Q&A with Jimmy Callahan of Ill Repute performing Dec. 15 in Oxnard
Photo submitted
Ill Repute
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Nardcore Navidad with Ill Repute, Know, False Confession, Civil Conflict, Railer, Nothing Special, Dead Heat, Fist Fight On Ecstasy at Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Sunday, Dec. 15, 4 p.m. COST: $10. CALL: 805-385-8147.
Almost 40 or so years ago, angry local kids, inspired by the punk scene in Los Angeles started hanging out and making their own parent-scaring punk rock. Four bands — Stalag 13, Agression (cq), Dr. Know and Ill Repute — started a scene that has come to be known as Nardcore, which is Oxnard + Hardcore. And you probably thought Oxnard was only noteworthy for its exasperating traffic jams that occur anywhere at any time for no apparent reason and its casual relationship to some of the best farmland in the world. Strawberry fields whatever.
Q&A with Brian Batchley performing Dec. 6 in Ojai and Dec. 8 in Ventura
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Brian Batchley
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Brian Batchley’s Blues Bash at the Vine, 308 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, Friday (Dec. 6), 8 p.m. CALL: 805-646-1555.
4Kids2Kids Toy Drive at Ventura Beach Club, 281 W. Main St., Ventura, Sun. (Dec. 8), 1 p.m. COST: $25 + unwrapped toy. CALL: 805-302-8054
It’s going to be paradise for local blues fans who can do it nice (and twice) by showing up to a pair of cool local events — one tonight (Dec. 6) in Ojai and another Sunday (Dec. 8) in Ventura. A common thread for both elbow-bending opportunities is “Smilin’ Brian,” who knows a thing or two about the blues and Paradise. He is lending his name to Brian Batchley’s Blues Bash at the Vine in Ojai tonight, and he’s also appearing Sunday at the 19th Annual 4Kids2Kids Toy Drive at the Ventura Beach Club. He won’t forget to bring his harmonicas, although he doesn’t have as many as he used to.
Q&A with Maher Zaidi of Char-Man, performing Nov. 29 at Deer Lodge
Photo by Albert Munoz
Char-Man
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Char-Man and Pinnr at Deer Lodge, 2261 Maricopa Highway, Meiners Oaks, 9 p.m. COST: $8 CALL: 805-646-4256.
Charman has been alternately attracting and terrorizing Ojai teens since 1948 — evidently a spirit of a badly burnt man — a late-night lurker near the bridge where Hermosa Road meets Creek Road, or just a short scream away from Camp Comfort. Then there’s Char Man, a locally made hot sauce with some varieties potent enough to make the Night King and Frosty the Snowman sweat. And, finally, there’s Char-Man, the Ojai band celebrating 16 years of melodic punk rock tonight (Nov. 29.) with a show at the Deer Lodge in Meiners Oaks.
Q&A with Alastair Greene performing Nov. 22 at Grapes & Hops in Ventura
Photo by Roy Gilbert
Alastair Greene
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Alastair Greene at Grapes & Hops, 454 E. Main St., Ventura, tonight (Nov. 22.), 8 p.m. COST: Free. CALL: 805-616-2375.
If and when long hair comes back in style, Alastair Greene will be like a god. But fleeting appearance considerations aside, Greene will always be a guitar god, and he will be playing a convenient and affordable gig Friday night (tonight, Nov. 22) at Grapes & Hops in Ventura.
Q&A with Masson of Shaky Feelin performing Nov. 15 at Oak & Main
Photo submitted
Shaky Feelin
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Shaky Feelin at Oak & Main, 419 E. Main St., Ventura, Friday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. COST: Free. CALL: 805-648-6862.
Shaky Feelin will do its jam band thing at one of those ever-affordable free shows at Oak & Main in Ventura Friday night, thoughtfully providing a destination for Deadheads and/or Phish Heads who have been spinning aimlessly for too long due to the fact that their musical heroes live more in memory than play in the flesh.
Q&A with Chuck Prophet performing Nov. 14 at Kim Maxwell Studio
Photo by Karen Doolittle
Chuck Prophet
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Chuck Prophet at Kim Maxwell Studio, 224 W. Ojai Ave., No. 102, Thursday, 8 p.m. COST: $25.
