by Chris Murphy
Grandaddy is bringing their Modesto back to Modesto.
Since 1992, tales of Albers Road, sad vacant lots, El Caminos, Levitz, the Modesto Inn, local skate parks, canals, chartsngrafs, crystal lakes, humanoids and more have been brought to life by Grandaddy. Formed in Modesto in 1992, with Jason Lytle, Aaron Burtch, Tim Dryden, Jim Fairchild and Kevin Garcia, the band initially broke through with 1997’s Under the Western Freeway. In 2000, they released the critically acclaimed Sophtware Slump that was loaded with hallmark songs like the ethereal He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s the Pilot, the rockin’ Chartsngrafs, Miner at the Dial a View and the incredible So You’ll Aim for the Sky. This album was compared to Radiohead’s OK Computer, but Sophtware is better in my opinion. Through the late 90s and 2000s, Grandaddy played globally with an international following. In 2001, Grandaddy won the Best Alternative band at the Modesto Area Music Awards. They would play globally for huge festival audiences in Europe, South America or OutsideLands and then back locally to 100-200 people at the Dirty Duck, Partisan or the Ranch. They followed Sophtware with Sumday in 2003, Just Like the Fambly Cat 2006, Last Place 2017 and Blu Wave in 2024.
Modesto was fortunate to have a Grandaddy show at the Prospect Theatre in 2016 just before a new tour when bassist and vocalist and founding member Kevin Garcia tragically passed away from a stroke. Tour plans and a concert in Modesto were cancelled and the future of Grandaddy was in doubt and his fellow bandmates were crushed. Time has passed and the songs have come back to life. Jason Lytle has remade Sophtware on a piano, toured with orchestras in Europe and last year, Grandaddy hit the road again on a sold-out tour in 2025 with supporting musicians, Nik Freitas, Jim Putnam and Jason Steady. Now, the tour picks up a second leg with a special homecoming show at the Gallo Center on May 31.
If you are a long-time fan and missed them, it’s a beautiful homecoming. If you have never seen them, this show is required. You will be amazed, become a fan, and hope that this new chapter lasts for a while.
Gallo Center for the Arts – May 31 7 pm
Get tix at www.galloarts.org<www.galloarts.org>
