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by Mike Sheahan
 Welcome
back to “The Goods,” the weekly entertainment column
on what’s up that, until now, refused to admit that reality
television is evidence of the end of civilization. Then I saw
“Mr. Personality” on FOX. This is a show where bachelors
are forced to wear masks whenever they are around the beautiful
woman who is the prize they seek. The woman then picks the “winner”
without ever having seen his face. Not only that, but the show
is hosted by Monica Lewinsky! I always thought reality TV was
simply a mindless diversion for stupid people, but this might
be serious. Get out and do the things below before it starts
raining frogs and the locusts begin to swarm.
This weekend brings us Cinco de Mayo, and that can only mean
one thing: Liquor companies are going to try to convince you
that this holiday is about getting loaded on Dos Equis and margaritas
instead of your usual Budweiser and Jack Daniel’s. This
simply is not so – it’s about Pacifico and margaritas.
I mean get real, Dos Equis? If you are interested in enjoying
Cinco de Mayo without being attacked by guys handing out Corona
key chain bottle-openers, then here are a couple of, um, more
cultured ways to celebrate the holiday.
On Saturday, May 3, at Santa Rita ParkA0there will be a Cinco
de Mayo celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This annual event,
filled with Mexican folk music and dancing, artwork, and food
is always a lot of fun. Not only is it a way to be immersed
in Mexican culture, but this is one of the first outdoor community
gatherings in Durango after the weather warms up, so there is
a good chance of bumping into people you haven’t seen
since September.
Then, on Sunday, May 4, the Smiley Auditorium is playing host
to the musicians, singers and dancers from La Escuela de la
Musica Mexicana in Durango, Mexico. This should be the real
deal with many different performers providing entertainment.
The show starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are available at Southwest
Sound and Canyon Music.
Life in the food-service and hospitality industry is not always
pretty. The hours may be long, the wages can stink, and the
customers can be downright odious. Plus, you’re on your
feet for a whole shift, and with that comes another other set
of issues. That is why I just love the Sky Ute Casino, Ska Brewing
and Klackers for putting together an appreciation night for
those of us who toil in said industry.
On Sunday, May 4, from 6 to 10 p.m., food service and other
hospitality workers are invited to Sky Ute for a night of free
food, beer and music. The food and beer are courtesy of Ska,
and the music will be provided by Durango’s favorite wedding
ensemble, The Lawn Chair Kings. There also will be a Klackers
tournament with crazy cash and prizes. So, come on my overworked
brethren, let’s all get together and complain about how
Texans only tip 10 percent – unless, of course, you have
to work Sunday night.
This just in, people! Mark your calendars for May 30, when
Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart will be in town at the Durango
Arts Center. I have seen the Earle/Stuart show twice now, and
they are not to be missed. More on this later.
This week’s sign that everything will be just fine: Last
week before an NBA playoff game between the Portland Trailblazers
and Dallas Mavericks, the teen-age girl who was to sing the
national anthem forgot the words. As millions watched, she just
stood there, unable to move. It seemed that this girl was about
to have a breakdown on national TV when Portland coach Maurice
Cheeks appeared at her side and whispered the words in her ear.
It was a very classy moment in a sport that suffers from an
image problem. As the cynical father of a child who gets older
every day, it’s reassuring to know that there are folks
like Maurice Cheeks out there.
This week’s album that is probably very good but I’m
not saying you should buy it: Fat Possum Records is the label
that does for blues music what Bloodshot Records does for country.
They provide a somewhat underground alternative to the mostly
lame product being sold at Tower Records or Wal-Mart. The blues
released by Fat Possum is not slick or overly produced, and
is, at the very least, interesting to hear.
The latest release by The Black Keys, “Thickfreakness,”
fits the Fat Possum bill perfectly. This guitar, drums and vocals
duo produce a sound that is dirty, punk-like and straight from
the garage. In fact, “Thickfreakness,” includes
a spot-on version of garage rock pioneers The Sonics’
“Have Love Will Travel.”
Fans of this recent trend in the blues may write the group
off as just another couple of guys trying to bring punk into
blues when Jon Spencer and R.L. Burnside have already done it
so well. This album deserves a closer look, though. There’s
enough complexity in the songs, especially for a duo, to keep
you hitting the play button.
Happy Birthday Sara! mpsheahan@yahoo.com
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