Beatin’ the Heat
By Eric Benson
Did anybody say been too long at the Fair? The summer has turned into a slow burn, up at the crack to start the day and cower inside until safe to return to the outside. My dog loves to walk but midday walking he gives me crazy eyes does his business and hasty sleigh dog pulling to the house. I asked an old timer who has lived here his whole life “Do you ever get used to the heat?” He answered with a resounding “No!” My vegetable garden loves the heat, but my brain just doesn’t work so well when it’s a triple-digit day. Of course, it’s better than living in Death Valley at 125 degrees but every so often I go to visit my home town Bezerkely CA and bask in a 70-degree day with ocean breezes. On to the business at hand, hoping you are beatin’ the heat!
Plenty to do downtown Modesto, Music in the Plaza Friday nights, the farmers market Thursdays and Saturdays, and now we can be legit with cruising. Makes me want to buy a muscle car and slow ride down McHenry playing Suavacito by Malo!
My peeps the Blue Monday Jam needs you. A lot of us during the pandemic found other things to do at home and have stayed there. We need our fans to come down and keep it rolling. We host Blue Monday, August 14th and 28th at Café Urbano with great food, a full bar, and a swinging Band with special guests each month. In the Band: John Ady and Conrad Johnson on Bass, John Burt on Sax, Cortez Flores and Dave Hawks on Drums, and Eric Benson on Keys. We play Jazz, Funk, Latin, rock, and the Blues, not necessarily in that order for listening and dancing. So please be like alpha beta and tell a friend. We thank Chris Murphy and Gary Nelson for giving their love to support the Blue Monday Scene which yours truly appreciates! Cafe Urbano also has DJ dancing Tuesday through Sunday featuring Latin Based music. The Creole Jazz Kings continue to play Café Urbano and will be back this month so swing by!
Some great shows at Gallo Center but also check out some great venues out of town: The Newman Theatre, Yoshi’s Oakland best jazz shows, Khumba Music Center Santa Cruz and Piedmont Piano Company, the Back Door, and the Sound Room located in Oakland. Please continue to come out folks as we can’t do it without you.
