Graffiti USA

PLAZA MUSIC VIEW MUSIC IN THE PLAZA IS BACK!

By Middagh Goodwin

There’s nothing quite like hearing live music downtown, whether from a restaurant or bar or Drum Love out in the MoRo Music Garden. One particular event that stands out for me is Music in the Plaza. During the spring and summer, you can catch some of the area’s best musicians playing for free in the 10th Street Plaza on Friday nights. The unofficial kick-off is May the Fourth, Star Wars Celebration. Horizon Point will return to rock the force this year with you. Dress up and bring the whole family for a night of galactic fun from 5-9 pm. There will be vendors and face painting with Kristy Moore, and you might even find the droids you’ve been looking for.

This year, Music in the Plaza will occur on the second through the last Friday of each month, from 7-9 pm. In May, we have some very talented musicians kicking off the season. First up on May 12th is the David Perez Band, a fan favorite sure to get you dancing. This is Mother’s Day weekend, so make a reservation at Fuzio’s or Ralston’s Goat and start celebrating early. Also making their MIP debut, the Midnight Rendezvous Band, featuring a female vocalist playing a mix of reggae, pop, blues, rock, jazz, and R&B. Finishing up the first month of Music in the Plaza will be Valley Heat, who mix blues, rock, and alternative to create a unique musical palette.

Graffiti Summer will be here before you know it, and on June 7th, come out for the Legends of the Cruise 2023 induction and

Park and Shine Car Show. We have a new class to honor, and Third Party will be rockin’ the plaza. Add hundreds of cars, and Kristy Moore will be returning to do face painting. The event runs from 5-9 pm. June 9th is Cruise Night in Modesto, and we have the fabulous Gary Gervase and the Kick Start Blues Band providing the perfect soundtrack for the evening of car-watching and cruising. Their good rockin’ blues music will make you want to dance. Mark your calendar, make your reservation, and we’ll see you in the Plaza.

If you want to do a calendar sidebar here are all the dates

May 4th Horizon Point

May 12th David Perez Band

May 19th Midnight Rondevouz Band

May 26th Valley Heat

June 7th Third Party

June 9th Kickstart Blues Band

June 16th The Good Ones

June 23rd Triple D

June 30th BluesBox Bayou

July 14th Wet Banditios

July 21st the Vibes

July 28th Dave Dow and Friends

August 11th Third Party

August 18th High Street Blues Band

August 25th Hit Replay

September 8th Remedy

September 15th Alternative Hangover

September 22nd Orquestra Dharma

September 29th Autumn’s Garden

Go Knights Ferry

As everyone knows, it has been a huge snowpack and the waters will be running strong. For river rafting, the crew at Sunshine Rafting are predicting a Memorial Day opening. The river flow is projected to be around 1500 cubic feet / second through June & July and may return to average in the fall. Get your wet gear ready and check www.raftadventure.com/ to check opening dates and book a trip.

Eye On Modesto Hip Hop Culture

By Joseph “PSUNO” Zimmerer

I have been around hip hop culture since middle school. From the neighbors down the street teaching me how to breakdance, to skateboarding since I was 12, to my friends who were always into making beats in a small bedroom and having their friends come record verses or freestyle, to the friends who got me into graffiti, I just really wanted to learn and be part of the culture. Becoming a turntablist was a dream in high school. I always wanted to be the female version of Dj Shadow, who has been one of my favorite artists and influences music wise.

The Wicked Twitch In The West, MF MAMA!

With over 2000 Twitch followers and counting, this MAMA ain’t taking no mess, but wait a second, I thought Twitch was for gamers?! Let’s see if MY FRIEND, MUCHO FUEGO, MUTHA FUNKIN, MF MAMA can break it down for us.

1. Whats up homiegirrrl!!! Can you let these people know what you have been doing with your Djing and the Twitch platform?

At the moment, I have just been trying to learn to adapt to all the equipment I have not had the luxury of owning myself. During the pandemic, I started my Twitch channel to have an outlet and give myself a space where I could share the music I love to listen to and play. I never thought that it would grow the way it has, even after we are now able to play live gigs. Twitch and the Twitch community have really allowed me to be myself, meet other like-minded djs and even network to the point of being asked to play for events. It really has been a blessing.

2. How long have you been involved in Hip Hop?