MAMAView
By Middagh Goodwin
We are in the last month of spring, but it is already feeling like summer and with the warmer weather you know what that means a lot more bands touring and hopefully stopping off in our area. Take a look at the calendar in the back of this magazine and see what is happening around you. Remember to buy some merch, tip your servers and bartenders, and show your support for live local music in the 209. Mother’s Day is May 10th, so maybe make plans to do something fun and entertaining with your mom.
At last year’s Modesto Area Music Awards we mentioned that things were expanding, that MAMA was going to become more of a resource for the arts community and not just an annual awards show. I want to share a big step in that direction with all of you and I think this is big: M.A.M.A. Records has been formed with plans of having the first release coincide with this year’s MAMA Celebration in October. The first scheduled release will be a compilation paying tribute to the last 15 years of MAMA Winners. What better way to kick things off then to pay homage to the past while looking towards the future. MAMA Records plans on having the CD’s ready to be given away at the awards show. This will be a curated compilation featuring an eclectic mix of marquee bands along with bands still out there performing. A downloadable compilation with all submissions will also be made available (already have confirmations from Nothing But Losers, Zombie Death Stench, Clockwork Hero, Patty Castillo Davis, House of Orange, Fallen Short, DAM, Triple D and more). Plans for M.A.M.A. Records to become a resource for local artist from distribution to public relations, to recording. Our goal is to help bands move beyond the confines of the Central Valley and compete on a national scale. Like them on facebook and keep an eye out for what great things are happening next.
Great news for music lovers in Stockton: the Blackwater will be opening up again with a slight change in branding, becoming The Blackwater Republic. For over 30 years the spot has hosted and helped nurture some of the best talent from around the Valley and beyond. Fans used to be able to see (in an intimate 50 capacity venue) acts like the Torn Boys (whose members went on to form Broken Toys and Grant Lee Buffalo), Dirk Hamilton, Cake and so many others. Tony Homsi who was a patron for many years has decided to move back to Stockton and give the spot an overhaul and plans to use it not just for music but also for art shows and performance art. Open Mic will be returning every Wednesday night and plans for Punk Rock Karaoke on Sundays. The Brew Ha Ha which had a successful run at Hero’s will return in June at the Blackwater Republic with the #209 Comedy Competition.
I have been relatively quiet as far as live music is concerned, working on several projects behind the scenes. So far this year I have only done two shows at DEVA, The Toasters (NYC) in February and Downtown Brown (MI) in April. With summer approaching that is about to change. May 23rd at the Blackwater Republic I am bringing Doug C and the Blacklisted along with the Delta Bombers for a night of hillbilly stomp and rockabilly. Some of you may know Doug from his days performing with the Descendents, Dag Nasty or his work he did with the Kottonmouth Kings. On July 18th I will be helping produce a show at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Broken Toys will be returning to Modesto for the first time in over 20 years celebrating the release of a new DVD documenting their rise to fame in the late 80’s with a full live set which was filmed at the Empire Theater in December 2012. This is going to be the most ambitious show I have been involved with since returning to Modesto.
Try to get out a couple times a month, be it Open Mic at the Queen Bean or Sunday breakfast at Deva, hard rock or metal at the Other Place or jazz on a Monday night at the Barkin’ Dog, a great cover band at Nino’s, or P.Wex. If you want to get out of town, head to the Gypsy Shack in Jamestown, Bixel Brewery in Columbia, the Partisan in Merced or Whirlows in Stockton. Music is all around us and it will only thrive if you support it. Friends don’t let friends miss great entertainment.
Middagh Goodwin
Beat Happy! Music
209-981-2311
beathappymusic@aol.com<mailto:beathappymusic@aol.com>
