PERFORMANCES AN OPINIONATED GUIDE : THURSDAY

Something For Nothing (Charlie’s, 362 California St., Ventura, 648-6688) Industrial strength, hard-edged original rock ‘n’ roll by a turbulent trio.

Leo Downey Band (The Ketch, 514 State St., Santa Barbara, 564-3231) Guitar whiz Downey offers a variety of styles from classical acoustic to hard rock--and he wrote all the songs. It’s a hit when he plays so get there early, maybe right after “The Simpsons.”

Food For Feet, Lock Up, A Band Called Horse (The Carnaval Club, 634 State St., Santa Barbara, 965-8422) The headliners play nervous music from a couple of members of Oingo Boingo.

FRIDAY

Raging Arb & The Redheads (Hussing’s Cantina, 3639 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, 656-0669) The ultimate party this weekend where you must be rowdy and you probably don’t dance or you probably don’t want to go.

The Marshall Tucker Band (Ventura Theatre, 26 S. Chestnut St., Ventura, 648-1888) Southern rock for the pointy-shoed party animal crowd.

Brave New World (Charlie’s) Industrial strength reggae, mon, where each song lasts a week, easy.

SATURDAY

Robben Ford (Ventura Theatre) Ford has played everything with everybody everywhere. The master blues/jazz/rock/you-name-it guitarist has played with people such as Miles Davis, Michael McDonald, the Yellowjackets, Little Feat, George Harrison, Joni Mitchell, and the like.

SUNDAY

Mosaic (Charlie’s) When folk singers Evans & Van Loan add a couple of members it becomes some tight folk rock.

TUESDAY

Plato’s Cat (Charlie’s) Tight and tuneful local pop rock on the beach.

WEDNESDAY

Michael On Fire (Hungry Hunter, 487 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks) Folk, rock and blues--all originals by a swell original trio.