eddie from ohio journal September 8, 2004

HARD LABOR IN COLORADO

Friday, September 3
It's 9:20 AM. My phone rings. I'm reminded by Robbie that we're to meet at Julie's place at 9AM before heading to National Airport for our 10:30 flight. Now I'm the kind of guy who likes to run the shower a few seconds to get the right temperature before I jump in. Not THIS morning!! An anonymous source putting his personal regard for public safety aside, hustles me down to the airport at Mario Andretti speed (thanks, Dad). Believe it or not, I make the flight, much to the chagrin of the passengers in my row who were thinking "Who the #&@* let the homeless guy on board?!?!"

(I'll let you infer all you want to from this opening episode, but just know that a 20 yr High School Reunion only happens once, and for some, it's stretched out a couple extra days. Thank you very much).

After a fat layover at the uneventful Phoenix airport, we're off to Durango, CO, and then we are a rental-van's journey away from one of our favorite festivals of all time: THE FOUR CORNERS FOLK FESTIVAL in Pagosa Springs, CO.

This marks our 5th appearance in six years at this awesome event. Like every Labor Day weekend, it's synchronized with the Biker Rally in Ignacio, CO with all the "blub, blub, blub, blub" noise of Harley owners in leather chaps hauling their girlfriends/wives (and sometimes both) to their respective celebration site for the soothing sounds of Slaughter & Quiet Riot.

On the other side of the sonic coin... is us, and our fellow light-weight four-wheel-driving-pickers for the 4 Corners Fest. We arrive Friday night, only to crash at Pagosa's Econo Lodge -- except for me: I go to the neighboring Hog's Breath Saloon, where I bond with fellow bikers and cowboys. I have a great Filet Mignon and Rhode Island Clam Chowder and meet a nice couple from Pittsburgh (which is not the first time I've typed that combination of events --- strange, eh?).

Saturday, September 4
It rains, and rains, and rains, and rains. We hit the local consignment shop to gather proper rain-repellent gear (you know -- 8 dollar pull-overs, 10 dollar nylon mountain boots, and a bargain paperback for Bob --- we scored! )

We put off our trip up the mountain to the festival site as long as we can, only to realize (to our shame) that these Pagosa festivarians are the most resilient people on the face of the Earth. They're ready to go. God Bless em. Rain, schmain!

What did we do to deserve this wonderful township? They treat us like they've received a press-release that we're the Rolling Stone's cousins, or something. It's an unconditional love that only rivals that of our mothers. They're awesome! As always, the lineup is spectacular: Tim O'Brien, Gillian Welch, the subdudes, Elieen Ivers, John Cowan, Drew Emmitt, the Bills, the Waybacks, the Barra MacNeils, Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband, Mark Erelli, Matt Flinner, We're About 9, & the cherry on top .... Pagosa Hot Strings

All we can say about Saturday, after acts like that, is that we're flattered to play a "day-closing" main stage set at 8:30. We pull up some pickers, fiddlers, and squeezers from our British Columbia pals, The Bills (formerly the BillHilly Band). Sadly, they're not getting to the East Coast at all, but we hope to change that! Check out their website at www.thebills.ca. By our second encore, we get even more Bills and our We're About Nine friends to send the festivarian/campers home with all the warm fuzzies we can create. Holy-Hole-in-a-Doughnut, Batman - we LOVE THIS FESTIVAL!!!!!!

Sunday, September, 5
For the first time in the festival's nine-year history, they finally offer a Drum Workshop. Unfortunately, they also offer it at the crack of noon, maybe earlier (a very unfriendly time for percussionists)...... You know where I'm going with this .... our own pride & joy, Eddie, is one of the three prized panelists (because a drum workshop without Eddie, is like Nirvanna without Eddie Vedder ..... and for those born before 1970, like the Kinks without Eric Burdon). Eddie's in great company: Lorne Entress of Mark Erelli's Band and Kenny Malone, THE go-to percussion guy in Nashville since 1924. From what I hear, Eddie is the comic relief of the panel, but I get that info second-hand. Why?....

Because Julie and I catch the 10:30AM service at Pagosa Springs' wonderful Catholic parish - Our Lady of Perpetual Bi-linguality.
We love catching this Mass. They're beyond friendly & warm, and the pastor actually plays the organ. Rock on, Pastor John! Stop shunning my requests for "Whiter Shade of Pale", dude!

Without rental vehicle, Julie and I walk up to the festival site. Did you just read that?! Julie & I I walk up the mountain!!!! Despite oxygen-depletion, we muster up the energy, along with Robbie, to accompany our good pal, Mark Erelli, on backup vocals, and Eddie on percussion, for two tunes. Great set, Mark! Stop shunning my requests for "Whiter Shade of Pale", dude!

2PM, for our fifth time, we host a vocal workshop. Unlike many other festivals, the workshops at 4Corners are just that -- workshops. We sing a couple tunes, followed by Q&A. We sing some more (unplugged, i might add .... at 14 thousand feet), followed by Q&A..... and then, we pass out from mere exhaustion. It's always a gas.

Do we head back to the hotel? Hell no! We got The Waybacks, The Bills, Drew Emmitt, John Cowan & Tim O'Brien's sets to enjoy with all the debauchery backstage allowed by law. At this point, I can only recount events from what others tell me -- Stewart MacNeil and I are apparently great friends with all the "I Love You, Man" sentiment two opposing countrymen can exchange; Eddie is abducted by townsfolk; Julie heads to town to purchase bow & arrow sets for her boys (TOY bow & arrow sets!); I'm issued no restraining orders this year; Venus Williams is ousted at the US Open - All these events just seem to run together.

Dan & Crista --- do we ever love you guys. Thanks for a magnificent time!

Pagizzle Sprizzle,
MC MC