By BEN OLSON/for The Herald — As I look out my window on this lovely Sunday afternoon, I see the sun cast shadows across my lawn. I really should be outside enjoying the presence of the sun, because it will certainly be days, and possibly weeks, before I see it again, unless I take a sabbatical to Mazatlan. I will now take a two hour recess before I resume the entertainment report.
The view from Dead Mountain
In my two hours, I drove to the top of Dead Mountain and walked out to the view point. With recent logging out on the Devil’s Backbone , you get a much better view, but if you’re affected by vertigo, much more exposure than before. Noticing that the road going down the other side to Salmon Creek was not marked closed, I followed it. Here you can see the spot where the Cedar Creek fire made its closest advance to Oakridge.
I can only assume that the reason that everything on the Oakridge side of the road was green and everything East of that was burned was because that is where the backburn took place. Thank goodness that it worked, because there were nothing but trees between there and Oakridge. Then I stopped at the pub and organized my notes while I had a pint.
Karaoke scene is back on track
I mentioned in my last column that I would revisit the karaoke scene this week. The Dexter Lake Club does karaoke on Thursday nights, beginning about 6:30 p.m. The Loggers Den in the Big Mountain complex on Highway 58 in Oakridge has karaoke every Wednesday. Justin said their state-of-the art karaoke machine can transpose the songs into keys that you can sing them in. I don’t own any pants tight enough to sing “hot blooded, check it and see” in the original key.
Roburrito at the Corner Bar in Uptown Oakridge has the karaoke machine set up and waiting for you to come in and ask him to start the party. Not on Sundays or Mondays- those are his days to get the chopper out and put on a few miles. As of press time, I had not had a chance to talk with anyone at the Oakridge Moose Lodge to see if they’re still doing karaoke and on what night that takes place. They’ll get a mention with the details next week.
Disc Golf Tourney set for this weekend
The Middle Fork Open Disc Golf Tournament presented by Dynamic Discs will be taking place this Saturday and Sunday, November 5th and 6th. If you google the title of the event, it comes right up with all the necessary information. On Saturday evening, two great Oakridge bands will be performing at the Office Covered Bridge Pavilion, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Stoner and Crestview will be cranking it up to 11pm for your listening and dancing pleasure. There is no cover charge to come down and listen to the tunes and party with the disc golfers.
Blues at the DLC
At the Dexter Lake Club, a stone’s throw from milepost 12 on Highway 58, Blue Owens Band will be bringing their gritty, traditional brand of blues to town this Friday evening, November 4. A mainstay in the Eugene music scene, Blue’s harmonica has the raw power of his mentor, James Cotton. The show is scheduled for 7 p.m. On Sunday evening, November 6, Brian Chevalier will be heading the open mic and jam session. That kicks off about 6:30 p.m. The Dexter Lake Club has a full bar and the adjoining Rattlesnake BBQ offers appetizers, sandwiches and full dinners. There is no cover charge for the live music. For more details, call 541 581 3000.
Ben will be waiting for you at the Crane
I’ll be in the 3 Legged Crane this Thursday night, November 3, running the open mic. As always, I would like to see talented, ambitious pickers and singers lined up and waiting for their chance to play a few songs. I could sit in the back of the room, enjoying a barley pop, coming back to the stage occasionally to introduce the next performer or maybe putting a bass line down on a song or two. But in the event that no one else comes in to play, I’ll be throwing out one tune after another from 7 until 9 p.m. The 3 Legged Crane serves appetizers and sandwiches and has a great selection of hand-crafted beers and ales. There is no cover charge for the live music.
I’ll have one more chance to remind my fellow citizens, but please do your due diligence and cast your ballot on or before the Tuesday after the first Monday this November- the 8th. Don’t for a second think that your vote doesn’t count. The second most important reminder I have for you is to support live music and the musicians that make it. That’s all until next week.
Ben Olson photo Ben Olson, musician and Oakridge Resident, with his standup bass
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
