This Los Alamos Summer Concert Series is the final one for Promoter Russ Gordon. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com The 2017 Los Alamos County Summer Concert Series is the 28th and final one for concert promoter Russ Gordon. He’s gotten a job offer he can’t refuse.
“We love babysitting our three grandchildren and our grand nieces and nephews,” Gordon said. “Those kids are way too much fun.”
Daughter Annie Rose and her family live in Seattle and Russ and his wife, Deborah Gordon, will be moving there next spring. It’s difficult to leave northern New Mexico, the couple’s home for more than 45 years, Gordon said, but he and Deborah are looking forward to the adventure.
If the church of rock ‘n roll had saints, Russ Gordon would be our local one. For 30 years, he’s brought great music to Los Alamos and his record store, first in White Rock and then on the Hill, was a hangout where multiple generations could indulge their love of music and spend time talking tunes with Russ.
“I’ve been doing concerts here for 30 odd years, and I do mean odd!” Gordon said.
Gordon is looking for someone to take over the Concert Series and take it forward into future decades. We can all only hope they will have the dedication and energy of St. Russ!
“I love most of our acts and I love the musicians who are wonderful people,” Gordon said. “I’m getting pretty old, but I hate to give it up.”
Gordon promises that this will be “the best season ever.”
The 2017 Concert Series kicks off May 19 and continues at 7 p.m. Friday nights at the Ashley Pond concert stage in downtown Los Alamos unless otherwise noted. The concerts are free, and attract large crowds from around the area. The concerts are guaranteed family friendly and hoards of youngsters storm onto the dance floor to join their elders every week.
So what’s cooking this summer? Read on.
May 19 at Overlook Park in White Rock (Kite Festival Night): Chuchito Valdes – This master of Afro-Cuban jazz from Havana, Cuba and Cancun is a mix-master of Cuban music including Son, Danzon, Cuban Timba and Guaguanco. From a family of Cuban piano players, Valdes now lives in Mexico City. Get out your Samba shoes for this show!
May 26: Deke Dickerson, King of the Geek Guitar – From Los Angeles, Dickerson plays Alt-Indie Rock, Retro Swing, Rockabilly Revival, Roots-Rock, Hillbilly, Surf, Jump Blues and instrumental rock.
June 2: The Coral Creek Band – From Colorado, the band plays Americana/Country Rock, bluegrass, Cajun, Folk and Island rock. Some of the musicians and friends of Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band and Railroad Earth comprise this band.
June 9: Western Centuries – The country feel continues with Alt./Country-rock band Western Cenuries. Expect the kind of R&B, honky-tonk feel of The Band or The Byrds. with early R&B, Honky-Tonk twang.
June 16: The Red Elvises (Los Alamos Daily Post Night) – Russian Rok ‘N Roll & Siberian Surf Rok from “your favorite band,” The Red Elvises. From Moscow by way of Santa Monica, Caif., the Elvises are a Los Alamos Summer Concert Series tradition!
June 23: Big Sam’s Funky Nation – Get down with Big Sam’s funk-soul-jazz and rock from New Orleans.
June 30: Grayson Capps Band – Russ describes Gulf Coast rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Grayson Capps as, “literate, passionate, reflective and rocking son of a Baptist minister.” He’s often compared to Dave Alvin, John Hiatt, Tom Waits, Ry Cooder, Lowell George and JJ Cale.
July 7: Ian Moore Band – This is great Texas blues rock band will be tearing up the stage.
July 14: The Peterson Brothers Band (LA ScienceFest Night at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area) – Another great Texas blues rock band hits the stage! This is a young, but talented bunch. Russ says the bass player and lead guitarist are amazing!
July 21: Michael Hearne and Shake Russell with Jimmy Stadler. – Expect Country and Americana from Texas and Taos from these perennial Concert Series favorites.
July 28: Eddy & The Nomads and DK & The Affordables – Local Los Alamos guitar heroes! The Nomads play rock and roots rock from 50s, 60s and 70s plus New Mexico musica del Norteno. DK & The Affordables play roots rock & rockabilly.
Aug. 4: Jim Lauderdale – This great singer-songwriter-performer returns! Country, bluegrass, roots rock and R&B. He’s the winner of Americana Association’s “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Lauderdale is the host of the “Music City Roots” TV show.
Aug. 11: Dale Watson (Fair & Rodeo Night) – Americana and roots/rock superstar Dale Watson kicks off the Los Alamos County Fair & Rodeo!
Aug. 18: Diego Figuerido (American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Night sponsored by the Los Alamos Medical Center) – Brazilian jazz and flamenco guitar master Diego Figuerido
Aug. 25: Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys – From western swing to rock, rockabilly and roots-rock, Big Sandy and the boys carry on the tradition of Bob Wills and Elvis simultaneously!
Sept 1: The Paladins – San Diego-based rock and roots-rock hit band from the 80’s has hoards of loyal followers.
Sept. 8: M5-The Mexican Brass (Los Alamos Concert Association Night) – M-5 is one of the top brass quintets in the world and a fitting finale to Russ’s Concert Series tenure. Expect classical brass from Mexico along with pop music.
