By: George Varga

With her bigger-than-life voice and a personality to match, Liza Minnelli never has been regarded as laid-back.

In a career that began with her Broadway debut at age 3 in 1949 and has since seen her win an Oscar, a Grammy, an Emmy, several Tony Awards and a “worst actress” Razzie, she always has seemed like an indomitable force of nature.

Whether making an indelible impression as the brassy star of the iconic musical “Cabaret” in 1972 or during her recent cameo in this summer’s “Sex and the City 2″ movie, which finds her belting out Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” with steamrollerlike intensity, Minnelli fills a room, movie theater or concert hall as if it were her birthright.

And it may well be, considering that she is the daughter of two Hollywood legends, singer-actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli (of, respectively, “The Wizard of Oz” and “An American in Paris” fame).

But when it came time to record her new album, “Confessions,” Minnelli got as laid-back as any singer could while still remaining fully conscious, albeit only partially upright.

“I made it in my bedroom!” chirped the veteran singer and actress.

“I had to have knee replacement surgery, and I go nuts with nothing to do because I have so much energy,” she continued, speaking from New York. “So it was perfect. I did part of the album before the operation and part of it after. I started off singing in bed, and then, as I got better, I moved into a director’s chair. There was no other way to do it because I couldn’t walk.”

Now 64, Minnelli shows no sign of slowing down soon, despite the knee replacement (it was at least her third knee operation), two earlier hip replacement surgeries, three divorces and a number of drug- and alcohol-fueled stays in various rehab clinics.

On “Confessions,” which she recorded with veteran pianist Billy Stritch, she sings in a far more intimate and understated style than is usually associated with her name. Though some of the songs, such as “At Last” and “All the Way,” are weathered standards, many are obscurer, such as “Moments Like This,” “You Fascinate Me So” and the finger-snapping Peggy Lee chestnut “He’s a Tramp.” At their best, which is on about half of the 14 songs she performs on the album, Minnelli and Stritch come close to evoking Minnelli’s longtime friend Tony Bennett’s two splendid releases with jazz piano great Bill Evans in the mid-1970s.

“These songs are very personal and private to me, and my singing on the album is not a performance,” she said. “It’s so personal that I had to be talked into doing it,” she said.

Perhaps so.

But the album, due out Sept. 28 on Decca Records, also takes Minnelli back to her childhood in Hollywood.

On many a night as she was growing up, such American music icons as Irving Berlin, Oscar Levant and Ira Gershwin (her godfather) would drop by to socialize. On other nights, the Minnellis would go visit Berlin, Gershwin and other pioneering songwriters. Invariably, they would take turns singing and playing a few songs, while a little girl named Liza would sprawl under the grand piano and listen intently.

“To me, they were the neighbors,” she recalled of her family’s famous friends. “Our home was like a coal mine in town, and everybody knew everybody who worked in the mines. The songs on my new album are the songs I heard sitting under pianos all over Hollywood.”

In 1964, when she was still a teenager, Minnelli famously recorded a live album in London with her mother, who would die five years later of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 47.

Yet even though she now pointedly credits all of her musical acumen to her godmother, Kay Thompson, Minnelli allows that appearing onstage with her mother in London was a major turning point for both of them.

“I was scared to death, but I was determined,” she recalled. “I asked my mom, ‘Why don’t you do this with Frank Sinatra or Peggy Lee?’ She said, ‘No, I want you.’ And I thought, ‘Oh, my God!’”

In 1967, Minnelli co-starred opposite Albert Finney in “Charlie Bubbles.” It was her first movie since 1949, when she briefly appeared in a scene with her mother at the conclusion of “In the Good Old Summertime,” and it marked the launch of a lengthy film career. Today she credits her many roles on Broadway and the inspiration of French singing institution Charles Aznavour for forming her actorlike approach to interpreting the lyrics she performs onstage.

