When the New York Mets come to Dodger Stadium, it's not unusual for local blue crew supporters to get drowned out by funny-talking East Coast transplants who turn out in droves to cheer on the Big Apple nine. Reversing that forever "go west" trend is Brian Wurschum, who actually left the 805 and relocated to New York City sight unseen. Yup, on purpose. He's coming back on Sunday with the Voyces, a group that can sing and harmonize better than it can spell. If you're in the mood for pretty pop-rock, check the band out at Grady's Record Refuge in Ventura.

Wurschum should know the way west — he's from Newbury Park. Locals will remember him for his prior 805 musical adventures with the groups Majority DOG and Zelig.

The DOG band was the first group to ever play at Civic Arts Plaza and, in keeping with its low-budget outlook, band members used to practice at the Park and Ride lot off the 101 in Newbury Park. The DOG band also played at Café Voltaire a bunch of times — that's the place that locals whine about missing the most after Charlie's and, soon, the Alpine.

Wurshum has been Back East for several years now, not long enough to talk funny but long enough to form the Voyces. The singer-songwriter discussed his imminent homecoming during a recent phoner.

Hey man, how's the Voyces' biz? Are you guys rich rock stars yet?

Yeah, we are rich rock stars.

Cool. Can I borrow a dollar?

Yes, you can.

All right then. You went to New York City on purpose. Why?

I moved back here in 1999 and now I can't remember.

Didn't you see "Midnight Cowboy''?

It's been so long that at the time it seemed like a really good idea. We'd never been here and at the time we just wanted to see what it was like. I'm glad I did because I met the Voyces.

What's it like back there?

I like it. It's just the opposite of everything of where I'm from.

The anti-Newbury Park?

There is no Newbury Park back here and there's a lot of really great people here.

What's your take on the NYC music scene?

It's very aggressive, much more aggressive. There's this place called the Sidewalk Café that is like a hub in a lot of ways. Basically everyone I met here I met at that place.

What about those Voyces?

This lineup has been together for about a year and this is what I call the Voyces. What are the Voyces all about? We're just doing our rock 'n' roll thing, I guess.

What does it sound like? Any majority DOG or Zelig in there?

Since I wrote the music for those bands and I'm still writing the music for the most part, I don't think that I could escape that flavor.

Any Majority DOG songs?

No. That's done, I think.

Have any Café Voltaire stories?

Oh, Café Voltaire. That place was great. I loved that place. It was our favorite place to play out there.

There's a place now called Zoey's, which is the spiritual successor to Café Voltaire.

Yeah, I heard about that place and I'd love to play there.

How has the Internet changed things for you?

The Internet has enabled us to sort of find out who's listening to us and reach those people. That's the biggest thing it's done.

What's the deal with this tour?

This is really the first time we've left New York. The other singer, Jude Castle, and myself played one time in California before but the band has never traveled. We play about two or three times a month but we haven't been together very long and just put an album out. We're just starting this process; you know, hit the road and hustle up some interest. We're coming to Ventura first, then we're going to drive up to Northern California and through Oregon to Seattle.

What's the best and worst thing about being a musician?

The best thing is performing live or having somebody say, "I listen to your album at home." The worst thing is everything else.