Yo mama, Ska-B-Q and RJD2

by Lindsay Nelson

This Sunday is Mother’s Day, a celebration of motherhood and brunch.

The history of this holiday is interesting – in America, the movement began with the author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” who, after the endless carnage of the Civil War, couldn’t stand the notion of war any longer. Julia Ward Howe hoped for a movement of peace and a world wherein mothers’ sons did not go forth to kill the sons of other mothers. Needless to say, it didn’t exactly catch the world by storm. The cause was taken up by Anna Jarvis and then her daughter, also called Anna. By 1908, many states were celebrating a Mother’s Day, but Congress defeated a proposal by Nebraska Sen. Elmer Burkett to make it official. In 1914, Pres. Woodrow Wilson signed it into the Big Book of National Holidays. And it didn’t take long before the celebration of peace and kindness and honoring the calling of mothers became an opportunity to be exploited by florists and other commercial ventures. By the 1930s, the trend toward a retail-driven holiday was pretty well certain, and poor Mrs. Jarvis died angry and poor. But, it’s not too late to remember the original intent of this day, set aside to honor the women who gave us life and brought us up right, hopefully teaching us that love is not a giant bouquet or even a sumptuous brunch. It’s loving one another as we love ourselves, and proving it with our actions. Thanks, Mom, for keeping love alive.

I’m pleased to announce the return of a beloved summer ritual, that is, the Thursday afternoon Ska-B-Q. The best reason ever to brave the serpentine roads of Bodo Park, this monthly event hosted by the brewers of Ska beer at their humble (for now) brewery on Turner Drive, is all about the free food, great beer and live music. Appropriately, the Lawn Chair Kings play the afternoon of May 10 as I’m sure those fellows have done their share of damage to the food tables in the past – it’s about time they gave something back. Cruise on over there at about 5 p.m. and just remember – if you get to the jail, you’ve taken a wrong turn. Unless you’re in the back of a patrol car, in which case you just went too far with the whole “riding my unicycle drunk and naked” thing and now you’re right where you belong.

On May 11 is a really big show at the Abbey. Underground hip-hop instrumentalist and DJ master RJD2 plays a 10 o’clock show at the theatre. For those who aren’t ITK, RJD2 is a renowned purveyor of that unique subgenre that is instrumental, non-vocal hip hop/electronica. Fans of skateboarding films will most certainly have heard some of his tracks on top of all that rad carving. But this year, RJD2 (born Ramble John Krohn) made a massive departure from his rep and released “The Third Hand,” a cohesive pop album recorded, performed, arranged and produced entirely by himself in his

RJD2

basement, using his trusty MPC 2000XL sampler/sequencer alongside a pantheon of analog synths, electric pianos and guitars, not to mention his own voice. Most notably, live instruments come into play, “creating a record so full of rich songwriting, complex arrangement and clever production that it transcends genre distinction and warrant an intent listen every time.” Get your transcendent experience at the Abbey Theatre.

There always seems to be something fun going on in Dolores, and this weekend is no different. The new Sideshow Emporium & Gallery, along with Blossomshop Graphics & Print Shop, is having a Grand Opening Artists Reception & Celebration on Saturday at 5 p.m. Sideshow/ Blossomshop is located at 411 Central in downtown Dolores, across from Town Hall in the bright orange building (apparently Dolores doesn’t have an official board that tells you what colors are historically appropriate for the downtown area). Thank God. So at this shindig you can: “See … paintings, prints, photographs, collage assemblages, blown glass, art cards, one of a kind apparel from MOD 3.10, vintage clothing, accessories & objects, hand-painted Western shirts, home-goods & other items of interest; meet artists and artisans from near and far; hear live music from The Holy Smokers ... and enjoy a live marionette act!” See, told you it’d be fun.

And on Sunday, almost as if it were a deliberate coincidence, Durango Natural Foods celebrates Farmer Appreciation Day at the store on the corner of College Drive and 8^th Ave. Honor Mother Earth and the men and women who coax food from her womb, whilst eating, drinking, dancing, learning and laughing. Things begin at 10 a.m. and go on until 4 p.m. No permit necessary.

This week we welcome a new film, opening Friday, called “Year of the Dog.” Starring Molly Shannon, Laura Dern, John C. Reilly and Peter Sarsgaard, and written and directed by Mike White (responsible for both “School of Rock” and “Nacho Libre” – score one, strike one). It’s about a woman (Shannon) who clearly loves her dog to a degree that indicates some human relationship issues; the dog dies; sadness and freak-outs and quirky friendships and vagaries of modernity ensue. It’s funny, but not in a “Nacho Libre” sort of way. No spandex tights on fat masked men, reminding us that it is possible to mix feelings and funniness together in a non-nauseating fashion. And that lonely women don’t just love cats. They can love dogs, too. lindsay_damico@yahoo.com •