Upping the Voltage

Ventura’s Cafe Voltaire generally has more music in a month than almost all the other venues in the county combined. This weekend, the Voltaire will expand its horizons considerably, as owner Todd Winokur hosts the second annual Strummin’ ‘n’ Struttin’ Festival. The festival, featuring all the Voltaire regulars and more, will showcase about a thousand bands playing about a million songs in about a hundred places, or something like that.

According to Winokur, “It’s going to be like a tunnel of music through downtown Ventura. There will be all forms of music, plus dancers, even belly dancers. There will be music on 12 different stages. It’s good family fun.” The fun will include veteran bluesman Joe Houston, a viable Sunday-night alternative to “60 Minutes.” The sax man has been around the block; in fact, he was probably there while it was being built. The man has stories to tell about many of the famous blues dudes.

Among others, Houston has played with Amos Milburn, one of the best boogie-woogie piano players of all time, and has done a stint with Big Joe Turner. These days, the Austin, Texas-bred Houston has his own band, the Defrosterz. He plays when he feels like it; goes to Europe now and then.

So Joe, how’s the blues biz?

Everything’s moving right along--know what I mean? I work here and there. I play about every weekend somewhere. That’s enough.

How did you end up being a bluesman?

You know, I’ve played all kinds of music--never stayed the same. I decided on the blues 10 or 12 years ago. This promoter had me open a show for Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. I was doing rock ‘n’ roll and I also did one blues song. After the show, Buddy Guy told me I should be doing the blues all the time because I had that blues voice. So I started playing at this little club in South Gate called the Sandells, and I learned five new songs every week. Know what I mean?

Obviously it worked.

Oh, yes. People would come in and say, “Man, what are you doin’ in a small place like this?” And I’d say, “What are you doin’ here?” “I came to see you.” “Then that’s what I’m doin’ here.” Now, I can play a week and not play the same song twice. I kept doing it until I was ready, and now I can get up there with any bluesman in the world . . . I’ve really been successful with the blues. It’s the right time.

Tell me an Amos Milburn story.

I was playing alto sax in a band with Gatemouth Moore and they were going to Cleveland, but I didn’t want to go. I pawned my horn for $10, so I could go back home to my mama, so you know I wasn’t making any money. Then I ran into Amos and he said “Get you a tenor and you got a job.” At the time, Amos had a five-piece band with Lightning Hopkins on guitar. I liked what he did and he was such a nice person. We played every weekend at a place called The Black Cat, and man, you talk about boogie-woogie--you know what I mean? I never made a record with Amos, but he’s the one that got me playing tenor sax.

How did you hook up with Big Joe Turner?

I left Amos to go with Big Joe. He had a gig at the Copa Cabana in Galveston, so I took a bus there from Houston and it cost me fifty cents . . . . I made a couple of records with Big Joe, then I had a hit of my own--”Blow, Joe, Blow.”

What do you think of the SoCal blues scene?

I can give you the date I came out here: June 13, 1952. I came out here with a band. They left and I stayed and got a Southern California band. I love the blues scene here--it’s as good as anywhere in the world.

How about blues in Europe?

They love it over there. Blues and jazz are the biggest things in Europe as art. My name is in all the history books in Europe. They know everything I’ve done. All the kids know what you’re doing before you even get there. Since the government supports blues, no promoter ever loses any money. I love it over there.

What’s the new album like?

It’s pretty good. It should be out any day on Voltaire Records. My last one is called “The Blues and Nothin’ Else” and this one is more bluesy than that one.

What’s the best thing about your job?

The best thing is that I love what I’m doing--you know what I mean? The worst thing? I don’t have no worst thing because I’ve been doing good my whole life. I’ve never done bad.

DETAILS

Second annual Strummin’ & Struttin’ Festival. COST: One day $10 or $8 (advance), both days $15 or $12 (advance). Children free. CALL: 641-1743.

