Susan Spelius Dunning

Okay, so here's the deal: There are things that I sometimes write at 4 or 5 in the morning (which is often when I do write) that strike me as being irreverent and/or harmless, things which later -- in the light of day -- strike as being anything but. And what appeared briefly yesterday in the opening paragraph of my "Harmonic Convergence" music column article (re: Ethan Tucker's upcoming gig about The Roosevelt) about Whiskey's -- which thankfully less than 60 SVO readers ever saw before my article was then pulled and rewritten/edited later that morning -- was equal parts tactless, crass and unfair, particularly to its very hard-working and diligent staff there (including Thatcher Marsted and Kristin Derrig).

I've had a number of genuinely terrific music experiences at Whiskey's during the 17 years total that I've lived here (most recently seeing Paul Tillotson, Bill Sims, Jr., Pete Peterson and Josh Kelly seriously kickin' it there last month -- two back-to-back stellar blues concerts that had *everything* to do with me fervently wanting to see Sims, Jr and Tillotson, as well as Adam Levy, Andy Hess and Tony Mason there at The Boiler Room twice in a row just last weekend).

Had Thatcher *not" had the very good sense and tenacity to book the Sims, Jr. blues-music group back in January at Whiskey's, I almost certainly would not have seen them again last weekend in Sun Valley, which is one of many, many reasons I could quickly cite here why I shouldn't be childishly, rudely, arrogantly or myopically chastising Whiskey's in print about things they do, or don't do, there. Most of the band covers at that place are $10 or less (particularly during the "slack" seasons, when they could very easily not even bother booking bands there at all during those notoriously-slow months, but frequently do, anyway -- because they're every bit as committed to the locals who live here as they are the tourists who visit during the high seasons).

All the video footage I've seen online of Karl Denson's Tiny Universe indicates to me that to see 'em perform live for $20 is a bargain-and-a-half, something that I think will become readily and radianty apparent to anyone who does opt to see their 10 p.m. show tonight at Whiskey's ... a justly-venerated Valley venue that does *a lot* to stimulate and invigorate the local economy here, and one that definitely deserves much, much better from me.

I sincerely and profusely apologize to anyone at Whiskey's (and elsewhere) who was offended and/or alienated by what briefly appeared yesterday online here...

Okay ... so, well besides that genuinely amazing 21-year-old reggae-blues sensation from Twin Falls, Ethan Tucker (performing at The Roosevelt Tavern, tonight at 10:15pm), whom I happily and eagerly wrote about in this local music scene-oriented column yesterday -- and also, of course, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe show tonight at Whiskey's (terrific music samples of which can be found at www.myspace.com/karldensonstinyuniverse  -- among other places ) -- there's a plethora of other similarly dazzling and exciting music events happening this weekend throughout the Wood River Valley!!!

Things start off with a serious bang (for your buck) tonight, Friday, Feb. 26th, from 6-9pm, at the Ketchum's "Train on Main", when the acclaimed Peruvian restaurant (across from Lefty's and Bistro 44 -- at 6th & Main) will once again host that very genuine, entertaining, talented and heartfelt Peruvian singing couple, Maria Laura Bustamante and Alejandro Rivas (see stellar music samples at their www.myspace.com/alejandroymarialaura page).

This immediately engaging and inspiring college-aged couple (malabu4000@gmail.com), who recently made their very first Duchin Room appearance at the Sun Valley Resort last Monday afternoon, and who are once again slated to appear there this coming Monday (March 1) -- from 4:30-8:30pm (call (622-2145 for more details) -- have been taking the Wood River Valley music scene by storm for many months now, appearing first each Wednesday evening from 6-9pm at the CIRO Market's Wine Lounge in Ketchum (call 622-4400 for more info), then at the nexStage Theatre back in January (as one of the many musical acts who performed during the Valley's Crisis Hotline fundraiser there that evening, alongside Cow Says Mooo and FourStroke Bus), and then, more recently, at both Papa Hemi's Hideaway and at the "Train on Main," both also in Ketchum.

The Peruvian duo's final Wood RIver Valley appearance is slated for Bellevue's Brickhouse Bar & Grill (202 S. Main Street), on Friday, March 12, from 9-11:30 p.m. or so. Call 788-4999 for more details.

While Maria Laura and Alejandro sing quite a few original compositions -- many of them lovely and loving odes to their native country of Peru -- they also play a number of popular English-language tracks as well, including the Oscar-winning Disney classic, "When You WIsh Upon a Star," Carole King's "You've Got a Friend," and The Who's "Squeeze Box."

Type "Music Rules" -- and also "John Pluntze" -- into the SVO search engine here to see my 2/01/'10 "Harmonic Convergence" article-rave about this very talented Peruvian couple for more information on their music.

Also tonight (Friday, Feb. 26th) on the local-music scene front, the Craig Meyers-fronted blues, soul & folk band, The All-Night Diner (a slightly reworked/revised version of that very popular Hickory Blue band Meyers was also heavily involved in that took the Wood River Valley by surprise and by storm in equal measure last summer, when local fave -- and now fulltime fllm-school student -- Courtney Lloyd was singing with 'em) will perform once again at Papa Hemi's Hideway in Ketchum (at 310 S. Main Street -- just as you're entering/leaving Ketchum; call Matt at 726-3773 for more info about their Friday gig), from 6:30-9:30 p.m. there.

