Entertainment report for week ending 2/12: Will Mr. Positive be negative?

By BEN OLSON/for The Herald  —  A sure way to find something you lost is to go and buy its replacement. The sun came out today and there were no sunglasses to be found in my truck. Well, there was a backup, emergency pair that would have worked had I intended to weld something. The February Oregon sun wasn’t quite that bright. As a side note, I have been in dollar stores where I could have bought 7 pairs of cheap sunglasses for what I paid for my new fashion statement.

You may have heard that I had to cancel my gigs this last weekend because of a brush with Covid-19. My apologies to music fans who expected to see me at the 3 Legged Crane on Thursday, the Dexter Lake Club on Friday evening and Willamette Pass Resort on Saturday afternoon. I have every reason to believe I’ll be back in action this coming Thursday for the open mic at the Crane.

Olson followed by Leadbetter at the Crane

Speaking of the Crane, Gary Battles will be joining me this Thursday, Feb 9 for the open mic. Pickers and singers are not only welcome, they are encouraged. The first song happens at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, February 11, Eric Leadbetter will be returning after a brief tour playing dates in Hawaii. That’s a fine way to break up an Oregon winter.

A master with the looper, Eric is able to evoke the jam bands like Phish, the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers. He starts playing at 7 p.m. The 3 Legged Crane is located on 1st Street in the Uptown district of Oakridge. They serve appetizers, sandwiches and dinners, as well as fine beers and ales brewed there and at other select microbreweries around Oregon. There is no cover charge for the live music.

Last weekend to catch Walking the Boards at the LMB

The Lion Mountain Bakery will be the scene of a second weekend of the Zero Clearance Theater’s production “Walking the Boards…a tribute to Bob Wilson”. The doors open at 6 p.m. this Friday, February 10, with curtain at 7. On Saturday, February 11, the doors will be opening at 5:30 and dinner will be available before the show, which, once again, will start at 7. On Sunday afternoon there will be a matinee show, with doors opening at 1 p.m. and curtain time at 2. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Lion Mountain Bakery and Mane Street Coffee. Prices are $12 for adults and $6 for children. Tickets purchased at the door before the show are $15.

Also at the Lion Mountain this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, singer-songwriter Broken Horn will be playing his Epiphone 335 and singing classic old tunes from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. each day. The Lion Mountain serves breakfast and lunch in a relaxed, spacious atmosphere. They are located on Highway 58 in Oakridge, and there is no cover charge for the live music.

Angelic Noise highlights at the DLC

Just off Highway 58 by milepost 12 is the Dexter Lake Club. Angelic Noise will be taking the stage there this Friday, February 10, from 6 until 8 p.m. I had the pleasure of hearing them play last month. He plays guitar, and quite well I might add, and she sings like a bird. They do all original tunes, running the gamut from exuberance to romance to whimsy, and everything in between. These two are onto something- I like their approach.

On Sunday evening, Brian Chevalier and friends will be rocking it out as they host the weekly open mic and jam session. Everyone who’d like to get a little stage time should make a point of being there for this event. The music begins at 6 p.m. The Dexter Lake Club has a full bar and the adjoining Rattlesnake BBQ has appetizers, sandwiches and dinners. There is no cover charge for the live music.

Relax with some music at the Pass

At the east end of our coverage area, Willamette Pass Resort is open and has great conditions for skiers and boarders. For those taking a little break from the action, I’ll be in the bar there this Saturday playing tunes from noon until 3 p.m. It’s a great vantage point to relax with a toddy, listen to a little music and watch skiers and boarders bombing down the hill. The Resort has a full bar and a variety of food options. There is no cover charge for the live music.

 

Although I like to have a positive attitude, I’m hoping for negative when I test before my Thursday appointment at the Crane.  Rumor has it that Rob is having another band at the Corner Bar- more on that next week. Stay well.