POP MUSIC REVIEW : ‘Barn Dance’ Marks Date

For two years the “Barn Dance”--a free-admission roundup of country, rockabilly and blues artists held every Tuesday at the Palomino club--has watched the world shrink around it. First, the predicted L.A. country explosion that launched it and was supposed to launch its participants to national prominence sorta fizzled. And then a couple of months ago the event’s radio home, Cal State Northridge’s KCSN-FM, went all-classical.

But none of that dampened the spirits at the “Barn Dance’s” second anniversary celebration at the Palomino on Tuesday. If anything, the first setback has taken the pressure of impending stardom off the local performers, while the second has given the gathering a fighting spirit and sense of unity. (Each mention of KCSN was greeted by boos and jeers from the full-house crowd.)

None of the dozen or so performers who played brief sets Tuesday seemed hung up on trying to be a star. Not that many of them couldn’t be stars. Jeffrey Steele, in particular, has a rich voice and strong material that should make him a welcome addition to the contemporary country world. And longtime local faves Lucinda Williams (just signed to RCA), Dave Alvin (who has just finished work on music for the new John Waters flick), Will Ray (an incredible guitarist with an amusing hip/corny persona) and James Intveld (who has evolved from a rockabilly maverick to a solid pop/rock performer) all seem readier than ever to break out to bigger things.

But that wasn’t the point of the party Tuesday, which also included music by rockabilly veteran Ray Campi, harmonicat Juke Logan, honking saxman Big Jay McNeely, country band the Mustangs and the show’s tireless organizer, singer Ronnie Mack. The point was to honor a strong sense of community. And that’s something that will remain regardless of what happens on the radio in Northridge or Nashville.