For One of Their Own

The epicenter of the local rock scene won’t be at a theater, upscale nightclub or cultural center this weekend, but at a steakhouse--one in Simi Valley no less.

Dakota’s, just off California 118, and will be the Saturday afternoon home of the second annual 65 Roses Benefit for cystic fibrosis. Four-fifths of the gig will have a hometown flavor, featuring Simi Valley bands Pulley, Flush, Magic Pagoda and Square John. Joining them will be the best band in Oxnard, the Ska Daddyz.

The all-ages affair will begin at high noon in a large outdoor area that holds about 500 people and is separate from the restaurant.

The locals are teaming up to help one of their own. All proceeds from this event will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, leading the fight against the No. 1 genetic killer of children. More specifically, the benefit is for 15-month-old Kyra Hoolihan, who was diagnosed with the malady at age 6 weeks. She is the daughter of local musician Mike Hoolihan.

Headlining the wingding will be Pulley, the most famous band in Simi Valley, and a pretty strange outfit even by rock standards. Pulley only plays about four months of the year. And while the group plays loud and fast punk music, the performances aren’t so intense that the musicians should need eight months to recuperate. The group’s schedule has been shaped by front man and lead screamer Scott Radinsky, 31, a left-handed relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. Radinsky went to St. Louis after a few years with the Dodgers. Before that, he was with the White Sox.

Radinsky has been into skateboarding and punk rock longer than he’s been into baseball, a sport in which he excelled at Simi High. Since joining the Cards and signing for a few million last year, Radinsky can afford to live anywhere--but he prefers his hometown. In Simi Valley, “Rad” is nothing but a hero to the local kids. His love of skateboarding and his bank account led him to open Skate Lab, a mecca for all the local skateheads. Most every day, Radinsky is at the site--where he can skate free. Pretty rad indeed.

And things are cool with Pulley. The band plays during the off-season and chills during baseball season. Its last album, “@#!*,” came out in April. Thus far, there has been no word as to when or if Pulley may scream the National Anthem before a Cardinal home game.

Radinsky shared some thoughts on Saturday’s benefit, and band / baseball life in general.

What do you know about this gig?

Well, it starts at noon, ends at 5. It’s a benefit for cystic fibrosis. We did it last year, so this’ll be the second annual.

Do bands play all the time at Dakota’s?

Strung Out played there not long ago and they had some problems, so we had to get insurance for this one. We don’t play for a bar crowd. If it’s not all ages, we figure, it’s not worth doing. That’s why we insisted this be an all-ages gig. It should be a party.

How’s the Pulley biz?

Um, it’s good. There are a lot of kids of all ages that come to the shows. Since October, we’ve been playing up and down the coast from Chico to San Diego. So far, the weekend thing has been working out. We play fast at times, and we try to be somewhat melodic. That’s all.

That was pretty cool when you invited all those kids to come up on the stage the last time you guys played at the Ventura Theatre.

Oh yeah--that gig around Thanksgiving--that was cool. Some lady came and yelled at us, but it was no big deal. That was fun.

How has the punk scene changed since you’ve been around?

I’m not sure if there’s still a punk rock scene anymore, but more like just a music scene. Before, you were either into punk, new wave or just rock, but now it’s just more of just a music thing.

What’s the scene like in St. Louis?

It’s pretty hicky and pretty laid back, but it’s also pretty cool and there are a lot of cool people. It’s a small scene back there, kind of like it was here 15 years ago. Also, New York’s pretty cool and I love Chicago.

What’s next for Pulley?

We’re looking to do another album, maybe sometime next year, but we’re just starting to write some new stuff. But since the last album just came out in April, that one’s still new to us.

Will we be hearing Pulley on the radio?

No way. I hope not. We’re still making non-radio music.

Don’t miss those Dodgers?

Naw. For what I was doing, it wasn’t that cool. Being able to drive home every night was the best thing. St. Louis is fine.

DETAILS

Second annual 65 Roses Benefit, with Magic Pagoda (noon), Square John (1 p.m.), Ska Daddyz (2 p.m.), Flush (3 p.m.) and Pulley (4 p.m.) Saturday at Dakota’s Steakhouse, 2525 Stow St., Simi Valley, COST: $10. CALL: (805) 582-1700.

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It might seem like it, but the autoharp is not a failed pedestrian-scaring apparatus invented before the horn. It is a fairly obscure stringed instrument, and it will be plucked Tuesday night at the Ojai Valley Woman’s Club by a master of the craft, Bryan Bowers.

Bowers brings more than three decades of experience to this event. He grew up in rural Petersburg, Va., not far from the site of the infamous Battle of the Crater, where he was exposed to rural American music.

With just three units separating him from a degree in Spanish, Bowers took up the guitar and instead became a folk singer, opting for the low-budget life of a street performer. A day after seeing a guy playing an autoharp, Bowers bought one and taught himself to use it.

Bowers was discovered by the band the Dillards, who introduced him to the bluegrass community. When he plays this week, he will draw from a serious repertoire of songs--from Stephen Foster to gospel to folk. There may be something by Bach, and there certainly will be a number of his own compositions.

Living in Washington state since 1971, Bowers has a number of albums released on Flying Fish records. In 1993, he was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Maybelle Carter, Kilby Snow and Sara Carter. It may be a limited membership--perhaps a Closet of Fame, rather than a hall--but fame it is.

DETAILS

Bryan Bowers at the Ojai Valley Woman’s Club, 441 E. Ojai Ave., Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. COST: $10 in advance or $12 at the door. CALL: (805) 646-5163.

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John Mayall, “the Godfather of British Blues,” will bring a wealth of material to his Wednesday night show at the Ventura Theatre. Mayall has more than 35 years’ experience and just released a new album, “Padlock on the Blues,” which features an appearance by his old pal, John Lee Hooker.

Mayall on keyboards will be supported as always by the Bluesbreakers, which include Buddy Whittingon on guitar and John Paulus on bass. Mayall started the band in 1963, and through the years there have been scores of Bluesbreakers, including such distinguished alumni as Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce--both of whom went on to form Cream--and Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, who later became the nucleus of Fleetwood Mac.

While several of his sidemen have become front men and transcended Mayall in the realm of MTV dreams come true, Mayall keeps plugging along, writing his own songs, making albums and touring incessantly--just like all those other blues guys.

DETAILS

John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and Last December at the Ventura Theatre, 26 Chestnut St., Wednesday, 7 p.m. COST: $22. CALL: (805) 653-0721.