Ventura County Weekend : ROCKTALK : Stevie Ray Davis--a Driving Force on Blues Scene : You can catch the renowned slide guitarist in Agoura Hills while he’s still willing to make the long commute.

Driving 200 miles round-trip “for a gig that pays five or ten bucks is too far,� guitarist Stevie Ray Davis said recently.

Yeah, it is. So if you want to see a great slide guitar player, act accordingly, which means quickly. Davis, who used to mesmerize the masses when he played smoothly with Michael On Fire, is now doing his own thing, and very well, too. Davis is in the Texas Guitar Hall of Fame, after being nominated by Buddy Holly’s widow, something that looks fine on the resume.

For now, Davis and group, usually a three-piece, are doing one of the toughest gigs imaginable: A 9:30, but hoping for 8:30, gig on Sunday nights at Lose the Blues, a coffeehouse in Agoura Hills. Since Davis lives in Littlerock (ours, not President Bill’s), Sunday night has gotten kind of rough, what with the lengthy commute.

“Basically, it’s a practice gig for us,� said Davis. “It’s a cool place that has really good food, but there’s not too much business on Sunday nights, so it’s hard to build up a following.�

Two weeks ago, Davis popped up at the Bombay Bar & Grill in Ventura, replacing Raw Silk who canceled. With a guest second guitarist, Val Real in fine form, it was rockin’ blues sufficient to seriously cut into the Ska Daddyz party animal crowd from the back room.

Lose the Blues is at 28888 Roadside Drive in Agoura Hills. Call 818-889-8009 for starting time.

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The only problem with Cafe Voltaire, tucked inside the Livery on Palm Street near Main Street (a mere french fry toss from the Top Hat) is that it is hard to find. Perhaps the new sign at the corner of Palm and Main will help.

Besides the usual industrial strength coffee, there’s good food, outside ambience in the courtyard, mellow cats lazing about, and what most other coffeehouses don’t have--beer, about 25 different varieties.

For the last few months, the Voltaire has resurrected a local Monday night blues gig. Total Strangers, providing the soundtrack for the long weekend, will play original rock from 1 until 6 p.m. Monday; then Jackie Lomax--former Apple Records recording artist and Liverpool mate of the Fab Four--gets those blues. The 7:30 p.m. show is $5.

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Girl watching was at its best for those watching the girls watch Keanu Reeves when his band, Dogstar, recently sold out the Ventura Theatre. It was about 85% females at the 900-seat venue, but few were sitting. The mosh pit was as serene as a statue garden as females barely swayed but plainly stared at Reeves, the bass player and actor who had an excellent adventure as Bill or Ted, and also starred in “Point Break� and “Speed.�

A sell-out is great for any band, but plainly amazing for an unsigned band with no hits, no airplay and no tape. Having a celebrity bass player obviously didn’t hurt. Dogstar wasn’t great, wasn’t terrible, but just another band that should be playing on some local rock night.

If Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone (hey, on drums) ever replace the other three guys in the band, the screaming is liable to blow out the windows in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

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Those rockin’ realtors in Acadiana, who generally give dancin’ shoes a serious workout on the last Thursday of every month at the Lobster Trap Restaurant in Oxnard, are getting reinforcements. Lisa Haley of Lisa Haley & the Zydecats will be on fiddle, and Andy Anders of Benny & the Swamp Gators will be guest bassist at the 7 p.m. show. The restaurant (985-6361) is at 3650 Peninsula Road in Channel Islands Harbor.