Shiloh Makes Tradition of Two-Stepping to New Year : The popular Ventura band leads a full lineup of groups providing the down-home music for holiday dancing.

The Ventura-based Country Lovers Western Dance Club recently booked the popularlocal band, Shiloh, for many of the club’s monthly public dances in 1994. And 230 Country Lovers can’t be wrong. But you can get the jump on ‘em by spending New Year’s Eve with Shiloh at the Crazy Bull in Camarillo.

These guys are goooood, and dancers appreciate their style.

“We like to play the music that people can dance to and that they enjoy listening to,” said Gary Weatherman, band leader and keyboardist. “We like to play a good two-step. But we like to also play a good, upbeat swing song. We’re a contemporary country band, so we try to cover the top 40 country plus traditional country,” he added.

Weatherman, who was raised in Oxnard and Ventura, formed Shiloh four years ago. The 2-year-old current lineup includes Weatherman on keyboards, Jon Cowsill (drums, lead vocalist), Mike Mormanis (lead guitar, vocals), Bill Whitley (bass guitar, lead vocals) and Jim Green on rhythm guitar and background vocals. By day you would know them as a school district custodian, a computer technician, a local radio deejay, an aircraft industry employee and a guy who works for TRW. Nevertheless, the band members have extensive combined credits as studio and tour musicians.

And Shiloh has opened locally for some nationally known country performers. Yet they remain an unpretentious, class act.

“Opening for Desert Rose Band and Doug Stone was a high point for our playing careers. But I don’t think we’re really looking for that big break,” Weatherman said. “We don’t do any original songs at all. We’ve talked about what the next level for us would be. But we’re happy playing for the clubs around here and trying to build a good reputation. We’re not in it for money. We all have real day jobs. And we do this because of our love of country music.”

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Here’s a New Year’s Eve Country Sampler. Most bands start at 8:30 p.m., and reservations are a must:

* After a night of dancing to the high-energy tunes of Platte River Crossing, you’ll feel like you were rode hard and put away wet. Hear ‘em at Cousin’s Country Saloon, 2381 Tapo St. in Simi Valley, 522-2559.

* Spaghetti Western has 7 and 10 p.m. time slots for dinner-dance shows at the Red Dog Saloon. You’ll love the huge floor and danceable honky tonk sound of this band. And they serve mighty good grub at the Red Dog, 110 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, 965-2231.

* Lead vocalist Floyd Wayne has rested his powerful pipes and is back in the saddle with hot country rock, great swing tunes and even John Foggerty numbers. The band, Most Wanted, will be at the City Line Night Club (in the San Marcos Bowl), 4050 Calle Real, Goleta, 967-5631.

* Pedal steel, mandolin sound and rich vocals make Sky King one of the most popular dance and listening bands in the area. Hear ‘em at Smokey’s Dining Hall, 2112 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura, 643-3264.

* Weed in the Road Band, returns to Rube’s Valley House of Barbecue, with great swing tunes, ballads and the lovely country vocals of Gary Allen Hartman. There’s no extra charge for party favors if you have dinner reservations. Rube’s is at 1115 E. Los Angeles Ave. in Simi Valley, 527-9570.

* Fans who celebrated New Year’s Eve last year with Darlene O’Connell and the Dixie Flyers at the Red Dog Saloon, can catch them up the road at the Zaca Creek Inn, in Buellton. For details, call their hot line, (800) 773-4943.

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If you want to learn and dance for a good cause, the first annual Silk ‘N Spurs New Years Country Dance to benefit Conejo Valley Senior Concerns and the Fitzgerald Center will be sponsored by the Kiwanis and Soroptimist organizations. Instructor Kathy Bailey will teach line and partner dancing 7 to 8 p.m. and 9 to 9:45 p.m. Silent auctions will be held throughout the evening with surprises at midnight and dancing to the music of the Rick Tucker band ‘til 1:30 p.m. The tax deductible tickets are $39 per person in advance and $50 at the door. Admission includes a tri-tip barbecue dinner, midnight champagne toast and “wild West” souvenir photograph. Contests for best boots, beard and best “dressy” Western attire. Seating is limited at the Thousand Oaks Community Center, 2525 Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks, 496-1902 or (818) 991-8799.

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How about a New Year’s Eve Gala Hawaiian Luau? $25 per person gets you a champagne toast, a Hawaiian buffet served from 7 to 8 p.m., a Polynesian floor show, and dancing ‘til dawn to your favorite country-Western tunes with Classic Country deejay Vince Fiske. The social hour starts at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 83 S. Palm St., in Ventura. Reservations will be accepted through Dec. 31, at 643-8833. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Next Week: Learn to clog and where to get swing lessons.

Robyn Loewenthal, an avid two-stepper, welcomes all news of country doin’s around the county. All submissions should arrive at least two weeks before the event. Write to her at 5200 Valentine Road, Suite 140, Ventura, 93003 or send faxes to 658-5576.

Details

* WHAT: New Year’s Eve Country Western Shibang with Shiloh.

* WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31.

* WHERE: Crazy Bull Steakhouse & Saloon, 4426 Central Ave., Camarillo, 988-4209.

* ETC: Reservations only. Package A for $120 per couple includes lodging at the adjacent Del Norte Inn, dinner for two, champagne and party favors. Package B for $85 per couple, excludes lodging.

* FYI: Shiloh will also perform on the following dates: Jan. 9 and Feb. 6, Nicholbys’ Upstairs Pool Hall & Night Club, 404 E. Main St., Ventura; Jan. 14 and 15, Feb. 4 and 5, and also March 18 and 19, Crazy Bull; Jan. 21, Country Lovers public dance, American Legion Hall, 83 S. Palm St., Ventura; Jan. 22, Knights of Columbus fund-raiser dance, St. Jude Catholic Church, West Lake Village; March 11 and 12, Ventura County Days workshops and dance with Rick Henderson. For more Shiloh play dates or to receive their newsletter every two months, call 644-0675.