Forty-four years in and I remain on an annual fence with New Year’s Eve. The day is here, and I’m completely undecided about what to do. As much as I’d like to say “I had the most epic time at a party last night,” it’s more fun for me to say “I lit off seven or eight Roman candles around 10:30 and then went to bed.”
It’s one of those events with two staunch camps. For some, there’s nothing magical or even fun in another amateur night of bidding adieu to the year with a few hundred friends and loud music. Others love it. Eat a nice dinner, catch a show, see a bunch of people and count from 10 down to 1, hopefully in synchronization with the United States Naval Observatory Master Clock. A cab ride home, some Advil, some sleep and then it’s Wednesday 2014.
Even though it happens on a Tuesday this year, there are many options aside from my early show starring fireworks from New Mexico. Two top-notch music events will happen at the Henry Strater Theatre and the Animas City Theatre.
The crew that hangs out with Washington, D.C.’s Thievery Corporation and Fort Knox Five have found a second home here in Durango, thanks to the efforts of Eugene Salaz at Animas City Theatre. DJs Steve Raskin and Jon Horvath will come armed with a few hours worth of funk and then some; Horvath’s set at the Summit three years ago remains one of the finest DJ sets I’ve ever seen, playing funk, techno, punk and The Beatles. Impressing a curmudgeon and music snob like myself, especially without instruments, is difficult at best. Yet, he did. He may have even had me nodding my head and tapping my foot.
Raskin is one-third of Thunderball, a D.C. outfit that plays and produces funk, bossa-nova and film-noir scores. There also will be a four-turntable set with DJs Soul Atomic and Juicy Money.
Hello Dollface will return to the Henry Strater Theatre. Recently downsizing to a trio, Hello Dollface continues to embrace D.I.Y. culture and lead the charge in incorporating other local art outfits into its shows.
“To wrap up 2013, we want to celebrate and showcase the new sound we have been working on as a three-piece and bring in the New Year with a playful, positive perspective and fresh inspired energy,” said keyboardist, guitarist and vocalist Ashley Edwards. This year, the band’s set will incorporate guest musicians Ben Scharf on vocals, keys, organ and melodica, and Jeff Gerioux on alto sax, aerial acrobats, dance and magic in what’s being billed as “Le Cirque Mystere, A Masquerade Ball.” Masquerade wear, of course, is encouraged.
“We love to collaborate with bands, artists, dancers, and this show will integrate live magic into the set to give another artistic perspective of interpreting our music” Edwards said. This show is intended to point the audience to the full scope of possibilities and evoke creative vision for the New Year.”
A range of other musical choices abound tonight. The Jeff Solon Jazz Trio will play at the DoubleTree Hotel, The High Rollers will cater to the hard dancing country crowd at the Wild Horse Saloon, and the Derailed Pour House will offer straight up rock and roll with two separate acts; Dustin Burley and Kevin Balum will play the early set and Mr. Black will ring in the New Year.
[email protected]. Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager.
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