PERFORMANCES / An Opinionated Guide

The bands listed here do mostly original rock and they do it very well. This is the “Trust Me This Time” section. If I had a faster car, I’d go to all these gigs.

TONIGHT

* Randy Rich & the Ravens (Hungry Hunter, 487 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, 497-3925) This guy is the best rockin’ blues guitarist in the 805-area code. (Also Friday and Saturday)

* One Eyed Jacks (Midnight Hour, 281 W. Main St., Ventura, 641-2112) Half the band is from Raging Arb & the Redheads. This quartet plays wild rockabilly swamp rock.

* Ska Daddyz (Calypso, 514 State St., Santa Barbara, 966-1388) The next big thing on the local scene, this is a raging ska band from Silver Strand made up of seven real finheads. They do a couple of raucous covers--”I’m Not Your Stepping Stone” by the Monkees and “Ranking Full Stop” by the English Beat--plus two sets worth of rockin’ originals.

FRIDAY

* Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan (Lorenzoni’s Espresso Bar & Cafe, 1575 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, 658-2228) These guys have a bunch of albums full of obscure yet hilarious acoustic blues. They have at least five albums and they could put a smile on a statue of Don Rickles.

* Gregg Allman Band, Little Jonny & the Giants (Ventura Theatre, 26 Chestnut St., 648-1888) With several members of the Allman Brothers Band to back him, Gregg gets them rockin’ blues again.

* Lion I’s (Metro Bay Club, 317 E. Main St., Ventura, 652-0100) Did owner Michael Avrea buy all the hot local bands for this weekend, or what? This band plays reggae-powered dance music and is the best drawing Ventura County band. (Also Tuesday at Safari in S. B.)

* Munkafust (Beach Shack, 500 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 966-1634) This S. B. band plays a very listenable variety of hook-filled funk and rock. And hey guys, here’s the important part for the guys: Munkafust draws about a zillion gorgeous co-eds whenever they play in their town.

* Tao Jonz (Alex’s Cantina, 633 State St., Santa Barbara, 966-0032) Did Wall Street finally find the Way? Nah, but it’s totally original funk and ska rock by four guys that never miss a note. My favorite S. B. band. (Also Saturday at Calypso)

SATURDAY

* The Upbeat, Ska Daddyz, Thought Festival (Ventura Theatre) The Upbeat are a bunch of Carpinteria finheads who have been together for at least seven years--no tapes, two sets, that’s it. Still, they are the wildest ska band you’ve ever seen. Their entire 1993 advertising budget was spent on a sticker on the bathroom door at Toes Tavern and a sticker on one of the posts at the Midnight Hour. Your feet will still be twitching on Monday.

* Raging Arb & the Redheads, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (Metro Bay Club) Raging Arb is the best local band, especially after 38 beers. You’ll drink. You’ll dance. You’ll fall in love. Or you’ll get kicked out.

* Spencer the Gardener (Beach Shack) STG was voted “Best Local Band” recently by a S. B. entertainment weekly. They play original dance music. (Also Halloween at Metro Bay Club)

* The Tearaways, Fin, Greg & Dave (Alex’s Cantina) The Tearaways play totally tight black-leather power pop, and they have a new CD to prove it.

HALLOWEEN

* Jackie Lomax & Randy Norris (Bermuda Triangle, 577 E. Main St., Ventura, 653-0466) Lomax recorded a couple of albums of bluesy rock for Apple Records a long time ago with a couple of his Beatle buddies sitting in.

* Loadedzilla, Hymen Blasters (Midnight Hour) Loadedzilla plays psychedelic guitar rock. Call the club to see what’s what because stuff changes hourly at the coolest venue in the Poinsettia City.

WEDNESDAY

* Urban Dread (Yucatan Cantina, 3835 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 495-7476) This is a reggae-powered dance band out of the Valley with an excellent horn section.

* The Ocean Blue, Ariel, Twelve Stories (Ventura Theatre) The Ocean band plays very smooth pop rock; Ariel is an alternative guitar band; and Twelve Stories is a folk rock band featuring powerful vocals by Tina Sicre.

* Harmful If Swallowed, Ska Daddyz, Your Mother (Metro Bay Club) This one is billed as the Cruzapallooza because about everyone in the Cruz family will be playing. Brandon Cruz is bringing his Harmful L. A. punk band north. The Ska Daddyz feature Darren and Blake Cruz on guitar. Their mom will open.