, but you should still go.
On Thursday, it's Caught Red Handed - is that a great name for a country band or what? They'll be at the Watermark in Ventura and it's Jonathan McEuen at the Big Buddha Lounge in beautiful downtown Oak View, and Milo Greene will be at SOhO in S.B. OK, that's the end of all that. For now...
