Rockin' Roll Call

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 night, it's one of Ventura's legendary groups - the R&B Bombers - they'll inspire some yupscale dancing tonight at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas and one of my favorite '80s bands - that would be the Fixx who will be at the Canyon Club in Agoura - for me, it'd be worth the drive just to here, "Secret Separation," the soundtrack for the secret boyfriend scenario. "Beautiful Friction" may sound like a porno, but rather, it's the tenth album by the Fixx - just out. Check out my interview with Fixx frontman Cy Curnan in this week's Time Out, proof positive I'm hardly making any of this up. Still Friday but up here in the 805 where we like it, you can enter jam band nirvana when Shaky Feelin' hosts a CD party at their favorite venue, the Good Bar in Main Street in Ventura. Not so far away,

guitar goddess Teresa Russell will shred all over the Savory Cafe, while over at Zoey's, it's Sweet Talk Radio - definitely not Mark Levin, Hannity or Limbaugh - however sweet they may be and whoever they are, they will be ably supported by the delightful Sally Jaye. Veteran blues dude, James Harman, will be at Yolie's in Ventura and finally on a Friday, Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer, Dave Mason and his many friends will be at the Libbey Bowl in Ojai.

On Saturday, it's reggae with Steel Pulse at the Canyon Club, still probably in Agoura and Elvis has not left the building - he'll be at Constitution Park in Camarillo, ably portrayed by Raymond Michael and all those Shoemaker Brothers will make their debut at the Cantara Cellars, also in Camarillo. Lisa Haley & her Zydecats will play some ragin' Cajun music at the Olivas Adobe down by the golf course on Olivas Parkway in Ventura where Mark Twain's observation is always relevant: "Golf is a good walk ruined." Orlando Napier will be up all those stairs at the Watermark in downtown Ventura and Rachel Sedacca will play some folk rock at the Sandbox Coffee House down on Thompson - once upon a time, the Fiesta; and Pegi Young, Neil's squeeze, will be at Zoey's. Up Hwy. 33 to Ojai, it's the last go 'round in 2012 for Bob Jones and Randy Rich, playing some blues outside at Los Caporales. And finally on a Saturday, it's top notch electro pop from Gotye at the Santa Barbara County Bowl. He wouldn't talk to me but I still love his stuff.

On Sunday, it's in Hell-A but worth the drive to see JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound who will be at the Satellite - this guy is channeling Bobby "Blue" Bland and "Black Joe" Lewis & the Honeybears - thus obviously, Brooks' horn section rages. Urban Dread will play some reggae at the Lab Brewing Company in Agoura while up here in the 805 where we like it, Raw Silk will be at the Watermark and the Shoemaker Brothers will be at the Bombay. The election is coming and if you enjoy your quality of life, don't vote for any candidate backed by the

Chamber of Concrete - they like L.A. much more than we do. OK, still Sunday, Frank Barajas will do his one man pop rock thing at Tutti's in Ventura and a bunch of bands will be at Zoey's, including the Rubberneck Lions, The TreCoustics and Aaron Orbit. And up the coast, Acadiana will be playing some cajun dance music at the Cold Springs Tavern in Santa Barbara.

On Monday, they want to take the skinheads bowling - that would be Camper Van Beethoven, who will be at Zoey's. I saw them back in the '80s at a place in Ventura called Mogz - that place went away and became Nicholby's, a place still missed by many, including me. One of my weirdest gigs was at Nicholby's when Nick Himself came as me on Halloween. Way weird.

On Tuesday, My Morning Jacket will begin a three-night run at the Wiltern Theatre in Hell-A, while Devo and Blondie will play some '80s flashback tunz at the Greek Theatre, also Tuesday - and by the way, the latest Devo album from last year, is their best.

On Wednesday, it's the Conejo Valley's favorite band, Urban Dread - they will be playing some reggae at Bogie's in WLV, while down the Grade to Ventura, it's nervous Dodger fans (ain't we all?) Fish Fry providing the soundtrack at this week's Green Art People gig down on the Ventura Avenue, and Mary Gauthier will do the honors at this week's Tales of the Tavern gig in Santa Ynez - Dave Alvin will be there on the 19th.

