MAMA View
By Middagh Goodwin
Wow has it been a year already? Seems like only yesterday that Chris Murphy asked me to be the MAMAView columnist. Over the year I have written about the varied and vibrant music scene that is Modesto and the surrounding area. I have spread the word about great bands local and national that were playing at venues from Merced to Stockton. Along the way I got involved behind the scene with the Modesto Area Music Awards and booked about a hundred shows. It has been my privilege to be the liaison between all the great bands and artists that graced the stage of the Brewhouse(2013/14 Venue). It is with heavy heart and sadness to inform that as of now the Brewhouse at Hero’s is no longer in business. If things work out, and I have my fingers crossed, the Brewery and Pub will be back up and going strong once again later this year. Until then I will be out and about supporting the scene and more then likely putting on shows at various venues around the area.
Metalheads you now have another venue to bang your heads at. Metal Mondays are going strong at Climax and Nothing But Losers(2011 Metal) perform with Hang the Kode and the return of a Metal favorite California Medication kicking things off for the the month.
January 7th join 2014 MAMA Winner, A La Lune(Reggae)with one of the best new bands from the last year Terrible Timing(SKA/Punk) with Reggae Legends Jr Ried and Natural Vibrations at the Fat Cat, This will be another great and most likely sold out Reggae Show at the Fat Cat.
Pacific Lung 2014 Pop Rock Modesto Area Music Award Winner has just released “Visitor” an LP Record(Vinyl not a CD but you can pick it up for digital download from iTunes, bandcamp, Amazon..) and it is quite amazing. “Visitor” is a Psychedelic-Pop Rock laced album with influences ranging from The Beatles to Pink Floyd with hints of Miles Davis, Bowie and Radiohead. They celebrated with friends at a packed Deva’s on January 16th and I had to pick up a copy for myself and suggest you do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. Nothing beats the warmth of vinyl playing especially when it is from such a great local band featuring members of A La Lune(2014 MAMA Reggae Winner), 17Ten(2014 Metal Mamanee.) You can catch Pacific Lung at the 207 in downtown Stockton on March 7th and performing live on KCSS(date to be announced.)
Jimmie Menezes(2014 Comedy) and I are working on expanding two comedy brands the Brew Ha Ha and Gold Rush Comedy currently happening at the Brewhouse and Gypsy Shack(Jamestown) respectively. Look for the Brew Ha Ha expanding out to Tioga Sequoia in Fresno and Gold Rush Comedy at the Murphy Theater and Blackwater Cafe. The greater 209 Comedy landscape is getting bigger and better.
Remember every Sunday morning at Cafe Deva live music to get you going, so enjoy a bite to eat and a cup of coffee while listening to some great homegrown tunes. Sunday Nights at the Queen Bean you can find tomorrows MAMA winners today with the Queen Bean Open Mic(2013 Small Event) always something different and someone new. If you have not been to the fabulous State Theatre in awhile do yourself a favor and stop in, they have a brand new state of the art digital projector and marquee out front. Each year the MAMA Awards are hosted at the state and it is one of the gems of the Central Valley.
Middagh Goodwin
beathappymusic@aol.com
