Sexton, Dustbowl Revival and getting the Led out

by Chris Aaland

Sunday’s jaunt into the San Juans taught young Otto a lesson or two about paying attention to every step. Up near the headwaters of Lime Creek on one of our usual grouse hunting/trout fishing adventures, we came upon the wreckage of an antique car at the bottom of a scree slope. The rocks were wet, as rains come daily to the San Juans this time of year. And, of course, 8-year-old boys prance around like, well, 8-year-old boys. It doesn’t matter how many times you tell your kids to be careful. Daddy’s warnings are merely background noise. The real lesson gets taught when skinny, 8-year-old shin, granite and gravity intersect. My 47-year-old, rock & roll-impaired hearing didn’t hear the crash. I just heard the scream afterwards. By the time we rolled into the driveway, the welt was the size of a lemon. I’ve named our adventure “Legend of the Fall.” Perhaps Otto will be more careful next time he finds himself on a wet scree slope.

This week presents us with a few more legends of the fall, with a slate of concerts by artists with varying degrees of local history.

Martin Sexton once again tips his hat to local audiences with a sure-to-sell-out show Tuesday at the Strater.

KSUT opens its 40th anniversary concert series by teaming with the Strater Hotel to present Martin Sexton in concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Sexton is a Four Corners favorite, having first made his impression in the late 1990s through heavy touring and a series of albums like 1996’s “Black Sheep” and 1998’s “The American.” Sexton mines the East Coast vein of folk music rather than the rootsier Texas troubadours who typically tour through our region. He captures a sense of place in tunes like “Diner” (an ode to the silver streamlined eateries popular in the eastern U.S.) and “The Way I Am,” (a Melvillian sailor’s tale). Similarly, he pulls from the same longing for freedom that Springsteen so eloquently did in the 1970s. Sexton originals like “Freedom of the Road” and “Black Sheep” fall into the latter category. He recently released his seventh studio record, “Mixtape of the Open Road,” after a five-year recording hiatus. Over half of the tickets to this show pre-sold in just a week, leaving fewer than 100 tickets remaining as of Tuesday. It will almost certainly sell out; save $5 per ticket by purchasing in advance at henrystratertheatre.com or Southwest Sound.

A busy week at the Community Concert Hall gets started at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Thurs., Oct. 8) with a band that’s played smaller stages in Durango, the Dustbowl Revival. This eight-piece Venice, Calif.-based band melds a variety of American music styles, from old-school bluegrass and gospel to pre-war blues and the hot swing of New Orleans. Their roaring live sets earned them the distinction of “Best Live Band in L.A.” by the L.A. Weekly.

The Mighty Zep – or at least a loving tribute to the original – returns to town at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday with Get the Led Out: The American Led Zeppelin plays the Community Concert Hall. This isn’t a Zeppelin impersonator troupe. Rather than four musicians who look and act the part, the six musicians of GTLO recreate the Zep’s studio recordings. They present a two-hour-plus set that spans the career of the legendary British super group. With a strong focus on the early years, the band also touches on the deeper cuts that were seldom, if ever, heard in concert.

Celebrating the stories of Mexican immigrants in music and dance, Las Cafeteras will take the stage at the Community Concert Hall on Monday at 7:30 p.m. Born in the streets of Los Angeles, Las Cafeteras formed as a band in 2008 with the purpose of documenting the histories of their neighborhoods through music. Their sound is brought to life by eclectic instrumentation, including jaranas, reuinto, a donkey jawbone, a West African bass instrument called the Marimbol, cajón and a wooden platform called the Tarima used to dance Zapateado. 

Southwest Sound hosts its annual Record Swap this Saturday at the VFW. Radio stations and record collectors are looking to purge their collections, selling vintage vinyl at cut-rate prices. Both KDUR and KSUT will be there, with treasures that date back 40 years. Punk, metal, country, folk, bluegrass, jazz, blues and more are sure to be well-represented, available for pocket change. It all kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday and runs through 4 p.m. Admission is $5 during the early portion of the swap (9-10 a.m.) and $2 afterwards.

Tuesday marks the deadline to reserve your ticket for Music in the Mountains’ 30th anniversary celebration. The affair – which features a performance by world-renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine against the golden backdrop of Electra Lake – also includes brunch-themed hors d’oeuvres and a bloody mary bar. The event itself takes place from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 18, at the house of Rene Haas & David Perry. RSVP by calling 385-6820 or at musicinthemountains.com.

The Sheridan Arts Foundation – the nonprofit organization that runs Telluride’s Sheridan Opera House – has announced its Holiday Concert Series, and it’s spectacular. R&B legend Smokey Robinson (Dec. 29) headlines the incredible week, but he ain’t cheap: tickets range from $200 to $1,000, the latter of which includes a cocktail reception with Smokey himself. Other highlights include Amy Helm (Dec. 27), Jewel (Dec. 28), the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Dec. 31), Head for the Hills (Jan. 2) and Hot Buttered Rum (Jan. 3). Tickets went on sale Monday.

If you haven’t pledged during the KDUR fall membership drive, there’s still time. The annual autumn drive runs through Friday, so support community radio by calling 247-7262 or visiting kdur.org.

Moe’s madness this weekend includes DJ Kaztro’s Funked Up Friday from 9 ‘til close, the Nolan’s Noggin fundraiser with Smackover and DJ Noonz from 7 ‘til close Saturday and Rich Dog from 8-11 p.m. Sunday.

Finally, Bacon sizzles with jazzy funk, ska and reggae at 9 p.m. in a no-cover show at the Balcony Backstage.

This week’s Top Shelf playlist honors six of my favorite Martin Sexton songs.

1. “Diner,” from “Black Sheep,” 1996.

2. “13 Step Boogie,” from “In the Journey,” 1991.

3. “Diggin’ Me,” from “The American,” 1998.

4. “Shut Up and Sing,” from “Mixtape of the Open Road,” 2015.

5. “Happy,” from “Seeds,” 2007.

6. “Angeline,” from “Wonder Bar,” 2000.

Knockin’ back a little meatloaf plate? Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net