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by Mike Sheahan
 Normally,
The Goods is concerned only with the ways and means of mindless
entertainment and momentary diversion. The reason? I write what
I know. However, this week finds us nearing the end of “National
Banned Book Week,” and attention is due. While most of
this country is busy losing touch with books not written by
John Grisham or Dr. Phil, there are people hard at work trying
to keep you or your kids from reading Captain Underpants and
Shakespeare.
The obvious irony is that every time a West Virginia preacher
or an ultra politically correct soccer mom seeks to ban a book
from local libraries, it only becomes more popular. A book like
Daddy’s Roommate probably would have slipped under the
radar had some homophobic housewife not created a stink after
spying it on the shelf of her local library. This silliness
should not stop you, though, from re-reading Moby Dick or buying
your kid a Judy Blume novel in honor of the week.
Now, on to mindless diversions.
This Friday night, Sept. 26, leaves us with more choices than
a Texan has in a Chinese restaurant. These selections are presented
in order of affordability.
KDUR radio will be hosting yet another of its crazy cover nights
at Storyville. These nights happen twice a year, and this season’s
object of worship or ridicule is one David Bowie. Usually these
cover nights attract an equal number of bands hoping to do right
by their subject and others poking fun. Either way, David Bowie
Night will produce an opportunity to see your favorite local
band(s) do new material that will surely become part of their
regular arsenal. Also, the crowd is always huge, good natured
and virtually jack-ass free. The cover is only five bucks for
hours of multi-band fun. The music starts around 9 p.m.
As the “song” portion of the annual “Cinders,
Song and Sauvignon” event in Durango, blues chanteuse
Shemekia Copeland will perform at the Fort Lewis Community Concert
Hall the same night. The daughter of blues legend Johnny Copeland
and a relative newcomer to the blues scene, Copeland’s
straight-up alto delivery will probably win over anyone in the
room not already familiar with her work. Copeland is touring
behind her latest release, “Talking to Strangers,”
an album she says is her best yet. Showtime is 7 p.m.
If that’s not enough for a Friday night, country rocker
Joe Ely will bring his road show to the Abbey Theatre. Ely is
touring in support of his new release, “Streets of Sin,”
and one can expect a night of exceptional music by a man whose
peers include Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen. This is by far
the highest priced of the day’s events but should be worth
every cent.
If you have any gas left after Friday night, you’ll be
ready for the yearly Tour De Fat bicycle-based event Saturday
in downtown Durango. Sponsored by the New Belgium Brewery and
benefiting the San Juan Mountains Association, the Tour de Fat
features a combination of bike, beer and music fun that will
appeal to most anyone. Cyclists will want to show up at 12th
and Main at 9 a.m. to register for bike rides of varying seriousness.
Music fans and beer drinkers need not show up until noon as
the “ballyhoo” begins then. Music will be provided
by local and touring acts, food will be served by local eateries,
and plenty of Fat Tire will be on hand for swilling. The Tour
de Fat is yet another great reason to close off Main and it’s
free. See ya there.
This week’s sign the end is near: If I’m not mistaken,
six months ago I gleefully announced the coming of pop fossil
Cher’s farewell tour. Much to my chagrin, it  seems
she has so many fans in Albuquerque that her farewell tour warrants
another stop at the Journal Pavilion on Monday. If you must,
see her tired act now, there isn’t another farewell tour
planned until winter.
This week’s new album: I have always tried to dislike
Robert Earl Keen. He seems to appeal to a backwards ballcap-wearing,
frat-party-going group whose taste I find suspect. The same
folks who enjoy Limp Bizkit and Jimmy Buffett also dig Keen,
I assume. So with each new album by Mr Keen I’m ready
to disapprove and am usually right. His latest, “Farm
Fresh Onions,” has me at a loss. It’s actually a
good record. The lead track, “Furnace Fan,” has
a classic quality that doesn’t sound timeworn, and the
title track is fun and goofy while avoiding the novelty tag.
Like many albums, “Farm Fresh Onions” seems a few
songs too long. The 13 songs (53 minutes), could have been trimmed
to a neat 10 leaving off the likes of the phoned-in “So
Sorry Blues” and pointless “Famous Words.”
Also, Keene could try to not sound so bored when he sings.
Complaints aside, this is the best I’ve heard from Robert
Earl Keen for several years, and I can recommend its purchase
without feeling bad.
Penthouse and Swank do not count as banned books. mpsheahan@yahoo.com
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