“I always loved music,” she said. “But I didn’t really get into it until I saw Charles perform, and he influenced me. How? It was the acting, how he could take you to different places when he sang; it was like God (was) acting. I asked him if he would be my mentor, and he said yes. But I know so much music because I was a shy little girl and the songs said what I couldn’t say.

“If you are singing 20 songs in concert, each song has to have a character breakdown. Who is this woman (in the song)? What does she look like? Where is she? The country? The top floor of a penthouse? It’s almost like I am the character, so each song is different. But none of that is happening on my new album — which is me just sitting there singing.”

Though Minnelli has long been a Broadway favorite, her fans also include rock singer Pat Benatar, Crowded House band leader Neil Finn and the members of Queen, Pet Shop Boys and My Chemical Romance, all three of whom she has collaborated with.

Asked whether she or the all-male members of the guyliner-fueled My Chemical Romance wore more makeup in the recording studio, she laughed with delight.

“I don’t know who had more on, but we were sure wearing a lot!” said Minnelli, who, for a short period in the 1980s, was managed by Kiss bassist-singer Gene Simmons.

Through all her ups and downs — and there have been many of both — she has charged (or sometimes limped) forward, determined to do her best whatever the circumstances. Though her reputation as a diva is not undeserved, she maintains that “it’s easier to treat people nicely.”

Ultimately, Minnelli said, “when people remember me, I want them to say, ‘She did a good job.’”

To find out more about George Varga and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM

‘A Man Having A Baby’ — The premiere of the new romantic comedy by El Paso playwright Martin R. Cardenas is 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4-5, at the Scottish Rite Theater, 301 W. Missouri. The play is about “the world’s biggest bachelor” dealing with the reality of becoming a parent. Ages 13 and older recommended. Tickets: $12.50; available on ticketbully.com.

‘Crimes of the Heart’ – Beth Henley’s tragic Southern comedy is Sept. 3-25 at El Paso Playhouse, 2501 Montana. Directed by Ted Karber. Showtime is 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Ticket information: 532-1317, elpasoplayhouse.com.  The play follows the Magrath sisters as they gather after one shoots her abusive husband. Children of a dysfunctional family, they all have had their share of grief and sorrow.

‘The Fantasticks’ — El Paso Community College’s Performers Studio presents and encore performance of the longest running show in the world at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 2-4, at the EPCC Transmountain Campus Forum Theater (take Diana exit off Patriot Freeway). Directed by Keith Townsend. Tickets: $10 ($5 students/seniors/military). Information: 637-4029, 831-3272 or epcc.edu.  This much-loved musical is a story about love, growing up, and what is most important in life. Two fathers build a wall between their homes hoping their children will fall in love because children always do as their parents forbid. When the young man and woman grow up, they become aware of the plot and embark on their own adventures to learn about the world.
Movies in the Canyon — Free movies will be shown Friday and Saturday nights at the McKelligon Canyon Amphitheater. Showtimes are 7:15 and 9:30 p.m. and later showings are Fridays and Saturdays. Movies range from G to PG-13-rated features. Concessions available (no food or beverages may be brought in). Information: 534-0665 or moviesinthecanyon.com.• Sept. 3 — “Raiders of The Lost Ark” and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”• Sept. 4 — “Madagascar 2” and “Journey To the Center of the Earth 3-D”

Civic-Cultural Organization of Puerto Ricans — The El Paso group’s traditional Labor Day weekend family celebration is noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, at Biggs Park, Biggs Army Airfield. The event includes salsa music, traditional dancing troupes, domino tournament, souvenir sales and jumping balloon for children. Puerto Rican dishes (arroz con gandures; roasted pork; bacalaitos) will be sold. Admission is free. Information: Sonia Santiago, (575) 589-2389.

Eastside
Club 101 — 1148 Airway. Advance tickets for most events available at Club 101, All That Music, Psycha and online at ticketbully.com, unless otherwise listed. Information: 544-2101 or club101.com.• Panteon Rococo — The band celebrates its 15th anniversary during its “USA Summer Tour 2010” at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1. All ages show. Tickets: $25.

