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If hell were a desirable place, the drive-in theater would run Billy Jack marathons all night long, and you could always stop by the adjacent cocktail lounge to hear Action Plus during intermission. But, as we all know, hell is not a desirable place, so we're fortunate that Action Plus's incredibly strange lounge sendups are available right here on earth. We stumbled upon the group at San Francisco's Fillmore last Friday and were spellbound by a rollicking set that alternately brought to mind the B-52s, Cramps, Nino Rota, the Cardigans and Kurt Weill.

While guitarist Joe Gore's playing rarely falls short of awesome, the spotlight still favored frontwomen Ursula Blind and Sally Dana, who vacillated between the pop cool of Debbie Harry and the expressionist theatrics of Yma Sumac. Dana also has a wicked way with her Theremin, coaxing ethereal solos while gesticulating like a Vampira-turned-faith-healer. You can get a taste of Action Plus on their self-titled debut album, but don't pass up a chance to catch them live.

-Tower Records E-Pulse

The challenge in describing Action Plus lies in deciding which references to invoke. D Boon meets Frank Sinatra in rush-hour traffic? Dick Dale having tea with Edith Piaf while listening to the Go-Gos? No, it's Tito Puente dating both Sweeney Sisters with Vince Guaraldi along as chaperone. Guitar virtuoso Joe Gore guided the sound from thick lounge to teeth-grinding rock riffs. Bassist Smitty, drummer Pat Campbell and percussionist Sally Dana were a fluid, adaptable rhythm section. But the corker was the singing of Dana and keyboardist Ursula Blind. As Dana's raging Theremin solos blended with Blind's saucy synthesizer chords, an absurd Action Plus universe began to take shape, a cosmos of playful self-parody in which the dog finally catches its own tail. And the crowd loved every minute of it.

-Anthony York, San Francisco Bay Guardian

I found Action Plus a bit shallow....

-Gary X. Indiana, BAM

On their self-titled CD, Action Plus performs original music inspired by Julie London, Sergio Mendes and the Munsters. Led by the sassy vocal trio of Ursula Blind, Sally Dana and Cynthia "Smitty" Smith and accompanied by the schmaltzy nuances of drummer Pat Campbell, Action Plus is pursuing the grand tradition of "collective groan music," Gore said. "My fantasy is that we'll have a big hit, and then Rolling Stone readers will vote it 'Worst Song of the Year.'"

-James Sullivan, San Francisco Chronicle

I was sitting at the bar when Action Plus took to the stage, and the music forced me to take notice. I was impressed by the tender harmonies--the female vocals were sweetly reminiscent of the sirens of maritime lore, alluring and seducing. The highlight of the evening came when one of the fair maidens decided to remove herself from her dress, instantly and without announcement, leaving herself clad in only a skimpy silk slip. The effect did not go unnoticed.

-Darin Bashaw, RockLove

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