The Man From Idaho

Named for a weird Orson Welles movie full of zither music, the Third Man kicks off a tune-filled holiday weekend tonight at Nicholby’s in Ventura. Also on the bill is Signicci, the acoustic version of Raging Arb & the Redheads, plus girl group flashback sounds from the Chicklettes.

The Third Man’s main man is Bill Coffey, who wrote a lot of great songs for one of the best-ever local bands, the Mudheads. He then became the Bill half of the acoustic duo Matt & Bill. But for much of the last five years, Coffey and his wife have been living in Boise, Idaho. He talked recently about his new and old towns.

“It’s pretty cool up here; it’s a small town,” he said. “There’s a lot more going on here than in a lot of towns I’ve been in. Also, they pay pretty well. It’s a lot harder to get noticed and get a buzz going in California. . . . Up here it’s still sort of a novelty being a musician.”

The Third Man, featuring a bunch of musicians Coffey met in Idaho, recorded an album last year that was finally released this year. The Third Man lineup for the Ventura gig is a veritable flashback from six years ago when Charlie’s was the happening music venue in Ventura. Besides Coffey, Matt Schulte is on guitar; Jason Bays plays bass and Tim Lauterio is the drummer.

“Different versions of the band are happening all over the place, but this one is pretty much electric Matt & Bill. It’s becoming sort of a rock band,” said Coffey. “We’ll play some of my songs, some of Matt’s songs and some Mudheads songs and, of course, the songs on the CD. Compared to the CD, it’s more of a stripped-down sound, louder and rawer, but basically, the same vibe.”

Copies of the Third Man album, “Lightspeed and the Western Front,” are available at local record stores as well as at the gig. And if you’re lucky, you might stumble across a copy of the last Mudheads album, “Claw Back Down.”

* The Third Man, Signicci and the Chicklettes at 9 tonight at Nicholby’s, 404 E. Main St. in Ventura. $6. Call 653-2320.

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This Weekend

Here are the shows worth checking out:

Tonight

* Brad Nack & Eric Eisenberg (Roy, 7 W. Carrillo, Santa Barbara, 966-5636) Two guitarists with a million laughs and a zillion songs.

* The Upbeat (The Brickyard, 525 State St., Santa Barbara) Perhaps the greatest ska band since the English Beat.

Friday

* Randy Rich & the Ravens (Cisco’s, 925 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake, 497-3959). All original blazing blues by the best local guitar player.

* The Buds (Hungry Hunter, 487 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, 497-3925). Blues by the pros.

* Acadiana (Heritage House, 715 South A St., Oxnard, 483-7960) It’s cajun and zydeco music from a bunch of rockin’ Realtors.

* Wendy Bucklew (Daily Grind, 607 E. Main St., Ventura, 641-1679). Huge voice, big hair, great talent. (Also Saturday at Cafe Voltaire in Ventura).

* Raging Arb & the Redheads, Sexy Death Soda (Nicholby’s) This is Arb’s 14th anniversary party.

Saturday

* Bloody Mary Morning (Cisco’s) East Ventura rockers with a huge fan base take to the road to a place that goes off.

* Elvin Bishop Band, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Sista Monica Band, Deanna Bogart Band, Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, Little Jonny & the Giants, Kay Bohler & the Kingpins, Blueshawk, Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan (El Capitan Beach) Is this a serious lineup or what?

Sunday

* Riders of the Purple Sage (Cafe Voltaire, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura, 641-1743) These guys are the originals. This is their CD release party.

* Rickie Lee Jones (Emerald City, 110 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, 965-5050).

* Jimmy Adams & Friends (SOhO, 1221 State St., Santa Barbara, 962-7776) Country rock as comfortable as your favorite chair.