Author Archive: Aaron Rowan
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, […]
Unplugged View: A Loveable Feast
Unplugged View: A Loveable Feastby Aaron Rowan “If music be the food of love, play on.” – Shakespeare, ‘Twelfth Night.’ The first MU showcase of 2022 welcomes back one of our youngest headliners, the multitalented Zoey Rae, to lead another Valentine-themed program at The Dragonfly Art For Life. Zoey performs with multiple groups including cover […]
UnpluggedView: The Big Year
Unplugged View: The Big Yearby Aaron Rowan Happy New Year, dear reader. In the world of birding, there is an annual contest called the “Big Year.” You may have seen the Steve Martin/Jack Black film about this challenge to spot as many species of birds as possible over the course of the calendar year. In […]
Unplugged View: The World Is Yours
Unplugged View: The World Is Yoursby Aaron Rowan ‘Duende’: a Spanish word with no direct English translation, which refers to the mystical power of a performer to create an emotional response in the audience. ‘Fernweh’: a German word with no direct English translation, describing the opposite of homesickness; an ache to visit distant places – […]
Unplugged View: The Song Remembers When
Unplugged View: The Song Remembers Whenby Aaron Rowan & friends Welcome, dear reader, to the 100th UnpluggedView column. Here’s something special to mark this milestone: stories from a few of the great creative people I’ve worked with over the years, about pieces of music that carry a special meaning and the true-life tales that accompany […]
UnpluggedView: Go West, Young Minstrel
UnpluggedView: Go West, Young Minstrelby Aaron Rowan Songs of the traveler make up the soundtrack of my life. Chris Doud, who for years I’ve called the greatest songwriter in Stanislaus County, knows how to craft some mighty fine ones. This summer, the co-leading songwriter behind The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit released his latest solo […]
