FRIDAY: End of BreakYou can’t call yourself...

FRIDAY: End of Break

You can’t call yourself a Ventura local until you’ve seen Raging Arb & the Redheads, a rockin’ surf and rockin’ blues band composed of six slackers with 13 years’ experience and a grand total of one album and one CD. Your next window of opportunity begins at 9 p.m. at Nicholby’s, with Extract opening.

Raging Arb hasn’t played for months and fewer than 10 times this year, so fatigue is clearly not a factor.

“We’ve been taking a breather lately,” said guitarist Toby Emery, “but of course we haven’t exerted ourselves enough to take a breather.”

The show will set you back a fiver. The venue is upstairs at 404 E. Main St. in Ventura. Call them at 653-2320.

*

SATURDAY: They’ve Got Rhythm

Brush up on your salsa dance steps and pull out those eight-track tapes for a blast from the past. Malo, the legendary 10-piece ‘70s Latin rock band, returns to Ventura Theatre with its high-energy horn sound in a triple bill with El Chicano and the Blazers.

Malo is probably best known for early hits like “Suavecito” and “Tell Her She’s Lovely.” But the collaboration of Martin Cantu and Malo co-founder Arcelio Garcia on lead vocals has kept the group fresh and hot, hot, hot. Whether you like to dance, listen or just watch these guys do their fancy footwork on stage, the high-energy “Merengue,” “Take My Breath Away” or the infectious title track of their current CD, “Senorita,” just might leave you out of breath. The show begins at 8 p.m. The theater is at 26 S. Chestnut St., Ventura. Admission is $19.50. Call 648-1888.

*

SUNDAY: Salute to Veterans

The Ventura County Concert Band will salute the area’s many veterans when the 55-piece ensemble stages its “Stars and Stripes Centennial Concert” at the Ventura High School Auditorium.

The tribute will highlight military service songs and familiar melodies of the World War II era, including swing-band theme songs. The Pure Joy Moving Company will display some precision dance steps in a featured appearance. And a large portion of the concert will be devoted to the music of John Philip Sousa, including many of his famous marches.

The music will commence at 3 p.m. Admission is free. The high school is at 2155 Main St. For more information, call 641-5200.

*

UP THE COAST

The State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara will present the classic “Giselle” on Friday and Saturday at the Granada Theatre, 1216 State St.

The lead roles will be performed by Svetlana Epifanova, of the Kirov Ballet, and Grant Scruggs. The two-act romantic ballet tells the story of a peasant girl driven from joy to madness and death after being deceived in love.

Tickets: $10-$25. Performances: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday. Patron seating, $50, for the Friday staging includes a post-performance reception. Call 966-2324.

*

GLANCE AHEAD

The vocal chamber choir Ojai Camerata will perform “From Angels to Orff” at 8 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Ojai Presbyterian Church. The concert will feature works by Vivaldi, Piazzola and Orff, plus the premiere of Miguel del Aguila’s “Salva Me.” Tickets: $12, $9 senior citizens and students. Advance purchase is recommended. Call 289-4890.