On Thursday, Pinback will play some tunes off their new one at the Ventura Theatre and a few steps away, it's Dirty Rice at the Watermark. It's singer/songwriter action with Delaney Gibson and B. Willing James at Zoey's and finally on a Thursday, Headless Household will play some oddball jazz at Muddy Waters in S.B. - what a cool place. OK, that's it for a fairly average week.

A list of venues can be found here »

Nearly as nutty as the notion of camping with Ludwig himself, Camper Van Beethoven, NorCal's finest goofball rockers of vast experience, will be at Zoey's in Ventura on Monday night. This is the band, you might recall, that gave us "Take the Skinheads Bowling" and "The Day Lassie Went to the Moon" off their 1985 debut album, "Telephone Free Landslide Victory."

While the old cliché "whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" might be a bit extreme, the band did survive several bouts of the dreaded creative differences and now they're back with a new album on the horizon. In any case, the band is well rested -- their last album, "New Roman Times," is from 2004. The breakups and resulting downtime were not spent at home moping about Days of Camper Passed. All the members have side projects or were in other bands, perhaps most famously, frontman David Lowery, who started Cracker in the early '90s.

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They ain't broke, so there's no need to fix The Fixx. After more than 30 years, the group -- led by droll frontman Cy Curnin and instantly recognizable guitar player Jamie West-Oram -- is still out there rocking and recording. Tonight the band will crank out the hits at the cavernous Canyon in Agoura Hills.

The Fixx started way back in 1979 as the Portraits and then the Fix, with just one "x." Real or imagined junkie connotations convinced them to add another "x." Then they added substantially to their bank accounts when their debut album, "Shuttered Room," became a hit thanks to such memorable singles as "Stand or Fall" and "Red Skies," which is all about what happens when the button is pressed. That song came out in 1982, back when the Cold War was still warm enough to make people nervous, and it contained the perfectly melodic chorus of "oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh," which sounds a lot better than it reads.

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The New John Hiatt album - his zillionth - is called "Mystic Pinball" and is on his zillionth label - this time New West. Actually, I lied - this makes 21 albums on seven labels, the last six on New West, so maybe he's found a home at 60. As usual Hiatt is surrounded by as good as it gets roots rockin' pros and he has that gritty squawk, sort of like if someone was squeezing Billy Bob Thornton real tight. On every Hiatt album, every song is good - a few are great and none of them suck. "It All Comes Back Someday," in addition to being words of wisdom, is just one of many that stand out - along with Mitt Romney's possible theme song, "My Business." Hiatt rocks. Any questions? Any answers?

Michael "Iron Man" Burks is back with a new one - that would be "Show of Strength" and it's mighty, mighty Alligator Records. Burks died last May, too young at 54. He was an electric blues guy who sang his own tunes and selected covers. Burks was solid but generic and none of this stuff is likely to rock your world, unless you're a Robert Cray sort of person, then Burks will hit the right notes for you. I like my blues grittier - like Black Joe Lewis.

The New No. 2 has a new one, their second, and it's "The Fear Of Missing Out" and it's on Hot Records. Taken from a recurring line in the greatest TV show of all time, Patrick McGoohan's "The Prisoner," this band is the brainchild of Dhani Harrison, the 34-year-old son of George. Very hypnotic and tuneful, it's Beatlesque, shoegazer pop that sounds very much all in the family, especially "Station" and "I Won't Go." The George documentary on HBO, "Living in the Material World" is wonderful - just like George was and those who watched "The Prisoner," Leo McKern was the best No. 2 by far. Be seeing you and you'll be hearing more from this band.

Tony Sly and Joey Cape turn it down again on "Acoustic Volume Two" on Fat Wreck Chords. Usually the screaming frontmen for No Use For A Name and Lagwagon respectively, Sly and Cape get all acoustic and mellow - perhaps singing about the usual suspects but now we can hear it all. Since Volume One came out in 2004, both of these guys have nurtured successful solo guy-and-a-guitar careers, plus their bands live as well. The first song, "I Must Be Hateful" is so catchy, it'll live in your head for daze and "Know It All" is a funny send-up of pretentious elitists who hates every band that makes it and can now afford to eat. Thus, there's way more to these guys than three chords, a cloud of dust and a flurry of elbow howzits in the mosh pit.

