POP MUSIC / THOMAS K. ARNOLD : Beat Farmers Won’t Tour Nation, Will Play Country

The Beat Farmers’ fourth album, “Poor and Famous,” was supposed to be released in late March, and the local roots rockers were supposed to hit the road this month for a major national concert tour that was to last through the summer.

But now that MCA/Curb Records has pushed back the LP’s release until sometime in August, the road trip has been postponed accordingly “because it makes no sense to tour unless we have a new record in the stores,” said Beat Farmers drummer Country Dick Montana.

So instead of touring the country as the Beat Farmers this spring and summer, the four band members--Montana, bassist Rollye Dexter-Love and singer-guitarists Jerry Raney and Joey Harris--will be playing country in San Diego nightclubs as the Incredible Hayseeds. Joined by veteran local pedal-steel guitarist Steelbone Dick, the Hayseeds will be appearing every Monday night at Jose Murphy’s in Pacific Beach and every Wednesday at Winston’s Beach Club in Ocean Beach, beginning next week.

“We can’t just sit around and wait for our record company to fit the album into their release schedule,” Montana said. “It requires a lot of patience on our part, as well as a little ingenuity on how to survive.”

The Incredible Hayseeds’ repertoire, Montana added, will consist primarily of traditional country tunes like Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” Merle Haggard’s “The Bottle Let Me Down” and Webb Pierce’s “In the Jailhouse Now,” which topped the national country charts in 1955.

“We’ll be doing all the classic country cuts, the real hard-core stuff,” Montana said. “We’re going to be covering a lot of ground here, maybe even some Mojo Nixon songs--which goes to show you how far we can stretch traditional country.”

The Beat Farmers may have called a temporary time out, but that hasn’t diminished the enthusiasm of their fans. Indeed, the Farmers picked up the two top prizes in the 1989 North County Entertainer Music Awards. For the second straight year, the group was named Entertainers of the Year, while Country Dick Montana won Entertainer of the Year honors.

The eighth annual awards ceremony, held Monday night at the La Paloma Theater in Encinitas, followed two weeks of polling in which 16,000 ballots were distributed to more than 70 North County nightclubs.

Other winners of the bronze Jolson Awards: Tony Baloney, Best Contemporary Solo; Ray and Lanie Correa, Best Contemporary Duo; Second to None, Best Contemporary Group; Dr. Chico’s Island Sounds, Best Rhythm and Blues Group; Hollis Gentry’s Neon, Best Jazz Artist; the Chicago Six, Best Vintage Jazz Group; Char Carroll and Crossover, Best Country Group; Dr. Feelgood and the Interns of Love, Best Vintage Rock Group; the Siers Brothers, Best Rock/Top 40 Group, and Private Domain, Best Original Rock Group.

LINER NOTES: It may be a while before Albert King is invited back to the Belly Up Tavern. In the latest issue of Belly Up, the Solana Beach nightclub’s monthly newsletter, owner Dave Hodges calls the blues great’s March 16 concert there “a disappointment.”

“It is sad to see a performer who has turned sour and no longer enjoys touring,” Hodges wrote. “I felt bad for his band, who were being reprimanded by Albert throughout the show, and for our stage crew, who had to endure his wrath. . . . I hope he either takes a break to recharge his soul or decides to retire from touring. It was obvious to everyone that he no longer enjoys playing before a live audience.”

Two of the biggest names in country music, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, will be in town Saturday night for a concert at the 32nd Street Naval Station. It’s one of several shows held on base over the past year that’s open to the public. . . . Five dates have been added to the Del Mar Fair’s 1989 grandstand concert lineup, bringing the total to 11. Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis will play at 2 and 7:30 p.m. June 17, followed June 18 by Latin-American topical songsmith Ruben Blades (2 p.m.) and pop-jazz band Shadowfax (7:30 p.m.); pop singer Kenny Loggins, 2 and 7:30 p.m. June 20, and country songstress Crystal Gayle, 2 and 7:30 p.m. July 4. The evening show by dance band the Jets, originally scheduled for June 18, has been moved up to June 16, the fair’s opening day. . . . Tickets go on sale Monday for heavy metal group Queensryche’s May 11 concert at the California Theatre downtown.