ROCK TALK : Local Bands Leave Their Mark on 1994 : Groups from Simi Valley to Santa Barbara have plenty of recordings in area stores well worth adding to your music collection.

Eddie Vedder, Mariah Carey and the Eagles have enough money. Local musicians don’t. They need your support, otherwise they may have to get real jobs. Then your pizza will be late, your burger won’t be done your way, misguided lawn mowers will behead your sprinklers, and worse.

The 805 area code is fairly teeming with underappreciated but in no way untalented musicians. Here’s an alphabetical sampling of a dozen memorable 1994 releases. Your so-called record collection will be seriously lacking without these, all of which are available at local music stores.

April’s Motel Room--”Black 14” (Immortal)

After a million gigs in El Lay, these Simi Valley rockers got a deal with an Epic-affiliated label. Their debut has cool college rock written all over it. The band had a spot on the recent HORDE tour, and front man Tom Kelly showcased that MTV voice. “Get Her Way” is the most memorable one here, and seems radio ready if not for all those deaf radio programmers.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy--”Big Bad Voodoo Daddy” (Big Bad Records)

These guys dress up as if they fell out of some ‘40s film noir gangster flick, but they add some ‘90s rock to swing music that really swings. Guitar whiz Scott Morris writes most of the songs. He knows what he’s doing.

Evil Farmer--”Nice” (Stone Dwarf)

Not Porky Pig’s conception of Farmer John, but rather four music majors from UCSB who prove positively that they took good notes in class. Jazzy and spacey, these guys change gears more often than a kid driving his first stick shift, but it works.

Lion I’s--”Original Style” (Po Folk)

They’ve been around for a long time, and their CD party at the Ventura Theatre a few months back was a sellout. Once a reggae-powered dance band, Lion I’s now incorporates a variety of styles, yet the dance floor remains packed. Bobby Galyan is a charismatic front man and “Sweet Summer,” “Gimme Some Time” and “Pressure” are certifiable foot movers. And finally Orange County can join the rest of us in singing the workingman’s theme song, “I’m So Poor.”

Little Jonny and the Giants--ALBUM Telecaster Music (Cornbread)

I’d like the band a lot better if it was Little Jonny and the Dodgers, but aside from that, the players in this blues band are so smooth you don’t at first notice how good they are. Nothing pretentious, just good rockin’ blues made for dancing, and none of that cryin’ in your beer boring blues, either. A bunch of showoffs, these guys also do folk, country, zydeco and you name it.

Majority Dog--”Mister Night” (Majority Dog)

This is tight folk rock all the way from Newbury Park. Brian Wurschum is a clever writer with a clear, cool voice, with April and Laurel Hoffman contributing to creating some nifty three-part harmonies. Most bands have no good singers; the Dog band has three. Also, this is the first local band to get a gig at the Civic Arts Plaza, and it’s deserved. “Big Black Car” rocks best but there’s nothing close to a bad cut on this one.

Pinching Judy--”More Like Morphine” (Meltdown Records)

They’ve been around so long they used to be somebody else, Something For Nothing. Loud and hard, slow and mellow, with vein-popping front man John Lombardo constantly in danger of exploding and messing up your CD player. Hey, he’s into it. On the verge of being signed for a while now, these guys write better songs than those other alternative/grunge/what-the-hell college radio bands. They must have at least 50 songs. “Land of Me” should be worth half of Soundgarden’s time on MTV. Harsh but sweet, like a leather Twinkie.

Popsicko--”Off To A Bad Start” (Sick Music)

Living up to its name and then some, these Santa Barbara pop rockers evoke memories of the late great Plimsouls, except with more (and better) guitars. Keith Brown is clearly the master of the three-minute pop gem--”Getting Used to You,” “Same Old Me” and “Dragging Me Down” provide further proof. The CD should be out next week.

Raging Arb & the Redheads--”Raging Arb & the Redheads” (Joker Disc)

Since I have 16 different Arb T-shirts, two sweat shirts, three baseball caps, a jacket and a sticker on my car, it’s tough to be objective about the best local, and my favorite, band. Six guys, 11 years, one CD--they finally have it figured out. Rock, blues, a little twang, some punk and bunches of good songs by Toby Emery, such as “Casting Shadows,” “Cup O’ Joe” and “Fool’s Gold.”

This Ascension--”Walk Softly A Dream Lies Here” (Tess)

Singer Dru is so enigmatic she makes Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star and Tori Amos look like a couple of cheerleaders. If you’re all dressed in black, think dates are something that grow on trees and “ethereal” has a special meaning for you, well then, here’s your soundtrack.

Toad The Wet Sprocket--”Dulcinea” (Columbia)

Well, these S.B. rockers, who used to open for the Mudheads and the I-Rails, don’t need any money. They’ve been on the Letterman show, and this album shipped gold, making Toad the most successful band in the 805 area code.

Zoo Story--”Laughter Forgetting” (Zoo Story)

It’s upbeat pop rock from this Westmont College band that is reminiscent of the Three O’Clock, particularly with Raymond George’s high voice. You can’t go wrong with a band that has a guitarist named Will Rainbow.