☆ THANKFUL FOR THE 805 PLAYLIST 2025 ☆
This month we wanted to express our gratitude for all the amazing music artists in the 805 area. In collaboration with our incredible KCSB programmer community, the Music Department has put together a tribute to local artists thanking them for their music and for representing this lovely place we call home. WE LOVE THE 805!
☆ DJ DARLA BEA’S (host of ROCK IT PROPERLY) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: thankful for KCSB!!
Parry Gripp was in the Isla Vista band Nerfherder playing geek rock in the 1990’s. This kids anthem has grown in popularity nationally.
☆ D-TRAGIC’S (host of WORD ON THE STREET RADIO) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: I’m thankful I’ve been able to grow up in a super talented, diverse, safe and loving community we call the 805!
Young Quicks, Latin Based Hip-Hop artist created a certified Self Titled 805 Anthem for the city called “Oxnard” produced by hit producer Fingazz which pays homage to several legends from the 805 such as The Lootpack, Dj Romes and many more. His single which has garnered over a million plays and downloads on digital services as an independent artist. Young Quicks recently received an award from the Mayor of Oxnard and The Autism Society of Ventura for his unwavering support of members of the community over the many years. He also has an annual Christmas Toy Drive he has hosted over 10 years, and advocacy for the community. “Kissed by the sun, hugged by the Sea” was his slogan that was adopted by the city of Oxnard. All based on a song. Super cool thing to happen for a kid from Oxnard and worthy for consideration.
☆ SUNNYLAND STEVE’S (host of VIEWS OF THE BLUES) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: weather and culture
“Bloodshot Eyes” – Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan
It’s a humorous song by two excellent blues performers from S.B. who have been a performing duo for over 40 years.
☆ AVERY’S (host of Sax and The City) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: Being the best home to me (shoutout Ventura), the flip-flop normality, best surf spots (C Street & Rincon duh), and the diversity of dope people.
“Sushi House” – Dudeo Perez
Ventura local band, high school nostalgia, surf-rock, what isn’t there to love? 99.9% sure they broke up/are no longer making music, so even further reason to savor the iconic album that is Allons’y and their last performance I saw at Shabang 2023. Sushi House is a bangerrrr you just have to trust me.
“Come Home” – Anderson .Paak feat. Andre 3000
An extremely successful artist, Anderson .Paak is one of the greatest to come out of the 805. I couldn’t not include him in my picks; he is one of those artists that makes me feel proud to be from the 805. I hold his album Ventura so near and dear to my heart for obvious reasons, and I just find it to be such a beautiful, magical, and phenomenal arrangement and compilation of music. This song has to be in my top 3 favs off of it (because of the Andre 3000 feature) – although a very tough choice to make.
“Save My Soul” – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Also Ventura natives, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s revival of classic contemporary swing is monumental. They are also a very successful group to come out of the 805; having played at the 1999 Superbowl Halftime show alongside Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan celebrating soul, swing, and salsa. Soooooo dope.
☆ SARAH’S (host of BLACK TO THE FUTURE) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: it has brought to me a galore of treasured experiences!!!
“Better Than This” – Dawn Patrol
If you’re familiar with this band name, I already know what you’re thinking… “Oh no, not Isla Vista surf rock!” But I swear by this song with my life– and I’m never one to willingly listen to this genre of music. The first time I ever ventured out into Isla Vista was my freshman year, and I had zero expectations nor any familiarity with the student/community-driven band scene. I ran into this house show and was met with 4 dudes in the classic sherpa/windbreaker, jean combo and smiles from ear to ear. They possessed such a vibrant, cheerful stage presence that put you in a dancey mood, alongside their individual talent that made you want to go home, pick up a guitar, and shred. In February of 2024, they released a single titled “Better Than This,” that I must confess, blew me away. The instrumentation was one thing, the scintillating vocals were another, but the lyrics will forever be ingrained into my head. Naturally, you don’t expect fellow peers of yours to pop out with a song that motivates you to learn the lyrics in one night – but that fortunately was the situation. Everything about it was so catchy and put you in that ‘feel good’ mood, and I believe that’s what permanently established this song, and the band as a whole, as categorically satisfying in both the virtual listening experience and in live performance. It also helps that they’re all very kind, humble guys that were always patient and well-receiving of my sloshed-rambles relating to their music. I am forever thankful for the unfailing positive interactions I’ve had with the band and listening to their music; genuinely, what could be “better than [that]”!
