The Dirty Dozen, inflatables and unusual pairings

Freddy Mercury incarnate, One Night of Queen comes to the concert Hall next Wednesday, Feb. 25

by Chris Aaland

When Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, it was among the costliest and deadliest hurricanes in United States history. The aftermath embarrassed and angered Americans. How could the government react so slowly and ineffectively? For millions of people along the Gulf Coast, life has never been the same.

New Orleans, as we all know, was devastated. Once an epicenter for American music, cuisine and art, the city may never return to its glory, when jazz, Dixieland, Gulf Coast R&B, Cajun, Creole, Latin, African, Caribbean, country, gospel and funk influences gave birth to the likes of Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Lee Allen, the Neville Brothers and Dr. John.

One longtime Durango favorite that was both displaced and inspired by the aftermath was the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, which returns to town at 10 p.m. Friday for an all-ages Durango Acoustic Music/Abbey Theatre coproduction. DDBB, which has been a Crescent City classic for more than 35 years, released a modern masterpiece a year after Katrina by retooling Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” in its entirety. With help from Chuck D., Guru, Ivan Neville, Bettye LaVette and G. Love, DDBB unleashes equal parts fury and compassion yet remains true to New Orleans’ brass band roots.

One Night of Queen comes to the Community Concert Hall at 7 p.m. Wednesday. This live musical tribute to Queen features Gary Mullen and his band, the Works. Mullen won the UK version of “American Idol” in 2000 by portraying the late Freddie Mercury. Public response to his performance caused him to quit his day job as a computer programmer and tour the world belting out Queen standards like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen” and “The Show Must Go On.” The staging, lighting and effects are true to Queen at the height of their popularity.

The Fred Garbo Inflatable Theatre brings a Vaudevillian-style show for children of all ages to the Community Concert Hall at 2 p.m. Sunday. With a background in tumbling and dance, Garbo has performed since 1974, though for the last 19 years he has invented inflatables that float, tumble, wiggle, hover, roll, glide and slide. Along with his sidekick, ballerina Daielma Santos, Garbo has entertained crowds in Ireland, Japan and Brazil, as well as on “Late Night with David Letterman.”

The Abbey hosts Bassnectar in an all-ages show on Wednesday. Hailing from San Francisco, Bassnectar blends bass-heavy freestyle, hip-hop and electronica music. Tickets are discounted $10 for Fort Lewis students and available at the information desk in the College Union Building.

Moe’s Starlight Lounge holds a Fat Tuesday party on the 24th with live music from A Dub Rock Band. Expect lots of beads and specials on gumbo, hurricanes and well drinks.

Steamworks’ musical offerings this week include the unique rock of New York’s Turbine at 10 p.m. tonight (Thursday) and the return of the Taos disco/funk/bluegrass band Last to Know at 10 p.m. Saturday.

The Kirk James Blues Band appears slopeside at Purgy’s from 2-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The boys keep busy at night with an 8 p.m. gig Friday at the 8th Avenue Tavern and another at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Derailed Saloon (formerly Farquahrts).

The boy/girl guitar duo Baby Toro will appear at the Absolute Bakery in Mancos (110 S. Main) in a free show at 7 p.m. Saturday.

This week’s Top Shelf list comes from Bruce and Sue, caretakers of the “Coolest Bar in Town.” And no, you can’t go if you’re not invited, you don’t know the secret knock or which doorbell to ring! This husband-and-wife team knows a thing or two about hops and harmonies. I can attest that their beer fridge is stocked better than most liquor stores in terms of rare and celebrated ales from near and far. When they’re not soaking up suds, you can usually find them at a rock or blues show. Thus, Bruce and Sue propose 10 beer and tunes pairings for your palate and ears:

Dirty Dozen Brass Band returns to the Abey this Fri., Feb. 20

This week’s Top Shelf list comes from Bruce and Sue, caretakers of the “Coolest Bar in Town.” And no, you can’t go if you’re not invited, you don’t know the secret knock or which doorbell to ring! This husband-and-wife team knows a thing or two about hops and harmonies. I can attest that their beer fridge is stocked better than most liquor stores in terms of rare and celebrated ales from near and far. When they’re not soaking up suds, you can usually find them at a rock or blues show. Thus, Bruce and Sue propose 10 beer and tunes pairings for your palate and ears:

10. Incubus’ “Drive” and Great Divide Samurai rice ale. The lightest of all pairings, both are crisp, mellow and don’t make you think too hard. Both are good to fall back on when you don’t know what else you want to drink or listen to.

9. Widespread Panic’s “Time Zones” with Ska ESB. Not too heavy, not too complicated, but fun and refreshing. Also good to have on hand for those guests who don’t know what they really like.

8. Pink Floyd’s “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” with a couple of bombers of Ska Euphoria. Sounds like a date night to us! The beer is seasonal, so when it returns it’s like an old friend. Same with the song. It doesn’t get enough airplay, and when it does, you say, “aaahhhhhh.”

7. Vertical Horizon’s “Everything You Want” with Durango Brewing Pale Ale. “Everything you want, everything you need … .” Smooth and satisfying.

6. My Morning Jacket’s “Off the Record” with Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale. Mellow, not too in-your-face and catchy. Yummy, both.

5. Allman Brothers Band’s live version of “Whipping Post” from 1970 with Bell Cherry Stout. Now, we realize that not many of you have had the chance to sample this fine beer, but trust us. Just like the song, it’ll have you rocking in your seat and wishing for more.

4. Foo Fighters’ “Everlong” with Sierra Nevada IPA. There comes a point in the song when you don’t understand the lyrics. Too much IPA can do that to you as well.

3. Pearl Jam’s “Spin the Black Circle” with Ska Decadent. The song is heavy and penetrating. The beer does the same. Two bombers of this and everything spins anyway.

2. Gov’t Mule’s “Cortez the Killer” with Durango Brewing Winter Brew. Rich and satisfying.

1. Gov’t Mule’s “Thorazine Shuffle,” particularly the version on “Live with a Little Help from Our Friends” CD compilation with O’Dell’s IPA. Heavy. Thick. Dense. The song and the delightful taste of the beer can stay with you through thick and thin. •

Don’t punish me with brutality? E-mail me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.