POP MUSIC REVIEW : A WORKING STIFF BAND THAT WORKS

It’s been nearly 26 months since Fabulous Thunderbirds last performed in Southern California. In view of the Austin, Tex., quartet’s exhilarating performance Tuesday at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, that’s about 25 months too many.

Playing to a wildly demonstrative capacity crowd, the Thunderbirds reasserted their position at the top of the bar band genre--in the most positive sense of the term.

Leaving, for the most part, slow blues to the likes of B. B. King, the group concentrated on upbeat shuffles, fiery swing blues and a couple of Chuck Berry-styled rock numbers.

As one band that doesn’t worry about making big statements, the T-Birds seemed concerned only with playing good-time music for the working stiff, typified by the title of the ‘60s soul-styled “Why Get Up?”

Compared to the wave of social consciousness that is currently sweeping over rock ‘n’ roll, the T-Birds’ message seems simple: forget your troubles and enjoy yourself. But that’s a sentiment more easily voiced than accomplished, as witnessed by the hundreds of undistinguished bands churning out characterless three-chord blues riffs.

What sets the T-Birds apart from--and above--most is the seamless interplay between guitarist Jimmie Vaughan (Stevie Ray’s big brother), lead singer-harmonica player Kim Wilson, drummer Fran Christina and the group’s new bassist, Preston Hubbard.

Perhaps the most refreshing thing about the T-Birds is their complete lack of pretense. Where Jimmie Vaughan’s more famous younger sibling often caters to the rock guitar hero worship he gets with wild stage histrionics, Jimmie lets his guitar do the talking. When he was featured on the extended instrumental “Extra Jimmie,” he exhibited a beautifully fluid and melodic style that spoke louder than mere flash.

Wilson’s mastery of the blues harp was showcased on his version of Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Cross My Heart,” the group’s single excursion into achingly slow traditional blues. Leaving the stage, Wilson wandered through the club while squeezing and coaxing every subtlety imaginable from the tiny instrument.

Throughout the 90-minute show, the barrier that frequently separates performer and audience was nowhere to be found. In fact, the two became indistinguishable when fans joined in on the chorus of Guitar Junior’s infectious “The Crawl.”

Just before leaving the stage after four encores, Wilson told the audience: “You make me feel good.” One member of that audience--fellow musician and blues aficionado James Harman--looked around at the roomful of screaming fans and commented: “A Tuesday night in Huntington Beach? That makes me feel good.” A-men.

San Diego rockabilly trio the Paladins opened with an enthusiastically performed (and received) set highlighted by bassist Tom Yearsley’s comically maniacal lead vocal on “Good Lovin’.”