The Modesto Bee from Modesto, California • H5

H-5 ENTER 5 14:59 For two years beengoing to concerts, watching movies, interviewing celebrities and hobnobbing with local artists as my job. I say a tough job, because sure to find little sympathy from the peanut gallery, but it is challenging. More than that, rewarding. Rewarding because when you see something good, you want to share it with the world. Conversely, when you see something bad, you want to spare others your agony.

Hello, talking to you. Equally exciting is seeing the caliber of talent Modesto has been able to attract the past two years. Sunday, two performers who have played Modesto went home with shiny new Grammys under their arms. Country music icon Loretta Lynn who sold out State Theatre in May 2003 walked off with two Grammys for country album and country collaboration with vocals. Maroon 5 which sold out Fat Cat Music House Lounge in September 2003 took the award for best new artist.

And legendary blues pianist Pinetop Perkins who headlined Modesto Blues 2004 was honored with the lifetime-achievement award during the telecast. And lest you think people come to Modesto only before they hit it big or after they fall off the radar, Lynn is returning in May. Last year, she scored a critical and commercial hit with her new release, Lear a collaboration with White Stripes rocker Jack White. Lynn comes to the State for an encore performance on Day, May 10. Tickets go on sale next week.

What else makes this job rewarding? How about the caliber of talent that Modesto and the surrounding areas have cultivated over the years. Modesto native and Beyer High graduate Timothy Olyphant returns to television in the Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated HBO original series on March 6. The dark, foul-mouthed Western series is created by David Milch, the mastermind behind Street and Olyphant plays Seth Bullock, one of the lead characters. Fellow Beyer High grad and Modesto native Jeremy Renner is working with a host of Oscar winners in upcoming films. The first is co-starring Academy Award winners Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand and Sissy Spacek.

The movie is an account of the first major successful sexual-harassment case in the United States. The second is Word Is with statuette holders Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston and Kevin Kline. The film chronicles author Truman research and writing of Cold Not bad for a couple of boys from the valley. And those are just a few of the talented people who at one point or another called the Central Valley their home. Who else will break big? Who else will swing through town? Who else will help put Modesto on the map? I know yet, but I wait to find out.

lsewhere around the 2004 Modesto Area Music Association Award winner for best alternative band, Fairwell Madison, celebrates its second full-length CD release this weekend. The five-man band, whose members hail from Modesto and Turlock, began work on the 13-track album, The in January 2004. The result is a more mature and intricate effort than the 2003 debut, The group will have an all-ages CD-release party at 7:30 p.m. today at The Underground, 1701 Coffee Road, Modesto (inside Calvary Temple). Also playing the show will be Atlantic Records artist Moments in Grace, Modesto band Evaline and Sacramento group The Turnout.

Admission is $5 with canned good for charity, $6 without. CD release is a way of saying thank you to our local fans who have been so supportive and understanding with the long overdue completion of The which hints why we named the album what we said guitarist Collin Robillard. The CD was self-engineered, produced and financed. The group recorded for five months at the Hughson home studio of its engineer and guitarist Daniel Petersen. To help pay for the disc, the band embarked on its first national tour, playing several Western states, including Washington, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Texas.

The release coincides with more national exposure for the group. Fairwell Madison was included on the Records: Pure Volume released nationwide this month. Fairwell Madison is frontman Adam Serpa, 20; guitarists Robillard and Petersen, both 20; bassist Matthew Davis, 20; and drummer Greg Petersen, 19. Find out more at www.fairwellmadison.com. Country queen Lynn only big name headed here in the coming months.

Latin heartthrob Julio Iglesias comes March 16 to the Turlock Community Theatre. While younger generation may know him only as father, the elder Iglesias has set hearts swooning for three decades. Perhaps best known for his signature hit All the Girls Loved he has has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and won a Grammy. Call 668-1169. Fat Cat MusicHouse Lounge offers eclectic additions to its lineup.

First, chronic squinter and comedian Gilbert Gottfried does a two-show stand on March 23. Next see Grammy-winning and rappers Naughty by Nature on April 26. Then catch Grammy-winning, wild-haired rapper Coolio on May 19. For details, call 524-1400. And finally, Mike Albertbrings The greatest hits to the State Theatre.

Albert named the best Elvis impersonator by Maury Povich will play two shows, at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25. Call 527-4697. Grammy winner Loretta Lynn, at left, will be back in Modesto for a show in May at the State Theatre.

She played to a pack house at the State in May 2003. Above are local rockers Fairwell Madison. SCENE MARIJKE ROWLAND A Around here, talent comes in, talent goes out The Modesto Bee FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2005.