It's the sophomore effort from Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros - it's called "Here" and it's on Vagrant Records. So much for the sophomore jinx - ain't happening with this band as this one is just as good as their debut, especially if you like solid singing. It's almost symphonic as the choir of voices blend effortlessly, eliciting much joy, like a bunch of happy hippies at harvest time with a case of Twinkies, a fridge full of Dr. Pepper and a "Star Trek" marathon on the tube. Nobody named Ed - it's Alex Ebert and 11 of his closest friends, including his dazzling distaff counterpart, Jade Castrinos. This one will definitely make the year end list and they'll be in Ojai on 6 September.

Gotta love this band name - Opium Symphony - they're out of Dallas and their new one is "Blame It On The Radio" and it's Man Or Machine Records. It's big beat meat and potatoes rock, sounding like they stumbled out of "The Decline and Fall of Western Civilization: The Metal Years," led by charismatic frontman and songwriter Kellen Ross. Not my favorite genre but these guys are really good at what they do - crank this one up and clean the entire house in 45 seconds. They're more speed freak than opium friendly nod out tune makers - if they played this one in Afghanistan in the poppy fields - the Taliban's #1 cash crop - the simpleton soldiers' turbaned heads might explode. That's cheaper than the trillion dollars we're spending over there every 10 second. One more thing - the cover is creepy but mostly awesome, just like Mr. Ross.

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.

A list of venues can be found here »

About 60 years ago it was everywhere. These days one has to put forth an effort to find some of that energizing boogie-woogie piano music.

Tonight, though, no one will have to look that hard as Carl Sonny Leyland will play boogie-woogie, blues and other pleasurable varieties of Americana at Yolie's in Ventura.

The dictionary states that boogie-woogie is "conducive to dancing" -- and it's still about the best thing that can happen to a piano outside of a Laurel & Hardy short.

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An 8-year-old Carpinteria girl is fighting a particularly virulent form of cancer for a third time, and the best part of the population of the greatest beach city in SoCal will stand tall at a Sunday fundraiser for Daisy Love Merrick called "One Love Unity." As usual, musicians are stepping up to do the right thing, this time at Bible Fellowship Church in Ventura, including Britney Christian, a rising star with songs all over TV, and Dominic Balli, a rising reggae star out of Oxnard who will play an acoustic set.

The grounds of the church and nearby Barranca Vista Park will be transformed into a carnival with games, raffles, food and continuous music. Every single thing is donated and every dime goes to Daisy. The music inside, featuring Christian, Balli and an opener, will start at 6 p.m. It's first come, first served at this free show. The venue holds 1,200 folks and the promoters are expecting many more to attend the event, so being fashionably late could be a bonehead maneuver. The donation box, hopefully, will runneth over.

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Florence + the Machine gets all acoustic on her "MTV Unplugged" thing on this CD collection and also a DVD of Miss Welch doing 14 songs, all on Universal Republic. You know, I waited until I heard "Ceremonials," (her last studio album) and I even saw her on SNL the other night before I listened to this one, and I still don't get it. She sings too loud on songs that aren't that good to begin with.

As usual, in music, being dead isn't half the dodge it is for the rest of us mortals - after all, even though they entered the past tense long ago, Jimi and Elvis are still making albums, so too is Amy Winehouse. This one is "Lioness: Hidden Treasures" and it's on Universal Republic. First, let me say what a waste - Winehouse was a real talent as she breezes through a bunch of oldies. Don't like them all - but, damn - Winehouse could really sing. I like the oldies, "Our Day Will Come" and her cover of the Shirelles' biggie, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow." And Lioness? Indeed - Winehouse could have the Lion King eager to drink swamp water and sleep in a hollow log and go on a blind date with a hyena just for the chance to her her purr, "Beat, it sucker." Everyone will still love Winehouse tomorrow and the day after that...

The new Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band's latest is "Between the Ditches" and it's on Side One Dummy, out of of Hell-A. The Reverend's band is only three people but they play big - and they play often - over 250 dates a year of bluesy swamp rock with Peyton's raspy weird beard in a baseball cap vocals that are as raggedy as they are righteous. There's a little Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper in here, also some John Lee Hooker and Black Joe Lewis; you know, the good stuff. At the end of "Easy Rider," these guys would be the hicks in the pick-up, but instead. they'd flash a peace sign. And how can you not like "Devils Look Like Angels" and "Shake 'Em Off Like Fleas"?