ROCK TALK : Raising the Volume on Raging Arbs’ Rhythms : Ventura’s renowned party band releases its first new recording since 1985 and celebrates at three weekend gigs.

Experienced local rock fans may find themselves giving to the bail bondsman of their choice: This Memorial Day Weekend it’s the Raging Arb & the Redheads’ CD release party. These local locos will be releasing their first new music since 1985.

And this little tidbit should be enough to give any party animal a case of the Premature Whirlies: it’s not one CD release party, but three! The first one will be Friday night at the venerable Ventura Theatre. It’s eminently democratic and highly affordable--it’s an all-ages show, and it’s free.

“Just the first one will be an all-ages show,” guitarist Toby Emery said. “We don’t want this to be just another local rock night. We want to turn all the kids on and get a new generation of fans in there. It’s their only chance to see us because usually we’re in bars. It’s a big night for us; it’s a culmination of everything’s that gone down before.”

What’s gone on before would fill the entire Life section. Suffice to say Raging Arb & the Redheads are Ventura’s Ultimate Party Band. Kicked out of everywhere, blamed for everything and beloved by Venturans, the band will celebrate its 11th anniversary July 4.

The CD, which will cost about 10 bucks, features more than 50 minutes of Arb original music--eight new songs and three old ones made newly gnarly for the ‘90s. The old ones are “Strut,” which was on their 1985 album, “Up With The Joneses” and “Daze Gone By,” a song whose lyrics used to change during performances, with Drury making them up on the spot. All of the songs have that trademark Arb sound--rockin’ blues with a little twang. Known for beer, dancing and more beer, the band has finally concocted a suitable theme song, “Corn Licker,” which ends the CD.

Saturday night, the fun moves up the coast to Toes Tavern, home to 25 different kinds of beer. For those still standing or not in custody, the party concludes at 2 p.m. Sunday at Eric Ericsson’s on the beach in Ventura. Opening at all three gigs is Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, no slouches in the fun department, either; the band recently won three grand at an epic Battle of the Bands contest at Metro Bay Club in Ventura. They dress up like they fell out of a black and white ‘40s movie, and they play danceable swing music.

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Another very popular Ventura dance band, Lion I’s, will have its CD release party at the Ventura Theatre on June 10. The band has had a couple of tapes, but finally has a full-length CD that will contain all their biggies with the proper mix--including “I’m So Poor,” “Sweet Summer” and “Closer.” It’ll cost 12 bucks to get into this show, but the CDs are free.

The other two happening local dance bands--Ska Daddyz and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy--are both in the studio working on their own CDs.

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They Come, They Go, But Mostly They Go Department: Ventura has lost three venues, and the year’s not even half over. The Bermuda Triangle went away for New Year’s, and last weekend Club Deja Vu in Montalvo and the Midnight Hour in West Ventura became history. The phone number for the manager and Club Deja Vu (an all-ages no booze dance club) are both disconnected--a bad sign--and alas, Montalvo rocks no more.

The Midnight Hour is also in the past tense after its long goodby scenario concluded with the third and final show Saturday night. Owner Larry Burdorf, who had enough fun in the last year to swear off gainful employment for good, says he is “actively seeking another venue.”

On a more positive note, Nicholby’s in Ventura is a viable venue and Eric Ericsson’s, at the end of Seaward Avenue in Ventura, reopened this year after being closed several years.

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In the Shameful Hype Department: Did anybody go see Phish at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara a few weeks ago? Yikes, those guys are great. That’s about the best show I’ve seen in years. Four virtuoso musicians, a zillion original songs, and a fan network that numbers more than 50,000. Their new album, “Hoist,” is highly recommended.