☆ EL’S (host of FOLK-EL POINT) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: mixture of the sea and the mountains!
“Island 73” – Uncle Uncle
Uncle Uncle is a band in Santa Barbara that formed in a garage in 2017. I had originally found this band for my show, and was pleasantly surprised to find that they are local. This song features that signature surf rock feel that is very reminiscent of Santa Barbara, but it just has that feel-good vibe that I associate with our lovely area. This song feels like biking in Isla Vista at sunset!
“Nevermind – Live” – Pretty Cheeky
A local Isla Vista band! Their sound is very indie rock oriented, which is very appropriate for the IV music scene. This track in particular is a bit more psychedelic and slow, with a lot of interesting distortions and reverb. It still has that signature indie rock sound, and follows an emotional narrative. This band reminds me a lot of the Backseat Lovers, which is one of my personal favorites!
☆ SARAH’S (host of JAZZ JAZZ REVOLUTION) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: live music and Santa Maria tri-tip
“Bad Party” – The Tan
When I moved to Santa Barbara my mom took every chance she could to walk me down her memory lane from her days at UCSB. One name that came up many times was The Tan and in diving deeper into their music I understand why they stuck with her all these years later. This track is one she showed me and I am so jealous she got to see this live in an IV backyard. It has a dancy ska sentimentality to it and captures a picture of IV night life that rings true even today.
“Unstoppable Force Meets the Immovable Object” – Pancho and the Wizards
I discovered Pancho and the Wizards through a friend of mine, and fellow KCSB programmer, Stella who had them play live on her show State of Sound. Pancho and the Wizards are from just north in San Luis Obispo and in listening to their live set I was immediately hooked by their punk, prog, garage rock sound. Their album “Residual” is amazing, a recent addition in the KCSB physical media library, and this track off it is a special favorite of mine for all the tempo changes that take their sound to new heights and keep me on my toes.
I can’t quite remember how I stumbled upon this track but it has a sound I did not expect to come from a Santa Barbara artist. This Ascension has a very ethereal, dark, shoegaze-esque, goth rock sound that reminds me of artists such as The Cranberries, Cocteau Twins, and The Jesus and Mary Chain. It is a very powerful and head-banging track and a great example of the diverse sound of the incredibly talented 805 music scene.
☆ ISABELLE’S (host of MOSHIN’ AROUND) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: VCHC (Ventura County Hardcore) and tight-knit community
“Goleta, The Good Land” – Stratego
Stratego, a classic early 2000s emo band from the Santa Barbara/Goleta area, is rich with 805 history (as evident from their song “Goleta, The Good Land”). They are also very intertwined with KCSB – check out some of their recordings released on streaming services that were recorded in KCSB’s own Studio A! If you’re a fan of second-wave emo (think Indian Summer, Cap’n Jazz, & Rainer Maria) then you’ll love Stratego.
RKL (or Rich Kids on LSD) is another 805 classic. Founded in Montecito (a suburb of Santa Barbara), this band soon became integral to the nardcore (Oxnard Hardcore) scene taking root in the 1980s.
Dropsy was (RIP!! 2023-2025) the band at the forefront of the Santa Barbara Punk Revival scene!! They held down the shows for the punk rocker kids who found themselves in Isla Vista on Friday or Saturday nights with their high-energy + interactive shows. This recording from a live show reflects just how fun their shows were to attend. Fun fact: they were the first ever live band to play on my show, Moshin’ Around. 😉
There isn’t a single Loc Dawgs show I’ve been to that didn’t leave me feeling invincible. Like most of the 805 bands I’ve encountered, I unexpectedly ran into Loc Dawgs on a night out with friends and was gobsmacked by how talented they all are— and their stage presence is electrifying! At one of their shows I attended Winter Quarter of 2025, I headbanged and moshed so hard I couldn’t move the next day. But, the drummer gifted me with a drumstick that same night, and it was genuinely top 3 moments in my ‘Isla Vista Highlights.’ They really know how to get a crowd going and have been so kind and hilarious to interact with, in the few times that I have. They really got that ‘dawg’ in them.
