Sadness and Celebration

Once upon a time for local bands, Charlie’s on the beach near the pier in Ventura was the rock ‘n’ roll center of the universe. Charlie’s opened as a jazz club in 1976, but by the mid-’80s, jazz was out and rock, reggae blues and folk could be heard almost every night of the week until the place closed in 1992.

At Charlie’s, bands such as Raging Arb & the Redheads, Lion I’s, Spencer the Gardener, the Mudheads, the I-Rails, Something for Nothing, J.D.’s Last Ride, Durango 95 and Michael on Fire all built substantial followings. The very first employee of Charlie’s was Chuck Manley, who helped get the local rock scene going by giving the bands a place to play.

Manley, now an elementary school teacher in Oxnard, is the father of Kali Manley, who was slain last month in Ojai. In her memory, a flash-from-the-past outdoor concert will be held Saturday at Cafe Voltaire in Ventura, featuring a lot of familiar names. One is drummer Chuck Herrera, who organized the gig and who remembers Chuck Manley’s contribution to the area’s music scene.

“Chuck was the one that booked all the local bands at Andy’s in Ventura back in the early ‘80s,” Herrera said. “He booked us and Arb there, but when Andy’s closed, he just moved it all to Charlie’s. Basically, Chuck got the local scene going. I remember if the crowd wasn’t so good, he would give the bands free food and free drinks, which then was very important. This whole thing is just a tragedy. I just felt I had to do something.”

Committed to playing at this free afternoon gig is Big Wheel Deluxe, featuring Robert Ramirez of J.D.’s Last Ride. Herrera will join his cousin, Frank Barajas, and Russ Davis for a set by their JuJu Eyeball, a band that used to be Durango 95 and the Strangers. Headlining will be Raging Arb & the Redheads, with plenty of surprise guests likely.

“This event isn’t a fund-raiser--the family doesn’t want any money,” Herrera said. “It’s not so much about the bands but it’s more for the family and friends, and it’s going to be a celebration of life for the memory of Kali Manley and all her friends. All ages are welcome.”

BE THERE

Raging Arb & the Redheads, JuJu Eyeball, Big Wheel Deluxe and special guests at Cafe Voltaire, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura, Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m. COST: Free. CALL: 641-1743.

*

Critical issues in America--life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness?--pale to insignificance when it comes to something really important like football. To this end, Chris Jay & the Army of Freshmen will host the Nuclear Age Peace Benefit, an all-star, all-acoustic show at Cafe Voltaire, after the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Jay has assembled a stellar lineup. It includes Phil Cody, who has a deal with Interscope Records and whom Jay met back in New Jersey while still an adoring fan. Next, Jay went online to track down Jonny Polonsky, who recorded an album for American and will fly out from Chicago for the gig. Jason Luckett is a singer-songwriter based in L.A. with a solo album, and Jeff Grimes is the front man for the Jacketmen.

“This foundation is based in Santa Barbara and dedicated to eliminating nuclear weapons,” Jay said. “They award scholarships and sponsor lectures and rallies, all in all a real decent cause. This project is a true labor of love for me, love for the artists and a cause that I feel strongly about. We’ve got all these awesome artists, and they’re all playing totally for free.”

The show, however, is not totally free, though quite affordable. Tickets for the gig are $5 in advance or $7 at the door. The show begins when the Super Bowl ends, which may be a guess because Cafe Voltaire doesn’t have a television.

BE THERE

Chris Jay & the Army of Freshmen, Phil Cody, Jonny Polonsky, Jason Luckett and Jeff Grimes at Cafe Voltaire, Sunday after the Super Bowl. COST: $7 or $5. CALL: 805-641-1743.

*

Ska music rules in Southern California, and nowhere is it bigger than in Orange County, where No Doubt still rules. The second most famous ska band from down there has got to be Reel Big Fish, which had a surprise smash hit with its debut album, “Turn the Radio Off.”

Now touring in support of its second album, “Why Do They Rock So Hard,” Reel Big Fish will headline the Ventura Theatre on Monday night for those who could care less about Ally McBeal’s latest trauma. During a recent phoner, front man Aaron Barrett discussed the latest, including the new album.

“It’s more rock ‘n’ roll than the first one,” Barrett said. “It’s more different and more of the same, but better. It’s more fun. More angry. More sad. More crazy. It’s happy but still sad--a fun downer.”

Originally a bunch of self-admitted nerds, the band is now on that endless tour, living out those rock ‘n’ roll dreams, such as they are.

“Actually, we’re all trapped in this old bus with little beds and there’s really nothing to do 20 hours a day,” Barrett said. “Then we get to some town, we walk around as far as we dare, then we play and do it all over again. We still feel terrible and have no self-esteem.”

Band members got together eight years ago with little more of a plan than to learn a bunch of heavy metal cover songs and meet girls, but that was before they discovered the dance potential of ska music when combined with their irreverent wit.

“You know, everyone starts out as a metal band because all the music teachers are metal guys and that’s what they teach you,” Barrett said. “For a while, that’s all you hear, then slowly you turn on to other stuff. Mostly, you have to be at the right place at the right time and find the right guy to say, ‘Hey, you guys are rad!’ There’s a lot of luck involved.”

BE THERE

Reel Big Fish and Zebrahead at the Ventura Theatre, 26 Chestnut St., Monday, 9 p.m. COST: $14. CALL: 805-653-0721