CONTEMPORARY MUSIC / JOHN D’AGOSTINO : Band Has a Serious Mission

Earl Thomas and the Blues Ambassadors have been playing at Croce’s Top Hat Bar and Grille every Wednesday night since May, 1990.

However, when the local blues-R&B; band performs at the Gaslamp Quarter club tonight, it will be anything but a regular gig.

Tonight’s show is a fund-raiser for the group, which must replace virtually all of its musical equipment. On July 24, thieves stole Thomas’ customized 1988 Dodge Ram van and the attached trailer--containing the group’s instruments--from outside their Phoenix hotel room.

Thomas, who recently had returned from a triumphant performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, was scheduled to perform that night at a Phoenix club called Char’s Has the Blues. What transpired between the time the band arrived in the city and the time they walked onstage still has the musicians reeling.

“We had just carried our bags into our hotel rooms when it happened,” Thomas said earlier this week. “Because it was about 115 degrees and had just stopped raining, it was extremely humid and very uncomfortable outside. So, I said, ‘I’ll go back later and put The Club on (the steering wheel), set the alarm, and put the chain on the trailer, but first I’m going inside for a minute to chill out in the air-conditioning and have a drink.’ ”

The van was parked outside where the musicians could keep it in view. But Thomas fell asleep in a chair and didn’t awaken until his sound man walked in and asked where the van was.

“I went to point to it, but all that was left in the parking space was a pile of broken glass,” Thomas ruefully recalled. “It all happened within a 15-minute period, because at 5:30 p.m. the drummer had gone across the street to the 7-Eleven and back, and it was still there, and my sound man came in at 5:45. You can’t believe how shocked I was. Here, I’m on cloud nine after getting back from Montreux, where I brought the house down, and then all of a sudden, boom!”

According to Thomas, the band played the gig on equipment borrowed from Phoenix-area musicians, and somehow overcame its shock and dismay.

“That was about the greatest gig ever,” Thomas said. “We began the night at ground zero, and we just played really well.”

In the days following the incident, Phoenix police recovered Thomas’ van and the empty trailer, but in removing the custom-mounted VCR and television from the van’s wood paneling, the crooks did extensive damage to the interior. The van, at least, was insured, but the instruments in the trailer--valued at almost $8,000--were not.

Taken were bassist Luis Oliart’s special amplifier (he had taken his bass into the hotel with him); Larry Logan’s keyboard; Matthew Clowminzer’s vintage Fender Stratocaster guitar and tube-type Fender amp; Ron McRory’s $3,500 drum set and assorted amplifiers and sound gear. Also stolen from Thomas’ van were a video of his performance at Montreux, and his clothing, including his shoes. Thomas wore thongs on his feet for the Char’s gig.

As devastated as he felt after the theft, Thomas soon learned that such occurrences are fairly common.

“I’ve talked to a lot of musicians since this happened, and everyone has either had this happen to them or knows someone this has happened to,” he said. But, he added, knowing the band is in familiar company hasn’t lessened the blow.

“It’s been pretty weird since we returned to San Diego,” Thomas acknowledged. “The guys are sad because they’re not playing on their real instruments, and things just don’t sound right, you know.”

Still, Thomas remains philosophical.

“Thank God we didn’t lose the equipment in worse way, like in an accident or something. And, I’ve learned a very valuable lesson; I now know that I will never, ever again leave my car for even 30 seconds without setting the alarm.”

In an effort to raise replacement money, Thomas has invited a number of other artists to share tonight’s special bill. Co-headlining with the Blues Ambassadors will be Janiva Magness and acoustic Delta blues guitarist Diamond Jim Green. Other performers include Eric Leiberman and the Juke Stompers, Robin Henkel, A.J. Croce, Blonde Bruce, members of Rockola and the Red Hots. Thomas is especially excited to have Green on the bill. The original guitarist with the Blues Ambassadors just happened to be visiting San Diego when Thomas was putting together the program.

“He’s one of the most authentic Delta blues guitarists I’ve ever heard,” Thomas said of Green. “He’s like Robert Johnson reborn.”