☆ TED’S (host of FREAK POWER TICKET) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: city proximity and farm to table eating (foodie heaven)!
“The Gobble Song” – Spencer the Gardener
Frontman Spencer Barnitz of The Tan formed Spencer the Gardener in the early 1990s, “a Latin Big Band Spy Movie Set on a Moody Tropical Beach,” and they’ve been going strong ever since. STG are mainstays of Santa Barbara’s annual Fiesta celebration & many a wedding party, the house band for an entire community. His life as a musician was recently the focus of an independent documentary feature, More Than Just a Party Band. Spencer at times makes me think of Jonathan Richman, and 18 years ago he released his first kids record, a concept album inspiring holistic living, small farming, organic produce, animal loving… everything a compassionate gardener & outdoors enthusiast would want kids to care about. Here’s a throwaway jam celebrating a Thanksgiving feast of (a definitely free-range) turkey. The OG video even went viral! It’s silly fun, an ear worm for children of all ages. Who doesn’t get extra excited before Friendsgiving or our family gatherings’ main course? (Tofurkey works too, ofc!) The holiday without a lot of musical standards now has one. Yum!
I can’t remember how I first heard of this band, maybe just a random flier that flashes onscreen in the Spencer the Gardener doc? Damn, this Power Pop foursome’s 805 classic, with its ironic, flash-in-the-pan lyrical themes, & angular New Wave-y bass and rhythms, makes “Has Been” a single that feels like a Billboard chart near miss. I’m pretty sure that the LA group — which took on life while members were enrolled at UCSB — created a local sensation (basing this somewhat on word of mouth plus residual blog reflections excavated online). I wish I could have witnessed their heyday! The Tan had more star power supporting their “coulda been a contender” story, but it’s interesting that Stan Bernstein, founder of the late Morninglory Music, an SB institution, was the Spoilers biggest booster / manager. (I hope I can interview him about those days, before too long!). Guitarists / vocalists Dean Stefan and Chris Hickey were the primary players behind this intriguing project. Stefan passed away in his mid-60s in 2018, after a successful career as a writer of animated television. Hickey’s alt-folk group Show of Hands released one LP on IRS Records in the late 80s, & even charted with the single “Time Passes.” He managed a lengthy music career and 5 solo LPs to his credit.
I was excited to see that Ventura supergroup Head Cut just announced a new show, & it’s this Thanksgiving weekend! They’ll be at the Deer Lodge opening for Ojai underground punk legends Char-Man, on Friday, Nov. 28. Because of schooling, family commitments, professional responsibilities, and other factors, Head Cut — an Alt / Post-Punk / Gothic Rock quartet that takes its name from a Siouxsie and the Banshees classic track — aren’t able to gig a lot around here. They are incredible though, so if you happen to be around the 805, I urge you to go! Char-Man, alone, is worth the price of admission. Head Cut includes a renaissance couple: guitarist Seth Pettersen is best known for his solo work plus surf-garage act Sweet Reaper, and the classic indie psychedelia of Franklin for Short. His life partner Sasha Green burst on the scene more than a decade ago as an intense and fiery vocalist for their projects Massenger and VNLVX, and Sweet Reaper. I knew of her before that as a photographer / videographer, pirate radio DJ, and all-around badass. But I was still tickled and almost shocked at how fully formed Sasha has been since her beginnings as a frontwoman. Wowza. Drummer John Crerar has been a fixture of Nardcore music: The Missing 23rd, The Fucking Wrath, and post punk group Detoxi. Bassist Oscar Estrada’s best known bands are Detoxi & Catholic Spit. They’re fashionable, effortless, reverby, propulsive, bilingual, ethereal, mystical, eerie, and make some kinda magic every time they play. They’re always getting added to awesome bills around these parts (opening for X, Subhumans, La Luz, Saccharine Trust, Pylon, TSOL, etc.). Their video for this ominous song, “Red Cloud,” about an unseen presence, is killer, too. Check them out if / when you can!