SATURDAY

Cafe Voltaire: California Grill Band (noon), Colin Kyffin & Sally’s Legs (1:45), Curtis (3:30), Guy Martin Group (5:15), Hammersmith (7), Bum Steers (8:45) and Ashford Gordon & Jackie Lomax (10:15); Laurel Theatre: Workshop: How to Produce Your Own CD (noon), MacKinnon Dance Academy Revue (3 and 4), Hyperplush (5); Ash Street Gardens: Cory Sipper (2), Songwriters Showcase (3:30) and Melting Pot Music (5); Mission Park: Chris Jay & the Army of Freshmen (noon), Mystic Love Gods (2), House of Hoi Polloi (4) and the Primates (6); El Jardin Courtyard: Suzanne Paris (2), Ryan Sullivan (4) and Foggy Dew (7); Franky’s: Richard Haxton (3) and Jason Dean (5); Villa Tasca: Rivera-Sunnarborg (2); Kelly’s Coffee: Three Stone Hat (1) and Masterpiece (4); The Daily Grind: S.O.L. (noon) and Zen Gecko (5); Ema’s Herbs: Left of Memphis (2); Book Mall of Ventura: A Joyful Noise (4); Nona’s Cafe: Naked Hearts (7); Variety Theatre: Ventura Area TheatreSports (8).

SUNDAY

Cafe Voltaire: Teresa Russell & Cocobilli (noon), the Defrosterz (1:45), Steve White & the Barstool Pigeons (3:30), Don Haney Band (5:15), Joe Houston & the Defrosterz (7) and Jonathan McEuen & the String Lizards (8:45); Laurel Theatre: Bluer Pastures (noon), Santa Rosette Cloggers (2), J. Peter Boles (4) and Hippie Mark & the Total Strangers (6); Ash Street Gardens: Jim Stubblefield Band (1), Book of Storms (3) and Nicole Falzone (5); Mission Park: Hawaiian Hula Dancers (noon), the Tatters (2), Jimmy Adams & Friends (4) and Tall Paul & the Brazos Band (6); Franky’s: Calliope (4); Villa Tasca: Wendy Bucklew (2) and Janet Robin (4); The Daily Grind: Maxxx (1), Atticus (3) and Stovepipe (5); Ema’s Herbs: the Painted Id (2); Book Mall of Ventura: the Mixers (4);

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The Cadillac Angels, perhaps the hardest-working band in the 805 area code, have all the power of a ’58 El Dorado barreling down the Conejo Grade with no brakes. The Santa Barbara-based roots rockers will host a CD release party for their fifth album, “Nobody Sings Or the Guitar Player Gets It,” Thursday night at Nicholby’s in Ventura. In typical Angels’ style, the Ventura gig is just one of a series of release parties; at least five more are scheduled all over California.

Formed in 1983 as the Roadhouse Rockers, the trio adopted the moniker of a car they probably couldn’t afford a few years ago.

Cars and the road are not just recurring, but defining themes for this band, whose road trip never ends. This band tours relentlessly all over the western states and beyond. Each winter, the band organizes an annual charity wingding, the Rockabilly Roundup in Santa Barbara, but the Angels are rarely home, and a Ventura gig is especially rare.

Once a rockabilly revival band, the Angels have expanded their horizons to embrace all forms of American roots rock and can do more than five hours of original songs. The new album is an all-instrumental effort, and guitar player Tony Balbinot’s idol, Link Wray, would be proud of it. The other main Angel is upright bass player Micky Rae, and Evan Richards is the new drummer.

DETAILS

The Cadillac Angels and Worry Beads at Nicholby’s, 404 E. Main St., Ventura, Thursday, 9 p.m. COST: $3. CALL: 653-2320.

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The city of Ventura’s ambitious Music Under the Stars concert series is in full swing, and this week’s offering is the most famous band in all of Oxnard. The Estrada Brothers, with more than 40 years of experience, will bring their brand of Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban and salsa music to the historic Olivas Adobe on Saturday night.

The Estradas began playing in the early ‘50s with three brothers at the core--Henry, Angel and Ruben--and quickly built a local following. Over the years, the band has opened for the likes of Stan Getz, Ruben Blades, Tito Puente and Poncho Sanchez, and in the ‘90s they finally got around to releasing a couple of CDs. In addition to the two-hour concert, a hot buffet meal is available for $10. Reservations can be made at 650-7559.

DETAILS

The Estrada Brothers at the Olivas Adobe, 4200 Olivas Parkway, Ventura, 7 p.m. Saturday. COST: $10 or $8 for seniors and children. CALL: 658-4726.