Forty-four, Chuck Pyle and the return of green cans

by Chris Aaland

Forty-four. It’s the natural number that follows 43 and precedes 45, a tribonacci number, a happy number, an octahedral number and a palindromic number for all you mathematicians. It was retired by both the Denver Broncos (Floyd Little) and the Denver Nuggets (Dan Issel). Little, Jim Brown and Ernie Davis all wore it as All-American tailbacks at Syracuse. And it’s a number that holds particular importance to me. Forty-four was the number I wore in high school basketball and have sported since.

And, come Saturday, I’ll stare 44 squarely in its eyes as I celebrate the anniversary of my birth. And it’s going to be a great year. Year 43 sucked, no doubt about it. I lost a son and a parent. I put on about 30 pounds of stress-induced blubber. I sat on my ass and wallowed in self pity for a third of the year. I saw far too little music, didn’t fish or hunt enough and forgot who No. 44 used to be. I often relive past adventures under the Top Shelf column header, but went on far too few new ones as a 43-year-old. I may have paid for the plot of land they’ll bury me in during my 43rd year, but I’m damn sure not ready for dirt clods to fall on my coffin.

So be wary, trout, grouse and pheasants. I’m lacing up the boots and coming after you. And make space for me on the Telluride tarp. I’ll be back in full force in 2012, anchoring the Front of the Line Gang. Brick No. 28 on the Falconburgh’s wall? Prepare to be adorned with yet another Norwegian flag. As Jack Nicholson’s character famously said in “The Shining,” I’m back!

So is The Motet. Founded and led by drummer Dave Watts, The Motet has been a driving force in the Colorado jam band scene for more than a decade.

They’ve built an enormous following and their Durango dates sell out on a regular basis. This time around, they play the Abbey Theatre at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, doubling your chance to catch their fusion of jazz, Afrobeat, funk, salsa, samba, house and techno rhythms. It’s a unique sound that’s tough to categorize. For Deadheads, think Mickey Hart’s excellent “Planet Drum” projects. But, while based in percussion, the Motet also has strong funk influences and features a strong horn section and funky keyboard wizard Joey Porter.

The Claire Lynch Band has long championed traditional bluegrass and Appalachian sounds. The outfit plays the Community Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year and Grammy nominee who is the namesake of the band has been at the forefront of women pushing the bluegrass boundaries. She’s an intensely soulful singer, whose distinctive voice resonates with power and strength yet retains an engaging innocence and crystalline purity. The band delivers a high-energy show that ranges from tender country ballads to hard-driving bluegrass, with swing and even some Southern Appalachian clog dancing.
Singer-songwriter Chuck Pyle built a name for himself as “The Zen Cowboy” for the past 40 years and has long played Durango dates off-and-on for decades. He’s been recorded by the likes of John Denver, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Suzy Bogguss, and, most famously, the late Chris LeDoux (“The Other Side of the Hill,” which LeDoux renamed “Cadillac Cowboy”) and neo-folkie-cum-Texas-troubadour Jerry Jeff Walker (“Jaded Lover”). Pyle plays the Henry Strater Theatre at 8 p.m. Friday.

The turning of the season means the annual flip-flop of two of Ska’s most popular beers. Out for another six months is Euphoria Pale Ale (stock up on your cases now); in comes Mexican Logger. The official release party for Durango’s favorite lime green cans is 5 p.m. Wednesday. The Bodo boys will pop tops on 12-ounce cans of the golden goodness and have pint and Zia taco specials. Ska also hosts music two nights this week: the Kitchen Jam Band strums out traditional Irish tunes at tonight’s (Thurs., March 29) Ska-B-Q, while Joshua P James and the Paper Planes bring folk, country and blues to Ska Monday.

Moe’s hosts the Splatterday Urban Art Show, featuring the music of DJ Juan Blanco and Phi plus a live graffiti show and breakdancers from 8 ‘til close Saturday. Moe’s weekly slate also includes Jazz Church from 6-9 p.m. Sunday and Musica del Mundo from 9 ‘til close Sunday.

The Summit’s lineup is highlighted by the annual Durango Roller Girls fashion show on Friday. Meet and greet the 2012 skaters at 8:30 p.m. and stick around for the 10 p.m. fashion show. There’s also a raffle for DRG goods and tickets to a home bout. The Summit schedule also includes a new local band, Spiraleyes, on Thirsty Thursday. This quartet bills itself as purveyors of disco, rock, indie, funk, reggae and psychedelia. Event Horizon is also on the bill. On Saturday, DJ Mowgli hosts a hip-hop blowout with Kingman Brewster, Mike Rob & M.A.G.Z., Big Chief Rocka, Wilk and the Ziffee Crew.

Your Flesh hosts an art show during April. The show’s opening will take place at the tattoo shop (upstairs at 965½ Main Ave.) from 7-11 p.m. Saturday.

The five artists featured include Jeffry Haas, Lou Martinelli, Sarah Steppelman Mason, Christopher Haas and Josh Williams. I’m familiar with the works of two of these guys: Martinelli and the latter Haas. I went to high school with Louie and his multimedia works adorn numerous businesses around the Southwest. Chris Haas’ art is simply stunning. A painter and sculptor, his multimedia skulls are mystical, sinister and beautiful. If you’ve been inked or pierced at Your Flesh, you’ve likely seen his creativity.

Elsewhere: Freeplay rocks Desperado’s at 8 p.m. Saturday and Kirk James does a solo blues gig from 6-9 p.m. Saturday at Nello’s Bistro in Pagosa Springs.
This week’s Top Shelf list revisits four more 44s:
- Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States. Four more years!
- Bob Dylan released his 44th album, “Modern Times,” in 2006 and featured four of those songs at his 2007 Telluride show.
- Dirty Harry wielded a .44 Magnum.
- Uwe Krupp, No. 4 for the Colorado Avalanche when he scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in 1996, wore 44 when he completed his career with the Atlanta Thrashers.

Some people got barely enough skin to cover their bones? E-mail me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.