It’s Your Life : MUSIC SCENE : Opening Date Fulfills Band’s Wishes

About a year ago Paul Courselle, an 18-year-old Camarillo High student, made a pretty far-out wish: that his band, Guakim, would get a chance to open for a big-name musical act at a popular concert venue.

On Saturday, when A Flock of Seagulls plays at Ventura Theatre, Courselle’s wish will be granted. With Courselle on drums and backup vocals, Guakim will play a 45-minute set of what the group describes as “strangely unexplainable aggressive folk rock.”

Courselle’s dream is coming true not because of a genie, or because he blew out a bunch of birthday candles. Rather it’s thanks to the tri-county chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses.

Courselle is one of those children, having been born with cystic fibrosis. But despite the disease, Courselle is pretty upbeat and figures that the Ventura Theatre concert could be his big break.

“I’ve been really healthy for four years, and haven’t been to the hospital in about five years,” said Courselle, who will be a senior next fall. “I’ve wanted to perform like this ever since I was little. I’m trying to make it big. I just want to make a living playing music.”

Guakim, a 3-year-old quintet, has performed at bars and coffeehouses from Ventura County to San Luis Obispo County. The group used perform monthly at Cafe Voltaire in Ventura.

“I’ve been playing drums since I was 4, guitar for six or seven years, and I’ve always been singing,” Courselle said. “If I made money off a first album, I’d really like to get into jazz and play with other people too.”

* Concert time is 8 p.m. Tickets are $13.50. Ventura Theatre, 26 S. Chestnut St.; 648-1888.