Former Love Men singer swoops down from the city for his first gig at Sly's.

Photo: New Look: Marvin Banks has continually updated his sound for more than 25 years.

Marvin Banks has been singing his soul out for a quarter-century, letting the new tides of music sweep him up and inspire him to reinterpret classics of the previous 25 years in his own jazz-tinted way. Banks has lived in the San Francisco Bay area since 1969, coming down our way to win third place in this year''s Monterey Blues Festival Battle of the Bands-so it''s curious that this is his first gig at Sly''s, the place for blues in Monterey.

With a unique style, Banks has been winning favor in Northern California since the inception of his band The Fellows, composed of Banks and his brothers. He finished out the heyday of soul in the 1970s in the vocal group The Love Men, and though he''s dabbled in many groups over the years as both a stand-in and a member, he shines individually as well. His vocal range extends from high tenor to baritone, making him a versatile vocalist in any style he chooses to explore. He shows off his gospel roots, mixes some of that jazz in, and forms a style that belongs to him alone.

Banks'' territory is soul, though. He brings his style to festivals and venues all over the Bay Area and beyond, lending his voice to such groups as the Rossi Band and Nightmare on Bourbon St. When performing on his own, his covers of ''70s and ''80s classic soul hits always hit the mark. Over the course of his career, he''s earned himself a place as a SF soul legend, and the respect of musicians and fans from all over.

Marvin Banks plays this Saturday at Sly McFly''s at 9pm. 700 Cannery Row, Monterey. 372-3225.

Unearth

Unearth sing loud as hell, but prettily. By Kate Folsom

Unearth has built a nationwide fan base with its brand of driving melody punctuated by meaningful lyrics. Singer Trevor Phipps wails over the dual guitars of Ken Susi and Buz McGrath, while drummer Mike Rudberg and bassist John Slo Maggard keep the rhythm. They accentuate both the loud and the beautiful by melding them together in the way only the best metal bands can. It''s an acquired taste, certainly, and all the screaming and yelling can eclipse the elegant arpeggios and skillful instrumentation, but that''s what hardcore music is all about.

The five-man band has earned its place in the royalty of underground hardcore (as if there''s any other sort) and is now bringing its screaming melodies to Monterey.

Ricky Chasteen of The Darvon Complex was instrumental in getting the five-piece Unearth booked in town. It''s exceedingly rare to have a hardcore show on the Peninsula (lately Jim Dandy''s in Prunedale has been booking metal bands). This is the first all-ages show being held at Chippers. Those of us under 30 know how hard it is to see good metal bands in town, and if you''re under 21, forget it.

The rarity of the occurrence is only made sweeter by the fact that the Boston-based Unearth are stopping here in the midst of their national tour. Also playing are local groups Sky''s a Wall, Fate 13, and Darvon.

Five years ago, Unearth formed to try to bring freshness to the metal scene in their area. They aspired to make dark music with uplifting words, something their fans appreciate. Whereas other loud bands sing of hatred and destruction, Unearth is just trying to shine a loud little light on the world. As their band bio says, they produce "poignant feelings of power and beauty, conjuring up visions of the atmospheric and the apocalyptic."

Hardcore music descends this Friday at Chippers, 2110 North Fremont St., Monterey. 641-0793.