Muslim Jew Love

Muslim Jew Love doesn't have any lyrics about world harmony. "Sometimes people think we're a hippie band about peace and love," says guitarist Toofun Golchin. "We don't have any lyrics at all."

Inspired by the jazz fusion of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report, the progressive rock of Rush, and Jeff Beck--flavored guitar leads, the three college students aged between 20 and 21 admit they are about 25 years out of phase. Local gigs are hard to come by.

"I hear comments from people saying they never even heard of this style of music," says drummer Peter Brittsan. "Most of the people we talk to have never heard of Weather Report."

Golchin and Brittsan started playing together six years ago when they both attended Torrey Pines High, but they've been reluctant to leave Brittsan's garage. With guitarist Andrei Kryssov, the guys in Muslim Jew Love aren't the average bar band; they read charts and understand music theory. One song moves midsong from a 9/8 signature into an 11/8.

"We have a hard time fitting in," says Golchin. "The last venue we played was at Winstons, where they had us play before a poetry reading. We played at a coffeehouse in El Cajon, and Peter had to use brushes [instead of drumsticks], and we couldn't use [guitar] distortion."

Muslim Jew Love appears Tuesday and August 28 at Portugalia in Ocean Beach.