PERFORMANCES / AN OPINIONATED GUIDE

This is the weekly rock ‘ n’ roll lineup. Look elsewhere for country, jazz and who cares about Top 40 brain death cover bands, anyway? The vast majority of these bands listed play original music. TONIGHT

* Garage Band Night (The Insomniac Coffeehouse, 793 Santa Clara St., Ventura, 648-5019) Who’s playing? Who knows? Who cares? Ready for something new?

* Special Beat, Dave Wakeling & the Free Radicals (Ventura Theatre, 26 Chestnut St., Ventura, 648-1888) The English Beat blew up a few years back--here’s a couple of the parts. Ranking Roger fronts the first band; Wakeling used to be the front man of the Beat. It’s rockin’ ska that’ll grab your feet by the throat.

* Lion I’s (Bombay Bar & Grill, 143 California St., Ventura, 643-4404) The happening live Ventura band that attracts dancers in droves. Even the horn section can dance, well, sort of. (Also Friday and Saturday)

* Ariel, Mojo Hane (Toes Tavern, 416 State St., Santa Barbara, 965-4655) It’s worth the drive just to hear Ventura’s Ariel play “Today.” Free pizza doesn’t hurt, either. (Also Friday at Nordhoff High School after the football game)

* Zoo Story (Joseppi’s, 434 State St., Santa Barbara, 962-5516) Wimpy, yet swell, pop rock from Westmont College, not unlike the Three O’Clock, but with a smaller bank account.

* Zack & A Modern View (Beach Shack, 500 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 966-1634) World Beat meets reggae and jazz all in the same band.

* Kim Wilson (Prime Directive, 634 State St., Santa Barbara, 564-4862) The lead singer of the Fabulous T-Birds comes back to his hometown to play a gig.

* Fin, Greg & Dave (Alex’s Cantina, 633 State St., Santa Barbara, 966-0032) Three guys who do pop rock right, and often. (Again here Saturday and also Wednesday at the Brewhouse in S. B.)

* Buddy Smith & the System (Art’s Bar, 2611 De La Vina St., Santa Barbara, 569-0052) Veteran Ventura guitarist who has been playing around since the ‘60s. He’s got the blues.

* Los Guys (Spike’s Place) Funny folk rock by Harold and Jeremy at the gig that’s becoming quite the sweaty scene.

FRIDAY

* Albert Collins (Ventura Theatre) Another of those great, black blues dudes who never stops touring.

* Thought Festival, Trip Master Monkey (Bermuda Triangle, 477 E. Main St., Ventura, 653-0466) Industrial funk and a thrash band do the local band thing at the local hangout.

* Rick Reeves & the Future Blues (Big Yellow House, 108 Pierpont St., Summerland, 969-4140) Rockin’ blues plus a million covers by this tight trio. (Also Saturday here and Monday after football at Alex’s Cantina)

* Polychrome (Brewhouse, 202 State St., Santa Barbara, 966-3090) Powerful female vocals makes Polychrome go--and they may be going on tour with Bob Weir’s band.

* McGlynn Brothers (Toes Tavern) John Stafford, who books the bands and knows his tunes, loves these guys.

* Spencer The Gardener (Beach Shack) All original rock from Spencer & Company, local legends of long standing who will pay the rent for this joint tonight.

* Life Talking (Prime Directive) Alternative S. B. band with an increasing herd of female admirers.

* Munkafust (Alex’s Cantina) L. A. band seeking to join Spencer, Tao Jonz and Common Sense as top-rank draws in S. B.

* Little Jonny & the Giants (Art’s Bar) Art loves ‘em--you will too. It’s rockin’ blues. (Also Monday at Joseppi’s)

SATURDAY

* John Marx & the Blues Patrol (Hi Cees, 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, 658-8420) Rockin’ blues from down south in the afternoon. They open both doors and you’re sort of outside, dancing. (Also Sunday)

* Sound FX (Garfields Bar & Grill, 2789 E. Main St., Ventura, 648-1917) Live music one night a week--good food every night.

* Mark Farner (Ventura Theatre) He used to be the front man for Grand Funk Railroad who used to headline the Forum about 20 years ago.

* J.D.’s Last Ride, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (Bermuda Triangle) A couple of good local bands who used to be regulars at Charlie’s but will now have to adjust to a new venue.

* Evil Farmer, Red River Gumbo (Brewhouse) A couple of I. V. bands challenge the meanest beer west of the Pecos.

* Ras Leon & the Underground Roots Syndicate (Toes Tavern) Real slow, real rootsy reggae.

* Common Sense (Beach Shack) Generic rockin’ reggae band from Orange County and the largest draw here, says the owner.

* Bluescasters (Art’s Bar) What do you suppose this is all about? Right.

* HR, Little Women (The Anaconda Theater, 935 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista, 685-3112) HR used to front those radical reggae punks, Bad Brains--now, as a soloist, it’s probably easier to divide the loot.

SUNDAY

* O.P. Stylee (Bombay) Reggae all the way from--are you ready--Bakersfield.

* Fishbone (Ventura Theatre) They’ve never topped “Party At Ground Zero” off their first EP about six years ago--they just get louder and more popular.

* Preachers Blues Band (Bermuda Triangle) Blues and tri-tip dinners combine for a cultural landslide.

* The Ska’s The Limit (Brewhouse) Members of Crucial DBC and Jah Bone do the rockin’ ska thing outside in the patio in the afternoon.

* Kadara (Toes Tavern) More reggae up the street.

* Mary Chapin Carpenter (Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara, 963-4408) This week’s sensitive female artiste.

MONDAY

* The Pontiax (Alexander’s, Spinnaker Drive and Harbor Boulevard, Ventura, 658-2000) Rockin’ blues from S. B. by these wily veterans who are much in demand on the never-ending blues festival circuit.

* The Ramones, Overwhelming Colorfast (Anaconda Theatre) 1-2-3, hey, it’s the Ramones still driving around 18 years later. See Up the Coast

TUESDAY

* The Wedding Band (Beach Shack) Groovy S. B. dance party that’s been going on for years. The City Council should declare this gig a landmark.

WEDNESDAY

* Irie Ites (Elephant Bar, 5795 Walker St., Ventura, 644-6238) These Silver Strand finhead’s brand of rockin’ reggae is the antedote for the yuppies who leave once the music starts.

* Zepher (Cafe Della Riviera, 1559 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, 658-9153) Hard rock in the harbor loud enough to scare the seagulls who are too dumb to find the landfill.

* Concrete Blond, Chris Baley (Ventura Theatre) Hard-driving rock featuring some potent vocals by Johnnette Napolitano. See Night Life

* Lean-To (Toes Tavern) This is Joe Woodard’s latest musical adventure. It better be good since the free pizza is tomorrow night.

* Einstein’s Mystic Plumbers, Zoo Story (Alex’s Cantina) Two swell local bands do the place on the corner.

Yup, it’s only rock ‘n’ roll and, thus, these listings are subject to change for no apparent reason. Mom was right--call first.