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's I'll be lurking in the back this week:
OK, tonight, Friday night, it's rockin' reggae from Urban Dread at Padri's Martini Bar in Agoura - the Reverend Horton Heat will play loud and fast at the Canyon Club - also in Agoura. (When I'm feeling reverential, I turn on the Reverend Billy C. Wirtz - the funniest living redneck). While up here in the 805 where we like it, the Bee Eaters will do some cool acoustic stuff at the Center for Spiritual Living down on Laurel Street and Santa Clara in Ventura and guitar goddess Teresa Russell will do her amazing thing all over Andy's New York Deli in Ventura and all those Shoemaker Brothers will be at Amigo's on Main Street while directly across the street, it's Mouse Grey and those Rubberneck Lions at the Good Bar, while down C Street, it's Le Meu Le Purr - Pepe Le Pew's favorite band - they'll be at the Bombay and drummer Jerry McWhorter and the Big Beats will be at Yolie's. Up Hwy. 33 to Ojai - Lissie - yup, just Lissie - she'll headline a benefit for Haitian children at the Libbey Bowl in downtown Ojai. And finally on a Friday, it's Colbie Caillet and Gavin DeGraw - they'll be at the Santa Barbara County Bowl. Wow - that's a lot of stuff - but that's why it's Friday night.
OK, on Saturday, Rachel Sedacca will play some folk rock at the Lab Brewing Company in Agoura and the Grandmothers of Invention - I'm guessing these are the survivors of Frank - they'll be at the cavernous Cavern Club in Agoura, while the amazing Preston Smith will improve the quality of life at Cisco's in Westlake Village. While down the hill to the 805 where we like it or until Oxnard paves everything - heard about their plan to build two new high schools on the farmland in the green belt? Several people need to start voting in that town - I can say that - I was born there. Anyway, one of the hardest working bands anywhere and my heroes - the Cadillac Angels will be at Peninsula Park in Oxnard and a mile or two up Harbor Boulevard - the #1 DUI street in the county - it's Divine Crime at Margarita Villa in the Ventura Harbor. Ron Rio, a master of boogie woogie piano will be at the Four Brix Winery in Ventura and the Cult will play some '80s style guitar rock at the Ventura Theatre. Across the street at the Sans Souci, it's Mouse Grey fueled by beers and booze from Lauren the bartender and through the alley to the Bombay, all those Shoemaker Brothers will play some original rock. Up Hwy. 33 to Ojai, it's Rey Fresco ably assisted by the Ojai Junior Symphony at the Libbey Bowl and just steps away, it's Bob Jones and Randy Rich playing some blues at Los Caporales Mexican Restaurant. And up the coast to SB - a thinly-veiled excuse to go to Mac's - it's the Dunwells playing stellar Celtic folk rock at the Lobero Theatre where the sound is always just perfect.
On Sunday - lots more stuff - good thing we don't have an NFL team - I haven't watched a pro game since the Rams left. The Wayward Sons will rock all the yupscale rich folk as well as the doctors on Harley's - all happening Sunday at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas. Up here in the 805 where we still like it, Immortal Technique - a rapper who definitely does not suck - will be at the Ventura Theatre, probably late but worth the wait. The legendary R&B Bombers will play some dance music at the Bombay - Frank Barajas will do his one-man pop rock thing at Tutti's and not far away at Zoey's, there will be a Remembering Kenny Edwards gig, featuring the great guitar player's many friends. Up the coast to Santa Barbara - after all this, it's the best show of the week and one of the best this year - Alejandro Escovedo and super singer/songwriter Jesse Malin on the same bill at Velvet Jones; and finally on a Sunday, guitar god Alastair Greene will shred at Whiskey Richards.
On Monday - slow night - just one - Ha Ha Tonka will play some cool indie rock at the El Rey Theatre in Hell-A. A review of their new one is just below all this exposition.
On Tuesday - one more, but closer - Spencer the Gardener will be at the Stow House in Goleta playing his "spy movie music at the beach."
On Wednesday - one more time with Urban Dread - they'll be playing some reggae at Bogie's in WLV, while down the hill to the 805, Teresa Russell will shred anew - this time at Seaside Seafood in Port Hueneme. And Groove Session will provide the soundtrack for this week's Green Art People wingding down on the Ventura Avenue.
On Thursday - she never rests - Teresa Russell will be in farmland-hating Oxnard at the Lookout - as in - lookout - where'd all that traffic come from? All those Shoemaker Brothers - one more time - will be at the scenic Pierpont Inn in Ventura and Jah Mon Soul will be at Amigo's. I don't wanna hear you say, "There's never anything to do around here," ya get me?
