Tight strings, tight beats and tight pants

by Chris Aaland

I don’t know if you’ve ventured out lately, but it’s been cold. I mean really cold. Ma Nature blessed us with weeks of temperatures in the single digits or colder and the occasional dump of snow. My appropriately named Tundra was totally frozen Monday morning: doors, windshield wipers and a bunch of mechanical gizmos and doohickeys under the hood.

But we can warm up this week with music, dance and film.

Fraser and Haas tickles the Scottish strings at 6:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 15, at the Henry Strater Theatre.

The Durango Scottish Dancers present Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Henry Strater Theatre. A master Scottish fiddler, Fraser has been featured on public radio favorites like “Morning Edition,” “A Prairie Home Companion” and “Thistle & Shamrock” and performed with the Chieftains and the Waterboys. Haas, one of the world’s most sought-after cellists playing traditional music, is a Juilliard graduate who has toured with Mark O’Connor as a member of his Appalachia Waltz Trio and appeared on more than 50 albums, including ones by Natalie MacMaster and Solas. The two have toured together for more than 12 years with a unique sound that accents traditional Scottish music with classical and chamber overtones.

Electronic music rules the roost Saturday night at the Animas City Theatre, with performances by Tyr (rhymes with fire) and Dynohunter. The former – named for the Norse god of single combat – has collaborated with Moby and remixes classics by Fleetwood Mac and the Bee Gees with its own banging originals. The latter is a Boulder-based trio that includes sax, drums, bass and synth.

As has become tradition at the Community Concert Hall, the magical holiday ballet “The Nutcracker,” performed by the highly-acclaimed State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara, will usher in the holidays with two matinee and two evening performances. Artistic Director Rodney Gustafson holds true to the original classical in this Tchaikovsky masterpiece, creating a traditional “Nutcracker” set in Victorian times and suited for all ages. Evening performances are slated for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with matinees scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Sadly, The Gourds are on hiatus. But you can still get your fill at the KDUR Movie Night screening of “All the Labor: The Story of The Gourds” at 7 p.m. tonight (Thurs,, Dec. 12) in the Vallecito Room right next to the KDUR studios on campus. For nearly two decades, The Gourds have summed up all that’s good in the Austin music scene: part rock, part country, part folk and part bluegrass, they’re like a spice rub for a Texas-style brisket. The film includes live footage, interviews, candid conversations and more. Admission is free, but donations will gladly be accepted.

Tune in to KSUT on Wed., Dec. 18, for 12 hours of giving … and giving back. Make a pledge that day by calling 563-0255 and you’ll be entered into drawings all day long. Current and sustaining members can also call in to be entered. The day’s grand prize is a Telluride ski trip for two that features two nights’ lodging at the Camel’s Garden Hotel and four lift tickets. Other prizes include gym memberships, winter train tickets, gift certificates to local businesses, CD bundles from the KSUT blend and tickets to upcoming concerts. A new winner will be chosen at the top of each hour, from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. All pledges between now and the end of December will be entered into end-of-year drawings for an iPad4 and a Polk digital audio system. You can also pledge early at ksut.org.

Jack Elmore & Hoodoo Witch brings blues to Crash Music at the historic Aztec Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The trio was voted best blues act at the 2012 Dallas Music Awards. For the past 13 years, they’ve blended various genres reminiscent of acts like Cream, Rory Gallagher, Joe Satriani and Freddie King.

The Hank hosts the big, bearded guy in red Saturday morning. From 9-11 a.m., you and your kiddos can have a “Morning with Santa,” complete with a breakfast buffet, Christmas presents and a sing-along. Bring your own camera and take pictures of Little Johnny sitting on the fat guy’s lap. Seriously, this event is a highlight to the local Christmas calendar and loads of fun for kids of all ages.

Moe’s madness this week includes Funked up Fridays with the freeform jam from 6-9 p.m. and dancing to DJ Juan Blanco afterwards as well as Saturday’s Salsa Night from 7 ‘til close.

Elsewhere: Jack Ellis does acoustic blues and more at the Diamond Belle at 5:30 p.m. tonight (Thurs., Dec. 12); Running Out of Road appears free for your listening enjoyment while you gorge your belly on tasty treats and suds at Brew Pub & Kitchen at 7 p.m. Saturday; and the Pete Giuliani Band rocks Vallecito’s Schank House at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Give the gift of music this holiday season! This week’s Top Shelf list gives some suggestions for a few big shows and local festivals that are now on sale:

1. Leftover Salmon, Fri.-Sat., Feb. 14-15, Animas City Theatre. A joint production of the Community Concert Hall and Durango Massive brings Durango’s favorite jam band back to town.  It’ll be a 21-and-over affair unless it doesn’t sell out in advance, at which point those who are 18-21 can buy tickets at the door. Leftover built its local following in the ’90s with weeklong residencies at Farquahrts and graduated to bigger stages a few years later. Recently, they’ve released four new songs that are available as part of a download-only promotion through 12-packs of Breckenridge beer. Buy tickets through the ACT’s website (they went on sale Dec. 8)

2. Tim O’Brien & Darrell Scott, Sun., Feb. 16, Durango Arts Center. Their second recording as a duo, “Memories & Moments,” cracked my Top 10 albums of the year last week. According to promoter Beth Warren, this is the smallest venue on their tour, with just 200 tickets available. Purchase at the DAC box office, by phone at 259-2606 or online at durangoarts.tix.com (they went on-sale Dec. 10).

3. Durango Celtic Festival, Thurs.-Sun., March 6-9, Henry Strater Theatre. This year’s bill features Colcannon, Tramor, Wilson & McKee, plus local favorites like Giant’s Dance, Patrick Crossing, the Kitchen Jam Band, Big’Ns, Mad Haggis and Gypsyfire. Buy tickets at durangocelticfestival.com.

Some folks say that a hippie won’t steal? Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.