Blimp Band Trades Java Scene for Nicholby’s

Neither Goodyear nor the Hindenburg, but a smaller, kinder, affordable Blimp can be appreciated for a mere three bucks at Nicholby’s tonight. Blimp the band, a Ventura trio, will doubtlessly be playing tunes off its new CD, “Vinyl Luxury Liner.” Vuja De will open the 9 p.m. show.

The Blimpoids include Dave Girtsman on lead vocals and other stuff; Loren Evans on cello, vocals and other stuff; and Jeff Evans on guitars, vocals and other stuff. These names should create flashbacks for Ventura locals who used to frequent Charlie’s, a favorite music dive that closed more than three years ago.

Girtsman, who writes the songs, has not been in every Ventura band that has formed in the last six years, but he’s been in a lot of them including Plato’s Cat, the Mudheads and Big Biscuit Express.

Both of the Evanses were members of the Freeway Daisies. Jeff was half of Evans & Van Loan for a long time and he was a member of Mosaic and Spy Movie, among others. Blimp, according to Girtsman, finally got off the ground about 16 months ago.

“I had been doing things by myself. I had known these guys for a long time and it was always ‘When are we going to get together and jam?’ We finally got together 10 days before a gig and we learned two songs a day.”

Tonight’s Nicholby’s gig is something of an exception for the Blimpsters, because they usually play coffeehouses where music fans of all ages can drink coffee, talk fast and smoke lots of cigarettes.

“When Charlie’s died, the whole scene died, but now it’s starting to make a comeback,” said Girtsman. “It’s so much different than playing in a bar, and at first it was kinda scary. It’s a totally different crowd that actually comes to listen, and everyone stares at you.”

H In any case, if anyone feels like talking, the band won’t drown them out. No earplugs are necessary for Blimp’s more-quiet-than-not brand of folk rock, during which Girtsman’s lyrics are readily discernible.

“Someone once told me that Blimp songs are like nursery rhymes that are too scary for your parents to tell you. I like that one.”

Nicholby’s, 404 E. Main St., Ventura; 653-2320.

*

From having one foot in the celestial checkout ward three months ago to going back to work this weekend at the Hungry Hunter in Thousand Oaks is none other than Mr. Miraculous Recovery, guitarist Chris Pinnick, who performs with his band, the Buds.

The group had to postpone its New Year’s Eve gig when Pinnick had a massive heart attack and was reportedly near death.

Now, according to band publicist Honey Weiner, Pinnick is feeling “pretty good.” The guitarist with three gold and three platinum records on his wall--most for his work with Chicago--has quit smoking, quit drinking and lost 50 pounds.

The Buds’ long-awaited CD should be out next week, and the band expects to play the Hungry Hunter for the next month or so, depending on Pinnick’s ticker. So what if the New Year’s Eve gig is three months late? It sure beats the alternative.

Hungry Hunter, 487 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks; 497-3925.

*

Other shows worth the hype and the drive include tonight’s Sweet Thursday gig at Alexander’s in Ventura featuring Eddie Baytos and the Nervis Brothers. Baytos formed the band in 1985 and just got around to releasing its debut album, “Take Some Mambo Time.”

The swing dancers should appreciate this band, which melds New Orleans, Caribbean, zydeco and funk music. The Nervis Brothers are an ever-changing group of studio musicians who are clearly masters of their craft. And for those for whom “party” is not a four-letter word, “I Ain’t Drunk” should make the whole thing worthwhile. Alexander’s, 1050 Schooner Drive, Ventura; 646-7230.

On Friday night, the Camarillo Cafe will enter a time warp to become the Camarillo Canteen for a swing dance with boogie-woogie piano whiz Rob Rio providing the soundtrack. If you’re not quite sure what boogie-woogie sounds like, your feet will know what to do. Trust me. Camarillo Cafe, 515 Eubanks St., Camarillo; 482-0978.

On the same night at the renovated west Ventura venue The Bar there will be a reggae/dance fest starring Urban Dread, packers of many a dance floor in the Valley and at Stargate in Thousand Oaks on Monday nights. Yahman will open, mon. The Bar, 281 W. Main St.; 648-7227.

Finally, it wouldn’t hurt to arrive in a timely manner Saturday at the Ventura Theatre to see yet another fish band, this one A Fine Kettle of Fish, one of the openers for singer/songwriter Toni Childs.

Once Hidden Villa, AFKOF is a folk-rock band that has heard Toad the Wet Sprocket and R.E.M. before. This is tightly crafted lite rockers featuring the introspective lyrics of Cory Fossum. The Ventura Theatre, 26 Chestnut St., 648-1888.