BY JOSE MARTINEZ

There's a new band rising in the Los Angeles musical landscape made up of some old, familiar faces. Paging Beto is its name and it's made up of members of The Blasters, Social Distortion, Thelonious Monster, and the Cadillac Tramps among other notable local bands, and they're setting up shop all month long at the Redwood Bar & Grill in downtown Los Angeles.

Paging Beto formed last year when it played Dave Alvin's inaugural Dog and Pony Show benefit concert to help raise money for musicians in need of medical assistance. Wednesday night marked the band's first night of their month-long residency at the Redwood, and their blues-soaked jams were fitting for a seedy bar filled with thirsty customers.

The band is made up of Bill "Buster" Bateman (drums, The Blasters), Pat "Frenchie" French (vocals/harmonica, The Joneses), Jonny Wickersham (lead guitar, Social Distortion), The Mighty Gil "T" (vocals/bass, Top Jimmy and The Rhythm Pigs) and Justin "The Killer" Slater (rhythm guitar).

Playing a mix of early blues and soulful rock & roll, the band rocked out through two sets of bluesy cover songs (including "She's Tuff" and "I'm A Hog For You Baby"). For anyone who has spent some time drinking, eating and listen to great cover bands on Beale Street in Memphis, that's exactly what last night felt like. Paging Beto is the perfect soundtrack for a night filled with Jack Daniels, tasty sliders, finger-licking sweet potato fries, more Jack Daniels, followed by even more Jack Daniels. Yes, the Redwood has a first-rate kitchen but it was the band's bad boy boogie that set the mood for the evening.

Even local scenester and fellow Redwood resident Jake La Botz (co-star of the last Rambo film, who performs every Monday night) was on hand impressed with what he saw.

"There are a lot of good bands in Los Angeles," Paging Beto drummer Bill Bateman acknowledges, "but I feel that we fit right in with the top elite blues bands that are currently playing, recording and making a living."

Sharing lead vocal duties, Frenchie and Gil "T" kept the set moving right along. If last night's groovin' set was any indication, the band should really be offering some top notch, bad ass jams later in the month.

Paging Beto plays every Wednesday in April at the Redwood Bar & Grill. For more info on the band see www.myspace.com/pagingbeto as well as www.theredwoodbar.com.