All-Nite Diner is an instantly-likable, toe-tapping, high-energy and delightfully-infectious band whose featured hit songs usually include "Grapevine;" "Bobbin' the Blues;" "Back, Back, Back in Time;" "Country Roads;" "When You Say Nothing At All;" "Crazy;" "Just Like a Star;" "All Shook Up;" the Oscar-winning "Falling Slowly" (from that 2007 Irish musical sleeper hit I've eagerly seen four times now: "Once"); "Folsom Prison Blues," and Nickel Creek's "When You Come Back Down." (Unfortunately, the two standout songs that made me first stand up and take notice last summer of both the newly-formed Hickory Blue band *and* of the Valley's own Courtney Lloyd -- the Judy Garland classic, "Over the Rainbow," and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" -- probably *won't* be among the songs All-Night Diner sings Friday there at Papa Hemi's ... if only because Lloyd made those two radiantly-iconic and unabashedly-beautiful American melodies so very much her own last summer that it'd be sorta sacrilegious almost for Craig Meyers, Ned Wheeler, etc, to perform them *without* Lloyd there alongside of them. But then again ... maybe Lloyd will surprise us all tonight and make an appearance at their Friday gig, after all; she's done it there before, people!!!)

Also tonight, at 8pm, at Hailey's Sun Valley Brewing Company Restaurant & Bar (202 N. Main Street/788-0805), that audience-slaying, kick-ass band, Kill Uncle (www.myspace.com/killuncle2008), makes its Wood River Valley debut here. Expect to hear influences from Whiskey Town, Grahm Parsons, Ethan Johns, George Harrison and Uncle Tupelo throughout, from acclaimed band members Adam Gates (bass), Sean Hatten (electric guitar), and Louis McFarland (drums).  

On Saturday evening (Feb. 27), also there at Papa Hemi's Hideaway, another terrific local band -- Spare Change (featuring the fabulous bluegrass-, mandolin-, acoustic guitar- and harmonica-driven musical stylings of Chip Booth and Peter Boice) -- takes center stage again, from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Expect to hear audience faves including "Rooty, Toot, Toot;" "Where's the Touch?;" "World Spins 'Round;" "Summer Time;" "Young Man's Tragedy;" "Space to Breathe;" "Riley's in the Bathtub;" "Living in Twilight;" "Hope I Didn't Fall In Love;" "Wayside Tavern;" "When Hayley Comes to Jackson;" "Sugar Mountain;" "I Was in Love With You;" "Distant Shores;" "If I Had a Boat;" "Friend of the Devil;" "Deep Elem Blues;" "Midnight Moonlight;" "Come Back To Old Santa Fe;" "I Know You Rider;" "The Race Is On;" "Big River;" "Trouble in Mind;" "Sunday Afternoon;" "Whiskey Before Breakfast;" "Red-Haired Boy;" "Blackberry Blossom;" "Arkansas Traveler;" "Tipsy Gypsy;" "Let It Roll;" "Every River;" "Octopus Garden;" "Spring Wind;" "Waltzing For Dreamers;" "Shades of Grey;" and "Fisher's Horn Pipe" among many other wonderful and memorable offerings Boice and Booth sing that evening.

Peter Henderson

And also on Saturday Feb. 27th, as part of the ongoing Sun Valley Winter Artist Series, celebrated pianists Susan Spelius Dunning and Peter Henderson take the stage for a night of Russian composer-inspired music at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood (at Warm Springs and Saddle Roads), at 8 p.m. There will be a 7 p.m. pre-concert talk, during which an assortment of delicious hors d'oeuvres and refreshing beverages will be offered, and after the concert, both Dunning and Henderson will be on hand for a "Meet the Artists" reception there.

The selected works are Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2, and Tchaikovsky's Concerto No. 1. 

Tickets are $35 to adults and $15 for students and can be purchased at the Sun Valley Winter Artist Series website (www.svwas.org), as well as from Iconoclast or Chapter One book stores, or by calling 725-5807.           

See video performance footage of pianist Susan Spelius Dunning here:




Dunning, who divides her time between Sun Valley and Perugia, Italy, will be playing on the very same grand piano this Saturday -- and also for the SVWAS' upcoming Wednesday, March 10th Gershwin Celebration concert evening SVWAS is likewise sponsoring -- that Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) himself once played on. She has a myriad of very impressive musical credits on her resume, including receiving a Bachelor's degree in music from Chicago's esteemed American Conservatory of Music, and a Master's degree from Colorado State University, where she studied with Dr. Janet Landreth, among many other notables.

Dunning has also studied with the renowned Hungarian concert pianist Sari Biro, who likewise had a significant and lasting influence on her performance career.

Not exactly a musical slouch himself, Henderson served as an orchestral and chamber keyboardist with the Sun Valley Symphony during its 2004, and also its 2006-2008 seasons. Since fall 2005, he has served as Assistant Professor of Music at Maryville University, and frequently performs with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. (Henderson was the winner in 2003 of the St. Louis-based Artist Presentation Society's auditions), and has a Music doctorate from Bloomington's Indiana University, where he studied piano with Dr. Karen Shaw.

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Questions or comments regarding this recurring "Harmonic Convergence" (local music scene-oriented) SVO column can be sent to John at: WriteStuffIdaho@gmail.com And to read any of John's previous "HC" columns -- which include raves on local faves Cow Says Mooo, FREEhand, Art Wallace, Hickory Blue, Art Wallace and Paul Tillotson -- simply type "Music Rules" (and also "John Pluntze") into the SVO search engine here.