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Rock

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This week, a trio of pop groups will swoop down, leap tall buildings (but none over three stories high), and attempt to save us with pop music in grand comic book tradition. It would be greatly worth the effort to check them out. Throw on your favorite superhero gear, check your Underoos, and by god, see something this week!

Behold the Long Bar: nose dive (yes that''s in lower case) plays this evening for a second-round. The five-piece band out of Fresno has been booked again because of their great stage presence, and hard-edged sound. The band sticks to heavy grooves, and in their own words, "transforms comic book super-powers into punchy cocktails of ghetto-fabulous funkadelic rhythms and modern rock hooks." They''re here to fulfill the basic need of all touring bands: to cultivate a motivated fan base in Monterey and turn it into something they can pitch to radio stations and record producers. It''s the band to see tonight if you''re sick of sitting around all weekend like a wet lemming--and it''s a strange element in this weekend''s comic book theme.

Next up: Karma, a pop songstress with the hit single "Superman" on CD93, which has been getting some super airplay and requests. So much attention has been given to her song, in fact, that the radio station called her in as a guest last Saturday to talk about herself, her debut and CD release at the Long Bar tomorrow. She sings a mixture of melodies that range from her obvious roots in country/bluegrass to those that are so heavily dosed in pop flavoring that they are almost too sweet to touch. After five months of pregnancy, Karma makes a heavy contender as a virtual superwoman--which means it''s important to support her, even with the mood swings. Best of all, it''s free.

On Tuesday, drive your Batmobile down to the Long Bar to check out the Gas Giants, a super pop band sporting a dynamic duo of former members from the now-defunct Gin Blossoms. After more than nine tumultuous years in which they established themselves as one of the top beer-and-party rock ''n'' roll bands, the Gin Blossoms finally completely self destructed on the last day of 1996. By spring of ''97, the Blossoms'' lead singer Robin Wilson and drummer Philip Rhodes had teamed up with friends Daniel Henzerling (guitar) and G. Brian Scott (bass) to create The Pharoahs 2000, which ultimately mutated into the Gas Giants. The band''s had a rocky first few years: They dumped Scott from the lineup and endured a two-year delay in the release of their debut CD, due to the takeover of group''s original record label, A&M, by Seagram''s Universal Music Group.

Last year, after Al Teller, former CEO for MCA, launched the Atomic Pop, the Giants signed with the new label and (following a nasty fight over rights with Universal) released From Beyond the Back Burner.

So what are you going to hear on Tuesday? At the same time the Giants seem to rock a little harder than the Gin Blossoms, they''re also more pop-oriented, probably because lead singer Wilson is the band''s primary songwriter, and his head is into the uncomplicated (and highly marketable) pop sound. Although Wilson has a fairly distinguishable voice, the band''s tunes seem a bit the same as any other music you might hear on pop radio.

Mac Tally with Foamscape will open for the Gas Giants--should be a great showcase for the local guys.

nose dive, tonight, 9pm, no cover. Karma, Friday, 7:30pm, no cover. The Gas Giants with Foamscape opening, Tuesday, 9pm, no cover. The Long Bar, 372-2244

Catch Kachabeat at the weekly Blue Fin Reggae Night this evening. Kachabeat is a solid group with a yearning to make you move. Following them tomorrow will be the first gig at the Fin for The 4th Street Flyers featuring Jim Albertson, formerly of Coco Beat. It would be a good time to see them, and a good time to check out the Fin. Best of all, these shows are free as always. Thank the Fin for helping us cheapskates out every week.

Kachabeat, Blue Fin, tonight, 9pm, and The 4th Street Flyers, Friday, 9pm, no cover both shows. 375-7000.