Asleep at the Wheel, Franti and Warsaw

by Chris Aaland

Cowboy culture has flavored the local music scene my entire life. The Bar-D Wranglers have entertained tens of thousands of tourists and locals annually since 1969. The Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering celebrates 24 years this Oct. 4-7. And contemporary Western swing acts like the Hot Club of Cowtown have built a loyal following.

Asleep at the Wheel has carried the torch for Western swing for more than 40 years, revitalizing the genre perfected by Bob Wills, Spade Cooley and Milton Brown. This nine-time Grammy-award winning band returns to Durango at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to kick off the Community Concert Hall’s 15th anniversary season.

Asleep at the Wheel plays the Concert Hall on Aug. 15.

KDUR’s Bryant Liggett interviewed Asleep at the Wheel founder Ray Benson recently. The interview will air on my “Cask Strength” radio program at 7 p.m. Mon., Aug. 13. The 61-year-old Benson shared his insights on such topics as Western swing and plans to incorporate historical footage into future live performances.

“We have been working on a documentary film on Asleep at the Wheel’s 42 years,” Benson said of future plans for the group he formed in 1969 in Paw Paw, W. Va. “What we hope to do in the future and especially in Durango is have a 40-minute documentary that we will (screen) before the show. It has a lot of vintage footage and interviews with people like Dolly Parton, Huey Lewis, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Lyle Lovett and 40 of the former band members. We will play after the 40-minute film.”

Forty-two years is a long time to keep a band going, especially one that spans six decades, and Benson said he feels honored to have been given the opportunity to carry on the tradition.

Western swing was based in Texas and Oklahoma and then spread out, through Colorado, the West, California and the Pacific Northwest. The birth of Western swing was a natural convergence from the big band sound of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. “(Western swing musicians) were fiddlers and guitar players and not trombone players and sax players and they loved the same music so they said, ‘We’ll do the same music, but we’ll do it with string instruments and cowboy hats and we’ll do some cowboy songs and some Jimmie Rodgers,’” recalled Benson. “It was big band music and jazz and blues from New Orleans, Mississippi and Texas.”

Asleep at the Wheel’s love and affinity for the genre — particularly Wills’ music — is evident in its two most recent releases. In 2009, they teamed with Willie Nelson for “Willie and the Wheel,” which lovingly paid tribute to Wills. A year later, 84-year-old former Texas Playboy singer Leon Rausch joined them for “It’s a Good Day!”

Michael Franti & Spearhead return to Three Springs on Saturday. Franti played a sold-out show in Mancos in 2008 and again at Three Springs two years ago. Franti has long been known for an electrifying live show, social activism and positive energy. From the intense punk of the Beatnigs to the deep political rap of Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy to his joyful, modern soul music with Spearhead, Franti continues to evolve. Gates open at 1 p.m., with an opening set by Denver-based singer-songwriter Zach Heckendorf at 3. Franti takes the stage at 5. The concert features festival seating with no glass or outside alcohol allowed. Food, wine and Ska beer will be sold on site. Parking in Three Springs is an issue, so Tami Graham Presents sponsors a free day for all riders on the Durango Transit system.

The Abbey Theatre hosts a Franti after-party at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Highlighting the bill is a Beastie Boys tribute by MTHDS, a six-member alternative rock/hip-hop group from Denver. Also in the lineup is Air Dubai, a seven-piece hip-hop outfit (also from Denver) complete with horns and keyboards that was voted Westword magazine’s “Best Hip-Hip Band” the past two years. Skilled Labor Force opens.

The Derailers, New Orleans Suspects and Chuck Pyle highlight the free Rhythms on the Rio festival, which takes place in South Fork on Saturday and Sunday. I’m particularly fond of the former, which brings tried-and-true Austin honky-tonk to the lineup both days. Durango will be represented in the form of Waiting on Trial, the Kirk James Blues Band and the Scrugglers. Admission is free with the donation of one canned food item (don’t be cheap, though, bring a whole bag!) with minimal fees for parking and camping. Visit southforkmusic.org for all the dirt.

The Summit’s slate includes J. Wail with Soulacybin and Sound Cloud tonight (Thurs., Aug. 9), Warsaw on Friday, DJ Benjamin K, Make Believe and B-Side on Saturday and Strung Like a Horse on Sunday. J. Wail is Colorado’s top live electronic funk duo and a popular act locally. Brothers Aaron and Chris Poland are no strangers to Durango, having appeared here dozens of times with Warsaw. Their mix of ska and punk is infectious and heartfelt. Expect a hangover the next morning whenever these guys play.

Regular occurrences at Moe’s are augmented by a Lunar Bass pre-party on Friday and A Dub Rock Band on Saturday.

Portland’s Blind Pilot returns to Telluride for the third time for their 8 p.m. gig tonight at the Sheridan Opera House. The indie folksters are touring in support of their sophomore album, “We Are the Tide,” released last fall. River City Extension opens.

If you don’t make it to South Fork, you have three more opportunities to catch Kirk James: solo at the Dalton Ranch patio from 6-8 p.m. tonight and with his band at 9 p.m. Friday at the Sky Ute Resort and at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Balcony.
Also of note: Pete Giuliani works tonight’s Ska-B-Q; Farmington Hill and The Crags countrify the Balcony from 5-9 p.m. Friday; and the Miserabillies do the same to the Lost Dog at 7 p.m. Sunday.

This week’s Top Shelf list is simple apology to those who drove out to Gem Village Sunday for the Billy Goat Saloon’s 30th anniversary party. Like some of you, I made the 25-mile trek from my house to the Goat only to be turned away by a rather rude doorman because it was a “private party.” Guess my cash wasn’t green enough. I’m truly sorry for misleading you and won’t be making that trip again anytime soon.

It don’t matter who’s in Austin?

Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.