Band Gives Gloom a Good Name

Life ain’t worth living

Without a little love

But a little love is never enough.

--del Amitri

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The black cloud that hovers over your house and mine probably originated in Scotland over Justin Currie’s place, the penman of sad songs that are smartly done by his tight band del Amitri.

The audience will be tapping their feet to the catchy riffs even as they contemplate death or their next drink during tonight’s performance at the Ventura Theatre.

Working their latest album, “Twisted,” to the hilt, the band is pushing the recording’s fourth single, “Tell Her This.” In no particular rush, del Amitri has produced but three albums since it started in 1982, and the new one is the proverbial breakthrough release--the band played the Ventura Theatre in early September pumping the very same “Twisted” album.

With a repertoire that includes song titles such as “It’s Never Too Late to Be Alone,” “Kiss This Thing Goodbye” and “Crashing Down,” the del Amitri is in no danger of breaking out into anything resembling a grin. But never has a downer sounded so swell.

Opening will be A&M; label mate and former School of Fish front man, Josh Clayton-Felt. To find out more about the $15 show, call 648-1888.

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Remember Howard Jones, that cutesy-pie British techno pop rock star with the mop-top haircut who lived long and prospered on MTV and KROQ? Once a one-man band whose musical friends consisted mostly of banks of synthesizers, Jones has since chucked the technology and returned to the basics, which for him is but a single keyboard.

Now just a guy and a piano, backed by percussionist Carol Steele, Jones will be promoting his latest album, “Live Acoustic America,” at a Saturday night performance at the Ventura Theatre.

Still his same old optimistic, upbeat self, Jones’ songs could almost sell a smile button to a skinhead. He does the same songs that were hits a dozen years ago such as “Things Can Only Get Better,” “What Is Love” and “New Song,” but they’re more stripped-down with considerably less wattage. They might appeal to fans of Hootie & the Blowfish, Bruce Hornsby and other more or less mellow rockers.

During Jones’ salad days, his fans couldn’t even spell “CD,” but hewould sell out the Santa Barbara County Bowl, nonetheless. It remains to be seen how well he draws these days. Opening will be singer-songwriter Rebecca Timmons, hoping to become the Next Big Thing from north of the border.

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Unlike many local festivals, which want local money but not local music, the Channel Islands Harbor Food & Wine Festival will feature, in addition to all that food and drink, any number of local bands this weekend.

On Friday evening, Raw Silk, a Santa Barbara band that plays mostly in Ventura County, will do its R&B-powered; thing, featuring a lot of Motown era dance-friendly covers plus a number of originals, many of which are punctuated by some serious harmonica-blasting from lead singer, Leslie Lembo.

Also on the bill is the former bassist of Steppenwolf, Nick St. Nicholas, and his band, Lone Wolf, doing classic rock/country.

On Saturday, Ventura’s best rock band named for a line in a Beatles’ song, JuJu Eyeball, will play a set of front man Frank Barajas’ catchy pop-rock gems. And also hoping to pack the dance floor is the Jumpin’ Jimes, fronted by big-voiced Mary Kay Burke who used to belt ‘em out for the Convertibles.

Headlining will be Smokey Wilson, no local but a national blues act, a peerless purveyor of “cotton-pickin’, mule skinnin’, truck drivin’ L.A. blues.”

Sunday features the dance contest we warned you about last week, featuring Acadiana doing their cajun/country/rock/zydeco thing. Contest winners get a trip to Louisiana, losers can have another drink. Also playing is the best-drawing band in Ventura County, those kings of swing sweating up a storm in ‘40s-style suits, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

To find the Channel Islands Harbor, drive down Victoria Avenue until you see the blue Pacific and all those boats. That would be the place. Call 985-4852 for band starting times and further information.

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Here are the shows I wouldn’t mind seeing this week:

TONIGHT: Randy Rich & the Ravens (Conejo Valley Days), Peter, Paul & Mary (Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza), Jackie Lomax (Champs, Oxnard), The Sonny Leyland Trio (Alexander’s Ventura), del Amitri, Josh Clayton-Felt (Ventura Theatre), Papa-Nata (Bombay, Ventura), Southern Cross (Nicholby’s, Ventura), A Fine Kettle of Fish, Yahman (The Bar, Ventura).

FRIDAY: Gordon Lightfoot (Civic Arts Plaza), The Buds (Hungry Hunter, Thousand Oaks), Raw Silk, Lone Wolf (Channel Islands Harbor), The Upbeat (Johnny Dingo’s, Ventura), Ska Daddyz (Bombay), Bloody Mary Morning, Dishwater (Nicholby’s), majority DOG (Two West Coffee Company, Ventura).

SATURDAY: Peter, Paul & Mary (Civic Arts Plaza), The Buds (Hungry Hunter), JuJu Eyeball, Jumpin Jimes, Smokey Wilson (Channel Islands Harbor), Ska Daddyz (Bombay), Howard Jones, Organix (Ventura Theatre), Bang, Dub Nation (Nicholby’s), Led Zepagain (The Bar).

SUNDAY: Acadiana, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (Channel Islands Harbor), Randy Rich & the Ravens (McGinty’s Sports Bar, Ventura).