It was time to dance: for Snow, for Fun, for a group of friends putting on a diverse night of great music, and maybe for a town eeking out that last bit of lull before ski season. We’d already made tomato-ginger soup and OG mac-n-cheese, and hung out in the Shook Shack with rejuvenating Sandpoint friends, and Lauri and Katie went into the show over at the Panida Theater with “Follow Me To The Dance Party” signs on their backs to herd people over to our Dance For Snow show. So event coordinator Stoney started things with some good ol’ pickin, some guests players on a killer “I’m Goin’ To Jackson”, a cover of JGB’s “Deep Elum Blues”, and general Piratical Presence. Next the Shooks played one of the best sets I’ve seen them and their boys do, including a “Dear Prudence” that could warm the thirsty cells of a junk sick addict. All sorts of family members came to participate in “all sorts of Tom Foolery” (as Stoney puts it) and Dan Shook dropped dance moves he’d stashed away for a special occasion. Branningan worked the door, mining eastern brokers for cash; Cochell poured wine and beer for the masses, coaxing giggles from females; and Justin Lantrip dug deep while playing our setbreak, giving soulful protest and folk music a polish, and sounding so good playing with guest lead guitar and bass players that the formation of his own band has to be right around the corner. Two or three times the people showed up as the last time we played, thanks to everyone that helped and played. Afterward we harassed Stoney up in the Pizza kitchen, then went back to the Shook Shack for prolonged silliness and moonlit walks.

Set One: Ride This Train, Redsand, Staring At The Sun, Beaten Path, Walkin On The Water, Flyin > Story, Heartbeat > Petty

by Jesse Shell

This morning we stuffed three more nice peoples into Van Morrisson (for a total of 10) and raced north in hopes of getting people to work and getting to the Iternational Day of Peace Celebration in time to see Justin Lantrip and The Shooks play.  Van persevered,  Justin sounded great with new inspired loops and original tunes, and the Shooks made me feel like everything would be alright, like always.  There was awesome fallafel, an open mic for people to spread their definitions of peace, internally and otherwise, and how to successfully implement it.  There was also the most incredible sunset off Brian and Zabrielle’s back deck, which massaged me over a bowl of home-made chicken soup.  Orin the deisel-converter jammed a reggae tune and then we played into the night with energy bouncing between fire dancers and the stage like the original Pong videogame.  Only one fireball flew into the crowd and only one beard was singed.  Brian and Z’s tiny, whimsical dogs Coconut and Tiger Lily feel asleep spooning in a small chair.  Z’s mother and new hubby honeymooned between the dancefloor and the incredible master suite.  The shed/backdrop of the stage was fitted with a series of bunk-beds, hide-a-beds, and various fluffiness, and even a tub of lentil chile and dinner rolls.

by Jesse Shell