B.B., bikes and beer

by Chris Aaland
 

Lucille gently weeps. B.B. King died at his home in Las Vegas a week ago and the world lost its most revered blues icon in the process. Think 15 Grammy awards, induction into the Blues and Rock & Roll halls of fame, a Presidential Medal of Freedom and a National Medal of Arts. Someone who sold more blues records and made more money than any artist ever. The King of the Blues.

Think of being born in the Delta near Indianola in 1925, the son of sharecroppers, living the better part of 40 years in a segregated South. Think of a 21-year-old spinning records as a DJ at Memphis’ WDIA, adopting the “Beale Street Blues Boy” moniker – or “B.B.,” as young Riley was soon to be known. In 1949, some of his earliest records were produced by Sam Phillips – the same guy who discovered Elvis, Cash, Carl and Jerry Lee several years later.

B.B. King in his heyday. The “King of the Blues” died last week at the age of 89.

Think of a man with 15 kids and 50 grandchildren who kept touring through last October, despite living with diabetes for 20 years.

Think of collaborations with U2, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt and virtually every significant blues artists of the past 60 years.

And raise your glass and toast the man who slung Lucille, the black Gibson ES-355 guitar … one of the last living links to Bukka, Sonny Boy and T-Bone.

Crash Music in the historic Aztec Theatre hosts the soulful Laura Rain & the Caesars at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Thurs., May 21). Rain has been performing on the Detroit and L.A. music scenes for well over a decade. Starting out in the trenches of the Motor City blues circuit, she quickly encompassed more versatility and began branching out from her blues roots. She adapted a soul-drenched, high-energy, sensuous format.  Classically trained as a Verdi soprano, Rain has a diverse range that will take listeners on a musical journey to R&B, jazz and blues territory.

Steamworks and Ska reprise their collaborative Face Plant Ale in celebration of the 44th Iron Horse Bicycle Classic with an evening of fun and frivolity Friday, as the co-brewed, signature event beer is tapped. The unofficial IHBC Kickoff Party is set for 3-9 p.m. Friday in Buckley Park. “The Face Plant is celebrating 20 years,” said Kris Oyler, Steamworks co-founder. “This is the longest-standing brewer collaboration nationwide, so we wanted to kick the celebration up a notch.” Steamworks brewers Ken Martin and Spencer Roper crafted the 2015 Face Plant, a golden Czech Pilsner. It will be on tap at both Steamworks and Ska and bottled for very limited distribution in local liquor stores. Pedal from Ska to Durango Cyclery for bike games and the drawing for a YETI cycle on Friday and everybody wins as participants will receive a free commemorative pint glass filled with Face Plant.

The kick-off party in Buckley Park will include a Steamworks-Ska beer garden and live performances by DJ Codestar (3-6) and Carrie Nation & the Speakeasy (6-9).

Steamworks will further participate in the IHBC events on Sunday with the pro-class mountain bike race through the brewpub (in the front window, by the bar, out to the north courtyard and off the back deck) and a trials demo in the Steamworks parking lot. Ska and Steamworks will also host a joint beer garden in the Steamworks parking lot from noon ‘til 5 Sunday.

Moe’s slate this weekend includes live hip-hop with Summon the Spirit at 9 p.m. tonight, Funked Up Fridays with Oblee at 7 p.m. and dancing on the patio to the sounds of DJs Noonz & Beeso at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Elsewhere: Kirk James does solo blues at 6 p.m. tonight at 6512 Restaurant and brings the full blues band to the Hideaway Grill at Vallecito at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; the Pete Giuliani Band plays the Lake House at Vallecito at 7 p.m. Saturday, while Pete goes solo at Mesa Verde’s Farview Lodge at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Monday and Tuesday; Black Velvet plays the main stage at the Animas River Fest in Farmington at 1 p.m. Saturday; later, as a duo, they’ll play the Animas River Café at the Doubletree at 5 p.m. Saturday and the Animas River Fest’s Little Pavilion at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

KSUT hosts its one-day Festival Fund Drive from 7 a.m. ’til 6 p.m. today. All day long, members will win weekend passes and tickets to regional festivals and local concerts. Pledge by calling 563-0255 or online at ksut.org to be eligible. This week’s Top Shelf list looks at some of the local festival highlights to be given away:

1. Pagosa Folk’n Bluegrass, June 5-7: VIP package includes backstage catering & beverages, reserved seating under the tent, lodging through Incredible Pagosa Vacation Rentals and soaks and massages at Overlook Hot Springs. Noam Pikelny with Stuart Duncan, Solas and Red Molly will perform.

2. Snowmass Mammoth Fest, June 12-14. Pair of weekend passes. Highlights include Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, the Tedeschi Trucks Band and Greensky Bluegrass.

3. Taos Solar Music Festival, June 27-28. Pair of weekend passes. Rodrigo y Gabriella, the John Butler Trio and the Wallflowers are slated to appear.

4. Music in the Mountains, July 12-Aug. 2. Three packages will be drawn, including KSUT’s Party in the Park with Todo Mundo, MITM’s folk show featuring Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, plus an orchestral performance of the winner’s choice.

5. Telluride Jazz, July 31-Aug. 2. Pair of three-day passes. Maceo Parker brings the funk, Bill Frisell the jazz.

6. Mumford & Sons Gentlemen of the Road Stopover, Aug. 21-22, Salida. Pair of weekend passes with on-site camping. Mumford, the Flaming Lips, Jenny Lewis and Dawes are among the attractions.

7. Four Corners Folk Festival, Sept. 4-6. Pair of three-day passes with on-site camping. Hot Rize headlines, plus the women’s folk supergroup of Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz & Aoife O’Donovan.

8. Ska’s 20th Anniversary & Brewers Invitational, Sept. 12. This brews-n-tunes fest always sells out.

9. Telluride Blues & Brews, Sept. 18-20. Pair of passes and on-site camping included. ZZ Top, Gregg Allman, Taj Mahal … Need I list more?

10. Moab Folk Festival, Nov. 6-8. Pair of weekend passes. Lineup includes Bruce Cockburn, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Mary Gauthier.

And others, including Animas River Blues & Brews, Aztec Highlands Games, Dolores River Festival, Animas River Festival and upcoming DAM shows.

Free from your spell? Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net. Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.