ROCK TALK : Majority DOG Packs Them in at Arts Plaza : The Newbury Park band sells out concert at Forum Theatre, which the group rented for $875 in a brash pay-to-play venture.

On Jan. 27, when majority DOG from Newbury Park had its night at the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, it was such a hit that even the media “yeah-sure-I’ll-be-there” slugs who promised to be there actually were there along with about 400 other regular, paying folks. While the band basks in the post-activity glow, adjectives continue to fly like fleas off a hot plate according to the big DOG himself, singer/songwriter/guitarist Brian Wurschum.

“Oh man, it was so great. It was so bitchen. It was sold out,” said Wurschum. “Everyone who said they would show up, did show up. Usually, industry people never show up, but Fleetwood Mac’s manager and producer was there, and apparently, he liked us.”

Being the first local band to play at that great big thing by the freeway wasn’t just luck. It was talent, not to mention cold hard cash--875 bucks worth to rent the smaller Forum Theatre in a brash pay-to-play venture. Not only did they sell all the seats for the 2 1/2-hour performance, but the band sold a ton of merchandise, which included $12 “Still Striving for a Record Contract Tour ‘95” T-shirts and $10 copies of the band’s debut disc, “Mister Night.” Wurschum said they made just over $3,000, which is a very serious payday for a local band.

“Yeah, we raked it in and now, we’re laughing all the way to the bill collectors,” said Wurschum.

The DOG band plays a kinder, gentler variety of folk rock, and the mosh pit was nonexistent due to the seating arrangement. Thus, no one got the bum’s rush and the dubious distinction of being the first person kicked out of the first rock gig at the new venue.

“At first, the bouncers were telling people not to dance because it was a fire hazard, but they gave up after a while,” said Wurschum. “They were prepared for the worst, but nothing happened. There was no pit because the seats go right up to the stage.”

So the old DOG and their new licks provided a happy ending for all, even Wurschum’s mom who flew down from Oregon to see her son’s band play and to use her connections to score a free T-shirt.

“She’s wearing it to work,” said Wurschum.

Tom Mitze, who manages the place but probably isn’t wearing a DOG shirt to work, was equally stoked, and noted, “It was fantastic, sold out, standing room only.”

Next stop for the canine crooners will be an acoustic performance at a much smaller venue. Saturday night, Ventura’s newest mecca for the legally jangled, the Two West Coffee Company, will be puttin’ on the DOG.

*

Since majority DOG made all that loot, don’t expect them at the Battle of the Bands, which will rage longer and louder than a hockey game in the closet, and continue every Wednesday night at Metro Bay Club in Ventura. Pretty much, it works like this: four bands a night for four nights, then a quarter-final round featuring the four winners. Later, the four quarter-final winners will square off and the field will be cut in half, and finally the top two bands will battle it out sometime around June 1 for the title won last year by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

You’ve already missed the first quarter finals. Bloody Mary Morning, Haven’s Window, Alkaline and Ten Ton Max had it out in the first semi last night. But for those with rock star dreams, there’s still time, according to John Lunsford, the man to blame for all this.

“I’m booked all the way into April, but you know how bands come and go, so I may have some openings in early March. The winner stands to make about $1,750 after performing four times.”

Unlike past battles, there are no judges to fuel with beer or in any way suck up to because there are no judges per se. It’s democracy in action, but with a beat. OK, but what if some crummy band has more friends than talent, do they win? Not necessarily, according to Lunsford. The paying customers represent 60% of the vote, club management gets 20% and Lunsford gets 20%.

“Now if a terrible band brought in a million people, you know the club’s gonna love that, but that doesn’t mean they’ll win, and I always ask the club (managers) who they think won,” said Lunsford.

And the bands are going to love this: In addition to the opportunity to inflict their interpretation of rock ‘n’ roll on a willing public, each band will get a memento of the occasion.

“I record every band’s performance, so they all get at least a cassette, and I’m going to bring a single cam recorder and videotape all the quarter finals,” said Lunsford. “Ultimately, I’d like to use 16 bands on a compilation performance CD from the Metro. I’m trying to get a record label going, and also to promote my studio, Reelizations on Palma Drive in Ventura. I’m doing the stage, providing the sound and my wife is working the door. At three bucks for four bands, we make about $175 per night, so we’re not getting rich off this thing. I must be mentally ill.”

The bands begin around 9-ish every Wednesday with each band getting about half an hour to assault the ears of the public, not to mention their ever-patient girlfriends. Rock stars can call 654-TAPE to enter the Battle of the Bands.

As a former judge, my upcoming trust-me-this-time recommendation includes: Limehause on Feb. 15 and Soil on Feb. 22.