MUSIC : Group Bucks the Trends and Mines a Field Rich in Pop Gems : Popsicko says the description of their sound can be found in their name--or by hearing their new 9-song tape.

No grunge. No rap. No hip hop. No funk. No reggae. No heavy metal. No chance for a band like Popsicko that plays power pop rock? That remains to be seen.

If it was 1968, these guys would be rock gods and all over the radio. Pop rock, a melodious musical genre that can be traced from Buddy Holly to the Beatles to T-Rex to Cheap Trick to Jellyfish and even to Santa Barbara’s Tearaways, has never really gone away despite the whims of popular culture. The three-minute pop gem lives long and prospers with the band with the cool name, Popsicko.

“We’re not going against the trends; that stuff just isn’t what we’re doing,” said singer/songwriter/guitarist Keith Brown. “The description of our music is supposed to be in our name.”

And so it is. Popsicko will play with Wasted Tape on Friday night at Buster’s in Goleta, where gas masks are optional. It used to be an all-ages venue until the fateful RKL (Rich Kids on LSD) gig a few months ago, when owner Larry Dart gassed the maniacs in the mosh pit who, apparently, were having too much fun. Brown was there, near the door and, apparently, wearing his running shoes.

“They never told anyone or gave any warning at all unless the signs on the wall were considered a warning,” said Brown, a man of few words, but with quick feet. “I was close to the door and I made it out with hardly a whiff of that stuff.”

There shouldn’t be quite so much excess adrenalin and testosterone this time at Buster’s. For one thing, it’s a 21-and-over place these days, and the exuberance of youth will be on the outside looking in: left out in the parking lot, stood up, broken-hearted again. Also, slamming to Popsicko isn’t quite like slamming to Frank Sinatra; but the dancers should be of the kinder, gentler persuasion. Anyway, the band likes Buster’s.

“We like Buster’s but we also miss the Anaconda Theatre in Isla Vista, because they gave us some good opening spots for bands like Dramarama, King Missile, Mary’s Danish and the Meat Puppets,” said Brown. “There’s not really a lot going on downtown for us. We’ve played Alex’s Cantina and the Brewhouse before, but we haven’t played Toes Tavern yet.”

So much for that future fanatical following of fin heads. Yet, Popsicko is not afraid to drive, and they do have that mailing list working, up to nearly 400 to date. Last weekend they went to Fresno and the Bay Area to entertain some Giants fans. They’ve also played the usual spots in Ventura, and to fuel their MTV dreams, they play L. A. as well.

“We try to play in L. A. a couple of times a month and we’re talking to some industry people,” said Brown. “We got lucky, I guess. Some people got back to us after our tape had sat on their desk for a year. We seem to do well at the Coconut Teaszer, a good place for unsigned bands. Usually we try to play L. A. three times, San Francisco three times, Fresno three times and Santa Barbara three times a month. We have a bunch of fans in San Francisco that relocated up there from Santa Barbara.”

In addition to the four-song demo tape from last year that almost rotted on some A&R; guy’s desk, Popsicko has a new self-titled nine-song tape just out. Such songs as “Messin’ Around” and “Dragging Me Down” are as attractive as salsa is to a white shirt. Brown and guitarist Tim Cullen harmonize sweetly enough to give your ears cavities. Mick Flowers hits those drums. And like God, Godzilla, Madonna and others for whom brevity is king, Marko is the bass player. Their “let’s start a band” scenario is typical.

“I started playing with Marko in a band called Glitterbug,” said Brown. “That band broke up and Marko knew Tim and Mick, and Popsicko got going at the beginning of 1992. The band is getting to be our life, although we have to work some, usually just little things here and there. Since I didn’t make it through college, this is it for me. I just want to play music, but not getting paid much money makes it tough to make a living on this small level.”

Brown will probably be the youngest person at one of those big nights out for the fortysomethings next month.

“Personally, I was into the Replacements, and especially Neil Diamond,” said Brown. “I’m going to see him at the Forum next month. I guess I heard him from my parents, but I always liked him. The rest of the band is into a lot of ‘70s stuff like Cheap Trick.”

So for Popsicko, a number of the potholes that line the road to rock ‘n’ roll stardom are filled: They’ve got gigs, a few fans, a mailing list, a clean sound, a new tape and rock ‘n’ roll T-shirts. A gig opening for Neil Diamond couldn’t hurt.

Details

* CONCERT: Popsicko and Wasted Tape at Buster’s (not the tri-tip place), 6396 Hollister Ave., Goleta, 968-2565. Friday at 9 p.m., $3.