|
|
||
R & R, San Juan suds and the Fort’s final Fridayby Chris Aaland A listen to Roots & Rhythms 5 is like catching up with a long lost buddy for the first time in years – something that became obviously clear watching Robert Earl Keen last week at the Community Concert Hall. Keen, who contributed to Vols. 1 and 3, delivers his tunes like they’re old friends. Similarly, the artists on Roots & Rhythms 5 are ones we’ve grown to love, frequent visitors to our thriving little music scene. While Eliza Gilkyson and Maura O’Connell are the only singers to encore from past editions, you’ve probably seen the vast majority of the Vol. 5 artists at local concerts and festivals. Highlights abound. Eric Bibb (rumored to be returning to the Community Concert Hall next spring with fellow bluesman Guy Davis) opens the set with a bluesy solo reading of “New Home;” Kevin Russell leads the Gourds through “Country Love” to close the disc. Nearly everything in between works just as well – particularly the Latin-infused offerings by David Hidalgo and Louis Pérez (of Los Lobos fame) and Los Lonely Boys. Past collections leaned heavily on singer-songwriters and Vol. 5 presents us with Gilkyson, Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison, Slaid Cleaves, Jimmy LaFave, Gretchen Peters and Jonatha Brooke. But there’s also some edgier fare, like the dark alt-country of the Black Lillies and Band of Heathens. This only makes sense: As Durango’s tastes have changed, so has KSUT’s music blend. Special kudos are reserved for the CD’s executive producer, Stasia Lanier, who is the creative genius behind the entire series. Do the right thing and pledge your support to KSUT to pick up this extremely limited edition (2,000 copies) souvenir. Boy howdy! The 13th annual San Juan Brewfest is upon us, shutting down Main Ave. from 1-5 p.m. Saturday. That means music, grub and suds for a $25 admission that benefits United Way. Among the brewers already committed are Alaskan, Big Sky, Blue Moon, Breckenridge, Carver, Colorado Boy, Coors, Durango, Eskes, Glenwood Canyon, Leinenkugal, Left Hand, Moab, New Belgium, Oak Creek, Oscar Blues, Ouray, Ourayle, Pagosa, Palisade, Rockslide, Samuel Adams, San Luis Valley, Ska and Steamworks. The Lawn Chair Kings and the Crags will serve up background noise as attendees slurp five-ounce samples at breakneck speed. Sadly, Silverton festivals come and go. The Silverton Jubilee had a nice run in the 1990s and early 2000s before running its course. The Silverton Jamboree emerged in its place, reeling off a few memorable years before taking a hiatus of its own. The Jamboree is back this weekend, albeit in scaled-down form. Regional acts include the Motet, Salem, Rowdy Shadehouse and Bruce Hayes, while a host of Durango’s finest – Aftergrass, Waiting on Trial, A-Dub Rock Band and Eric Kiefer – are also on the bill. Acts run from Friday night’s Salem jam through Sunday morning’s Bloody Mary ‘n’ bluegrass affair with Waiting on Trial. Camping is available (and advised). The Kenya Safari Acrobats combine artistry, humor and playfulness in an all-ages show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Community Concert Hall. As their press clippings suggest, expect gravity-defying human pyramids, balancing, tumbling, limbo dancing, hurling through hoops and breathtaking contortions, all to a joyful Benga beat. It’s time again for CarverFest, Larry Carver’s birthday and pro-jam. Music kicks off at 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday, Aug. 25) at the Derailed Saloon and includes members of the Kirk James Blues Band, Tumblin’ Dice, Cosmic Accident, the Jelly Belly Boogie Band, Black Velvet, the Lisa Blue Trio, Neil Nelson, Peter Neds and others. The final Fridays at the Fort event runs from 4:30-7 p.m. this Friday at the Community Concert Hall and ranges from bluegrass to Celtic with such bands as Missionary Ridge, Giant’s Dance and Wild Mountain. The event is free and Steamworks brew and Norton’s catering is available for purchase. The Abbey celebrates talented local women at 7 p.m. Saturday. Musicians, artists and poets will be featured in Local Women Empowerment Night, which includes music from Hello Dollface, 10Day, Lush, DJ KB and Jay Byrd. Poetry begins at 8 p.m. Albuquerque’s ever-popular alt-bluegrass act, Porter Draw, returns to the Summit on Saturday. If there was any justice in the world, traditional bluegrass would have evolved into the twangy country of the Porter Draw rather than the mind-numbing noodling of countless newgrass/jam bands of the early 2000s. This time, Porter Draw brings along the dirty Appalachian old-time sounds of fellow Duke City denizens Three-String Bale. The Summit’s schedule also includes Thirsty Thursday with DJ B-Side; and an intriguing Friday twin bill featuring S.O.B. and the Last Internationale. The latter act is a bluesy duo. The fall sports season is upon us! Fort Lewis College holds its annual Athletic Alumni Day on Saturday, with free events open to the public. Alumni games include volleyball (11 a.m.), women’s soccer (1 p.m.) and men’s soccer (3:30 p.m.), with an intrasquad football scrimmage to follow at 5:30 p.m. The sore old men and women will unwind (and probably ice down) at an alumni gathering at the Irish Embassy Pub at 7:30 p.m. Also of note: Kirk James goes solo at Dalton Ranch at 5 p.m. tonight; High Altitude Blues is back at the DoubleTree’s Animas River Café from 5-9 p.m. tonight; Diabolical Sound Platoon brings local hip-hop to tonight’s Ska-B-Q; the Lawn Chair Kings brighten up the Starlight’s FAC at 6 p.m. Friday; Tumblin’ Dice does guitar-driven, old guy rock from 6-10 p.m. Friday at the Balcony; Psychedelic Mojo returns to the Balcony on Saturday; and a live music and art show featuring Diabolical Sound Platoon happens at 9 p.m. Saturday a the Starlight. In honor of Roots & Rhythms 5, this week’s Top Shelf list recalls five favorites from KSUT CDs past: Wish you were in Tijuana eating barbequed iguana? E-mail me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net. |
