Author Archive: Aaron Rowan
All About That Bass, ‘Bout That Bass
All About That Bass, ‘Bout That Bassby Aaron Rowan My friend Chris, a.k.a., Prairie Flower, is the proud owner of the most beautiful instrument I’ve ever laid eyes on. It’s an upright bass painted with a desert evening scene, complete with a cactus and a longhorn skull. Prairie Flower is one-third of a Modesto area […]
Arias
Unplugged View: Ariasby Aaron Rowan A rare extra layer of icing on the cake of Modesto Unplugged programming happens when a featured musician shares a name with an instrument or musical term. There was Viola: violinist & vocalist with the traditional Italian folk group PizziCali, one of the zestiest headliners I’ve hosted. There was Banjo […]
The Patzer’s Playlist
The Patzer’s Playlist by Aaron Rowan Six months ago I began to get heavily into the cosmic game of chess. It is said that there are more possible permutations on the 64 squares than there are atoms in the known universe. The strategy and geometry involved here are endlessly fascinating. I’m no Magnus, but […]
Dance Me To The End Of Spring
Unplugged View: Dance Me To The End Of Springby Aaron Rowan Among my assorted side duties as a music curator is the occasional stage-managing shift. One evening, while working in the Bay Area behind the scenes for a friend’s cello-driven band, joined by a full orchestra for this particular concert, I was introduced […]
Hey Combo, Combo Italiano
Unplugged View: Hey Combo, Combo Italianoby Aaron Rowan A point of pride with Modesto Unplugged is our penchant for showcasing exotic and obscure instruments, some of which I reasonably suspect have never before been heard in a concert setting in our city, nor would be were it not for our programming. There was the classically […]
Somebody Feed Philomena
Unplugged View: Somebody Feed Philomenaby Aaron Rowan The ongoing Songlines series I’m hosting is like the global tasting menu featured on ‘Somebody Feed Phil,’ a food documentary show my sister introduced me to. Thus far, we’ve showcased music from Turkey and Canada, and this month we move on to the majestic country of Scotland, which […]
How The Grinch Stole Culture
Unplugged View How The Grinch Stole Culture by Aaron Rowan So there I was, ready to write a paragraph about my music-presenter colleague John Griswold and his Red Tie Arts winter concerts, one of the freshest and most engaging concert series in Modesto. Grandmaster Griswold co-hosted with me one of the finest nights of live […]
Bird Fever
Unplugged View: Bird Feverby Aaron Rowan Reports are in of a new bug circulating around Modesto as the new year begins: CORVID-23, more commonly known as “bird fever.” Not to be confused with the dreaded bird flu…..or that other thing…..CORVID-23 is a social contagion characterized by an irresistible craving for fresh and unique live music […]
The Fandom Of The Opera
Unplugged View: The Fandom Of The Operaby Aaron Rowan Winter is my favorite season, and world music features some of my favorite sounds: the twang of Chinese string instruments; the haunting harmonies of Eastern European vocal music; the zesty high spirits of a traditional Italian folk song. On the first Sunday of this month, there’ll […]
Turkey Talk
Unplugged View Turkey Talkby Aaron Rowan As the holidays approach, and I appreciate the autumn colors, I’m reminded of a mildly amusing thing that happened on a brisk November afternoon five years ago. We were setting up for a concert at my former listening-room space, Moon & Sixpence when a wild turkey appeared out of […]
It’s Raining Gems, Hallelujah!
Unplugged View: It’s Raining Gems, Hallelujah!by Aaron Rowan Original songwriting…..the first love of Modesto Unplugged. We’re one of the few presenters in the area who value and emphasize original music, and our ‘Friday Night Folk Flight’ program is strong this month, welcoming artful and accomplished songwriters from Connecticut, California and Colorado. We begin […]
Unplugged View: The Jewel Of The Isle
Unplugged View: The Jewel Of The Isleby Aaron Rowan The listening room is the most satisfying sort of venue where I’ve presented music over this past decade. Modesto offers few such spaces, but this month I’m trying out a new one, which looks like it could be quite the experiment. Modesto Unplugged has partnered up […]
UnpluggedView: The Amtraker’s Guide To The Gallery
UnpluggedView: The Amtraker’s Guide To The Gallery (volume one)by Aaron Rowan This summer, I’ll complete my goal of visiting all fifty states, many of which I’ve seen while riding the rails. After a five-year hiatus, I’m soon to embark on another train tour with one of the most stunning songwriters I’ve worked with – the […]
UnpluggedView: The Saint Valentine’s Delay Mass Acher
UnpluggedView: The Saint Valentine’s Delay Mass Acherby Aaron Rowan “Een nieuwe lente, een nieuw geluid,” as they say in the Netherlands. A new spring, a new sound. After a two-month delay, Sunday Afternoons At CBS is hosting its annual Valentine Concert & Tea on April 3 at 3 PM. The torch has passed to Liisa […]
UnpluggedView: Tumbleweeds
UnpluggedView: Tumbleweedsby Aaron Rowan I binged my way through Amazon’s ‘Jack Reacher’ series last month. I admire the character, that heroic hulking hobo who wanders around the country at will with no permanent address. In the show he comes to a small town because of a local musician he wants to learn more about, and, […]
