Kitchenpoet on the Road

The lyrics to the song, On the Road Again, are playing in my head, as the showers are playing hopscotch on the plains. 

Somewhere in Wyoming, my attention is captured by a field full of...

I'm at a red light, on the streets of Denver, when some dancing maidens catch my eye.

I hate to drive through Denver without stopping at one of the Tattered Cover locations. For those who don't know, it is the flagship bookstore of Colorado, with three locations in Denver. I have been accused of having a potty mouth, and I will admit my mind is often in the toilet. Did anyone expect me to photograph books in a bookstore? Please, that is just too banal.

When my friends in Kansas outgrew their house, the barn was converted into a new home.

Ataloa Lodge was the home of the founder and first president of Bacone College, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He and is wife were interested in Indians and spent a large part of their time visiting them and collecting their art. Their old home is now a very nice little museum, which doesn't get the attention of the Museum of the Five Civilized Tribes, which is also in Muskogee, but it is a sweet secret.

This is part of their point collection. My favorite thing is a huge case full of Kachina figures from the southwest. 

Chief Joseph was imprisoned at Tonkawa, and the founder and his wife were regular visitors there. These items belonged to Joseph. That's one of his tobacco pouches at the bottom of the photo. The situation was grim for the prisoners at Tonkawa, and two of Joseph's children died there. 

I didn't want to make this trip, and I really miss Missoula, but I'm making the most of it and hope to head home soon. 

First Friday's Hottest Art Show

This was a personal favorite at the skateboard art show at the Badlander on First Friday. There was action all over town, as recorded in the previous two posts. Let this be the exclamation point to end the Friday report and move onto Saturday, which was just as busy, and lasted all day. This show and Great American Taxi at the Top Hat get the top ratings for this evening's events. 

There are more images from this show and the night in general in a set titled First Friday, over on the flickr archive. 

A Busy Weekend, Part 1: First Friday in May

My favorite torch singer was up front with Zeppo in the Loft, above Higgins Alley. It was just one of many major attractions around Zootown on First Friday.

The grand gentleman of zootown musicians, Russ Nassett, was playing the Union Club, and really rocking the place. The rugby people on the dance floor were a mass of flying elbows and knees. Too dangerous for an old goat like me, but I managed to capture some good looks. Russ's son is on the right. 

The drummer's wife wanted photos. There are a bunch on the flickr archive in the set with the matching title. 

This fellow looked almost as big as the truck he was in.

Elephant Revival opened for Great American Taxi (see previous post), at the Top Hat. Their bus barely made it to the venue. 

Yes, the cello player is back, and he's the real deal. That is to say he can play that thing. 

This piper advertised live music at Celtic Connection. 

Broken Valley Roadshow works the street, near the Badlander. They were playing later at Zootown Brew. 

Computer Central had their own street band, and an exhibition of b&w film work inside. As usual, there are many more images on flickr. 

Vince Herman @ the Top Hat

The band was swinging with an infectious rhythm, and the dancers were in heaven. 

Are there any Leftover Salmon fans out there? For me, the highlight of the weekend was Great American Taxi, with Vince Herman in the driver's seat, at the Top Hat. I had this one marked on my calendar for a long time. 

This event wasn't listed on missoulaevents.net, and I have asked several people why. Normally that site is a very reliable guide to what's happening in zootown, and it's color coded for people like me. However, if you have an event to post, be sure you include the address and the correct time. 

Vince is a personal favorite, since I saw him doing an MC bit at the first Mulberry Mountain Music Festival, up in the Ozarks near Fayetteville. I have photos from GAT's show at the Badlander and last year's Roots Festival, on the flickr arhive, and in previous posts. People who attended Roots will remember Vince played about three cords, a transformer blew out,up by the Bodega, and the block went dark...and silent. Vince came down into the audience with his mandolin, followed by the guitar and fiddle players, and did an acoustic set in the middle of the crowd in front of the stage. 

 

For a while, I didn't think I would get in, because there was a $10 cover, and I didn't have it. I prowled zootown, and found lots of other music, which will be reported soon. There was plenty to see and do on the First Friday of May. Saturday was more of the same, with music and happenings everywhere. I have 750 images from the weekend to look at. 

I returned to the Top Hat, for the last set, and negotiated a lower cover, something I could afford, two dollars. The guys were in late night, well-lubricated, musical machine mode, and a good time was being had by all. 

There are now more images from this event on the stove at flickr.

Coming soon: More First Night, with Russ Nassett at the club, and Zeppo at the Loft above Higgins Alley. There was also a skateboard art show at the Badlander.