Blues&JazzView
by Eric Benson
If you luv music you’re gonna love this
Alright turned 62 years young this August, celebrated with my Blue Monday Band with Barry Finnerty Jazz guitarist from Miles Davis with catered New Orleans food; Gumbo, Crab cakes, Tri Tip, wings and more in my home town house of Bezerkeley California. You have to celebrate these milestones cause you only live once and no “sense going away half baked when you can be all tore up.” Someone said “getting old ain’t for sissies”; everyday a blessing is what I say. On with the business at hand!
The Blue Monday Party returns September 9th to the Barkin’ Dog Grill with special guests the MCW Band. A stable of the Blue Mondays we did for years at the old Clayton’s Restaurant. Father and son Carlos and Marlon, tear it up on the max groves from Average White Band, to Reggae & rock and roll in vocal harmony. House band with; Johnny Valdes Guitar, Conrad Johnson vocals & bass, drums Dave Hawks, horn section Raul Slaps Bone, Kevin Marin Trumpet, Andrew Rosenblum Sax, and Keys David Dow and Eric Benson. Call ahead the Dog for best seating.
The new season for the Gallo in is with diverse offerings. The Isley Brother’s turned it out on the classic R & B hits in August. September features: 6th Mercury /Queen Tribute, 15th Gatlin Brothers, 19th funny man Ron White, 25th Josh Turner, 26th Modesto’s own Gospel Mission /Mac Rowell Family Reunion, 27th Dionne Warwick, 28th Hollywood Revisited, and 28th SF Comedy Competition.
Another partner in crime for music in the area is John Griswold also embracing an more eclectic demographic at Lucca Winery; Check out his web site; WWW.RedTieArts.org, for shows in September.
And the Barkin’ Dog Grill, one of my favorite family friendly venues continues with some live music coming at you for September; 6th Free Radical Jazz Quartet with my man John Adey Bass, 7th Tim Lachuga & Elf Band, 9th Blue Monday Band invitational Jam, 13th Valley Jazz Company, 14th Johnny & the classics, 19th Art Walk with Dave Dow Jazz Jam, 20th Gary Gervasse Blues Band Chicago style, 21st Dave Dow & Friends, 25th Patty Castillo & Steve Ashman , 27thJohnny Rocket & Thrust, 28th Eric Benson with Blue Monday Alumni. Check out: WWW.barkindoggrill.com My partner in crime on the music scene the best host with the most-ess on the band stand, Dave Dow hosts the Jazz Jam session with friends every Thursday night 7 to 10 PM.
And the Fruit Yard out on Yosemite Ave brought in some smoking Blues with BUDDY GUY, Jimmie Vaughn and Charlie Musselwhite August. Shows coming at you; Sept 20th Billy Currington, and October 6th Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers gonna rock the house.
And one of my favorite places off the beaten track the Newman Theatre in Newman. On the lowdown; Sept 7th Joni Morris Tribute /Patsy Cline, 14th House of Floyd /Pink Floyd tribute, 21st Don Gato Latin Band. Check out the West Side Theater at: www.westsidetheatre.org
All the best, peace out! Eric Benson, cell 209- 918-7033, email; Mbenson@fire2wire.com<mailto:Mbenson@fire2wire.com>.
