1
Oct

Blues & Brews – Telluride, CO (Day 3)

Posted on October 1st, 2009 :: Posted in Mountains, Music, USA, video

Sunday got started off right with a hearty breakfast at the Telluride Elk’s Lodge which has a funky long bar along one wall, a stage in the back (where a singer/songwriter serenaded diners) and enormous stuffed elk heads all over the place. Then it was onward to the final day of this awesome festival.

The Lee Boys kick off Sunday with some sacred steel.

The Lee Boys kicked off Sunday's performances with some slammin' sacred steel.

Most of Sunday was a bright sunny day at the festival.

Most of Sunday lived up to the name with plenty of bright sunshine.

Almost every musician at the festival made it a point to mention that Telluride is, by far, the most beautiful stage setting they’ve ever played at. Many whipped out cameras to capture the scene from the stage for themselves. Ryan from Umphrey’s McGee went one better and pulled out his Flip video camera during a break between songs.

One not so popular side effect of playing Telluride is the altitude (over 8,700′) which makes the air thin and the performing hard. Oxygen tanks were supplied backstage and plenty of musicians used them to get through their sets.

Super Chickan and the Fighting Cocks (his all-girl band) brought the Delta Blues straight from Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Super Chickan and the Fighting Cocks.

The festival had a fun kids area with various games and rides like the bungi jump.

The festival had a fun kids' area with various games and rides like the bungee jump.

Sunday brought a sunnier Mardi Gras parade than the day before.

Mardi Gras parade.

Ruthie Foster.

After a sunny day, a nasty 10 minute wind and hail storm blew in just as Bonnie Raitt's set begain.

After sun for most of the day a nasty 10 minute wind and hail storm blew in just as Bonnie Raitt's set began.

After 3 days of sun, rain, hail, mud and music, this crew was not going to stop dancing for Bonnie Raitt & Taj Mahal.

After three days of sun, rain and hail this crew was not going to stop dancing to Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal (dubbed Bontaj Roulet) no matter what the weather threw at them.

A festival pro in the making.

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29
Sep

Blues & Brews – Telluride, CO (Day 1)

Posted on September 29th, 2009 :: Posted in Friends, Mountains, Music, USA, video

We are so lucky. Not only do we get to drive around and see all kinds of beautiful places and beautiful people but every once in a while there’s beautiful music too. Beautiful places, people and music were in abundant supply at the 16th annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival and we spent three blissful days enjoying all three PLUS the chance to hang out with old friends from New York (hi Dino and Ali). Bonus!

Historic downtown Telluride.

No doubt the town of Telluride has changed a lot over the years and today its mining-town past sometimes takes a back seat to its fancy-town present. However, the gorgeous mountains that pen Telluride into its scenic box canyon remain unchanged: just plain gorgeous and a fantastic backdrop for an outdoor festival.

Telluride Town Park makes for one of the most beautiful festival sites anywhere.

Another great thing about the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival is the fact that it maxes out at around 6,000 people which means you can always get to the front of the stage if you want to. We spent most of our time up front checking out a lot of bands that were new to us.

Jason Ricci and New Blood was a new band to us and we were blown away.

Karen enjoy's some music. As Dino said, "Somebody fill her glass." (photo courtesey of Dino Perucci)

Karen enjoying the blues but her brew is sadly empty. As Dino said, "Somebody fill her glass!" (photo courtesy of Dino Perrucci)

Otis Taylor's African Orchestra also kicked butt. Bassist Cassie Taylor was a badass stand out.

Some of the tasty beer selection. It is the Blues & Brews Fest after all.

Clouds did not diminish the beauty of the stage surrounded by fall-colored Aspens.

Clouds did not diminish the beauty of the stage surrounded by Aspens just coming into fall colors.

Seasoned Blues & Brews goers know that the key to staying comfortable all day in the changing mountain weather is to layer up. In the course of just one day festival goers went from shorts and t-shirts to fleece and waterproof jackets as the weather swung between gorgeous sunshine to rain.

Jackie Greene.

