Trophy homes, trophy husbands and trophy punkers

by Lindsay Nelson

There are plenty of reasons why you should move immediately. The median home price is more than $400,000; properties in the satellite towns, as far flung as Cortez and Aztec, are steadily climbing beyond reason; the school board is embroiled in controversy; the City Council race is proving just how soundbite-heavy, content-light most potential leaders really are; and, to top it all off, the price of beer is up all over town. Why shouldn’t you just pull up stakes, round up the dogs and the kids, and make like a tree. Leave.

Why not? Call it the curse of the Animas River, or the seduction of an insulated mountain town with pretty views and bars aplenty. Call it what you will, but the call of Durango is strong. Maybe you don’t need to buy an overpriced trophy home – you’re happy in a 350-square-foot rental; maybe earning the cash for lift tickets or a new tent is more important than a new car; maybe you didn’t really need that college degree after all but still value the mind expansion you bought at Fort Lewis. Maybe you belong here after all. For now. Until next week; we’ll see.

Sometimes the reasons for putting off major life decisions just pile right up at your doorstep. This weekend is packed with reasons to celebrate your particular time and place in the world. First, an incomparable Friday night out can be yours for just a few dollars if you make it down to the Diamond Circle Theatre to see Dave Insley & The Careless Smokers. Brought to you by the hard-working folks at the nonprofit concert promotion outfit Durango Acoustic Music (an organization of which I, gentle reader, am a member, for the record, in the interest of full disclosure, please don’t sue me), the show gets off to a good start with local suburban garage-country-rock band The Lawn Chair Kings at 7: 30 p.m. And when Insley and his three-piece band take the stage, you’d best be ready for some foot-stomping honky-tonk music with healthy doses of rock ’n’ roll and country western mixed in for flavor.

Insley is the former front-man of the band The Trophy Husbands and is recognized in his solo career as one of the top songwriters and performers in his vein. He was named Arizona’s best songwriter in 2005. He now lives in Austin and just released his latest record, “Here With You Tonight,” a favorite anywhere alt-country is heard and a topper of the American Roots music charts. When he rocks into town with his excellent Careless Smokers, be ready to fire up the dance floor and keep an eye on your lady friend.

So that’s Friday. Then on Saturday, there’s more barn-burning American music at the old Diamond Circle. Taking the stage this night are The Billy Pilgrims and Durango’s own Rock ’n’ Rye, starting at around 8 p.m. The Billy Pilgrims come to us from the Front Range and intend to mix things up with a set of bluegrass music followed by classic country and honky-tonk tunes. The band includes past members of the Hit and Run Bluegrass Band – the newly married Aaron and Erin Youngberg – on banjo and bass, as well as Rounder recording artist Caleb Roberts, from Open Road, on the mandolin. Dave Richey completes the quartet, playing Dobro and guitar. Concert promoter David Smith says, “The night won’t be your typical bluegrass affair as banjos are put on the backburner for pedal steel, and mandolins are put down in favor of cranking up the 1950’s Fender twin reverb amp as the night progresses.” If that gets your grease poppin’, get some tickets. They’re $7 and available at Canyon Music and Southwest Sound. There will also be tickets available at the venue when doors open up at 7:30. Pull out the snap-on Western shirt for this one and you’ll feel right at home. And don’t forget the Brylcreem where applicable.

Dave Insley smiles pretty for the camera

If there’s anything left of you by Sunday, or if you don’t enjoy the twangier end of the guitar-music spectrum, consider a road trip out to the Olde Schoolhouse in Needles for a Thirteens reunion, with Super Bee. If you don’t know, the Thirteens were a revered Durango hard-rock/punk band that has been disbanded for some time but occasionally reappears on the scene for tittilating little reunions. Minor Threat was also listed as playing, but this is highly suspect information unless Mischker is planning on temporarily sobering up for an Ian McKaye impersonation. Anyway, regardless of whether it’s that Minor Threat or not, you can be assured of plenty of loud rock in a small, remote bar with great pizza. Sounds like the perfect way to prepare for another work week, yes? Find someone to sleep over with before you head out and you’re all set.

If you plan on staying down in the flatlands for your April Fool’s fun or can hitch a ride down the hill, be sure to check out another punk rock blast from the past. And we’re pretty sure this one’s legit. Agent Orange, Southern Cali’s “original” punk/surf trio, is alive and well and will be demolishing a stage near you. Don’t miss this chance to relive punk rock history, or your youth if you’re over 35, Sunday night at 10 p.m. at the Abbey Theatre. As far as we know, this is no joke, although if we hear Minor Threat is opening, we’ll know the jig is up. We do know that Freeman Social also will be opening, a superheroic feat for Bubba but nothing he can’t handle, we’re sure.

If studded leather and sweaty pits (as in mosh) aren’t your scene, there will be more refined cultural offerings this weekend. Durango is fortunate enough to again host the Hozhoni Days Contest Powwow at Fort Lewis College, part of the 43^rd annual Hozhoni Days, on Friday and Saturday. It is “a time for people to revel in who they are and where they come from,” says FLC Native American Center Director Yvonne Bilinski. “It’s a time to laugh, listen and experience other cultures.” Check online or your local newspaper for a full schedule of events.

I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce a new feature for “The Underground,” a list of the Top 10 selling albums of the week in Durango. The list is compiled by the good folks at Southwest Sound but is no way an endoresemnt to run out and buy, say, J-Dilla, unless you’re into that sort of thing. Think of it as more of a conversation starter with the kids these days.

Remember when Oprah came to town? Share your stories of humiliation and giddy excitement. lindsay_damico@yahoo.com. •