|
by Mike Sheahan
Here at “The Goods,”
it’s hard to believe that the regular baseball season
is over. This means that fans of the game, like me, will be
nervously searching for a way to fill the hours we normally
spend poring over box scores. Excuse us as we clumsily pretend
to be interested in our lives again.
As always, some of the best teams in the game (Mariners, Phillies,
Cardinals) didn’t make the playoffs and some of the poorest
(Marlins, Cubs, Athletics) did. Baseball, with its current playoff
system, is simply built that way. The overly long season rewards
teams that play well in September and punishes teams that start
well. If my current insane ploy plays out, and I am actually
named the next commissioner of Major League Baseball, I’ll
shorten the season by 20 days and add another wild card to the
playoffs. More money will be generated for the playoff teams
and cities and the major television networks. Plus maybe, just
maybe, my beloved Seattle Mariners won’t break my heart
again and will play a ball game in October.
Speaking of October, ’tis the season for an onslaught
of yearly Oktoberfest celebrations. In the weeks to come, everyone,
from owners of your favorite late-night hangout to those guys
who live in a house together and really wish Fort Lewis had
 a
Greek system will be hosting some sort of Oktoberfest shindig.
For my money the best happens this Saturday, Oct. 4, at Steamworks.
A mere $20 will get you dinner and a huge ceramic beer stein
that you can keep and fill up as much as you want that afternoon
(you do enjoy beer, right?). At the same time, there will be
a street party with fun for the children and a real life Umpa
band. As I’ve continually said, Durango loves an excuse
to shut down an in-town street, and this week’s Oktoberfest
is the best excuse since last week’s high school homecoming
parade and Tour de Fat. The mayhem commences at 2 p.m.
Your friends at Storyville have a big weekend in store for
you and your music-loving pals. Friday, Oct. 3, local heavy
metal rockers Sacred Sun will pack the Storyville house. I recently
had a heated discussion with a good friend who insisted Sacred
Sun is the best live act going in Durango. This is our chance
to see what said friend was all fired up about.
The very next night, DW Revival makes a showing on the Storyville
stage. The band previously known as Dixie Wrecked seems to have
realized that there are many other groups called Dixie Wrecked
and has chosen to rename itself. Good job as I see it, the goofy
old moniker gets in the way of the fun and funny country/punk
shows the band delivers. If high-energy rock and roll with a
country bent and tongue locked in cheek sounds like a good time,
then DW Revival is just what the doctor ordered. The fun both
nights gets running around 9:30 p.m., and cover should be nominal.
 The
big ticket item of the week happens Saturday night when blues
rock jammer Little Feat brings its show to the Community Concert
Hall at Fort Lewis College. With more than 30 years of experience
under some of its band members’ belts, Little Feat continues
to draw large audiences, and this all-acoustic tour should not
be an exception.
Little Feat was born in the early ’70s, recorded a lot
of music, then split when a band member died later in the decade.
During the late ’80s, when it seemed the ’70s were
finally being understood, Little Feat reunited. Since then,
Little Feat has been a touring warhorse, and with the addition
of a couple of new members, this might just make them the show
of the week. Co-sponsors Steamworks also will have plenty of
beer on hand for music fans to make the night a complete success.
Website of the Week: I have spent more than a year complaining
about the world’s end, and I must admit something: The
end is not near. I know. I am as disappointed as you. Instead
of imparting impending doom, I now will use this space to tell
you of the hot new websites that I ceaselessly surf.
In order to get this new ball rolling, I’m going to softball
this week’s website so y’all get the drift. www.mulletsgalore.com
is a hilarious look at the misguided hairstyles of our local
mechanics, soccer players and cab drivers. Try to find the video
of the be-mulleted woman who physically attacks her photographer.
As always, remember: TV or Internet, both mean no talking while
watching.
This week’s album you should love: Big Star was a band
that spent the early ’70s making pop guitar music that
should have overhandedly challenged the best pop music coming
from across the big pond at that time. The combination of Jody
Stephens, Chris Bell and Alex Chilton died before its time and
was never recognized for its brilliance while the rest of the
world fell for groups named the Rolling Stones and the Beatles.
Whatever.
“Big Star Story,” new on RYKO Records, chronicles
the musical life of a band that chose to burn out and not fade
away and part ways rather than divorce. “Big Star Story”
not only follows Alex Chilton’s life during and after
Big Star, but the record also biographies the tragic Chris Bell
story. Bell wrecked his car into a telephone pole not too long
after deciding he was done with rock music. Along those lines
“I Am The Cosmos,” the sole, post Big Star legacy
of Chris Bell, lives in the top 20 list of songs recorded in
the mid ’70s. Southwest Sound has at least one copy left,
www.rykodisc.com has the rest.
Get it while you can. This may well be the best pop record
you’ve ever heard. I could gush for forever about these
songs but paper costs money. Buy Big Star in any form.
Next Week: The new Steve Earle. mpsheahan@yahoo.com
|
