New Lineups Are Rich in Roots, Alternative

Steve Zepeda, the former Bogart’s booker, has stepped up his promoting schedule, with roots and alternative-rock offerings at the Foothill in Signal Hill and the Blue Cafe in downtown Long Beach.

The Foothill, an old-time dance hall (recently immortalized by Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys in their song “Foothill Boogie”), is Zepeda’s venue for a series of Thursday and Friday night concerts.

Upcoming shows: 7 Year Bitch, with Loudspeaker and the South Bay Surfers, on Thursday, $7; One Hit Wonder and the South Bay Surfers, July 21, $4; the Paladins and Russell Scott & the Red Hots, July 22, $11; Sister Goddam, Paper Tulips and the South Bay Surfers, July 28, $4; the Blazers and the Sun Demons, July 29, $7; and the Royal Crown Revue, Aug. 5, $8.

The Foothill is at 1922 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill. All shows start at 9 p.m., with ages 21 and over admitted. (310) 984-8349.

Zepeda’s “New Music Mondays” series at the Blue Cafe, 210 Promenade, includes the Violet Burning and Honeydust, Monday; and Dyke Bridge and the Ziggens, July 25. Shows start at 9 p.m., with admission $4. (310) 983-7111.

*

BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK: Here’s a new slant on the old concept of disputed water rights.

On the Orange County rock scene, Water is a promising alternative-rock band whose debut album for MCA Records is already in the can. But, according to the O.C. band’s co-manager, Steve Levesque, a Colorado bar band has emerged claiming that it had first dibs on the name Water.

Levesque said the Colorado band’s lawyer has quoted $40,000 as its asking price for the rock ‘n’ roll version of Water rights. Rather than ante up, the O.C. band’s first response was to change its name to Waterchrome.

But Levesque said officials at MCA thought “Waterchrome” had a tinny ring, so Water is again mulling what to call itself. Levesque said there is a possibility that the band will pay off the Colorado Water for undisputed rights to the name, but it would rather take the cheaper way out if it can find a different name that fits.

“Right now we’re looking at trying to find a cool name,” Levesque said.

For now, Water will play occasional shows under its old name, including one Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. at On the Rox in West Hollywood. The club is above the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd.

Water recorded its debut album in February in New Orleans with producer Gavin Mackillop, whose previous credits include Toad the Wet Sprocket and the Church. Levesque said the release is being held until January so that Water, or whatever the band will be called by then, won’t be submerged in the annual end-of-year flood of major releases.

*

CIRCLE THE WAGONS: The old strength-in-numbers strategy is in play again as four O.C. bands pool their drawing power for a California mini-tour dubbed “Out From Behind the Orange Curtain.”

Standing Hawthorn, Soul Scream, Stranger and Goldfish will play their way up the coast together on a four-stop jaunt that starts Wednesday at the Belly Up in Solana Beach and ends Saturday in San Francisco. The home-county performance is Thursday at 9 p.m. at the Heritage Brewing Co., 24921 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. Each band will play for about 45 minutes. (714) 240-2060.

*

AND IF YOU ORDER BEFORE MIDNIGHT . . . : Dan Crary, the bluegrass guitar ace from Fullerton, shares his astonishing acumen in a new instructional video for Homespun Tapes (the Woodstock, N.Y., company is run by Happy Traum, the ‘60s folkie who was one of Bob Dylan’s compadres in the old days).

The 85-minute tape, dubbed “Dan Crary’s Bluegrass Guitar Workshop, An In-Depth Exploration of Dynamic Flatpicking,” lists for $49.95 and can be ordered by phone, by calling (800) 338-2737.

Acoustic-guitar fans content to enjoy Crary’s playing rather than pursue a video course in his technique can check out “Jammed If I Do,” his latest album for Sugar Hill Records. It features guest-guitarist turns by Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Norman Blake and Beppe Gambetta.