Right Mix Fuels Patrons for a Fast Pace : * The dancer-friendly Cactus County band puts out plenty of high-energy music at the Borderline Bar and Grill.

During the past three weeks, I’ve checked out several bands and visited clubs from Santa Ynez to Malibu. Despite the mileage, I only saw one fight break out. And that biker brawl was nothing compared to the parking lot scene between one of the musicians and an old flame who showed up unannounced.

Some folks find such antics entertaining. But for me the highlight of my recent club-hopping was a Monday night at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks. I had so much fun line dancing at the opening of their new live-band format that I’m headed for the ice pack--and maybe traction.

The venue, a dancer-friendly band like Cactus County, and deejay Rick Borja mixing the break music resulted in a high-energy evening with a healthy turnout of patrons.

The club has made sure to book bands that will play a strong dance club format, and will call and count down the dances. So if you liked the controlled, consistent deejay music before, you’ll find this format enhances the experience.

But watch out for those fast Walkin’ Wazzi’s. The Borderline is the only place I’ve seen two fast-and-faster Tush Pushes regularly played back-to-back. So check with your doctor before getting on the dance floor.

Cactus County will play every Monday in June. And you can bet Randy Carpenter’s mom will be out there each week in her black cowboy hat, jeans and Cactus County T-shirt to cheer ‘em on. And her pride is justified.

This five-piece Simi-Valley-based country band first rehearsed in September and first performed at the end of January. Yet they’ve already appeared at last month’s Conejo Valley Days and are booked for next year. In addition to the Borderline, they’ll continue to appear at Cousin’s and Schooner Time, both in Simi Valley. And you’ll soon be able to catch them at the Crazy Bull in Camarillo.

“Our set list caters to the dancers as it should,” said Tom Galella, who described himself as the drummer and one-fifth of a team. The remaining lineup includes: Andy Fontana (lead vocals, lead guitar), Rene Ames (lead vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Randy Carpenter (rhythm guitar, lead vocals), and Rene Ames’ husband Tim on bass guitar and vocals. Galella said their music fits within the New and Hot country labels.

For such a young band, Cactus County has a tight, seasoned sound. And it probably doesn’t hurt that Fontana and Carpenter are line dancers. They also write for the band along with Rene Ames, whose country alto voice is well-matched to her medium two-step, “It Won’t Be Long Now.” Although she wrote the song several years ago, it’s a timely addition to the current crop of tunes made popular by K.T. Oslin and Kathy Mattea.

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Chris Hillman, of the legendary Byrds and more recently, The Desert Rose band, has lately been donating his time to local charitable and civic events including last month’s annual Ventura Police Block party and the DARE program.

In light of the renewed popularity of the Eagles’ music and that special 12-string guitar sound, I asked him during a phone interview about the fate of The Desert Rose band and any plans for a Byrds revival.

“As far as the Byrds are concerned, there’s only three of us left. But David Crosby and I would like to go out on the road. And I will present the project to Roger McGuinn early this summer,” said Hillman.

But even as he said it, he admitted he was torn about touring. “I’m 50 years old in six months; I’m never gonna quit music, that’s what I do for a living,” he said. “But I’m taking a year off because I’ve toured or been on the road every year since 1963, except for one summer. But I got burned out and had to stop. I had to miss five of my 10-year-old daughter’s birthdays.”

Meanwhile, fans of The Desert Rose band can expect release of its final album, “Life Goes On,” this month.

“This is the only band I had that stopped working under the best of terms,” Hillman said. “I felt that the way country radio is now, it was virtually impossible for us to get back on the radio after being perceived as having hits between 1989-1991.

“So we decided to retire with dignity. I didn’t want the next step to be a USO tour. And we’re proud of what we accomplished,” said Hillman, adding that he’s writing new material and plans to go into the studio in about eight months.

“Desert Rose was one of the best musical groups I’ve ever been associated with,” Hillman said.

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As expected, some folks have taken issue with the line dance article I wrote a few weeks ago. And I would love to hear from you for a column I plan with rebuttals. So please mail or fax your comments--the address is listed below and tell us why you love line dancing. We hope to hear from you by the end of June.

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.

* WHAT: Borderline Bar and Grill’s new live-band format.

* WHERE: 99 Rolling Oaks Drive, Thousand Oaks.

* WHO: Cactus County.

* WHEN: 8 p.m. every Monday in June.

* ETC: Line dance lessons at 6 and 7 p.m.

* COST: $2 per person starting at 7 p.m.

* FYI: 446-4435.