POP REVIEW : UCI ROCKS WITH UNTOUCHABLES

The Untouchables concert Friday at UC Irvine’s Donald Bren Events Center clearly meant different things to different people. Just before the Los Angeles band hit the stage, an effusive lad told the audience: “The whole reason we’re here is to have a good time--and to tell you who the homecoming court is!”

This was followed by the introduction of the court on stage, including the newly crowned homecoming queen and various announcements pertaining to UCI’s Greek Week ’87. In the midst of an evening devoted to rock ‘n’ roll, it all played like a sketch on “Saturday Night Live.” Except it was real.

To others, the Untouchables show carried more significance as the first rock show held at the 6,000-seat center. And to the Untouchables--a frequent and enormously popular visitor to Orange County--the evening was probably just another opportunity to issue its frenetic pop-pourri of dance music. The group didn’t take long to kick into high gear. By the second number, the high-stepping “Wild Child,” the packed crowd on the floor was wildly bopping and bouncing, resembling a human popcorn machine.

Of course, the Untouchables themselves weren’t exactly static. Most of the band members were in constant motion, particularly Chuck Askerneese, the animated lead singer who has elevated darting to an art form.

The set mixed Untouchables classics such as “What’s Gone Wrong” and “Free Yourself” with new material, which turned out to be a mixed bag. Over the years, the group has broadened from its ska-oriented base, reaching into soul, funk, rap and other genres for new musical backdrops.

Admirable ambition, marginal execution. Most of the new tunes were solid but unexceptional, confirming that the Untouchables are a bit understaffed in the songwriting department. ( All of the band’s records feature “What’s Gone Wrong” and “Free Yourself” as well as non-originals, which doesn’t exactly suggest sharp, prolific composing.)

But live, this drawback doesn’t prevent the Untouchables from coming across as a highly energetic and charismatic dance band. Besides, one of the stronger new songs Friday was a swinging reggae romp called “We Need Education,” an especially appropriate theme in a campus setting.

As a concert facility, the Bren center looks as if it could be a winner. The county’s second largest indoor arena, after the Anaheim Convention Center, the Bren center is a spacious venue with good sight lines from nearly all seats, except a handful on each side where a clear view was blocked by the sound system.

That’s one reason to consider lifting the sound system speakers off the stage floor next time. Another reason is that the speakers didn’t effectively direct sound to the back or side portions of the center. That was OK for Friday’s concert, which was festival-seating and nowhere near sold-out, enabling most of the audience to be on the floor where the sound was excellent.

But for future shows at the Bren center--such as Jackson Browne’s benefit performance March 10--adjustments should be made to provide uniformly good sound.

A historic footnote about the center: The first band to perform there was El Grupo Sexo, which had been scheduled to play an outdoor show on campus Friday afternoon. When that appearance got rained out, the local outfit was added to the Bren center bill, turning in a typically funny, freewheeling performance.

The Rebel Rockers followed El Grupo Sexo with a feisty 50-minute set, built atop slithering, industrial-strength grooves.