Each act will play four or five songs, and then most will jam later in the evening. The show is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. and run until 1 a.m. There is a $5 cover charge. Proprietor Ingrid Croce, who paid for all advertising and flyers for the gig, is letting the band keep the door receipts.

Those who can’t make tonight’s gig, but would like to contribute to the instrument-replacement fund, can mail checks or money orders (payable to Earl Thomas) to: Earl Thomas, P.O. Box 19813, San Diego 92159.

GRACE NOTES: Thursday’s show featuring the Peter Case Band at Sound FX has been canceled. Case has re-arranged his current tour itinerary to enable him to perform solo at some gigs (he’ll be opening some upcoming shows for Los Lobos) and with his band at others. The local gig was a victim of the re-shuffling, and there is no plan for a re-scheduling.

Local musician Jerry McCann is inviting one and all to witness his transformation into what he calls “middle agelessness” Friday night at Sandy’s Bar (581 Westlake St., Encinitas). McCann will celebrate turning 45 with a “food, fun, and music” gig featuring his group, the Band of Giants, and Oui-B-Boppin. For ticket information, call 942-7866.

The starting time of the Indigo Girls’ Aug. 28 concert at SDSU’s Open Air Theatre, which also features Matthew Sweet, has been moved up to 7:30 p.m. to accommodate an additional act, Kristen Hall.

Johnny Mathis’ shows at Humphrey’s, originally scheduled for June 22 and 23, are now set for Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 (one 8 p.m. show each night).

The Sept. 20 concert at Humphrey’s featuring a cappella Gospel vocal group Take 6 and singer-songwriter Kenny Rankin has been canceled. Take 6 is in a Nashville studio recording its next album, and can’t justify a quick swing to Southern California for only two confirmed dates, one of which was the Humphrey’s gig. Rankin will not appear, either.

Ray Charles’ Sept. 17 and 18 shows at Humphrey’s have been moved back to Sept. 29 and 30 to accommodate a scheduled Pepsi commercial shoot. Tickets to the Sept. 17 show will be honored on the 29th, and tickets to the Sept. 18 show will be honored on the 30th (no cross-over). Those who want outright refunds can receive them at the point of purchase.

BOOKINGS: (Tickets for the following concerts will be sold at all TicketMaster outlets unless otherwise specified) The Bellamy Brothers will perform Monday at In Cahoots in Mission Valley. Tickets to either the 7:30 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. show are only $2.97, due to the show’s affiliation with the KSON radio station (call letters 97.3), and can be purchased in advance at the club (5373 Mission Center Road). Dinner packages also are available. Call 291-1184. . . . Yes bassist Chris Squire brings the Chris Squire Experiment to Sound FX on Aug. 20. . . . David Byrne will perform at Copley Symphony Hall on Sept. 18 (on sale Friday, 3 p.m.). No over-reaching orchestral work this time--just music from his Talking Heads tenure and recent solo albums. . . .Morrissey performs October 31 in the O’Brien Pavilion of the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Tickets go on sale Saturday, at 10 a.m. at all TicketMaster outlets and at the 91X parking lot at 4891 Pacific Highway (security will be on hand to enforce a strict policy of no lineups at 91X before 8 a.m.).

CRITIC’S CHOICE

JAMBAY FIELD TRIP

The once-local, still-progressive band, Jambay, has earned a nice niche in the Northwest since moving to Seattle a couple of years ago.

Last week, the group performed at San Francisco’s infamous I-Beam club, and in late August, they’ll perform at the “Grateful Dead Field Trip” in Oregon. They secured that heady gig after playing at a Fourth of July party thrown by author-prankster Ken Kesey.

Thursday night, Jambay will headline what they’re calling “a psychedelic multimedia extravaganza” at La Paloma Theatre (corner of First and D streets, in Encinitas). The show, similar in scope to Jambay’s CD release party last year at UC San Diego, will feature quadraphonic sound, computerized lighting, and a variety of projection effects.

Joining them on the bill are the band’s acoustic alter ego, Lazy Porch Dogs, as well as San Francisco’s the Strangers and San Diego bands Travel Agents and Naked Earth. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $8 at the door. For more information, call 436-SHOW.