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 Link TV 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, he's great but he's in Hell-A, well, Santa Monica, actually - that would be Chris Smither at McCabe's, while up PCH a bit to the Malibu Inn, it's the happiest living man, Pato Banton, who will play some uplifting reggae. Over the Santa Monica Mountains to the Thousand Oaks Library - which presumably will be shush free when Jimmy LaFave plays a few, while down the grade to Ventura, it's the Brian Faith Band at Blackbeard's BBQ down in the Ventura Harbor. There's a bunch of punk bands at Billy O's in Ventura, including the Grim. We Govern We will play some original rock at the Sans Souci and a few steps away, it's the band and what will follow, Bloody Mary Morning - they'll be at the Watermark. There's a big gearhead rockabilly show at the Bombay with the Shaymes, Dirty Filthy Mugs and Public Nuisance and blues belter supreme, Janiva Magness will be at Yolie's; and way, way up Hwy 33 - it's the annual Camp Schiedeck wing-ding at the Reyes Cantina in Maricopa with just about every cool local band, including Kyle Hunt & King Gypsy, Todd Hannigan, playing for a bunch of people getting too wasted to drive home.
On Saturday, it's Foster the People at the Universal Amphitheatre, and that gorgeous blond piano player who had it going before, after and especially during - Ally McBeal - that would be Vonda Shepherd. Check out my story in this week's Time Out, proof positive I'm hard making any of this up. In Ventura, all those Shoemaker Brothers will be at the Golden China - their Sunday brunch can't be beat - and finally on a Saturday, it's L.A. soul band, Fitz & the Tantrums opening for Ben Harper at the SB County Bowl.
On Sunday, it's the Bombers at the Bombay - and why not? They're providing the soundtrack for Kenny the Doorman's 55th Birthday party. Frank Barajas will do his one-man pop rock thing at Tutti's, also in Ventura and Rain Perry will do a homegame gig at the Ojai Art Center.
Skip a few until Wednesday - it's Lyle Lovett at the Wiltern in Los Angeles, while up here in the 805 where we like it, it's the All-Star Blues Jam at the Bombay and it's the VCBS Blues Jam a few blocks away at the Tavern and Shaky Feelin' will do their jam band thing at the Green Art People gig on the Ventura Avenue.
And finally, it's Jonathan McEuen doing something cool at the Big Buddha Lounge in Oak View. OK, that's that as to all that, a very slow week - for now...
