Friday, Feb. 20 BLUE BOOK We’re not really sure how much reading one can get done with Al James and Jesse DeCarlo hammering away at some hard, downhome blues. But the Pacific Grove Public Library calls its monthly concert series Rhythm & Reads, so we’ll go along. The Al James Duo draws influences from the likes of Stevie Wonder and Jimi Hendrix, so their style is soulful and guitar-forward—and they are compelling enough that no librarian is going to hush them up. Besides, who says libraries can’t be music venues? So put down the books and listen up. [DF] 5:30pm Friday, Feb. 20. Pacific Grove Library, 550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. (831) 648-5760, pacificgrovelibrary. org. WHO’S YOUR MAMA? Seriously, did anybody with a vagina ever get involved in designing bathing suits for people who have them? These are among the very important questions that some people have spent decades asking silently, and that Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley are asking out loud—with a smile and while actually modeling bathing suits that give the impression the wearer has four butt cheeks. The two moms and real-life best friends created the web series #IMomSoHard and were met with immense popularity because they are willing to admit when they peed a little while sneezing (and much more). Their real talk about parenting, bodies, family life and questionably too-high wine consumption is now a stand-up show on tour. If you think you’re failing at motherhood, they are prepared to show you that someone—hint, it’s them—is failing harder and still laughing about it. [SR] 8pm Friday, Feb. 20. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $48-$135. (831) 649-1070, imomsohard.com. VIVA NYC What do a “flaming sword, a screaming train, a ringing bell and a scratching chicken” have in common? That’s how Viva DeConcini describes her guitar playing. In other words, it’s loud and it rocks. The Brooklyn-based musician brings her band for an unapologetically booming performance. DeConcini 20 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 19-25, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com DOUG GLOVASKI Doug Glovaski is an abstract artist based in Spreckels who plays with geometric forms and color as happily as with black and white oil and wax experiments on paper. His pieces are simple but striking. Some of his works are now on view at Carmel Modern, a Carmel gallery opened by John Cromwell—an artist in his own right—in April 2025. After years of work in Silicon Valley, Glovaski gave up tech for art, becoming an installer at the San Jose Museum of Art, then the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. He is self-taught, with 30 years of artistic practice. Glovaski had his first shows at San Jose restaurants in cafes, which led to numerous group and solo shows. Carmel Modern is located at Dolores and 6th in Carmel. Gallery hours are 11am-5pm Thursdays to Sundays and 11am-3pm on Mondays. [AP] 19-25 FEBRUARY HOT PICKS To see more local events, and add your own, visit montereycountynow.com/events DOUG GLOVASKI GREGORY THE ARTIST VISUALS GREGORY GALLARDO In artistic circles of Salinas, Gregory Gallardo is known simply as Gregory the Artist. A combat veteran, Gallardo explores abstract realism, working with oil, acrylics and collage—from figurative to abstract—to celebrate nature, bring a sense of calm and peace to viewers, and raise awareness about mental health. He is organizing First Friday Art Walks and is also part of the Salinas mural scene. His works can be found at ArtWorks @Salinas, a gallery and a group studio run by the Arts Council for Monterey County. The gallery is located at 262 Main St., Salinas; the hours are 11am-2pm on Tuesdays, 2-5pm on Wednesdays and 10am-4pm Friday to Sunday. [AP] Tango After Dark is a sultry and mesmerizing dance performance by tango stars Germán Cornejo and Gisela Galeassi and a troupe who dance to live music (see details, p. 23). DANNY KAAN Astronomer Jean Perkins from MIRA will expand your universe. She leads a workshop focused on the moon at Garland Ranch Regional Park on Feb. 22 (see p. 22). DANIEL DREIFUSS
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