Smorgasbord of Styles

At any given moment, the local music scene is in varying states of repair. In good shape, however, are the Tatters, who will host a CD release party Sunday at the Livery Theatre in Ventura.

For almost two years, the Tatters have been making sweet music featuring the memorable three-part harmonies of Mary Z. Wilson, Jennie Snyder and Erika Harding.

It’s pretty hard to describe the Tatters’ music other than to say the vocals are great. Every song is different from the one before, so if you don’t like one, just wait a minute. There’s folk, country, swing, a cappella, a song in Spanish, Hawaiian music, calypso--pretty much everything but metal, punk and rap. This is stuff your mother and grandmother could get into, so don’t expect any raging mosh pits at a Tatters gig. The eclectic nature of their music is evident from their descriptions.

According to Wilson, “A lot of people don’t quite know what to make of us--the Andrews Sisters meets the Carter Family. It’s swingy, old time, folky--we try to cross as many genres as possible.”

Harding goes for the brief answer: “Americana.” Snyder’s colorful description definitely paints a different picture: “We’re sort of like the Andrews Sisters from Appalachia that never went to college.”

Their music is so unusual and so unlike everything else out there that perhaps band members will be able to find their musical niche and fund their own college someday. They’ve all certainly graduated from the University of the Real World. All three have been in bands before, and by day Harding is a hairstylist and Snyder an artist. Wilson, who wrote most of the songs, is a yoga teacher. It’s democracy in action, as all three take turns on the lead vocals.

Also, you have to love the backup band, the seen but not heard Lowly Sidemen. One is Wilson’s significant other, Dan Wilson, who plays guitar and mandolin. Also in the band is an eighth-generation Californian, Bill Flores. The list of instruments he does not play is shorter than the ones he does. Both are in the Rincon Ramblers. Jack Joshua is the stand-up bass player and Dave Stewart is the new guy on drums.

“We didn’t ask the guys to play with us--they asked us,” said Wilson. “They’re our Dream Team,” added Harding.

When Cafe Voltaire went away late last year, it left several local musicians professionally homeless. But instead of whining about things, Wilson decided to do something about it. It’s been just over a year since she initiated the very successful Acoustic Wednesdays at the 66 California, a downtown Ventura restaurant.

“That’s what you have to do if it’s not the way you want it to be,” Wilson said. “You have to make it the way you want it to be.”

Tatter time at the Livery will be a doubleheader Sunday with two shows--one at 4 p.m. and another at 7 p.m. If you miss this one, the band will also be playing at 66 California on Nov. 15 and again Nov. 18 at the Ojai Brew Pub. The next step for the ladies will be hitting the festival circuit--a trail the Rincon Ramblers know all about--and then push for some airplay on Americana radio. They already have their own theme song, “Tattered and Torn.”

DETAILS

The Tatters at the Livery Theatre, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura; 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday; $7 or $15 (with CD); 643-5701.

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Psssst. The Revolution is coming, so look busy. Actually, it’s a Latino music extravaganza in the form of the Revolucion 2000 Tour featuring those rockin’ heartthrobs, the Jaguares, who are certain to pack the Ventura Theatre on Thursday night. With aliases such as “the Mexican Beatles” and “the Mexican Pearl Jam,” the Jaguares will be a hit despite the hefty $40 price tag for this show.

The band is fronted by babe magnet Saul Hernandez, a long-haired rock god who writes dreamy lyrics set to hard-edged rock songs. The Jaguares have been around since 1996, predating the lightweight pop of Ricky Martin. Previously, Hernandez fronted another rock band called the Califanes, which went away due to those ubiquitous creative differences. Hernandez and drummer Alfonso Andre are the only members of the former Califanes, even though the current band still plays a number of their songs.

“We’ve never been part of what you might call the mainstream,” said the drummer. “Our fans are the same way--they don’t listen to stuff that is popular today and forgotten next week. Our fans have been very loyal to us, and they’ve stood by us. Even when we didn’t have an album or radio airplay, people were still there at our shows.”

Here is another case of rock ‘n’ roll continuing to reinvent itself in strange and interesting ways. There’ve been folk rock, pop rock, rap rock, metal and rap, Japanese reggae bands and surf bands from Colorado, as music is only limited by the musician’s imagination. The Jaguares are doing their own thing, especially for the Latino market, and it’s working.

“We grew up listening to a lot of American and British bands, even though we didn’t understand what they were singing about,” Andre said. “We listened to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, but we also listened to a lot of Latin music--bolero music, salsa music and all sorts of Mexican stuff.”

DETAILS

Revolucion 2000 Tour with the Jaguares, Julieta Vanegas, Jumbo, La Gusana, Ciega, Lisa Flores and Frequency at the Ventura Theatre, 26 Chestnut St., 8 p.m. Thursday; $40; 653-0721.

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Munkafust used to be one of the premiere dance bands in Santa Barbara, packing places that no longer exist--such as Alex’s Cantina--so tightly that Gumby couldn’t squeeze in with a crowbar. Now the band is back, with new guys, the same name, the same front man and a new album. But they’re playing in a new place, for them--the Edge on State Street.

Former UCSB student Evan Brau is hoping the Gaucho connection is still working, as this will be Munkafust’s first headlining gig in Santa Barbara in about five years. The new album is “Down for Days,” just out on Pinch Hit Records, and it’s full of danceable, funky frat rock, sort of like INXS meets the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

And finally, in the flashback department: Back in their heyday, Munkafust’s primary competition for the legs and minds of Santa Barbara’s club-goers was Spencer the Gardener. That band is back as well, and has a gig booked Nov. 17 at Nicholby’s in Ventura.

DETAILS

Munkafust at the Edge, 423 State St., Santa Barbara; 11 p.m. today; $5; 965-8676.

Bill Locey can be reached by e-mail at blocey@pacbell.net.