Here's a heads-up about your new favorite band that you haven't heard of yet: The Nikhil Korula Band, which will make its Ventura debut at It's All Good on Main Street tonight.

For five years, the six-piece group has been tearing it up in L.A.; the stripped-down acoustic version hopes to do likewise in the Poinsettia City.

Good enough to sell out the House of Blues (or the House of Try to Find a Parking Spot), the NK Band hopes to add the 805 to its fan-friendly résumé. The group has made prior appearances at the Deer Lodge in Ojai (where everyone is happy but the deer heads on the wall) and Jawz, which is now Pangea. The band's also played all over Santa Barbara, and in fact, plays several times a week, which is probably why it's so good.

In any case, it's world-jam dance music played by pros whose sheer exuberance will give your feet direct orders.

Korula himself, so upbeat he could sell sunblock to a cactus, discussed the latest during a recent phoner.

Tell me about the L.A. scene.

We started playing at the Knitting Factory five years ago, then word started spreading and within 10 shows we played our first House of Blues. We used to headline there every 10 months; now it's every three months. We play there and the Temple Bar a lot.

Not to sound cliché, but so many bands in L.A. are doing the hard rock/punk thing and we're doing something that not a lot of bands are approaching.

Tell me more about your master plan.

I think our music is getting a buzz and creating a fan base because of the experience we create. I think a lot of bands forget that. They focus on image and writing a hit song to get on radio, which isn't a bad thing, but they forget how important the live show is.

How often does the band play?

A lot maybe two to four times a week. And we play cities and colleges across the country. We haven't been to Santa Barbara for a while because we've been getting calls to do all these college gigs.

Can you describe that magic moment when you're playing and the band is cooking?

When I'm up there playing with these guys, it's the whole reason why I was put on this earth. Musically, we incorporate so many styles and concepts, and I'm inspired by these musicians because they're so talented. Most bands have a trio or quartet; we have six on stage. To have so many people creating such a big sound makes me hunger for it all the more.

What's your take on the band's sound?

I always say we're a world-influenced jam band. It's got a lot of different styles African and Latin rhythms, and we do a lot of reggae, funk, soul, rock, blues. If you love music, you'll love what we do.

People don't just stand there and stare?

No, man. That's the thing everybody dances. The language of the body is dance and the language of the soul is music, and I wanted to marry those two in the best way possible.

When did you know you wanted to be a musician?

I started singing when I was about 5 years old, and ended up as the youngest member of the Los Angeles Children's Chorus. I sang six operas with Placido Domingo, did some recording with Luther Vandross and sang for Rod Stewart's wedding. But the best thing was singing at the 32nd annual Grammy Awards when I was 11 years old I got to meet Miles Davis. The best thing for me was just watching him rehearse and feeding off that energy. He's definitely got that mysterious vibe, but he's a genius, a jazz pioneer.

What do you tell new musicians?

Take the time to really understand why good songs are good songs. Never stop believing in yourself and never stop wanting to improve. That's why I love the musicians in this band I learn so much from them. Once we get where we want to be, there's always going to be somewhere else we want to get to. It's infinity, man.

Got tips on the local music scene?E-mail music writer Bill Loceyat blocey@pacbell.net.