How to resolve AdBlock issue? Rock ’n roll call with Bill Locey
For the time being, there’s no live music but there are hopefully, living musicians — they’re just not playing for us. So let’s do this:
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Squarepusher
Squarepusher’s latest is “Up For A Hello,” out since Jan. 31 on Warp Records, and his first album in five years. Squarepusher is, in fact, Tom Jenkinson, just a boy and his friends — all of whom are machines — with too much time on his hands. To quote selected portions of his bio, this is, “…celebratory with rising backbeat tracks … classic floor fillers as well as pieces loaded with visceral atmosphere and melody ...” No, it’s not. This is like, elevator music on speed — bouncy and boring.
Q&A with Dan Wheetman of Marley’s Ghost whose show is now ghosted
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Marley's Ghost
If the dearly departed wanted to transform to the dancing dead they’d spend their invisible bitcoins to check out the band that can — and will — play anything. That would be Marley’s Ghost — a half-dozen virtuosos on all things stringed who were scheduled to be at the Ojai Underground Exchange on March 26, but no more. Live performances are on hold for the time being, but we can look forward to when Marley’s Ghost returns.
Q&A with Ernest Troost who performed at Ojai Underground Exchange March 13
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Ernest Troost
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Ernest Troost, Clint Alphin at Ojai Underground Exchange, 1016 Ojai Ave., Friday, (March 13), 7:30 p.m. Cost: $20. CALL: 805-340-7893.
“There's not a better folksinger out there than Ernest Troost — he writes great songs with clever lyrics, plenty of hooks and he's an astute guitar player — what else is there? Just this — Troost has a swell voice as well … You can't play this album too many times and you'll be continually amazed with what a lot can be done with such modest trappings.” This writer thus described one of Troost’s albums — he’s got a couple — and they’re all even better than my humble words. Find out for yourself and invent some new adjectives when Troost plays the Ojai Underground Exchange Friday night (March 13). Also on the bill is another singer/songwriter of note, Clint Alphin.
Q&A with Teresa James performing March 6 at Ojai Underground Exchange
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Rhythm Tramps
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps at Ojai Underground Exchange, 1016 W. Ojai Ave., Friday, March 6, 7:30 p.m. Cost: $25. Call: 805-340-7893.
Some people will do anything to get out of Santa Clarita — a place that is neither funky nor greasy and does not rock. Teresa James, who fronts her band, the Rhythm Tramps, has been on that endless, mindless, senseless (and darn fun) road trip for years. Plenty of stops have been veritable home games for band regulars in the 805, including their impending adventure Friday night (March 6) at the Ojai Underground Exchange.
Q&A with Roger Earl of Foghat to perform at The Canyon in Agoura Hills Feb. 28
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Foghat
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Foghat at The Canyon, Fri. (Feb. 28), 7 p.m., 28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills. Cost: $28, $38, $48 or $58. Call: 818-645-5006.
Back in those silly ’60s, many of those great British bands were blues bands, graciously reintroducing an American art form to those endlessly forgetful Americans. Along with the Stones, Fleetwood Mac, and Ten Years After — another of the memorable British blues bands was Savoy Brown. In 1970, three-fifths of Savoy Brown left the band to form Foghat.
Q&A with Phil Salazar performing at Ojai Underground Exchange Feb. 22
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Phil Salazar & the Kin Folk
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Phil Salazar & the Kin Folk at Ojai Underground Exchange, 1016 W. Ojai Ave., Sat., 7:30 p.m. Cost: $25. Call: 805-340-7893.
Having left “totally obscure” in the rearview mirror, the “vaguely familiar” super group of acoustic players — Phil Salazar & the Kin Folk — will play the cozy Ojai Underground Exchange Saturday night. Together for more than 30 years, these folks know what’s what and how to do it — be it bluegrass, Jam Grass or whatever it is these guys play.
Q&A with John Zipperer, performing Feb. 15 at Ojai Underground Exchange
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John Zipperer
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: John Zipperer, Petty Chavez at Ojai Underground Exchange, 1016 W. Ojai Ave., Saturday (Feb. 15), 7:30 p.m. Cost: $20. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Bringing up the rear of the roll-call roster, along with Zorro, Zelig and Zippy the Pinhead, John Zipperer will rise to the head of the class when he sings his swell songs at the Ojai Underground Exchange on Saturday night. Petty Chavez, an acoustic duo, will initiate the festivities.
Q&A with Dan and Laurel, performing Feb. 8 at Camarillo Café
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Dan Frechette and Laurel Thomsen
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Dan Frechette & Laurel Thomsen at Camarillo Café, 1605 Burnley St., Camarillo, Saturday, Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m. Cost: $20. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Another talented Canadian and another Canadian not down here for the healthcare we don’t have, Dan Frechette is a tuneful rarity — a working musician. Not only does Frechette work at it — he overworks. Over almost 30 years, Frechette has recorded around 50 albums and has written more than 1,300 songs — so not only could he play longer than the Grateful Dead, but he could probably play longer than all of the bands from the ’60s combined. He probably won’t do that, but he can play 15 instruments — probably not all at once — but he will share the stage with his significant other, Laurel Thomsen, when they play the way-cool Camarillo Café on Saturday night, Feb. 8.
Q&A with Atchison of Koo Koo Kanga Roo, performing Jan. 31 in Camarillo
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Koo Koo Kanga Roo’s Bryan Atchison and Neil Olstad
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Koo Koo Kanga Roo at Rock City Studios, 2258 Pickwick Drive, Camarillo, Friday (Jan. 31), doors at 6 p.m. Cost: $15, all ages. Contact: 383-3555.
A pair of jubilant men — Bryan Atchison and Neil Olstad — performing as Koo Koo Kanga Roo will dance and sing their way into the hearts and minds of the initially stubborn who show up for their Friday night performance at Rock City in Camarillo.
Q&A with Mike Palm of Agent Orange, performing Jan. 25 at Discovery Ventura
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Agent Orange
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Agent Orange at Discovery Ventura, 1888 E. Thompson, Saturday, Jan. 25, 9 p.m. Cost: $15 advance or $20 at the door. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Agent Orange, the band, and not the dastardly caustic carcinogen of the same name, will play some surf punk music Saturday night at Discovery Ventura — long ago discovered not to be a rundown bowling alley. With forty-something years of experience and numerous priors up here in the 805, Agent Orange — with enough former members to form an orchestra — is still fronted by Mike Palm. He has checked in, stayed the course and paid his dues, which has enabled him to drink gallons and gallons of free beer and see the world.
Q&A with Roudman of Dirty Cello, performing Saturday in Ventura and Carp
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Rebecca Roudman of Dirty Cello
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Dirty Cello at Namba Arts, 47 S. Oak St., Ventura, Saturday (Jan. 18), 8 p.m. COST: $20. CALL: 805—628—9250. Also, Sunday (Jan. 19), at Carpinteria Womans Club, 1059 Vallecito Road, 4:30 p.m. COST: $20. CALL: 805—479—4000.
And on cello … Jimi Hendrix? Well, not in the flesh, obviously, but, in spirit perhaps, something like that will await those who come to check out the eclectic Bay Area quartet, Dirty Cello. In a thinly veiled effort to sell a few of their many CDs, the band also hopes to raise some green to assist Kid Artists at Music and Art For Youth. The band does it nice, so they’ll do it twice — Saturday night in downtown Ventura at Namba Arts, and the next afternoon at the Carpinteria Womans Club.