Origin Gaining Momentum With Its Second Album

A year and a half ago, a La Jolla-based band called the Origin surprised a lot of locals by getting signed to big-time Virgin Records. The surprise was due to the fact that few on the San Diego music scene had ever heard of the quartet.

For a number of people, skeptical curiosity was transformed into admiration by the general quality of the Origin’s self-titled, critically acclaimed debut, whose semi-acoustic, rhythm-and-folk material recalled early Cat Stevens, Al Stewart, pre-duck-suit Elton John and Ziggy-period Bowie more than any ‘90s-vogue sounds.

Defying the one-shot-wonder syndrome, the Origin is poised for the release of its second Virgin album, “Bend.” What’s more, a four-song sample of the recording indicates that the band will handily beat the sophomore jinx with an even better collection of tunes than those that graced “The Origin.”

Stylistically, songwriter-vocalist Michael Andrews, bassist Topper Rimel, drummer Rony Abada and keyboardist Daniel Silverman (who left the band after the new recording was completed) continue to invoke the past. The track “Racing with the Moon” suggests a funereal reading of the Yardbirds’ “For Your Love” as interpreted by Simple Minds; “Bonfires Burning” could be early-vintage Steve Miller Band (vocal melody courtesy of Sly Stone’s “Everyday People”); and “Candymine” is California trippy by way of Pink Floyd.

However, the arrangements, which still blend acoustic and electric instrumentation, are more coherent and boast a stronger sense of direction than was heard on the first effort. And Andrews’ singing has improved 100%. As the Origin continues to define its sound--the band’s relocation to San Francisco is a factor therein--it comes closer to justifying its name. “Bend” is scheduled to hit the streets Feb. 11.

FAST FORWARD: The Cure, whose video-clip compilation, “Picture Show,” recently topped the Billboard music video chart, will unveil its pay-per-view television special Thursday night. In “On Stage, Off Stage and More . . . ,” the mega-selling alternative band will debut live versions of new material, show previously unreleased concert performances and be featured in extensive behind-the-scenes footage.

The special is the third installment in the “Thursday Night Concerts” series, which in weeks to come will feature a triple-headbanger lineup of Warrant, Trixter and Firehouse.

Both Southwestern and Cox cable companies are carrying the two-hour Cure show at 7 p.m. and again at 9 p.m., at a cost of $19.95. You must have a converter box to receive it (Channel 0 on Southwestern, Channel 57 on Cox). In case you miss this showing, “On Stage, Off Stage and More . . .” will air again Dec. 12 and Dec. 19.

Even long-time fans of local folk-singing veteran Sam Hinton might not know that he was an important figure in the folk boom of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s.

The recently revived Vanguard record label has provided time-capsule proof of Hinton’s stature with two new CD re-issues of recordings made at the epochal 1963 Newport Folk Festival, regarded by many folk aficionados as the greatest such event in the music’s history.

“Newport Broadside” features performances of topical songs by such heavyweights as Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton and Joan Baez. Track four has a young Hinton (a San Diego-based marine biologist at the time) singing the 1946 satirical tune, “Talking Atomic Blues,” with virtuosic comic timing (Hinton’s 1950 recording of the anti-nuclear song got him blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee).

The other Newport re-visit, “The Evening Concerts, Volume 1,” opens with no fewer than three Hinton tracks: “The Barnyard Song” (with which he still opens most concerts), “Must I Go Bound,” and “The Arkansas Traveller.”

Both fans and would-be converts will have a chance to hear Hinton this Saturday when the septuagenarian multi-instrumentalist joins with British traditional folk singer Johnny Walker for the San Diego Folk Heritage’s annual “Holiday Concert.” The program will be held at 8 p.m. in the Del Mar Shores Auditorium, on the grounds of the Winston School, 215 Ninth St., in Del Mar. Admission is $7.50. For more information, call 436-4030.

The band scheduled to open for the Smithereens on Dec. 13 at the Belly Up Tavern is called V.I.E.W. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, the band’s guitarist will be familiar to sports fans. He’s Jack McDowell, a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox.

Unlike former Padres pitcher Eric Show, who was written up as often for his jazz guitar playing as for his pitching, McDowell favors rock. The right-hander writes the songs, plays 12- and 6-string guitars and handles most of the lead vocals. The moonlighting baseball trio is rounded out by bassist Lee Plemel (he plays in the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor-league system) and drummer Wayne Edwards, another White Sox hurler.

V.I.E.W.’s debut album, “Extendagenda,” can be purchased by mail from Quality Start Records 1991, 11288 Ventura Blvd., Suite 446, Studio City CA 91604. Conscientious shoppers, however, might want to wait to hear V.I.E.W. at the Belly Up before shelling out the dinero ($11.99 for CD, $7.99 for cassette, plus $2 handling).

GRACE NOTES: (Tickets for the following concerts will be sold at all TicketMaster outlets unless otherwise specified.)

Peabo Bryson’s long-delayed gig at Sound FX, originally booked for August, then re-scheduled for Dec. 17, has been moved again, to Dec. 19. . . .

The date of the Metallica concert has been moved up one day, from Jan. 14 to Jan. 13. All other particulars remain the same. . . .

Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. (all TicketMaster outlets except the May Co.) for a Jan. 29 double-bill at the Sports Arena featuring the Cult and Lenny Kravitz.

CRITIC’S CHOICE: CHICAGO BLUESMAN TO PLAY AT BLIND MELONS

Guitarist Lonnie Brooks is one of the preeminent exponents of Chicago blues, an ebullient showman whose personality is reflected in his hyperactive, impetuous solos.

Though he’s routinely lauded by the music press for his rich, B.B. King-like vocals and guitar skills, Brooks’ mastery has less to do with mechanics than with his fluency in the idiom’s various dialects. The one-time sideman for both Sam Cooke and Clifton Chenier is well-versed in everything from boogie to swamp rock to jump blues to R&B;, and his shows are likely to touch on all of those styles before the night is over.

The Lonnie Brooks Band, with son Ronnie Baker Brooks on second guitar, will perform a 9 p.m. show Thursday night at Blind Melons, 710 Garnet Ave, Willie Jaye will open. For more information, call 483-7844.