Unplugged View: Red Alert
by Aaron Rowan
You may have read about the recent lighting up of music venues across the nation in a coordinated crimson distress call, in the hopes that Congress will pledge funding to pull them back from the brink. As faithful an arts patron as I am, I can’t say I approve; robbing Peter to pay Pan doesn’t strike me as an appropriate role for government. (Very few things qualify as such in my philosophy.)
I’m going to resist the demise of independent venues the honorable way – by going back to offering my brand of listening concerts and letting you decide for yourself whether to keep “sheltering in place” or drop by to shelter in music instead. And I’m willing to take a leap from the lion’s head, and trust that there are still some good folks out there ready and willing to choose door number two.
Friday night October 16, local country-rock band True South will open the new season at Moon & Sixpence, which one of our local songwriters has called “the best place to listen to live music in Modesto.” I don’t know about the “best” part, but it’s certainly the most interesting place, because nobody around these parts features a wider range of eclectic programming than Modesto Unplugged. Led by former Nashville songwriter David Finley, True South drops plenty of fun originals plus reimaginings of classics by The Eagles, ZZ Top, Linda Ronstadt, Roy Orbison, Garth Brooks and more. You may have seen and heard them a time or two recently as you walked along J St.; they’ve been a popular outdoor attraction at Ralston’s Goat. RSVP for this limited-seating showcase, which will have seats spread out and capped at 30. Call it a Buena Vista Social-distance Club.
Moon & Sixpence can be found tucked back in the courtyard of Cook Marketplace on 9th St. between E & F, just to the left of Stonehenge. Doors open at 7:30, True South takes the stage at 8:00, and it‘s $5 cash only at the door. To reserve seats, reach out at modestounplugged@yahoo.com or 209-543-5306. The new season at this venue will focus more intently on Modesto-area groups as headliners, so look for some more date announcements soon.
Intimate performances. Infinite playlist. MODESTO UNPLUGGED. www.modestounplugged.com
