Devil Boy Turner, Nosotros and Burger & a Bandby

by Chris Aaland

Road safety signs are useless when motorists simply choose to ignore them. Ever since Colorado passed its regulation prohibiting extended driving in highway passing lanes, I’ve noticed thousands of dimwits oblivious to the statute. By my math, nearly 10 percent of drivers heading westbound in the two lanes of U.S. 160 ignore the signage, causing the single-lane eastbound traffic to risk life and limb to passing others who are oblivious to the Speed Limit 65 signs while cruising along at a snail-like 45 MPH.

So it’s with great amusement that I watch the US 160/550 intersection work. Let’s not knock the workmanship: these new lanes are a thing of beauty. Someone at CDOT deserves a gold star or at least an A for effort. Cyclists have every right to the road and the rest of us need to safely share it with them.

But if drivers can’t figure out a simple double-left turn lane, how are they going to come to grips with “Stop Here” signs that allow cyclists to merge into the bright green boxes in front of them? I’ve noticed that N-O-B-O-D-Y stops at the “Stop Here” sign at the eastbound U.S. 160 left turn lane onto Camino Del Rio, including Durango Transit bus drivers. And the sign that says to not block lanes? Please. The end result, particularly during Durango’s rare “rush hours” forces motorists and cyclists alike to weave through an obstacle course just to get through the half-dozen or so folks who insist on blocking the intersections.                                                                                                                              

Yes, orange cone season is upon us. And, like you, I’m getting accustomed to using alternate routes like Roosa or Highway 3 to avoid the mess. But I’m a crotchety old cuss who is fully excited that my advanced age affords me opportunities to do things like wear socks with Crocs or shake my fist at people who don’t use their turn signals. So take some advice from Uncle Chris and obey the signs.

One of the spookiest blues guitarists around, Eddie “Devil Boy” Turner, plays Crash Music at the Historic Aztec Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Throughout the late 1990s and early ’00s, Turner’s electric guitar added ambience to five of Boulder bluesman Otis Taylor’s albums. Turner and Taylor go way back to their days in the seminal Colorado band,  Zephyr, which also featured future heavy metal guitar hero Tommy Bolin. Turner now performs with his own band as singer/songwriter/guitarist and has garnered Independent Music Awards for his recent album, “The Turner Diaries.”

Moe’s has one of its biggest weeks ever in terms of live music, with national acts mixed in with local stuff. Salsa Night kicks off with the one-and-only Nosotros at 7 p.m. tonight (Thurs., May 29). Nosotros combines Latin rhythms with elements of flamenco, jazz, salsa and rock. They’ve played locally nearly a dozen times, including past Music in the Mountains performances. This time around, you get to learn to salsa dance, too!

Then at 9 p.m. Friday, Moe’s hosts a hip-hop show with national DJs Glife, Pookie and Neutron. That follows a 6 p.m. Funked Up Friday with Bacon. On Saturday, there’s live music with Fno2 at 6 p.m. and a farewell show with Juice Money at 9.

The Lawn Chair Kings are back at the Balcony from 5-9 p.m. Friday. It’s also the Nord’s first day on summer break after another year of teaching all y’all’s offspring, so expect him to be in fine form. The current lineup of Hap Purcell (banjo), Pat Dressen (drums, mandolin), Dan Leek (electric & upright basses) and Erik Nordstrom (electric & acoustic guitars) roams from bluegrass to rock, so be prepared to mix drinking and dancing.

The Lindells – comprised of the married duo of Kim and Chris Lindell – play the Dolores River Brewery at 8 p.m. Sunday. The duo has performed together in the high and wild places of the American West for 30 years, playing original songs that blend roots-rock, folk and blues. They’ve shared the stage with the likes of J.J. Cale, Arlo Guthrie, Robert Earl Keen and Dark Star Orchestra, among others. Best yet, they call Dolores home. Cement Pond joins them on the bill.

The James Ranch starts something new this week – its summer dining and music series. With a covered stage on the terraces, the ranch now offers views, tunes and delicious food produced on-site. Each Thursday from 5-8 p.m., the James families offer Burger and a Band, with Hello Dollface kicking things off this week. Admission is $20, which includes a Harvest Grill signature burger (beef or veggie) and bag of Chip Peddler chips. Kids under 12 have no band admission fee and can order from the menu. Seating is limited and attendees are encouraged to bring picnic blankets. The series continues weekly through Sept. 4, with 15 local bands serving up rock, country, bluegrass, blues and more.

Also of note: Jack Tallmadge brings hogjaw, thump & twang to the Sporting News Grill in the Holiday Inn at 6 p.m. tonight;  the Pete Giuliani Band rocks the Balcony at 5:30 p.m. tonight, while Pete goes solo at Mesa Verde’s Farview Lodge from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday (an ongoing gig that continues throughout the summer); Jack Ellis brings the blues to the Office Spiritorium at 7 p.m. Friday; Kirk James does solo blues at the Seven Rivers Steakhouse from 6-10 p.m. at the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio; and the Black Velvet duo does Dalton Ranch Golf Club at 5 p.m. Sunday.

This week’s Top Shelf list is provided by Rick Carney of Moe’s, whose tastes are all over the map. “It’s way harder than it sounds,” Rick said of the challenge. From the looks of it, it reads from my cassette collection of the 1980s … not a bad thing at all. Here are Rick’s Top 10 albums of all time:

1. The Clash, “London Calling,” 1979.
2. The Kinks, “One for the Road,” 1980.
3. MC 900 Ft. Jesus, “One Step Ahead of the Spider,” 1994.
4. Bob Marley & the Wailers, “Live!” 1975.
5. Beastie Boys, “Paul’s Boutique,” 1989.
6. Ramones, “Rocket to Russia,” 1977.
7. Devo, “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!,” 1978.
8. Frank Zappa, “Joe’s Garage,” 1979.
9. Faith No More, “Angel Dust,” 1992.
10. Oingo Boingo, “Farewell: Live from the Universal Amphitheatre, Halloween 1995,” 1996.

With a tongue like a cow? Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.