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Free concert kicks off Homecoming
Downtown Lowdown
Bryant Liggett
Homecoming. It’s that time of year on college campuses across the country, when alumni come back to celebrate the best four, seven or 10 years of their lives.
It’s a tradition that dates back to the early 20th century at either the University of Missouri or University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Both claim to have established the tradition; however, Baylor was the first to make the event revolve around sports. Now, a century later, it’s celebrated nationwide.
The Fort Lewis College homecoming activities this year will include all the standard events that come with a homecoming weekend: a little live music, a parade, alumni gatherings, a bonfire and some football. The football will come in the form of the Skyhawks against Adams State Saturday afternoon. But I’ll leave the football coverage for the sports pages. I’m no sports writer and to be honest, I’m not really a fan, although I will root for the Fort because I’m an alumnus. But I’m also a fan of events, and this, friends, is an event.
The Fort’s been gearing up all week, but to me, things officially will kick off today at 4:30 p.m. with a pre-parade concert on the grass outside of the train depot by local alterna-country/
southern-rock/on-the-verge-of-jam-band Jack Ten High.
Jack Ten High is Russ Crossland on guitar and vocals, Chris Loftus on bass, Bill Adams on lap steel, Gregg Andrullis on keyboards and Pat Dressen on drums. Jack Ten High formed out of the now defunct band Boxcar, featuring most of the same members with the exception of Andrullis and Dressen. Andrullis was the one time keyboard player for The Wayword Sons. Dressen has been a fixture in the roots music scene here in Durango for years, most notably as the guitar player and vocalist for bluegrass band The Badly Bent. I had no idea this guy was a drummer.
According to Crossland, the band is a vehicle for much of his original music, although it’ll also play “loads of covers.” From the description of the sound, I’d imagine those covers can range from Uncle Tupelo to the Drive by Truckers to the Grateful Dead.
The parade ensues at 6 p.m. and heads north from the depot up Main Avenue. Of course, there will be floats representing numerous FLC organizations, and all the floats will be judged by random judges sitting high atop Main from the safe confines of El Patio.
At 7 p.m. after the parade ends, alumni will drift into the Irish Embassy for check-in and a reception, giving the adults a chance to knock back a few cold ones before heading back up to the college by 8 p.m. for the bonfire and pep rally.
Saturday is chock full of stuff sandwiching a football game. Memorial runs, tours of the work-in-progress that is the student union, tours of the new Animas Hall, tailgate parties (with beer!) and alumni events all help celebrate the homecoming game. Sunday will feature football, as well, by which I mean soccer. Go Skyhawks.
Liggett_b@fortlewis.edu
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager.
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