☆ STEVE S’S (host of JOYFUL COSMOS) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: the Elwood Mesa and Coal Oil Point Reserve Open Spaces
“Happy-Go-Sad” – Headless Household
Fiery, slow blues by an always interesting improvising quartet.
“Lagu Gede” – Gamelan Sinar Surya
The 805’s own Gamelan ensemble, Gamelan Sinar Surya, interprets West Javanese village gamelan music. Music that is 600+ years alive. A peaceful, lively, gong and vocal groove.
☆ D, Z, and LITTLE J’S (host of THE BETTER WAY GOSPEL HOUR) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: Free burgers at the Jesus Burgers house, people helping people, taking the time to care, and tide Pooling at Coal Oil Point
“Building On” – Sondae & Aaron Cottma
Aaron Cottman has an amazing voice, and on this collaboration with Sondae, the two make a catchy tune that makes you want to dance! Aaron used to live at the Jesus Burgers house and most recently has been trying to make a thrift store in Isla Vista to help students with move-in/move-out and other needs.
Danny captures the crazy/beautiful Isla Vista life in “Daydream”, which he wrote after living on Del Playa at the Jesus Burgers House. He has a 90’s grunge sound like a Pixies or Foo Fighters song, evoking the joy and dirt of life on Del Playa!
A fun dancy pop song by Ethan C. Davis, who grew up in the 805 and still lives in Isla Vista. 12 years ago, Ethan started and continues a weekly dinner for the houseless in Isla Vista every week in Little Acorn Park, and love playing chess or music with our houseless friends each week!
☆ GREG BROWN’S (host of AMERICAN ROOTS RADIO) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: Live clubs and music!
“Symmetry of Wildflowers” – Katie Skene
Katie is a long time resident of Ventura. She plays live all over the 805. She sings, plays, and writes beautifully and this title track is a great example of all of this.
☆ THOMAS’S (host of TBD Presents) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: The community, the music scene!
“Déjame en Paz” – Sugarbeets
My goats. Brand new indie pop from Oxnard! Everyone in this band has been holding it down in the 805 scene for years. So happy to see this new band come to life.
☆ NETOGYA’S (host of CULTURE SHOCK) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: kcsb !! 😀
kemuri is a ska punk band from Oxnard; they’re Japanese-American, and have songs in both languages. Their music is super catchy, and o-zora is no different!
☆ STELLA’S (host of STATE OF SOUND) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: The people, the attitude, the nature, the music!
These guys were playing the SB/IV area back in the 90s, they even played some shows under Storke Tower before they made it (relatively) big. This song in particular is some funky hard rock and it’s literally about Isla Vista – “Living on the same side, same side of town, Shuffling to the same beat, the beat that’s all around, Stumblin down on DP, keggers all around, Laughin at the police as they try to take us down…” From their 1992 album America’s Least Wanted.
“Sitting On The Hill” – The Upbeat
These guys hail from Carp and play some tight reggae and ska beats. This song in particular goes so hard and gives a taste of SB County’s political side.
“Funky Boisee” – Rogue Cheddar
This is a deep cut from IV and an homage to my original KCSB show, Nirvana Now!, where I played 90s IV tracks. Rogue Cheddar is one of the most authentically Isla Vista bands to come out of this town, and this song just about sums up the raunchiness of 90s IV, from what I hear. To this day, it encapsulates the soul and sound of Isla Vista.
☆ JUNIE B BLUES’S (host of STRUMMIN ON THE ROAD) RECS ☆
- What are you thankful for about the 805: So thankful for The Lark in the funk zone, specifically their brussel sprouts, and even more thankful to my parents who take me there every time they are in town!
“Free Wine” – Rainbow Girls
When I saw the Rainbow Girls open for the Wood Brothers, I was immediately obsessed with them: their energetic humor, insane melodies, eclectic folk pop, and raw lyrics. They formed at UCSB in the fall of 2010, getting their start performing at an open mic in Isla Vista. This band was built from the 805 up, and you would be extremely missing out if you did not seek out seeing them live.