Around the 209, Jan. 15-20

Posted January 15 at 01:22 PM

If you're a regular reader of this blog you're probably looking forward to Jan. 21-22, when Shwayze, E-40 and Too Short are each slated to play shows in Modesto. But that doesn't mean you should stay home and rest up this weekend. There is fun to be had around the 209 in the coming days.

The Plea for Peace Center in Stockton has a busy weekend planned. On Friday the venue will have an alt-country/indie-folk bill that features, among others, Boxes, Scott Bartenhagen and The Shants. Skip Allums, guitarist/vocalist for the Oakland-based Shants, sent me a copy of the band's great EP "Russian River Songs." It has a slightly fuzzy, laid-back atmospheric sound – as if Sam Beam decided to experiment a bit with an electric guitar. I'm also a big fan of the flier for the show, at right; you can click on it for more information.

On Saturday, the Plea for Peace Center will host the always-fun Phenomenauts; check out my colleague Tony Sauro's column on the show here. Below is very dark 209Vibe video shot by Graham Howes of the Phenomenauts performing in 2008 at Valley Brew in Stockton. (Blog post continues below video.)

While University of the Pacific administrators step up their efforts to reach out to the surrounding community, rock bands featuring Pacific students and alums are also working to reach local music fans. Alida, Avon Union and the Glass City Breakers will take the stage Saturday at Matinee in Stockton's Miracle Mile, which is the city's best imitation of a college neighborhood. I don't know much about the G.C. Breakers, but Alida and Avon Union play old-school, turn-it-up-to-11 rock 'n' roll. Here's video of Avon Union rehearsing in 2008; click here for information about the free show at Matinee. (Blog post continues below video.)

The list below includes more noteworthy concerts and nightlife events being held this weekend and in the future around the 209. If you want your event featured on this list in the future, you can send me a Facebook invite, post it as a comment on www.myspace.com/ianhill or Tweet your info with @209Vibe. You can also leave it as a comment on this blog.

Tonight:

• Flyboys present II party at Fat Cat in Modesto.
• Fallen Angels party at Aqua in Modesto.
• In the Dead of Winter tour featuring Silent Civilian at the Pizza Factory in Modesto.
• Hawt in the Valley party at Clayton's in Modesto.
• Club Grind party at The New Docs BBQ in Modesto.
• Launchpad Away and others at the 180 in Lodi.
• Joe Rivera comedy and open mic contest at Tommy's Beach Bar in Manteca.
• Wendi Maxwell at Valley Brew in Stockton.
• The Black Light Party at Envy in Stockton.
• Bedrock Party at Chitiva's in Stockton.
• Alida, Avon Union and the Glass City Breakers at Matinee in Stockton.

Saturday:

• DJ Girl 6 at Aqua in Modesto.
• The End Up party at Clayton's in Modesto.
• Kim Waters jazz at Vino Piazza in Lockeford.
• Rigo Luna from NuFlavor, Swag Nine, Dee Underdue and others at Touche in Stockton.
• Flyboys present Taste it Party with DJs Peeti V, Shae Love and others at Taste in Stockton.
• Gabriel Iglesias at the Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton.
• Phenomenauts, Before Twenty and others at the Plea for Peace Center in Stockton.

Sunday:

• Shots! Shots! Shots! Party at Taste in Stockton.

• Jan. 20: Robert Cray at The State in Modesto.

Upcoming:

Jan. 21: Stop Motion at Copper Rhino in Modesto.

Jan. 21: Shwayze at Fat Cat in Modesto.

Jan. 21: Natural High multi-cultural open jam at Guru Indian Cuisine in Modesto.

Jan. 22: E-40 at Fat Cat in Modesto.

Jan. 22: Too Short at the Palladium in Modesto.

Jan. 22: Forever Young party at Copper Rhino in Modesto.

Jan. 22: French Cassettes, Rademacher and others at Deva Café in Modesto.

Jan. 22: Girls Gone Wild 2010 party and event at Modesto Sports Bar.

Jan. 22: The Chop Tops at Hero's in Modesto.

Jan. 22: Listen for the Silence and others at the 180 in Lodi.

Jan. 22: University of the Pacific acoustic night at the Plea for Peace Center in downtown Stockton.

Jan. 23: Zerx Comedy Dance Jam 3 at Rookies in Manteca.

Jan. 23: The Mike Torres band at Fat's in Stockton.

Jan. 26: Fienix at the Plea for Peace Center in Stockton.

Jan. 28: Jonathan Michelsen and Take with Food at the Blackwater Café in Stockton.

Jan. 29: Brandon Tyler at Woodbridge Uncorked.

Jan. 29: Agent Ribbons, the Panduhs and others at Deva Café in Modesto.

Jan. 29: The Antioch Synopsis and others at the 180 in Lodi.

Jan. 29: Civet, Conspiracy of Thought, the Black Horde and others at the Plea for Peace Center in Stockton.

Jan. 30: Esau McGraw comedy at Fat's in Stockton.

Jan. 31: Watchout! There's Ghosts at the Plea for Peace Center in Stockton.

Feb. 4: DAM, Y & T and Slackenloader at Fat Cat in Modesto.

Feb. 7: Angry Samoans at the Plea for Peace Center in Stockton.

Feb. 13: Battle of the Bands at the Pizza Factory in Modesto.

Feb. 13: Live Salsa, band TBA at Chitiva's in Stockton.

Feb. 15: Adelitas Way, Halestorm and Theory of a Deadman at Modesto Center Plaza.

Feb. 19: Judith and Holofernes, Albatross West and others at Deva Café in Modesto.

Feb. 20: Frankenstein 59, the Vampire Teabags and others at the Blackwater Café.

March 13: Defiance with Kranial Damage at Pizza Factory in Modesto.

March 13: WWE at the Stockton Arena.

March 19: not an Airplane, Filbert and others at Deva Café in Modesto.

March 31: Los Lobos at the Gallo Center in Modesto.