Monthly Grind a Winner

by Dave Lieben

December's Monthly Grind said goodbye to this millennium (although as Tom LeCompte pointed out, it technically doesn't end for another year) in style with a fine show Saturday at the Saxman Tribal House. The show was hosted by RK Rice as a disco-hopping character, with assistance from Dave Rubin as South Pacific's Emile DeBeque. Debeque left around mid-show on a skateboard, leading to a joke about "Emile on wheels".

The show began with two numbers on the keyboard from Ernie Meloche. Ernie left the stage after his first song, but was encouraged by the audience to return for another.

Next, in what was the highlight of the show for this reporter, Sharon Walker read an excellent children's story about a sheriff trying to rescue an orphan girl from the desert. Illustrations from the book were shown on slides, which added a lot. The story ended happily.

Next was guitarist Harvey Hansen, who played a couple beautiful pieces, and ended with Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.

The first set ended with a fine performance by marimbist Karta Shaffer, who was helped by, in turn, Natalia Dyakanoff, Ashley Nelson and Ashley Stage. Shaffer drew giggles when she introduced Bach's Air on a G-String. She finished with a couple of excellent solo numbers.

After the ever-popular intermission, Betsy Palfreyman was first up. Betsy played a few excellent original songs, ending with a salute to Ketchikan, whose chorus spoke of "Forty days and nights of rain, forty days and nights of pain."

Next was a brass quintet consisting of Dale Curtis, Bob Allen, Rob Holston, Gordon Davidson and Matt Engelbreth. They did a fine job on some Christmas songs.

Next was the duo of Alec Dickinson and Eric Siversten. They opened with a fine version of Counting Crows' Mr. Jones. They said they wanted to end on a high note, then played a single high note on their guitars. Ha ha!

The evening ended with most of the Monthly Grind family and others, led by Tom LeCompte, on stage for a rousing version of The Twentieth Century is Almost Over. The song was written long ago by Steve Goodman and John Prine, some singers added some original lyrics.

As the audience left the building, they were treated to the sight of a new blanket of pure white snow. The next Monthly Grind is Saturday, January 15.