That Motown sound

Nope, we’re not talking about Temptations Island here; we’re talking Modesto—you know, Stanislaus County, Gallo wine, Hershey chocolate bars (actually, that’s in nearby Oakdale) and Grandaddy. The latter is a fine exponent of the lower Central Valley sound—the kind of train wreck resulting from a collision of an old-world Mediterranean vibe with Okie-parolee charm and liquored-up Mark E. Smith sides. While the band originally tended to fall a bit too close to its former neighbors from Stockton, Pavement, additional worship at the temple of Grobschnitt has resulted in a more idiosyncratic approach. Grandaddy is now one of the cooler exponents of neo-prog rock (Mercury Rev, Flaming Lips, Radiohead, etc.). If you’re over 21, you can see the band live at Harlow’s, 2708 J St., at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11. $10 advance/$12 day of show, with Virgil Shaw (formerly of Dieselhed) opening.