Steamboat Pilot & Today

Shattered 'Wishes'

The executive producer of "Three Wishes" has decided against Steamboat Springs as a possible option for the program, casting director Josh Figgs wrote in e-mail this week. "I am sorry to have gotten the town's hopes up, and it is nothing against the community."

Torn between two sounds

On Friday night, there was a tug-o-war between the mountain and downtown as two bands competed for music lovers' affections. Those of us with a map, a watch and a game plan were able to see Steel Pulse at the Free Summer Concert Series and Robben Ford at Strings in the Mountains Music Festival Park.

The brief time that 4 Points staff spent at the base of Howelsen enjoying the free concert got me excited for the endless social laps and sunset worshipping to come with the rest of the series.

On July 14, my game plan will be to devote all my musical affection to the Big Head Todd concert without getting distracted by great blues guitarists and their awesome bass players.

Speaking of ...

Audiences in Steamboat "standing ovation" Springs rarely let a performance end without standing up and clapping until the musician comes back on stage for an encore. The overzealous standing ovation is as Steamboat as having a dog in the back of your Jeep. But on Friday night at the Robben Ford concert, I saw something I've never seen at a Steamboat show -- a mid-concert Standing O.

Robben Ford's microphone went out and while the tech crews replaced it, bass player Roscoe Beck took an impromptu solo. When he finished, the audience exploded and gave him the first real standing ovation that I've seen in a long time.

When everyone sat down, Ford leaned into the mic and said, "I think they like you."

I think he's right.

Going out with a bang

A letter arrived this week for members of the Steamboat Irregular Artillery from filmmaker Blue Kraning inviting them to be in a documentary tribute to "artillery experts" and Hunter S. Thompson. SIA members, Wayne Kakela, Clay Hangar and Yours Truly, evidently did not win their bid in the Aspen Daily's Hunter S. Thompson Blast-Off Cannon Contest, but we have been invited to join the rank of fringe fans and firearm wackies.

Kraning wrote, "We see you as a true Gonzo Patriot." Selah.

-- Autumn Phillips