CHASING DREAMS OF SUCCESS\Rock band to take stage at arts center.

Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer

Paul Kenny spent his high school days daydreaming about becoming a rock star.

He doesn't regret it. Then again, his dreams are paying off.

"I was never really into school," said Kenny, 18, who formed a rock band with his buddies two years ago. "I was mostly into my music. I guess it's my calling."

Kenny remembers two years ago at Royal High School, where he spent more time in class thinking about music lyrics than algebra or biology. His friend, Cainan Tucker, was an aspiring drummer at the time - a 15-year-old in his last year at Hillside Junior High. Rich Buckland, a bass guitarist, had graduated from Royal in 1992, and would pick up Tucker from junior high after school for band practice. David Wardzinski, a lead guitarist, joined the band during his final year at Royal.

The four young musicians named their group Wooden Circus, named after a poem Kenny wrote several years ago.

"It was like watching your dream happen before your eyes," Tucker said. "It's just what we wanted to do."

Tonight, the young musicians will play close to home when they grace the main stage of the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center during a "Rockin' the Rafters Concert."

Wooden Circus will be the first rock band to perform at the center - a place that typically attracts adults and children with art exhibits, classical and jazz concerts and plays.

Wooden Circus will be headlining for Katjas' Dream - formerly known as Starfish.

Fred Helsel, the center's assistant manager, said he was excited about booking the rock groups because it gave him the opportunity to draw a different crowd to the cultural arts center.

"It opens the center to a whole new age group that traditionally hasn't come into the center yet," Helsel said. "I don't know how it's going to go, but we're excited about the opportunity to bring in this new generation, mainly because we want this building to be a center of pride for the whole community and not just the adults in Simi Valley."

For the past year, Wooden Circus has played the Hollywood music scene, where it has developed a following at such venues as The Whiskey, The Roxy and The Troubadour. The band currently is making its way through music spots in Orange County and Santa Barbara.

Wooden Circus classifies its sound as hard-hitting classic rock - their sounds range from Black Sabbath to Crosby, Stills and Nash, with a hint of The Beatles and a splash of Jimi Hendrix.

Curt Piar, lead guitarist for Katjas' Dream, picked Wooden Circus to headline for his band after hearing the group in a Simi Valley recording studio.

"They have the largest following of young people in Simi Valley," said Piar, 34. "Plus, they're a good band."

He hopes tonight's concert will set a trend for evenings to come.

"Since the center opened, it really hasn't had any shows that cater to the 15- to 25-year-old crowd," Piar pointed out. "I hope this starts a series of rock concerts at the cultural arts center."

The permanent, three-member band - all of whom grew up in Simi Valley and went to Royal High School - categorize the Katjas sound as "Beatles-oriented."

"One might claim we're jumping on the bandwagon, which isn't the case," Piar said. "We've been doing this for years. . . . we're into lots of melody, very song-oriented, not the type of band that's into jumping in there and showing off."

Piar formed the band with his friend Cronin Tierney 15 years ago while the two were still in high school. Scott Mundy, an aspiring drummer, joined the band five years later.

Since the band's beginning, it has undergone a number of names.

Katjas' Dream was formed in early 1993. Formerly known as Starfish, the band released its first album, "Dancing in the Starlight," on its own independent label, Rain Records.

The band now operates out of its Simi Valley recording studio. Over the years, the band has appeared throughout the Southern California and Portland concert scene, including Portland's club La Luna during the TicketMaster Music Showcase in 1994.

"We want to take the band as far as it will go," said Piar. "It's the gold-pot-at-the-end-of-the-rainbow-type of thing."

With major venues under its belt, Wooden Circus is still in the midst of humble beginnings.

Kenny is a driver for Conroy's Flowers. Tucker, 17, is still a junior at Royal High. Buckland, 23, is pursuing his music career while working at Toys 'R' Us. Nineteen-year-old Wardzinski, who missed his high school graduation because of a kidney operation, is attending Simi Valley Adult School.

Three times a week, the band practices in a friend's garage in Simi Valley. It is currently in negotiations with Little Dogs Records, and expects to have an album out in the music stores by May.

"We pretty much want to follow this through for awhile, and see what happens," Kenny said. "People listen to good music and buy good music, and I think we make good music. For me, this is something I want to do for the rest of my life."

THE FACTS

WHAT: Rock concert featuring Wooden Circus and Katjas Dream (formerly Starfish)

WHEN: 8 p.m. today.

WHERE: Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley.

COST: $12 for adults, $10 seniors and students.

INFORMATION: [phone] or [phone].

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Box (Conejo edition only) THE FACTS (See text) Photo (Color) In their concert tonight, Wooden Circus and Katjas' Dream will be the first rock groups to perform at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. Jeremy Greene/Daily News