county roundup

Tonight’s concert featuring singer-songwriter Gillian Welch at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara is worth the trip.

Welch has been described as everything from neo-traditional country to American primitive, bluegrass to folk. Her debut album, “Revival,” was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 1997.

Welch’s music has reached a wide audience through appearances on Nashville’s Grand Old Opry and PBS television’s “Austin City Limits.” She’s shared bills with Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Guy Clark. And in ironic contrast to her Depression-era Appalachian persona, Welch’s music has appeared on a Starbucks sampler CD. More recently two of her songs, “The Leaving Train” and “Paper Wings,” can be heard on the high-profile movie soundtracks of “The Horse Whisperer” and “Hope Floats,” respectively.

Those familiar with old mountain music greats such as the Stanley Brothers and the Carter Family will appreciate the influences of Welch and other artists who perpetuate the American roots-music style: Alison Krauss, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris and Ricky Skaggs.

Welch’s second critically acclaimed album, “Hell Among the Yearlings” (Almo), features 11 chilling tracks in the traditional American song form that paint an austere Joad-family existence of hope and disaster.

With the flat-vowel, calm fatalism of singers on those old 78 RPM field session recordings by Alan Lomax, Welch and partner David Rawlings stick to a bare-bones style guided by producer, T-Bone Burnett. Welch sings lead and plays banjo and acoustic guitar. Rawlings sings harmonies and makes his 1935 arch-top Epiphone guitar sound like a mandolin, Dobro or flat-picked bluegrass guitar.

These songs do not a dance mix make. But to stretch your understanding and appreciation of current trends in country music, sometimes you’ve got to leave the ear and eye candy of pop New Country entertainers such as Shania Twain and experience the soulful beginnings of this unique American musical heritage.

DETAILS

Gillian Welch, 8 tonight; $32.50; the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara; 963-0761.

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Locally, the best bet for live music tonight can be found at the Ban-Dar Nite Club in Ventura. The charismatic guys of Caught Red-Handed take the stage at 9:15. And the band’s strong lead and harmony vocals, pedal steel sound and ability to add a rock edge, a la Garth Brooks, keep the dancers coming back for more.

The club is at 3005 E. Main St. in Ventura. For more information, call 653- 9176.

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The Steve McPeters Band plays at 9 tonight and Saturday night for couples-oriented dancing at the Galleon Room. And at 9 p.m. every Thursday, the Mike Shelton Band performs.

The Galleon Room is at 5925 Calle Real in Goleta. For more details, call 967-0128.

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Five fellas calling themselves Pacific Coast Highway will play a couple of acoustic sets to showcase their original country songs from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Borders Bookstore in Santa Barbara. The Los Angeles-based group will open for the Charlie Daniels Band on May 12 at the Ventura Theatre.

For country tunes with your books and coffee, it’s the cafe in Border’s, 900 State St. in Santa Barbara. For more information, call 899-3668.

Robyn Loewenthal can be reached by e-mail at drrkl@juno.com.