Inlander Picks

by Inlander Staff


Too Slim and Salgado MUSIC -- You've got one last chance to get an earful of free live music Live After Five-style next Thursday, Sept. 26, at the corner of Main and Wall downtown. The final Live After Five of the year will feature two of the region's finest blues entities, Too Slim and the Taildraggers and Northwest legend Curtis Salgado. Musically speaking, blue-eyed rockin' soul just doesn't get much better than Salgado, who has dedicated his career to the preservation of the genre. His definition of soul is broad, encompassing more than just blues and gospel derivations. Once the voice and mouth harp player for late '70s version of the Robert Cray Band, Salgado has since led such notable touring outfits as In Yo Face, the Stilettos and Roomful of Blues. He was also the inspiration for the "Jake Blues" character from the movie The Blues Brothers. More recently, the Curtis Salgado Band has kept the authentic R & amp;B flowing at regional clubs and festivals.


--Mike Corrigan





Live After Five with Curtis Salgado and Too Slim & amp; the Taildraggers * Thursday, Sept. 26, from 5-7 pm * Wall St. & amp; Main Ave., downtown Spokane * Free * Call: 456-0580





See You in the Biergarten FESTIVAL -- For most of each year, the Lincoln County town of Odessa is a quiet farming community of 1,000 residents, most of whom are the descendants of German-Russian immigrants who arrived in the late 19th century. But on the third weekend of each September, the town comes alive with a celebration of its German heritage, drawing thousands of visitors. This year's Deutschesfest runs over four days, September 19-22, and will feature the traditional block-long Biergarten, a German food fest, bake sales, art displays and music by a local German band, the Oom Pas & amp; Mas.


Festivities begin on Thursday evening, with sidewalk chalk drawing, a bed and tricycle race and the opening of the Biergarten, and continue on through Sunday evening. Other highlights include special breakfasts all three mornings, a fun run Saturday morning, a parade at 10 am on Saturday, and a three-on-three basketball tournament on Saturday afternoon, following the parade.


-- Ann M. Colford





Odessa Deutschesfest * Sept. 19-22 * Hours: Thursday 6-11 pm; Friday & amp; Saturday 9 am-1 am; Sunday 9 am-11 pm * Odessa, Wash., about 75 miles west of Spokane on Hwy. 28 * Call: 509-982-2632





Dally in the Valley FESTIVAL -- Valleyfest attracted 4,000 Valley folk in 1990, its first year; more than 20,000 are expected this Saturday. Festivities begin with a two-mile fun run from Sunrise Elementary (14603 E. 24th Ave.) to Terrace View Park, followed by a pancake breakfast until 11 am (cost: $4.50; $3.50, children). The theme for the 9 am parade this year is "A Salute to Our American Heroes and Flag," featuring a 40-foot flag carried by 50 people. The parade starts at Sprague and McDonald, traveling south on McDonald and then on Blake to the park.


Entertainment includes the Angus Scott Pipe Band, a barbershop quartet, the Dixie Dandies, Mexican youth dancers, CdA tribal dancers, the Kelly Hughes Band (from 3-5 pm) and local rock faves Soapbox.


With the U.S. Army presenting a 45-foot climbing wall and the Mad Science Guy making green slime, Valleyfest is oriented toward younger Valleyites. So, apparently, is the menu: free candy, desserts, Italian ices, caramel corn, cotton candy, strawberry shortcake, Krispy Kremes and "monkey tails" (chocolate-dipped bananas). After you've pumped Junior full of sugar at Valleyfest, he'll have plenty of energy for running away from all those frightening mimes and clowns.


-- Michael Bowen





Valleyfest 2002 * Saturday, Sept. 21, from 10 am-6 pm * Terrace View Park * 13525 E. 24th Ave. at Blake Rd. * www.valleyfest.org * Call: 922-3299





Spontaneous Combustion VISUAL ART -- It is apparently the custom in Spain for those watching a bullfight to occasionally take part in said bullfight. When this happens, when an audience member jumps into the ring and suddenly becomes a participant, the crowd cheers "espontaneo!"


That's the giddy, dangerous sense behind New York artist Bill Saylor's show, opening at the SFCC Gallery Wednesday. The abstract expressionist begins with drawings, which he compulsively records on whatever is handy. Described by his representing gallery, the Eleni Koroneou Gallery, as being "equal parts abstract expressionist, graffiti tagger, NASA space program enthusiast and eco-terrorist," Saylor's fascination with both the unpredictable (as evidenced by the natural world and blistering colors) and the logical (bits of text, GPS technology) makes for aggressive-yet-inviting large canvases. Likewise, his painterly exploration of space creates a compelling tension between the two-dimensional and three-dimensional worlds. Toro!


--Sheri Boggs





"Espontaneo," works by New York artist Bill Saylor * SFCC Gallery * Sept. 25-Oct. 25 * Lecture: SUB Lounges A & amp; B on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 11:30 am * Call: 533-3746