Southwest writes, Hank and bluegrass super-group

by Ted Holteen

It?s always nice when I get the opportunity to explore the ?arts? part of this here ?arts and entertainment? bit I do each week. I don?t go out of my way to avoid the art world, but I do think artists go out of their way to avoid me. That could be due to prior coverage of the Durango art scene on these pages, or perhaps I?m just not very good at my job. My first instinct, usually, is to ridicule that which either I don?t understand or can?t do myself. Infantile, perhaps, but we play to our strengths. And so the Telegraph hired Jules. Truth be told, I don?t care much for entertainment, either, but it?s easier to fake it because the entertainers and their fans are, on the whole, a great deal more ignorant.

Now that I think about it, I don?t know that reading, or writing for that matter, constitutes art. That would make me an artist of sorts, and we all know what an absurd proposition that is. Whatever you call it, Fort Lewis College will host the inaugural Southwest Writers Institute all weekend, beginning Friday. Keynote authors will include Joy Harjo, whose work I have yet to read, Denise Chavez, of whom I?ve heard but not read either, and Leonard ?Red? Bird, whom I met once on campus but have never had the pleasure of reading any of his stuff. One of FLC?s finest, Jennie Dear, is the ringleader for the weekend, which will include workshops, author panels, book signings (I always ask, right after they sign it, ?how much do you think I can get for this??), and creative readings by the authors. I could be a real jerk and tell you that Jennie made me the writer that I am today, but I don?t want to ruin her big weekend. The hosting of such literary luminaries is nothing new to our town, as the likes of Edward Abbey, Rudolfo Anaya, Maya Angelou, Kurt Vonnegut, Leslie Marmo Silko and Terry Tempest Williams have graced previous smart people hoedowns in the past while the yokels were at Farquahrt?s dancing to Wise Monkey Orchestra. Don?t look for Abbey to make his triumphant return next year, but you never know with the rest. There are fees and registration and such for the SWI, so look before you leap: www.southwestwritersinstitute.org.

Now, no knock against the Southwest Writer?s Institute, but if I?m leading with a writer?s conference, chances are it?s a lean week on the Durango music scene. As luck would have it, that is in fact the case, with one notable exception. Again, we go to the FLC campus, where the Community Concert Hall hosts ?Hank & My Honky Tonk Heroes,? a tribute to the classic, 1950s country scene, when country was still cool. Someone named Jason Petty plays the part of Hank Williams, (NOT the Monday Night Football fool, his son), and I?m guessing the repertoire will include the likes of Carl Perkins, Merle Haggard, Tex Ritter and that crowd. But what do I know? This isn?t quite the same as the classic rock tributes that plagued the rally a couple of weeks ago. I see it as something more akin to the great Hal Holbrook?s one-man show as Mark Twain, and I expect a history lesson to be cleverly intertwined throughout the show. It happens tonight, Thursday, at 8 p.m., with reasonably priced tickets.

Also tonight, J-Bo?s is the unlikely scene for the debut of the next big thing. The Four Corners? newest bluegrass super-group, The Wayward Sons, will be seen for the first time at 8 p.m., and you can eat pizza and ribs while you witness it. The Sons are made up of good guy Bennie Galloway; Anders Beck and Robin Davis from Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band; Leftover Salmon?s Glen Keefe; and Greg Androilles, of Umphrees McGee. Considering the unpredictable and ever-changing lifestyle of the bluegrass man, this could very well be their first and only performance, so don?t miss out. If it?s not free, it?s probably cheap, but there can?t be a whole bunch of available seats. Arrive early and grab a bite.

Benny Galloway

A few weeks ago, I told you to save the date of Oct. 8 for the big Indy Media 500 at Durango Park. At least I meant to. The deadline for registering your three-man team (I would say 3-person, but the chances of any three broads beating three red-blooded American males in mini-golf and go-cart racing are negligible) is actually today, but I bet if you give Smitty a call at KDUR (247-7634) and say you need more time, he?ll give you a break. However, only 18 teams may enter, as I haven?t figured out how to do the math for any fewer or any more, so if it?s full, that?s it. Entry cost for each team is $150, and proceeds will benefit KDUR and DCAT, two worthy local causes.

Finally, I?m pretty sure that this weekend?s Blues & Brews Festival in Telluride is sold out, but I?ve been asked to inform any of you fortunate enough to attend to keep your eyes open for donation buckets throughout the festival grounds. The organizers are hoping to raise more than $20,000 for the families of New Orleans musicians displaced by the big rain storm. And while I?m thinking of it, look for a special guest to fill in on this page over the next few weeks while I?m down on the Gulf Coast selling cigarettes for 20 bucks a pack and picking fights with Salvation Army punks. I hope it?s nice down there.

Order your e-coli crayfish now. egholteen@hotmail.com. It?s better to watch stuff than do stuff. ?