The Chump, Shack Shakers & BREW 3.0

by Chris Aaland

Super Tuesday came and went. The Donald – call him Trump, Chump or Drumpf, if you’re a fan of John Oliver’s – continued to steamroll the angry, old, white guy vote. It’s a Tea Party rally run amok. Just this week, The Donald waffled over distancing himself from former KKK grand wizard David Duke (a one-time Louisiana state representative who just endorsed him), blamed it on a faulty CNN earpiece (I watched the whole thing … he was answering questions just fine before and after), had one of his storm troopers strangle a Time magazine photographer trying to take a picture of a protester, threw out 30 African-American students from Valdosta State University who were trying to attend his rally, and retweeted a quote from fascist Benito Mussolini. Even by Trump standards, it was one hell of a week. I won’t even waste time on the last Republican debate, something even Jerry Springer would’ve been proud to have orchestrated.

Fortunately, we can escape reality this week.

Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers, a groundbreaking alt-country band, returns to town tonight (Thurs., March 3) to play the Balcony Backstage. More than a decade ago, hundreds of you packed into Storyville to see these guys open for Hank Williams III. Their frontman, J.D. Wilkes, swung from the rafters and punched out stage lights over the mosh pit. Now six albums into their career, including 2015’s kick-ass “The Southern Surreal,” they’ve had songs featured on the small screen (HBO’s “True Blood”), opened a European tour for Robert Plant and even won over horror novelist Steven King’s icy heart (he listed “CB Song” as one of his five favorite tunes on his iPod). Past tourmates include Rev. Horton Heat, Rancid, the Black Keys and Slim Cessna’s Auto Club. You’ll regret it for a lifetime if you wuss out and stay home to watch “Vikings” on the History Channel instead. Don’t be that wuss.

Things could get rowdy tonight as Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers visit the Balcony.

Psychedelic soul outfit Monophonics plays the Sheridan Opera House in Telluride at 9 p.m. Saturday. They last grooved in the box canyon at last year’s Blues & Brews and return with their blend of northern soul, doo-wop, rock and psyche pop.

The Mobros bring rootsy, rocking music to Crash Music at the historic Aztec Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The brothers’ Morris – Kelly on guitar and bass, Patrick on drums – grew up in rural South Carolina, where they developed a unique, brotherly vocal harmony. Their mix of jazz, soul and rock is influenced by the Band, the Beatles, Marvin Gaye and Eric Clapton.

Devil’s Dram, a Farmington band that infuses traditional Celtic ballads and instrumentals with rock, funk and punk, visits the Mancos Valley Distillery at 7 p.m. Saturday. In drinking terms, the devil’s dram is a glass of whiskey taken from what soaks into the barrel during the distilling process … the dregs. While it may be from the bottom of the barrel, it’s the best testament to the true flavor of any given batch. The group’s cask is the stage and its tools are electric guitar, bagpipe, flute, tin whistle and bodhran. Saxophone and didgeridoo are added to the mix.

If you’re a fan of “The Voice,” then you’ll surely want to witness The Durango Voice. The show will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the Henry Strater Theatre. For the past month, organizers have auditioned singers to participate, and the best have been chosen for the first round of competition. Friday’s winners will then train for a month under a professional voice coach and compete again on Sat., April 7. They’ll ultimately compete for free professional coaching, prizes and singing engagements at local establishments. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Manna Soup Kitchen.

The Met: Live in HD continues at 10:55 a.m. Saturday in the Vallecito Room of FLC’s Student Union with a live, HD broadcast of Giacomo Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. Soprano Kristine Opolais and tenor Roberto Alagna join forces in Puccini’s obsessive love story. Opolais sings the title role of the country girl who transforms herself into a Parisian temptress, while Alagna is the dashing student who desperately woos her. Approximate run time is three hours.

BREW Pub & Kitchen turns three this week with much in store for you, the faithful drinker. All weekend long, BREW will have keg giveaways, $2 off growlers and a special menu. On the actual anniversary (Monday), house pints cost just $3. If you’re a fan of BREW’s weekly trivia contest, Geeks Who Drink, note that starting Wednesday (and running through the summer), the start time moves to 8:30 p.m.

Now that March is upon us, Steamworks revises its Irish Car Bomb for Firkin Friday. The Irish Car Bomb has its base in Steamworks’ award-winning Backside Stout, which features complex malt and oat flavor. Its second fermentation is with Irish cream and Jameson whiskey flavors. “Remember, it’s a very smooth brew and it goes down easy,” said brewer Spencer Roper. “But it could hit you hard, and you probably won’t feel it coming.” The first Irish Car Bomb gets tapped at 3 p.m. Friday at Steamworks; ignition for a second firkin is 3 p.m. Friday, March 16 at Purgatory.

Those new Ska cans I wrote about last week? They hit the liquor store shelves March 1. Now you’ll be able to shotgun 12-oz. Decadents, Steel Toe Milk Stouts and Buster Nut Brown Ales to your heart’s content.

A busy week for Kirk James finds a pair of solo gigs and one full band affair on his schedule. Solo dates include 5:30-7 p.m. tonight at Durango Craft Spirits and 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at Purgy’s Pub. The full band also gets together at 4 p.m. Saturday at Vallecito’s Hideaway Grill.

Also of note: Pete Giuliani Band plays Cocktails for a Cause, a benefit for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, from 8-11 p.m. tonight at the Wild Horse Saloon; and DJ Noonz spins at Moe’s from 9 ‘til close Saturday

This week’s Top Shelf list is a Satanic six-pack from Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers catalog:

1. “CB Song,” from “Cockadoodledon’t,” 2003.

2. “Cussin’ in Tongues,” from “Believe,” 2004.

3. “Ichabod!,” from “Pandelirium,” 2006.

4. “Swampblood,” from “Swampblood,” 2007.

5. “Dead Bury the Dead,” on “The Southern Surreal,” 2015.

6. “Demon Rum,” also from “The Southern Surreal.”

You’re a speed-freakin’ demon? Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.