Joe Cocker, the headliner for Day 1, was in perfect form.

The first night of the festival was anchored by Joe Cocker who lives not far from Telluride with his wife who co-runs the Cocker Kids’ Foundation. He may not perform much anymore and he may be 65-years-old but his performance proved that there’s still plenty of Mad Dog left in him.

Joe Cocker, a resident of nearby Crawford, still has chops.

It’s both a blessing and a curse to go into the same business as a famous parent, however, Lukas Nelson (son of Willie) delivered his very own brand of rocking blues that showed a talent all his own, dipping into many musical pots including Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles.

Lucas Nelson (son of Willie) and the Promise of Real played a night show at the Sheridan Opera House.

Lukas Nelson (son of Willie) and the Promise of the Real played a night show at the lovely and intimate Sheridan Opera House.

Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real

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11
Sep

Did You Miss Us?

Posted on September 11th, 2009 :: Posted in Alcoholic Beverage, Announcement, Friends, Music, news, Outdoor, USA

You’re right. We were headed south, as in south of Mexico City. But then stuff changed (surprise) and we had to head north again. For the past three months (but who’s counting?) on a forced pit stop in California, so our posts have been few and far between. However, we had our reasons.

First, we needed to fix damage done to our truck after a taxi hit us a few months ago in Mexico and that turned out to be more of a fight than we expected, but hardly worth blogging about (we like you too much to subject you to the drama that ultimately unfolded). Suffice to say, we are NOT fans of GNP insurance and the profoundly incompetent “foreign client service” our claim received. That means you, Mr. Solis.

We also spent a lot of time working on new business ideas in an attempt to generate some funds to keep our Trans-Americas Journey rolling along. Most of you know about the time and energy we put into our video application and follow up hustling to try and land a Really Goode Job–a six month gig as social media wine country lifestyle correspondents for Murphy-Goode Winery.

When that didn’t go our way we decided to harness the knowledge, confidence and ideas we gained during the MG process to create our own social media marketing consulting business for wineries in the Paso Robles area. And, so, Paso Winos was born. Reception to our services was good but slow and we simply couldn’t hang around for the additional months needed to really get clients on board–though we are eternally grateful to those wineries and wine folks who got what we were trying to do right off the bat and supported us (talking ’bout you Meg at Alta Colina, Terry and Marissa at Clautiere, Ryan at Wine for Water and the Paso Wine Centre and Brandy and crew at Donati Family Vineyard).

We still have a very exciting iron in the fire (hint) and we hope to have some great news shortly. In the meantime, we’re back on the road and our first destination is a doozie: Havasu Falls!

We’ve hiked into the Grand Canyon from both the South and North rims of Grand Canyon National Park, but we’ve never explored the canyon in the Havasu Falls area. Owned and managed by the Havasupai tribe, the area is famous for its blue/green water (the word Havasu means blue green water). The beauty of the area is legendary and in high demand, however, the tribe limits the number of camping permits it issues each day so it’s tough to get in.

We got in for three nights and we can’t wait to see the area. Devastating floods hit the area in August of 2008, nearly killing some hikers and radically changing the landscape and water flow, so we’ll let you know how it is once we manage to hike back out.

After Havasu we are returning to our beloved Telluride, Colorado and checking into the Mountain Lodge for a few days so we can take in the Blues & Brews music festival. Buddy Guy! Bonnie Raitt! Joe Cocker! Anders Osborne! Plus a chance to see our friends music photographers Dino Perucci and Allison Murphy.

From Telluride we’re planning an excellent Colorado adventure including Colorado Wine Country (who knew?), the Bar Lazy J ranch for some epic-sounding horseback riding, Valhalla cabin to hang with our very own nordic goddess (hi Marca!) and enjoy two nights (count ‘em) of Galactic live at the Fox theater in Boulder. Toss in some 4-wheel driving around Ouray/Silverton and Ute Mountain and Hovenweep in Mesa Verde Country and you’ve got a great month.

After that? Two words for you: Copper Canyon! Then we promise it’s all South from there.

It’s sure nice to be back where we belong.