Perhaps not as famous as the more well-known prophets, but a Prophet nonetheless; and one who rocks more than all those others combined, Chuck Prophet will make his 93023 debut with a Thursday night solo show at the Kim Maxwell Studio. Prophet is one of those under the radar, why-ain’t-they-rich, singer/songwriters who keep making great music — artists such as Ike Reilly, Paul Thorn, Eliza Gilkyson, Peter Case — working, wonderful, and necessary musicians.
Q&A with Freedom Ledges performing at Deer Lodge Nov. 2
Submitted photo
Freedom Ledges
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Freedom Ledges at Deer Lodge, 2261 Maricopa Highway, Meiners Oaks, Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 p.m. COST: $5. CALL: 805-646-4256.
A big band is coming to the small stage for some big fun Saturday night at the Deer Lodge in Meiners Oaks. Freedom Ledges, an El Lay-based band with numerous members, including a full-on horn section, will play some “dirty blues and rock ’n’ roll” when they return to their favorite 805 venue. It’s all part of a thinly veiled effort to move a few copies of the band’s debut album, “If We Make It Out of Here Alive.”
Q&A with Kenny Sultan of Ball and Sultan performing Oct. 26
Photo by Skip Saenger
Ball and Sultan
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido, Santa Barbara, Saturday, Oct. 26, at 8 p.m. COST: $34 or $44. CALL: 805-963-0761.
Still traveling light, and for now, not very far — Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan will be celebrating 40 years of “good time blues” with a Saturday night gig at their hometown Lobero Theatre where the sound is always perfect. And Ball and Sultan are always funny. Despite being two more sad Dodger fans, they remain complete strangers with any sort of cry-in-your-beer scenario.
Q&A with Cache Valley Drifters performing at Camarillo Cafe Oct. 19
Photo submitted
Cache Valley Drifters
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Cache Valley Drifters, Crary, Evans & Barnick at Camarillo Café, 1605 E. Burnley St., Saturday, 7:30 p.m. COST:$20 or $25. CONTACT: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
They do it nice, so they’ll do it twice. On Saturday night at their next safe and sane soiree, the Camarillo Café will present a pair of acoustic combos featuring players who are masters of all things stringed. The Cache Valley Drifters will share the bill with Crary, Evans & Barnick. The Cache Valley Drifters feature a trio of virtuosos — Bill Griffin and Mike Mullins, together have résumés thicker than our fine newspaper, and Wally Barnick is the singing bass player, and since it’s impossible to hide anyone in a trio, everyone sings.
Q&A with Teresa Russell, performing at Boatyard Pub Oct. 11
Photo submitted
Teresa Russell
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer at Boatyard Pub in Ventura (Oct. 11), Acadiana at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark (Oct. 12), Teresa Russell & Cocobilli at Waterside in Oxnard (Oct. 12), Teresa Russell & Cocobilli at Cold Spring Tavern in Santa Barbara (Oct. 13), Teresa Russell at Surfside Seafood in Hueneme (Oct. 16), Teresa Russell at Crown & Anchor in Thousand Oaks (Oct. 17).
Teresa Russell is the hardest working musician in the 805, and she has been for years — good thing she enjoys her job. She’s a guitar goddess, which is good work if you can get it. While it may seem that she plays 25 hours a day, eight days a week, 366 days a year, actually Russell doesn’t play quite that much, but she is in no danger of slouching to slacker mode, either. She has half-a-dozen gigs this week.
Q&A with Rankin, of Good Riddance, performing Oct. 5 at Discovery Ventura
Photo by Avrinder Dhillon
Good Riddance
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE: Good Riddance, 88 Fingers Louie, Skull Crack at Discovery Ventura, 1888 Thompson Blvd., Ventura, Sat., 8:30 p.m. COST: $18 before or $20 day of, CALL: 805-856-2695.
Good Riddance is another way of saying, “I’m not gonna miss you” and/or “You ain’t gone yet?” It’s also a long-running, politically charged punk band of the left-leaning persuasion. They won’t be playing any soulful ballads or Ted Nugent covers when they appear at Discovery Ventura on Oct. 5, and the band members are not followers of our “stable genius” president. They have an album entitled “Ballads For the Revolution,” which makes it clear they have no future at any GOP fundraisers.