MAMA View By Middagh Goodwin It’s March Madness in Modesto, at least as far as entertainment is concerned.
Things finally cooled down in February as far as the weather was concerned but things are still hot on the Music Front. Kicking the month off straight away on March 1 at the Brewhouse at Hero’s is Dandelion Massacre(2011 Alt Indie), The Old Refrain, Indian Runner and The Panduhs gives us a night of Indie and Folk and fun. Also kicking of the month is Tresetti’s 20th Anniversary Mardi Gras(2004 Small Event) drinks, dancing and light debauchery is the theme for this event. March 6, Jill Ferris Presents brings a night of Reggae/Funk and Rock to the Brewhouse with Brewfish, E.A.R.L.(2007 RAWK/Jam) and KeepItLit. Come out and get down with these great bands. March 8, Marirose & the Gypsies(2012 Americana), Lodgepole Pickers and James Byous this show was put together by Doug Robinett and his shows are always a fun time at the Brewhouse. March 13, Screetching Slay Bats(2013 Best Comedian) is putting on The Unlucky Fest at the Other Place with Broken Trojan(2014 Rock), The Notalauts, Slay & the Nekrobats, Direkt, Dan Vallerand and The Creepoids(a fun alternative to Lucky Fest.)
Nic Padilla Promotions brings the Metal back to the Other Place with Defiler and Better Left Unsaid (2004 Hard Rock) and more. Nic has been bringing a lot of great Heavy bands to the area and this show is going to Rock. March 15 downtown will be alive with music and drinking for Lucky Fest with 26 venues, hundreds of performers and thousands attendees you know you are going to have fun so don’t miss out. Note, P Wexford’s is doing St. Patrick’s on March 17. March 22, March Art Fest at the Brewhouse presented by Play Shows Dot Org will showcase art, music and poetry like Modesto has not seen before featuring House of Orange(2011 Americana), The Rob Hill Band, Alida McKeon, Viva Joaquin and many many more.
March 23, JFP is back with another night of Reggae at the Brewhouse with BRAATA(2011 Pop Rock), Item9(from Fresno), A La Lune and KeepItLit this is also Amanda Gray’s Birthday so come celebrate have a drink with the bands and make sure you wear your dancing shoes. On 03/29 head on out to the Workshop in Ceres and Rock out for a Cause, DAM(2010 Rawk/Jam), Breaking Chainz(2012 Youth Band), Triple D, Antithesis of It, Erozion, Brutal Innocence all rocking out and raising money to Beat Cancer. March 30, NPP is back at the Other Place to help you all bang your head one last time before the month is over with Nothing But Losers(2011 Metal), Obszon Geshopf(France) and Tempest & the Diaspora(CO).
Remember every Sunday morning at Cafe Deva the Poorhouse Millionaires (2012 Blues) play music to get you going, so enjoy your breakfast and a cup o’ coffee while listening to some great homegrown tunes. Sunday Nights at the Queen Bean find tomorrows MAMA winners today with the QB Open Mic (2013 Small Event) always something different always someone new.
March 7, Punk and SKA for a Cause with Left Alone(Hellcat Records featuring Elvis Cortez of the Transplants), GNARBOOTS(Asian Man Records/ex Link80/DESA), Trashboat and Terrible Timing all raising money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. What is better then giving to a good cause and listening to great music.
If you can only make it to one show this month and I hope you can make it to at least one a week, don’t miss Lydia Loveless at the Brewhouse on March 27. Lydia Loveless has just released a new record on Bloodshot Records was named one of the Top 10 acts to see in 2014 by Rolling Stone Magazine and is literally blowing up as the weeks go by. “Sounds Like: Loretta Lynn and Patti Smith slamming shots at a Midwestern dive bar while cowboys and punks brawl out back……her breakout album ‘Somewhere Else’ is an aching, lusty set of twang and sneer wrapped in electric guitar swagger.” — Rolling Stone wrote. Lydia and her band will be joined by The(Secret)Hitchers from Stockton, one of the best musical exports I have seen from the Port City in a decade and local songstress and MAMA nominee Christine McGrew who is finishing up her solo debut and gearing up to take her songs on the road.
Remember that that the local Venues, Promoters and Bands are only as good as the crowd that comes to the show (does a band Rock if no one is there to hear them play?) Friends don’t let Friends Miss Great Shows.
Bands, Venues, Comedians, Entertainers and Promoters send your contact info to beathappymusic@aol.com to be included in an ONLINE MUSIC RESOURCE. Please include Name, Genre, URL, City and Contact Info.
