Molly

It seems the Mollys are developing a rabid following in Colorado. We returned for our third visit to The Casa in Paonia, Colorado. Paonia's hard to describe: An artsy, funky, mining town? The mines are still open around Paonia, unlike Bisbee and Jerome, two funky former mining towns we play in Arizona. The Casa is a fine restaurant and we play outside in the rear yard/patio under some huge trees and the starry Colorado sky. The shows sell out every time and the crowds dance and raise hell until we quit. There's no place quite like it: A rockin' restaurant? Afterwards, we beat feet for a three-night stand in Durango at Farquahrt's. Good crowds every night. By day, some of us hung out at the band condo (let's not get into that). I stayed for a couple nights down at the old Strater Hotel on Main Street with my family. We took a raft trip down the Animas River, which flows out of the mountains north of Durango. Gary and Catherine came with us. We learned during the trip that, although it was mid-June, the water was barely above freezing. The water that was pouring over the gunnels had been snow just a few hours earlier. But it was big fun. We headed back to Paonia on a day off to hang out with some friends we made at the Casa. Thanks Razz, John and Freddie. The next day it was a short, beautiful ride through gorge along the Crystal River up to Carbondale for an outdoor concert in the city park. It was our first time there, but we got a really hot reception - including an encore that was more than a polite formality. The promoters and crew spoiled us rotten. Although many Colorado towns bend over backwards to attract those who flee Denver on the weekends, Carbondale's summer concert series was obviously for the locals. It was on a Thursday evening. We felt like we were playing a big party for the residents.