Weekly Report from Boulder
Another crazy week of too many evening meetings gone by. I had such high hopes that our revamp of the orientation would get me out of here earlier on Thursday, but still so much time for questions and talking after the session that I was out of here typically late.

Friday it was time for the return of the Asylum Street Spankers. They played a few songs in the studio in the morning, saying it was their first time to play together in about two months! While I missed the six and a half foot tall ukulele player, as ever they've found great musicians and the new violinist, Sick, was quite fun to watch. A fiddle, a purple Mohawk, a tie, and a great sense of humor make him hard to miss. It's great that Cervantes is putting on fun shows in Denver, it's a neat venue where the smokers go upstairs so it isn't too bad on the main level, the bartenders are friendly, and they really do put out water for the patrons! I liked too being at the Mercury CafÈ beforehand for dinner and enjoying their largely vegetarian menu and the multiple spaces for eating, drinking, and performance.

We made the trek to Denver for the Spankers so that Saturday I could go hear Madeleine Peyroux. Considering all the music I go through for work, albums that I listen to for fun at home deserve special status. Her debut album, Dreamland, is one of those. The smoky, Billie Holiday-esque vocals, the great range of songs, her ability to take to heart material from Hank Williams to the old jazz and French songs have just always appealed. I was glad to finally enjoy her and her wonderful band in a sold-out show at the Boulder Theater.

I see Boulder is making national news again over Ward Churchill. I'm so frustrated with the university, they stand behind the whole football department after claims of torment and abuse but want to wash their hands of this exercise of freedom of speech. I may not have chosen the words and comparisons that he used, but I think it is important to look into why this country is viewed the way it is. And as Voltaire said, "I do not agree with a word that you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Should you wish to read his full article and see the comments in context, you can link to them directly from the KGNU home page. www.kgnu.org

Elaine C. Erb. KGNU Music Director. <º))))><
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