A&M;’s Is A-OK
Ventura County may not have the reputation of L.A., Seattle, Austin or wherever this week’s happening music scene may be, but there’s no shortage of good bands in these parts. There always seems to be, on the other hand, a shortage of venues for bands to play. While plenty has been written about the bands, less has been written about the clubs. This column sets the scene for all that great music with capsule summaries of the happening venues in the county.
The sign on the front as well as the back door of A&M;’s Roadhouse reads: “This establishment is videotaped at all times for your comfort.”
This might bring more comfort to some than to others, but it certainly hasn’t alienated a lot of local rock ‘n’ rollers.
Located right off the Ventura Freeway at Rice Road in Oxnard, A&M;’s is not far from the concrete sea of faceless chain stores that have recently sprouted along this strip.
Art Trujillo, the “A” of A&M;’s, owns the club with his partner, the “M,” who is an M for Maria and for mom, namely Art’s. Art runs things at night, he said, and Mom is there during the day.
The Trujillos bought the place last June and spent the next three months trying to get the place into working order. This included a new roof. A “Bojangles” sign greets patrons just inside the door, a legacy of the venue’s past as “a redneck bar,” according to Art’s mom. A&M;’s has lots of nostalgic stuff inside, most of it from Art’s house, which must be quite a bit roomier these days. There are vintage Coke machines, and pictures of musicians grace the walls, including the Jacksons, with several autographed ones of Tito himself. There’s another wall of funny Polaroids showing patrons in varying states of bliss and/or embarrassment.
The jukebox is divided between classic rock and Mexican music. There are a couple of pool tables, plus a snooker table that can be used for $5 an hour. In short, the appropriate trappings are in place for a live music venue with bands playing at least five days a week.
“We don’t want any of that DJ junk--we want rock ‘n’ roll,” said Trujillo. “The places that have DJs are all homied out, and we don’t want a bunch of homies hanging around. There’s no other rock ‘n’ roll bars in Oxnard. I figure it’ll take another year or so to get it off the ground, so right now, we just take it one day at a time.”
Trujillo, a guitar player, has been in bands since he graduated from Oxnard High in the mid-’70s. So he has finally solved the age-old problem of where to play. Since he owns the bar, his current band, the Road Dogs, always has a venue. The band, which does classic rock, plays Tuesday, Thursday and usually one weekend night.
“The Road Dogs are just a bunch of friends I’ve been jamming with for a long time. I guess we’re the most popular band here--last weekend when we played, this place was packed.”
Monday nights are pretty quiet at the club. Wednesday is 8-ball tournament night. Sundays have showcases, generally three bands playing original music as Trujillo cranks up the BBQ outside and feeds the musicians.
The atmosphere is pretty mellow, and there aren’t a bunch of thug bouncers at A&M;’s because, according to Trujillo, they aren’t necessary.
“There haven’t been any fights here yet, and I haven’t thrown anybody out because we don’t serve hard liquor. Tequila makes people real stupid, and we try to keep it mellow.”
Besides all that, what other bar sponsors a fishing party on the last Saturday of the month? Just show up at 10 p.m. the night before and sail away to kill some fish. This month’s intended victims: salmon.
BE THERE
A&M;’s Roadhouse, 2515 Ventura Road, Oxnard. Open daily. The Road Dogs play classic rock tonight, Friday and Tuesday. The Guy Martin Group plays blues Saturday; the Rick Hunter Band, the Difference and Bimbo Du Jour play original and classic rock Sunday. Never a cover. (805) 983-2787.