Soapboxing, Suzanne Vega and The Derailers

by Chris Aaland

t’s tough to compete with free. This weekend marks the fourth annual Rhythms on the Rio Festival on the banks of the Rio Grande, sponsored by the South Fork Music Association. The event is a fund-raiser: music is free, limited camping costs $40, and concertgoers are asked to make whatever voluntary donation they deem appropriate. How are they doing it? Their website thanks local businesses, groups and individuals for their generosity. The lineup is stellar, albeit heavy on jam-bands: the Nershi-Law Band, Drew Emmitt, Darol Anger, Great American Taxi and Pete Kartsounes, among others. A benefit concert within the festival will raise money for such entities as the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust, the High Valley Community Center for children in Del Norte and Kartsounes’ Hike4Cancer.

I’ve heard from dozens of folks driving over for the weekend, sacrificing great music at home for undoubtedly a fine time in South Fork. All I ask is that while supporting their worthy causes, please don’t forget those who book music for you on a weekly basis. As is often the case, Durango venues will struggle to put butts in the seats and on the dance floors while some of us shell out hard-earned coin for a “free” event that will cost hundreds in gas, food, lodging, camping and beer. There’s no shortage of hypocrisy here, either. After all, I went to four out-of-town festivals and two big-name concerts this summer.

But the local nonprofits — the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, the Community Concert Hall, DAM, Music in the Mountains, KSUT, KDUR and countless others — have put Durango on the national touring map for decades. In recent years, venues like the Hank, the Abbey and the Summit have carved their niche with major acts.

One of my favorite bands of the ‘80s, the Long Ryders, put a note on the back of every one of their albums that said, “The Long Ryders wish success and happiness for all bands.” I wish the same to all promoters keeping vibrant music alive in our community.

One of the biggest names in New York’s neo-folk, women’s music scene of the ‘80s lands at the Community Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Suzanne Vega burst onto the charts in 1987 with her sophomore effort, “Solitude Standing,” which yielded such hits as “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner.” Along with Shawn Colvin, Tracy Chapman and the Indigo Girls, she ushered in a new sound, one that was acoustic-based yet edgier both lyrically and musically than her folk predecessors. Critics revere her as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation.

Here come The Derailers! Austin’s honky-tonk torchbearers come to the Durango Arts Center at 8 p.m. Saturday. The five-piece claims three main inspirations: Buck Owens (they played a party of his once and recorded a fine tribute album, “Under the Influence of Buck,” shortly after his death); the Beatles; and Buddy Holly. Nine albums into their career, The Derailers still deliver a blend of honky-tonk, rockabilly and

The English folk duo Chris and Thomas performs at the Henry Strater Theatre on Friday. With sounds gathered from the landscapes of the American Southwest, the pair combines American roots instrumentation with soothing vocal harmonies, reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel. They’ve had songs appear in such films as “Georgia Rule” and “Friendship.” Annie Brooks opens.

This week’s Ska-B-Qs feature the metal of Grinkai tonight (Thursday) and, appropriately, ska by the 2-Tone Lizard Kings on Friday. Both nights start at 5 p.m.

Think you’re a funny guy? Get ready for Durango DOT Comedy’s SlamFest, a team improv comedy competition on Sat., Sept. 19, by attending free improvisation workshops from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday nights at the Durango Arts Center starting this week. SlamFest teams will go head to head vying for the coveted Championship Mask. Interested participants may form a team of four to five members prior to attending the workshops, or will be placed on a team. SlamFest has a maximum of eight teams. To sign up early, email durangodotcomedy@yahoo.com or call Mike at 259-6004 or Jonathan at 749-3060.

Think you’re a funny guy? Get ready for Durango DOT Comedy’s SlamFest, a team improv comedy competition on Sat., Sept. 19, by attending free improvisation workshops from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday nights at the Durango Arts Center starting this week. SlamFest teams will go head to head vying for the coveted Championship Mask. Interested participants may form a team of four to five members prior to attending the workshops, or will be placed on a team. SlamFest has a maximum of eight teams. To sign up early, email durangodotcomedy@yahoo.com or call Mike at 259-6004 or Jonathan at 749-3060.

Come up to get down at the Summit this week for the Summit Dub Squad and a dub rock band tonight, Euforquestra Friday and the Joey Farr Band Saturday.

This week’s musical fare at the Starlight includes Salsa Night at 8 p.m. tonight, FAC with live music and dancing from 6 to midnight Friday, Aftergrass at 9 p.m. Saturday, Musica del Mundo at 8 p.m. Sunday, the Daydreamers at 9 p.m. Tuesday and Club Meds with Jonezy at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Kirk James continues to own the east half of the county. He plays a solo affair at the Steamworks Bayfield Beer Factory from 5-8 p.m. tonight and at 6 p.m. with his blues band at the Schank House Bar & Grill at Vallecito Friday and Saturday.

Larry Carver, Ben Gibson & Nina Sasaki play rock at El Patio at 5:30 p.m. tonight.

Aussie twang-bangers Wild Turkey return to the Hollywood Bar in Dolores on Friday for more psychobilly fun.

On the suds front, Carver Brewing Co. has named Jeff Albarella as its new assistant brewer. Albarella joins head brewer and co-owner Erik Maxson, now in his 11th year at Carvers. Albarella graduated from the world-renowned Siebel Institute in Chicago with a World Brewing Academy international diploma in brewing technology.

Another freebie: This week’s free Telluride Mountain Village concert features Delta Spirit, a San Diego band dubbed a hybrid of rock and northern soul. As always, the show starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Sunset Plaza.

This week’s Top Shelf list is a one-name thank you to an American original who died Saturday at age 67. Most know Jim Dickinson as the father of two North Mississippi All-Stars. But he was so much more, producing Big Star, recording with Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones in Mussel Shoals, and releasing a canon of avant garde solo albums the past decade. You like NRBQ? Check Jim out. •

For you were under the influence? E-mail me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.