We had a great evening at the Mancos Opera House! We had seen Michael Martin Murphey at Fort Lewis College last winter and really enjoyed his music and dialogue. So, when we heard he was going to be playing the Opera House, just down the hill, it was a must!
We got there a few minutes after the doors opened (6 p.m.) and the street was already filling up with cars and the first few rows of seats were also pretty well taken. The VFW had 300 tickets and it looked like they sold out. Good for them ... they should have made a good bit toward the restoration work they're doing.
MMM was alone on stage, coming in from La Veta yesterday and going on to Yuma today. He stayed at the Bauer House last night. We understand he called to ask if there was an opera house in Mancos; he likes to play in these old venues, I guess.
Anyway, it was a good show and well-received (especially his critical asides about Federal land managers and the need for ranchers to be more assertive in their own behalf) by his audience, which seemed to be mostly Montezuma County. As he said, the first half was country, the second half was western, with a lot of songs about cowboys. I was impressed with the kinds of feelings his songs represented ... love of the land and its people. At one point, at the end of a medley, he stood and sang the old Shaker tune, "Simple Gifts" a cappella. Very moving!
The top picture was taken when he led the audience in a "Grrr," imitating the Devil's reaction when some rustlers tied a knot in his tail. tv
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