Silver anniversaries, chiles and Saharan blues

by Chris Aaland

The late summer brings some well-needed highlights to our humble burg, one that’s still reeling from the sludge that washed downstream two weeks ago … namely, the start of the school year, the smell of roasting green chiles and not one but two 25th anniversaries for long-running businesses.

Yes, it’s hard to believe 8-year-old Otto begins third grade. Even harder to imagine 14-month Rosie is in preschool. I can’t even fathom that I drank my first Durango Brewing Co. beer 25 years ago. I have no idea which of their six original offerings it was, but I knew the brewery was a few blocks from the Animas City shack I shared with five friends and two dogs. At the time, my tastes leaned toward the cheapest 12-packs around: Milwaukee’s Best, Meisterbrau, Stroh’s, Schaeffer and Schlitz.

The Concert Hall kicks off its season with North African blues band Tinariwen on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

DBC celebrates its 25th anniversary Tuesday with $2 pints, live music from Booty Conda (6-8 p.m.) and Buster’s Ghost (8-10) and grub from Texas Ty’s BBQ. It’s Durango’s oldest and Colorado’s third oldest microbrewery and kicks off D-Town’s month-long series of brewer anniversaries and beerfests. I guess a town with six breweries and its own grain-to-glass distiller needs a few more excuses to tip one back.

Some brewer’s history: Carver’s is actually older, but deemed a brewpub. It started serving in 1988, shortly after Gov. John Hickenlooper’s Wynkoop opened in Denver. Carver’s is the second oldest brewpub in Colorado. DBC is technically a microbrewery. Five years later, Ska rolled out its first barrel, and Steamworks was a year later. BREW and Animas Brewing came to be more recently.

For years, we’ve bought our Tibetan prayer flags, Grateful Dead Beanie Babies and last-minute anniversary and birthday presents for our spouses at that groovy little hippie pad at 1015 Main Ave. Animas Trading Co. celebrates its 25th anniversary Tuesday with goodies and giveaways all day long – including free Homeslice Pizza courtesy The Point, an Instagram photo booth, henna tattoo art and live music from Ruckus & the Rice Patties from 5-7.

Gazpacho hosts its annual chile roast Friday and Saturday. Get there early to guarantee your bushel: roasting starts at 9 a.m. each day, ending at around 4 p.m. Friday and as soon as supplies run out Saturday – likely by noon. As always, Matt Arias’ crew will have some added goodies. Last year, it was a free pint of green chile-infused margaritas with each bushel. That cocktail alone was worth the price of admission.

The Community Concert Hall kicks off its 2015-16 season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with the North African Saharan blues band, Tinariwen. The desert is their home, and the complex realities of this homeland are reflected in the band’s hypnotic and electrifying guitar rock. Tinariwen’s band members are Tuareg, descended from nomadic people who have wandered the dunes for millennia. Tinariwen’s inaugural album, recorded in the Algerian desert, won a Grammy for best world music record. Special guest Insects vs. Robots is a self-proclaimed psychotropicturesque quasi-nomadic music tribe roaming the jungles of Los Angeles. Yes, the dance floor will be open.

All aboard the Durango Blues Train! The funky engine pulls out of the D&SNGRR Depot at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday (sold out) for a three-plus-hour round trip trek to Rockwood and back. All along the way, you can stroll from coach to coach as nationally recognized bluesmen and bands perform for you. This year’s lineup features the Mark May Band, the King Stan Band, Possessed by Paul James, Charlie Parr, Reverend Deadeye and Big Jim Adam. Suds from Ska and Telluride are available for purchase and there’s a fully stocked bar as well.

If you’re on the fence, catch Charlie Parr live on KSUT at around 11 a.m. Friday. The Minnesota native has released an astounding 14 albums since busting onto the blues scene 13 years ago, including his critically hailed Red House Records debut, “Stumpjumper.” Armed with a National resonator, a fretless open-back banjo and a 12-string acoustic guitar, he plays Piedmont blues in the style of Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Rev. Gary Davis, Dave Van Ronk and Mississippi John Hurt.

If you’re heading to the hills Tuesday, you might want to check out reggae royalty the Mighty Diamonds, who play the Sheridan Opera House in Telluride at 8 p.m. Lloyd “Judge” Ferguson, Fitzroy ”Bunny” Simpson and Donald “Tabby” Shaw formed in 1969 in the Trenchtown area of Kingston, Jamaica. They are the most consistent and longest-running vocal trio in Jamaican musical history; for the past 46 years, they’ve entertained and educated the world with their sweet harmonies and conscious lyrics.

Moe’s Funked Up Friday features Rob Webster at 7 p.m. Friday, while DJ Kaztro spins tunes on Saturday.

Elsewhere: Kirk James goes solo at 6512’ at 7 p.m. tonight (Thurs., Aug. 20) and rocks out with his full blues band at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Hideaway Bar & Grill at Vallecito; the Black Velvet duo plays 6512’ at 7 p.m. Saturday; and the Lost Souls play Wednesday’s concert in the Rochester Hotel’s Secret Garden from 4:30-7 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Durango Arts Center.

And congrats to Lech Usinowicz for being named the Music/ Artistic Director of the San Juan Symphony Youth Orchestras. The SJSYO is the only youth symphony in the Four Corners. Its members receive exceptional education under the guidance of the region’s finest musicians and educators. Ever since graduating college, where he served the dual masters of classical (in various FLC music ensembles) and bluegrass (as the bassist for the Pagosa Hot Strings), Usinowicz has immersed himself in educating young musicians. He’s the founder and CEO of the Be Frank Foundation, an organization that supports the needs of the arts and outdoor education; co-founder and board member of the Four Corners Orff Chapter, which trains music educators; and founder and artistic director of the Durango Chamber Music Academy. He’s truly one of the good guys.

This week’s Top Shelf list celebrates the original six DBC beers, which are printed on the back of my oldest souvenir pint glass, circa 1990. Three are still in rotation up on North Main: Durango Dark; Anasazi Wheat; Colorfest; Winter Ale; Fool’s Gold; and Ryebock.

Gonna keep drinkin’ ‘til I can’t raise a toe? Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net