Eating crow, Osfest at the Fort and the Bodo Bash

by Chris Aaland

I’ve eaten a lot of wild game in my day: pheasants, doves, wild turkeys, several kinds of quail, grouse, ducks and geese, mule and whitetail deer, elk, antelope, caribou, mountain lion … even marmot and gopher. But I’m not sure I’ve dined on crow to the extent that I have during the first six weeks of the NFL season.

I’ve been a Broncos fan since 1976, when the John Ralston-coached squad finished 9-5 and nearly squeaked into the playoffs. After a no-confidence vote by his players led to Ralston’s resignation, a journeyman NFL assistant coach named Red Miller took over. To quote former Denver running back Jon Keyworth, who recorded a minor regional hit song in 1977, the once-lowly Broncos finally started to “make those miracles happen.”

I believe somewhere in these pages I wrote the Broncos off – and that was during preseason. Many people, me included, expected fewer than six wins from the Donks this year. Guess what? There’s plenty of crow to go around. Denver is undefeated at 6-0 with a bullet.

The Broncos aren’t the only unbeatens on the gridiron scene. Durango High School and first-year head coach Greg Wyatt are 7-0. Catch the Demons against Fossil Ridge at 11 a.m. Saturday at DHS Stadium.

Football is but one passion of mine. Music is another, and it’s a great entertainment week here in Durango.

The Community Concert Hall hosts a rootsy twin bill at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when Joan Osborne and the Holmes Brothers take the stage. Osborne seemed like a safe, KBCO-styled type of act with her catchy major label debut, “Relish” (which I happily bought in 1996). Her breakthrough single, “One of Us,” was catchy but only scraped the tip of the iceberg of an artist well versed in soul, blues and country. She’s since toured as lead vocalist for the Dead and Phil & Friends and has worked with Spearhead, the Funk Brothers and Cheap Trick. The Holmes Brothers mix bluesy roadhouse rock and Sunday morning gospel shouts.

World class comedy comes to the Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the form of the Second City Touring Company. Celebrating 50 years of gut-wrenching humor, Second City boasts such alumni as Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Alan Arkin, Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and Mike Myers. The current five-member troupe reenacts favorite skits from Second City’s past on its golden anniversary tour.

Six-time Grammy nominee John McCutcheon folks up the Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Called “the most impressive instrumentalist I’ve ever heard” by Johnny Cash, McCutcheon is a master of a dozen instruments, most notably the hammered dulcimer but also the autoharp, guitar, banjo, fiddle and Jew’s harp.

La Plata Electric Association raises money for United Way at the second annual Bodo Bash at the Ska Brewing World Headquarters tonight (Thursday) from 5-7 p.m. Pints cost just $3 and Ska will donate $1 per beer sold. There’s more, with bluegrass by the Scrugglers and pumpkin bowling. A $1 donation at the door is suggested, but you can always cowboy up and give more to this worthy cause. Last year, LPEA alone raised nearly $30,000 for United Way through employee contributions and special events like the Bodo Bash.

One of the highlights to the summer’s concert season – at least according to many of Durango’s Carhartt-wearing crowd – was a multi-band bill with the Lawn Chair Kings, Jaki & the Joysticks and others at El Patio. The Kings and Jaki are back at El Patio at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Richard O’Brien’s “Rocky Horror Show: Live on Stage” starts a four-night run at the Henry Strater Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Dress as your favorite character, toss some of the throw-bags that the Hank will provide and do the Time Warp!

Local tunes take over the Summit this week, with DJ Benjamin K tonight, Rupnow & friends playing an acoustic happy hour from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Cosmic Accident at 10 p.m. Friday, Eric Keifer of Aftergrass playing another acoustic happy hour from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, then Scott Holland’s 40^th birthday Metal in the Mountains bash at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, featuring Grinkai and Dredging the Lake.

The Starlight’s bill this week includes salsa night tonight, live jazz with the Bob Hemenger Trio and late night tunes with DJ Wreck Friday, DJ Kainos Saturday, musica del mundo Sunday, psychedelic jam with RedEyedDjinn Tuesday and Jonezy’s Club Meds Wednesday.

Larry Carver & Randy Crumbaugh are busy this week, playing classic rock at El Patio at 4 p.m. tonight and at the Derailed Saloon at 7 p.m. Saturday with Nina Sasaki.

Other local stuff to look forward to: Cyle Talley plays this week’s free concert at the FLC Amphitheatre at 7 p.m. tonight (rain site is the Student Union solarium); Tumblin’ Dice plays the Purple Haze at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and Steamworks hosts an all-ages alternative rock set by Now or Never from 10 ‘til midnight Saturday.

In honor of the undefeated Broncos, this week’s Top Shelf list includes 10 highlights from their first six games this fall:

Brandon Stokley’s 87-yard miracle score with 11 seconds left in a 12-7 win at Cincinnati to open the regular season.

Brandon Marshall’s return to favor. In particular, his 51-yard catch and run with less than two minutes remaining against Dallas in Week 4. Rick, thanks for the $5.

Kyle Orton’s masterful 98-yard drive in the fourth quarter to tie the game against New England.

Josh McDaniels’ fist-pumping after he beat his mentor 23-20 in overtime.

The “I’ll take an Eddie Royale with Cheese” T-shirts that were circulating around Invesco Field earlier this season.

Elvis is everywhere. Dumervil leads the NFL with 10 sacks.

A defense that has allowed just 10 points and three third-down conversions in the second half.

Buying a 1960 throwback pennant and mini helmet at Bill’s Sports Collectibles for my sports den. They really bring the room together.

Knowing that Al Davis is more upset with the 23-3 shellacking the Broncos threw at his Raiders than he is with his head coach breaking the jaw of a defensive assistant during training camp.

Eddie Royal’s 93-yard kickoff and 71-yard punt returns at San Diego on Monday. •

You stay classy, San Diego? E-mail me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.