Ear to the ground

“It’s pretty weird. They like to call themselves ‘Creetards.’”

-A Durangoan relating one of the unusual customs of the residents of the nearby town of Creede

Willie on the way

He’s “on the road again” and will be blowing through the Four Corners in just a few weeks. That’s right, the ageless and tireless Willie Nelson is back on tour and has a stop planned for Farmington, N.M., on Feb. 17. Willie last played the region in May of 2005, when he quickly sold out 2,200 tickets for a concert at Fort Lewis College.

At 74, the braided wonder should be sipping a boat drink poolside. Instead, the country music legend is back on tour and is about to release an album being hailed as his “best in a decade.” The cut, “Moment of Forever,” is due out Jan. 29 and integral to his current tour.

Clad once again in blue jeans, a black T-shirt and his trademark red bandana, Nelson has already played shows in Florida and will swoop through southern New Mexico and Arizona en route to sets in Los Angeles. Early reviews of the shows have been strong, praising Nelson for “never sounding richer or truer.” In mid-February, Willie will return to the Four Corners to lay down some “Whiskey River” in Charmtown.

Nelson is set to take the stage Sun., Feb. 17, at the Farmington Fairgrounds Coliseum, located on Hwy. 64 east of the burg. As of press time, tickets for the show were still available at www.willienelson.com and locally at Corral West. As an added bonus, fans can get a taste of Willie for a mere $38. When Nelson played Durango, ticket prices started at $100.

True West

You can add another feather to Durango’s Stetson Hat – “True Western Town.”True West Magazine has named D-town one of its True West Towns for 2008. Durango sits at No. 6 on a list that includes Deadwood, S.D.; Cheyenne and Casper, Wyo.; and San Diego.

The award is given to towns that go beyond Western chintz and take steps toward preserving their history. In its Jan./Feb edition,True Westrecounted some Durango history and efforts to preserve it.

“Renovations are ongoing at the 1893 Power House,” the editors wrote. “It’s the oldest AC power plant in the country; plans call for it to be the Durango Discovery Museum when it opens in 2009. Work was completed on the El Rancho Tavern before, sadly, a fire destroyed part of the building. Restoration continues on the Wallace Furniture and McKnight Jewelry buildings.”

For more info, visit: www.twmag.com.