PERFORMANCESAN OPINIONATED GUIDE

THURSDAY

Frankenstein (Club Soda, 317 E. Main St., Ventura, 652-0100) These thrashers are sort of like a local version of the Cramps, and they’re as loud as the Boris Karloff monster whenever he saw fire.

Expression (Charlie’s, 362 California St., Ventura, 648-6688) Intense, heartfelt, melodious thrash rock, direct from the garage to you. Their new tape would scare Manuel Noriega, but you’d probably like it.

Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan (The Grill, 1279 Coast Village Road, Montecito, 969-5969) Acoustic blues smartly done by a couple of guys who’ve been around almost as long as the blues, well, almost.

Pat, Fin & Greg (Alex’s Cantina, 633 State St., Santa Barbara, 966-0032) Lots of Sixties tunes plus a few Tearaways’ originals at this long-running State Street party.

Agent Orange (Carnaval Club, 634 State St., Santa Barbara, 965-8422) Surf punk thrashers from the 714 area code heading north, just like zillions of others, only louder.

FRIDAY

Lion I’s (Charlie’s) The search for a new horn section is over and the reggae dance party is on--even the winos on the beach, the squirrels on the rocks and the seagulls on the pier will be skanking, mon.

SATURDAY

Dead, White and Blue (Hussing’s, 3695 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, 656-0669) This gig is iffy. Last week’s Green Jello, a band that was supposed to perform here, didn’t. Hussings and the IRS, reportedly, are having some serious differences of opinion. Green Jello ended up at the Golden China on Seaward, where, the owner reported, they were so loud they killed the aquarium fish.

Tim Buley Band (Charlie’s) The blues come to the beach.

Urban Dread (Caribbean Cuisine, 5838 Hollister, Goleta, 967-7265) Reggae from the Valley that’ll make all you get up and dance.

SUNDAY

Matt Schulte & Bill Coffey (Charlie’s) Exemplary folk music by two guys who can sing as well as anyone. The barely electric duo probably won’t be getting a Christmas card from the Edison Co. again this year.

MONDAY

Lon Bove (Charlie’s) Drew, the bartender, says this is a great blues band, so it must be true. Schulte & Coffey do the 6 p.m. Happy Hour set.

Rob Rio & The Revolvers (Alexander’s, 1080 Navigator, Ventura, 658-2000) The “King of the Boogie Woogie” piano will kick things off with a solo set on the grand piano, then kick things into high gear when he’s joined by the full band. It’s worth the price of admission alone to hear “Fat Girl Boogie.”

TUESDAY

Average White Band (Ventura Theatre, 26 S. Chestnut, Ventura, 648-1888) They’ve been around forever.

WEDNESDAY

Art Carnage (Charlie’s) Three guys from Oxnard who know a lot of hard rockin’ Sixties songs, even “Women Are Smarter” by the Grateful Dead.

Garden Party, Sleepwalkers (Zelo, 630 State St., Santa Barbara, 966-5792) Intense, English-Lit rock starring beautiful redhead Kelly Green, while the Sleepwalkers will remind you of a cross between the I-Rails and the Talking Heads.