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:
OK, tonight - Friday - it's cool indie rock from Gossip - here's the uncool part - you have to drive to Hell-A to see them at the Fonda in Hollyweird down on Sunset, while rock 'n' roll poet Patti Smith will do something cool at the Wiltern Theatre. Up here in the 805 where we like it - vote for Steve Bennett for Supervisor to make sure we'll continue to love it by not paving all that boring farmland - anyway, great ska show at the Ventura Theatre with Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish - both have new albums. Through the alley and down California Street to the Bombay, it's '90s flashback rock with Lion I's - local heroes from back in the Charlie's days playing their rockin' reggae dance music, still fronted by happy Giants fan, Bobby Galyan - go Reds. Over at Yolie's - it's world class boogie woogie piano music from Rob Rio, while up Hwy. 33 to Ojai, it's all 29 Mules playing some raucous beer drinkin' music at the Hub. And finally on a Friday, the Preachers will play some rockin' blues at the Brewhouse in Santa Barbara - just as their brewskis will rock your world.
On Saturday it's sad singer/songwriter Aimee Mann at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in L.A. while up here in the 805 where we'll always love it - the Mighty Cash Cats will channel the Man in Black at the Pacific View Mall, probably freaking out and then hopefully enlightening the ubiquitous mall mice. Down past my old school - the mighty, mighty Cougars of Ventura High - to my favorite dive bar, the Red Cove - ut-oh - it's sizing up to be another new low - it's Van the Man's birthday party with a bunch of bands including Preachers & Pornstars, Mantra and the Kill Junkies - it's cheap drinks for cheap dates and lots of cheap thrills. Downtown, it's all those Shoemaker Brothers doing their original rock thing at the Bombay and up the coast to Santa Barbara, it's the Harbor Festival with Mr. SB local himself, Spencer the Gardener livening up the proceedings considerably with his "spy movie music at the beach," and Mr. Barnitz has a new album.
On Sunday, it's bluesy rock with Shawn Jones up all those stairs at the Watermark in Ventura, while a few blocks north, Frank Barajas will do his one-man pop rock thing at Tutti's while it's a happening hippie fest at SOhO in Santa Barbara with Tea Leaf Green and Shaky Feelin' and up at the Cold Springs - it's Teresa Russell & Cocobilli doing the honors at SB's always lively Sunday afternoon party.
On Monday, it's Star-bleeper at SOhO and Dr. John and the Blind Boys of Alabama will be at the Lobero Theatre where the sound is always just so perfect.
On Tuesday - it's in Hell-A on a work night but the Freelance Whales were most excellent at this year's Coachella, especially if you like bands with singers that can sing.
On Wednesday, stoner-no-more Neil Young will pack the Hollywood Bowl to play tunes from his vast repertoire, while all the way to beautiful downtown Oak View up here in the 805 - it's Frank Barajas, one more time - this time at the Big Buddha Lounge and Jeff the Brotherhood will rock out at the Velvet Jones in Santa Barbara.
And finally on a Thursday, Teresa Russell will shred on that guitar in farmland hating Oxnard and all 50 Sticks of Dynamite will dress better than you - and definitely me - at Zoey's in Ventura and saving the best for last - it's the best show of the week - Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears will play some extremely rockin' blues at Campbell Hall on the campus of UCSB. Don't miss this dude.
