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by Mike Sheahan
It may just be me, but it sure seems
as if the world has become a lot more surreal the last few weeks.
Our lives roll along with their regular problems: war, more
war looming, our country building another huge budget deficit,
and everybody's NCAA basketball brackets completely worthless
and most likely burnt in effigy. All this strife, and what is
the trigger topic of the day? Whether or not gay people should
be allowed to marry. It's baffling. World War III could be around
the corner AND Syracuse may win another national championship,
yet people are still chanting the "God made Adam and Eve, not
Adam and Steve" tripe. If the religious right wants to ultimately
end gay sex, then they should by all means support gay marriage.
Nothing kills a sex life like a marriage certificate. This is
the 21st century; same sex partners should have every right
to be just as miserable as their opposite-sex married neighbors.
All of this national
nail biting goes on while Martha Stewart heads to prison for a
relatively minor SEC violation, and the CEOs of Halliburton, Enron
and Tyco are more worried about making their tee times this
weekend. This is your reality people, a little weird,
right?
If you are like me, you
find yourself in constant need of a diversion from thinking about
the paradoxical nature of our world. Few stones are left unturned
in my search, and if the result comes with the possibility of
enjoying a frosted brew or two, then all the better. Follow these
suggestions, and you will be relieved from fearing Armageddon for
another seven days.
Most of you are familiar with Durango's Freewill Recovery ,
many of you know the boys in the band and some of you may even
know that the local rockers suffered a huge loss in a fire early
in the morning following St. Patrick's Day. A couple  thousand
dollars' worth of equipment went up during the blaze, and there
will be a benefit show at the Abbey Theatre on Friday, March
26, to help the boys recover from their unfortunate loss. Along
with the usual spectacular rock show, the evening also will
feature a silent auction with donations from many local businesses
and both of the cool local radio stations. Plus, Homeslice Pizza
is providing free slices at 9 p.m., and Ska Brewing has kicked
down a keg of beer to be raffled. The cover is five bucks, but
feel free to drop a couple more bones to help one of Durango's
best acts get back into Final Four form. Show time is at 10
p.m.
As a member of Allison
Krauss' band Union Station, Jerry Douglas is one of five stellar musicians that
make up one of the best collections of players working today. As a
solo player, Douglas is the obvious winner of the "world's best
Dobro player ever" award. He has won five Grammys for his work with
the guitar-like instrument, and we all have our chance to see Mr.
Douglas work it on Saturday, March 27, at the Community Concert
Hall at Fort Lewis College. The Dobro is a brand-specific lap
guitar with raised strings generally played with a steel bar on the
frets. It turns out that Jerry Douglas is extremely adept at this
instrument, and the chance to see for oneself should not be passed
up. The show starts at 7 p.m. This is a super opportunity to see an
incredible musician that you might be most familiar with in a
supporting role take the lead.
 The
country-tonk band BR549 , touring behind its brilliant recent
release "Tangled in the Pines," will make a triumphant third
return to Storyville on Tuesday, March 30. Usually when a band,
like BR549, suffers the loss of founding members, the result
causes fatal wounds. Ironically, such a loss proved the opposite
for the Kansas-based honky tonkers. The new blood has infused
the group with renewed energy and left the band with an even
deeper and more diverse song writing pool than before. BR549
has been consistently delivering top-drawer American roots music
coupled with unmatched professional showmanship for more than
10 years, so to expect less from this visit would be foolhardy.
Expect this show to sell out.
Earth Week begins this week, and by way of
celebrating the resource-conscious national occasion, you may want
to take part in, or at least visit, the event called Barter Fest 2k4 at Schneider Park. Schneider Park is
that park that lives between Roosa Avenue and the Animas River
starting at the Ninth Street Bridge. The Barter Fest will happen
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. March 27 and 28, and is the perfect time
to find out whether your Bay City Rollers lunch box from 1972 is
worth trading for a macram`E9 lion's head from 1967. (Hint: keep
the lunch box.) People from all over Durango will be willing to
trade your trash for their treasure, or vice versa. Any questions
should be directed to Laura at 946-6126.
Website of the Week: If all this talk of gay marriage and
religion entering our constitution via an amendment has got you
freaked out, just wait till you see what could be next. It turns
out the Bible has a really big beef with the eating of shellfish
and the Website www.godhatesshrimp.com is there to inform
you of the Bible's distaste for all hard-shelled invertebrates. As
a vegetarian, I happen to be on the Bible's side this time. Shrimp
and its ilk are the insects of the ocean, and since I don't eat
spiders, there is no real reason to eat prawns either. That said,
if the eating of sea bugs is serious enough to be sin, can we take
the rest seriously?
Album of the Week:
May or may not return next
week.
Next week: Another album review,
maybe.
Should the album review
return? mpsheahan@yahoo.com
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