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 it at my house, multi-tasking, writing about rock 'n' roll, watching TCM 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, sort of a slow week but with some good stuff - see what you think:
OK, tonight, Friday night - it's one of the greatest live bands you'll ever see - that would be my heroes, the Old '97s - they'll be at the El Rey Theatre in Hell-A Friday and Saturday nights. They are worth the drive and once you hear all those great Rhett Miller songs all in a row until the party ending "Time Bomb," you'll be on a music high and then it gets even better - leaving Hell-A. Also Friday, it's reggae with the very busy Urban Dread at Padri's Martini Bar in Agoura, while up here in the 805 where we like it, the Corsican Brothers will play some great pop rock at Margarita Villa down in the Ventura Harbor. And over at the Keynote Lounge in East Ventura, it's about as close as it's gonna get to seeing Raging Arb & the Redheads - most of 'em are in the Privateers, they'll play some bluesy cowpunk and generally make you drink more beer than you should and Teresa Russell will do her guitar goddess thing at Andy's Savory Cafe in downtown Ventura, and Electricity will get electrical all over the Star Lounge. And finally on a Friday, Carl Sonny Leyland will do his boogie woogie piano thing at Yolie's in West Ventura across from Avenue Von's.
On Saturday, it's those disappointed yet hopeful Dodger fans in Fish Fry at Blackbeard's BBQ down in the Ventura Harbor. The legendary R&B Bombers will be up all those stairs at the Watermark in Ventura and all those Shoemaker Brothers will be at the Bombay Bar & Grill. There's gonna be a bunch of bands at the Tavern down on Santa Clara - 50 Sticks of Dynamite, the Phantom Pomps and La Vonettes, while next door, it's that singing bovine, the White Buffalo at Zoey's; while up Hwy. 33 to Ojai, it's outdoor blues with Bob Jones and Randy Rich at Los Caporales and up the coast to Santa Barbara to SOhO, it's indie rock faves, Two Gallants.
On Sunday, there's a community supported benefit at the Bible Fellowship Church in Ventura with a carnival and music all day, highlighted by performances by a pair on the rise - Dominic Galli and Britney Christian - it's all to raise money for 8-year-old cancer patient Daisy Love Merrick. Frank Barajas will do his usual one man pop rock gig at Tutti's in Ventura, also on Sunday afternoon.
On Wednesday, Rachel Sedacca will provide the soundtrack for this week's Green Art People wingding on the Ventura Avenue.
And finally on a Thursday, they've got the groove - it's a great party band from Washington, state of - that would be Yogoman Burning Band - they'll be in Hell-A at the Five Star Bar - it's worth the drive just to hear "Dragon Bus." John Hiatt will be way cool at the Canyon Club in Agoura and Teresa Russell will be at the Lookout in farmland-hating Oxnard and the wonderful Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros will play a benefit at Libbey Bowl in Ojai thus concluding a fairly slow week.
