The boys of summer and sister act

by Chris Aaland

Purple Mondays will never be the same. Since 2007, Colorado Rockies fans have embraced Troy Tulowitzki, baseball’s premier young talent at shortstop, as their knight in shining armor. Tulo is a tall, athletic fielder with a cannon for an arm, capable of making highlight-reel-quality plays any time a ball is scorched toward the gap on the left side. At the plate, he hits for a balance of power and punch – perhaps the best-hitting shortstop since Cal Ripken Jr. Aside from a rash of injuries that limited his performance the past few years, he was everything you could want in a middle infielder, coveted by every other team in baseball.

SHEL – aka sisters Sarah, Hannah, Eva and Liza – play the Buckley Park stage this Thursday.

On Monday night, after Tulo drove in a run in the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs, he was pulled from the lineup. Knowledgeable sports fans knew the jig was up: Elvis had left the building. Toronto and Colorado swapped the two highest-paid shortstops in baseball, sending Jose Reyes to the Rox and Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays. For the record, Colorado acquired some pitching prospects while unloading Tulo’s enormous contract.

But the Blake Street Bombers version 20.15 is no longer. Tulo and Cargo – hard-hitting right fielder Carlos Gonzalez, who along with Tulowitzki were the last remaining pieces of 2007’s World Series team – have been split up. Sure, the Rockies still have baseball’s best young third baseman in Nolan Arenado, athletic second baseman DJ LeMahieu, leadoff man and centerfielder Charlie Blackmon and hard-hitting Corey Dickerson (fresh off a stint on the DL) in the lineup. Runs will still be scored. But the Boys of Summer, with their perennial chase to stay out of the NL West cellar, are yesterday’s news.

Fortunately, the Donks open training camp at Dove Valley on Friday. And there’s also a busy week of music.

The Telluride Jazz Festival runs tonight through Sunday in Town Park. If you’re leery of Telluride gatherings due to the large crowds, Jazz might be a nice reprise from the throngs that attend Bluegrass, Blues & Brews and The Ride. And while jazz certainly plays a big part in the bill – the guest of honor at the 39th Telluride Jazz is legendary saxophonist Ernie Watts, while groundbreaking guitarist Bill Frisell and renowned keyboardist Joey DeFrancesco also perform with their combos – the lineup certainly isn’t limited to jazz. Former James Brown saxman Maceo Parker headlines Saturday night and the M&M’s – a rootsy combo that features John Medeski, Papa Mali, Rob Mercurio and Stanton Moore – wraps up Sunday. Plus, you can check out regional favorites like Euforquestra, Nosotros and Todo Mundo and support Durango’s up-and-coming jazz youngsters in the Stillwater Foundation All-Stars (12:50 p.m. Sunday on the main stage).

Dwight Yoakam returns to the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio at 7 p.m. Saturday. If you didn’t get tickets, you’re out of luck. It’s sold out. Dwight is touring in support of “Second Hand Heart,” his newest album and best-selling record in well over a decade. The country traditionalist is a throwback to the days when rockabilly, honky-tonk, outlaw country, Western swing and bluegrass ruled the country charts. In other words, the good old days before Shania, Toby and Blake screwed the genre up beyond recognition.

The final free Thursday night concert in Buckley Park brings a ringer to town tonight (Thurs., July 30): SHEL, an infectious pop-folk group with a subtle hint of indie. They’ve played Pagosa festers like the Four Corners Folk Festival in the past. SHEL is an acronym formed from the first names of the Holbrook sisters – Sarah (violin), Hannah (keyboards), Eva (mandolin) and Liza (drums). Homeschooled in Fort Collins, the Holbrook sisters were classically trained and raised on Chopin, Bach, Vivaldi, the Beatles and the Marx Brothers. The sister act has performed for Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Tour and hits Red Rocks the night after playing Buckley Park. Dave Stewart of Eurythmics is producing the group’s second album. As always, the freebie shows are presented by the Community Concert Hall with sponsorship from Alpine Bank and run from 5:30-7:30 Thursdays in Buckley.

Celebrate great American roots music at Crash Music at the historic Aztec Theatre Tuesday with the Slim Jenkins Band. Jenkins’ music travels back to the jazz, blues and jump blues of the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s. It’s a revival not dissimilar to what Pokey LaFarge has accomplished in recent years. Like LaFarge, Jenkins evokes the very history of American music in each of his recordings and performances. As is the case with most of Crash Music’s mid-week shows, doors open at 7 p.m. with music to follow at 7:30. St. Clair Winery will be on hand to sell beer, wine and sandwiches.

Little Wilderness brings original tunes that are eclectic and groove-oriented, reflecting the soul and spirit of indie rock, punk rock and Americana all rolled into one fat package. They’ve gigged around Durango in the past and are currently working on a new record. The quartet includes Paul Henderson (vocals, guitar), Daniel Sazabo (lead guitar), Juan Lopez (bass) and Quanah Lansing (drums).

The Mancos Valley Distillery presents Eric Hisaw with special guest Moe (of Moetones fame) at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Hisaw is native of Las Cruces, N.M., who currently plies his craft in Austin, Texas. He’s released five albums of hard-driving country-rock that delves into blues territory at times. Fans of Joe Ely, Dave Alvin, Steve Earle and Alejandro Escovedo will find similarities in Hisaw’s work.

The Lisa Blue Trio plays Wednesday’s concert in the Rochester Hotel’s Secret Garden from 4:30-7 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Sexual Assault Services Organization (SASO) of Durango. As always, it’s sponsored by the Rochester and the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado.

Kirk James has an unusually busy week in store for him. He goes solo at 6512’ Restaurant & Lounge at 7 p.m. tonight and 6 p.m. Saturday at the Seven Rivers Steakhouse at the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio. Plus, he’ll bring his full band to Moe’s at 7 p.m. Friday and the Kennebec Café in Hesperus at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Elsewhere: Durango DOT Comedy presents live improv in the form of “Back in the Saddle” at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Durango Arts Center ($2 Ska pints!); and Six Dollar String Band shares its classic, old-time fiddle-and-banjo music on the cool, shady patio of the Yardbird Eatery from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday.

The pie don’t taste so sweet? Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.