Rocker to Bring a Few Friends to a Hot Revue

Are you plagued by indecision in an uncertain world? Does anyone still live in L.A. or are they all here already? Is Intellacall just the phone company’s way of saying “You’re hogged for a nickel, buster?”

Need a sure thing? Sure you do. Guitar god/roots rocker extraordinaire Dave Edmunds will rock your socks off when he plays tonight at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara.

The celebrated Welsh rocker, who will be 46 in a week and a half, has been doing unbelieveable things to a guitar for more than 20 years. Edmunds has about a zillion albums, and naturally a new one, “Closer to the Flame.” But the guy has been so busy with other projects that this will be his first tour in about five years. And he’s bringing some friends--lots of them.

Billed as The Dave Edmunds’ Rock & Roll Revue, the concert will also feature co-headliners Dion, Graham Parker and Kim Wilson. Each performer will do a solo half-hour, then everyone will play together for the anticipated big ending.

Dion DiMucci is in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame thanks to a ton of classic doo-wop teen-age angst hits from the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, among them “Lonely Teen-ager,” “A Teen-ager in Love,” “The Wanderer,” “Little Star,” “Donna the Prima Donna,” and perhaps the best doo-wop song ever, “I Wonder Why.” Dion released a comeback album last year that was produced by Edmunds--it was a critical, if not a commercial success.

The fire that is the anger that burns out of control in some people rages in the slight form of wispy rocker Parker. A solo artist for more than a decade, angst and agitation inspire this hard-edged rocker. Wilson, formerly of Santa Barbara, is the lead singer of those bluesy rockers, The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Also performing will be legendary blues guitarist, Steve Cropper. Drummer Terry Williams has been playing with Edmunds off and on for more than 20 years. The Memphis Horns will also play.

Edmunds surfaced more than 20 years ago with the release of “Blues Helping” by Love Sculpture, probably the ultimate white guys got the blues album. “Forms and Feelings,” the second Love Sculpture album, featured some incendiary guitar work by Edmunds, who performed classical pieces--Khachaturian’s “Saber Dance” and Bizet’s “Farandole”--with “warp 10” intensity.

Since then, Edmunds has emerged as a primary proponent of American roots rock and is the master of the four-minute classic rock song. He seems to be a direct descendant of Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry, with a serious case of the rockin’ blues. It’ll be worth the drive just to hear Edmunds perform “I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock and Roll),” “JuJu Man,” and “You Ain’t Nothin’ But Fine,” among others.

Equally renowned as a producer, Edmunds was behind the controls for such acts as The Flamin’ Groovies, The Everly Brothers, The Stray Cats, Nick Lowe, and others.

The Arlington Theatre is at 1317 State St. in Santa Barbara. Show time is 8 p.m. POP PICKS

* Thursday: Dave Edmunds (Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara, 963-4408). Roots rock guitar hero in a rare local appearance, and Dion.

* Saturday: Ariel (Charlie’s Seaside Cafe, 362 California St., Ventura, 648-6688). Nifty and nervous New Wave power pop by these talented locals.