Music Blog

Music Blog

Golden State Theatre's Secular Return, Mazda Digs Rushad & More

-When Monterey Live shut its doors a few years back, local music lovers went into mourning. When the Golden State Theatre leased its space to a church, local music lovers rolled their eyes, as if they were expecting it. Unfortunately, the spot that was once home to Monterey Live—and countless unforgettable shows including Cracker, Greg Ginn and the Avett Brothers—has seen its last days of live music: The newly opened My Attic has transformed the once triumphant stage into a sunken bar with vaulted shelves behind it and overpriced cocktails.

Just across the street, the news is much better: The Golden State Theatre is making its return as a live music venue. And I'm not talking Jars of Clay or Switchfoot. The historical building is losing the church thing and returning to form as one of the area's most premiere venues for music, thanks to the recent partnership between theater owner Warren Dewey and Alternative Cafe owner Scott Grover.

On Friday, Sept. 21, the official grand-reopening of the State Theatre, brought to you by Gus Madsack Presents, will feature The Soft White Sixties and The Lightfighters. The opening will also introduce the spot's new venue inside a venue: The Lobby at The Golden State Theatre. This tactic—similar to Santa Cruz's Atrium inside the Catalyst—will open up more event opportunities without having to worry that every seat fills up in the main theater.

-Just got word that 9pm this Friday at the Monterey County Fairgrounds, Pacific Grove's Mozzo Kush will be performing its last show...at least until Thanksgiving. The talented youngsters will halt all things Kush when its drummer Taylor Jones leaves for University of Oregon in a few days. But, the recent P.G. High grads and Battle of the Bands winners insist they're not even thinking about calling it quits. Now, we'll just have to wait for Jones' college breaks to enjoy the outfit's infectious, jam-centric live performances.

-Apparently, Mazda needed a cellist for a commercial revealing its brand new 2014 Mazda6. The qualifications: inventive, undeniable talent, absolute pitch, affinity for nudity and soft spot for apparel worn by fictional creatures like elves and gnomes. The auto company definitely scored when they came across Monterey's Rushad Eggleston. The Tornado Rider frontman excels, as always, shredding on cello in the desert alongside a cute Asian woman, who also seems to know a thing or two about playing the cello. Mazda is great but I always took Eggleston for a Hummer kind of guy.