|
by Mike Sheahan
O nly two words can describe the events
of last week: Brackets, schmackets. As Krusty the Clown would
query, "For this I waited a year?" Anyone who saw Connecticut
beat Georgia Tech for the NCAA men's championship gets the point.
We've all seen better basketball games played in Unitarian Church
parking lots.  From
a personal standpoint, the only good thing to come from this
year's tournament was being in the same room with a smattering
of Duke fans as the Dandy Boys went down. That's always a nice
treat, but the truth is that if the old wives tale about the
office secretary who knows nothing about basketball and fills
her brackets out based on uniform color and wins the office
pool is true, this year should provide the proof.
"That's why they play
the games," some so-called genius at ESPN will say, but that ain't
gonna bring any of my money back. Conversely, these are guiltless
ways to spend your scholarship, Pell grant or actually hard-earned
cash.
Given Durango's fickle
touch-and-go economy, each time one of our local eateries turns
five years old, it's a remarkable event. When one particular eatery
has been putting food in my fridge and Huggies on my daughter's
butt for almost as many years, then the event becomes
splendiferous. On Friday, April 9, Cuckoo's will mark the occasion
of its fifth year with specials all day and, most importantly, a
performance by the suddenly reclusive Lawn Chair Kings . The once ubiquitous LCK has been
hard to catch lately, but these anniversary shows at Cuckoo's have
become a tradition and are always great fun. Knowing lips are
sealed, but rumor has it that the longtime three-piece has added a
fourth member to round out the sound, and the new lineup will make
its debut Friday night.
While fully aware of the
blatant shamelessness of this plug (so spare me the jabs while
online at the coffee shop), the Lawn Chair Kings always provide the
soundtrack for a fun-filled night, and Friday gives no reason to
think otherwise. The music sets off at 10 p.m. and the cover? We
don't need no stinking cover.
The next night, April
10, and only one door over from the night before, the Abbey Theatre
will host Sand Sheff's third annual Survival Revival variety show. The show is a CD release
party (more on that below) and much more. Sheff's organized efforts
to "party in the face of madness" are precisely that a
well-designed evening of concerted wackiness. Attendees will see
many live musicians perform in varied forms and, among other acts,
jugglers will be present.
To find Sand at the
Office Spiritorium on Mondays or at Scoot 'n Blues from time to
time is either a great score or happy accident. To make this show
is to enjoy one of the most fun and eclectic nights to have been
dropped on any local stage lately by anyone. Members of the
Reeltime Travelers
will open the night, and
while that seems like enough in itself, this is just the tip of the
iceberg. Doors open for the Revival at 7 p.m.
The Arizona based
ska/funk/punk band Warsaw will drop into the Summit for what
seems like a bi-annual visit on Saturday, April 10. Conventional
wisdom has it that the band hasn't changed much in its 10-plus
years, but as with punk and country music, ska seems to be an
acceptably narrow genre. With three chords and a few horns there
isn't much room for derivation. And really who cares? Ripping those
three chords, turning the horns up to 11 and pasting on a
syncopated back end are enough to keep you skanking with pride
through songs you heard a million times before, right?
Quote of the Week: "Dudes, I guarantee Duke will win it
all."
Web site of the Week: Due to an unplanned failure of
personal technology, I recently found myself without all connection
to the virtual world. It was during this disconcerting time that I
was able to reconnect with my wife, daughter and the ever-growing
pile of dishes in the sink. Whether your hook is the Internet, dog
races or heroin, we all need such a break from time to time. Take
yours this week.
 Album
of the Week: The above mentioned CD release party at the Abbey
Theatre happens around Sand Sheff's latest release "Free on
This Mountain." It's an expansive record that boasts a regular
who's who of local musicians culled from almost every local
bluegrass, country or folk band.
Sheff himself comes
across a bit like a "Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings"-era John Prine
without the self deprecation but with all the honesty and
revelation. Also, the album's lone cover, Bob Dylan's "Tonight I'll
be Staying Here With You," from Dylan's jaw-dropping "Nashville
Skyline," treads on sacred ground.
In lesser hands such
powerful company would be damning but, with the help of his many
backers, Sheff not only effortlessly meets his influences but also
lets it be known that the whole thing could be settled in the alley
if need be. 'Course that won't be necessary, anybody's free to
decide Saturday at the Abbey, where copies of "Free on This
Mountain" will be available.
For this I waited a
year? mpsheahan@yahoo.com
|