Lower Valley
El Paso Chopin Music Festival — The 2010 fall series of piano concerts is sponsored by El Paso Community College and the El Paso Chopin Festival Society. This year’s concerts are 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, Oct. 2 and Oct. 23, at the Chamizal National Memorial, 800 S. San Marcial. Admission is free, but people are advised to arrive early because the concerts are almost always standing room only. Information: 584-1595 or chopinfest@sbcglobal.net. Web: elpaso-chopin.com.• Sept. 4 — Claire Huangci, Winner of the 2010 U. S. Chopin Piano Competition.

Kiwanis Skip Rock Championships — Kiwanis Clubs of El Paso host its annual championship and family fun picnic 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, at Ascarate Lake. Judges for the contest are members of the Diablos. Also featured are information booths from groups like Children’s Miracle Network and Candlelighters, kids activities and a special appearance by “Elvis.” Information: 549-4606 or kiwanis.org.

Fiesta de las Flores — The Hispanic Cultural Center presents the festival 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sept. 3-5 at El Paso County Coliseum, 4100 Paisano, with food, vendors, music, dances and more. Tickets: $12.50 (per day). Information: 533-3730 or fiestadelasflores.org.  The presentation of the Queen’s candidates is 7:30 p.m. Friday with the coronation of this year’s Fiesta Queen is 7 p.m. Saturday.  A special Military Awards Ceremony is 9:15 p.m. Sunday.  Friday’s peformers are Magia Duranguese, Latin Soul, Border Roots, Martha Mendoza Y Su Mariachi, Pepe Rodrigues, Exito, Jorge Amato, Groupo Luz De Luna, Fito y Martin 100% Cadetes and Los Silvers De Juarez.  Saturday’s performers are Jaqueline Mata, Zonic Infiniti, Chicago Impression, Sonny Powell and the Night Dreamers, Sonora Dinamita and Group Intocable.  Sunday’s performers are Ballet Folklorico Paso Del Norte, Players Band, Sonny Powell, El Paso Band, La Sabrosura De Fito Olivares and Los Rieleros Del Norte.

Westside/Downtown
Alfresco! Fridays — The free outdoor concerts begin at 5:30 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 10 at Arts Festival Plaza (between El Paso Museum of Art and Plaza Theatre). Presented by the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department. No outside food or beverages, or pets allowed. Information: 534-0689, 541-4481, or alfrescofridays.com.• Sept. 3 — Marcelo & Friends (salsa/Latin)

Taste of El Paso and KLAQ BBQ — The 25th annual El Paso Restaurant Association event is 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, at Western Playland in Sunland Park. The one-day food fest features the area’s finest restaurants in one location, offering samples from their menus for the general public. Tickets: $20 at the gate; advance tickets $15.95 (available at area 7-11, Fina Pic Quik stores. Age 2 and younger free. Information: 544-8864, (575) 589-3410 or klaq.com.  Concert headliners are Trapt, Since October and Jonathan Tyler and Northern Lights.
St. Anthony’s Bazaar — The 47th annual Labor Day weekend festival is noon to 11 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Sept. 4-6, at the St. Anthony’s Seminary, 4501 Hastings (at Crescent). The event offers food, games and live entertainment hosted on the grounds of a Franciscan seminary. An evening mass is planned for Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. Information: 566-2261.
Minerpalooza 2010 — UTEP’s 20th annual back-to-school bash and pep rally is 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Sept. 3, in the center of UTEP’s campus, corner of University and Hawthorne. The family-friendly event features fall sports teams, games, information booths and appearances by UTEP athletes. Live music by Sleepercar, Brown Betty, Radio La Chusma and Pan 8. Extended Kids Zone hours are 6 to 10 p.m. during the event. Admission is free; food and some activities sold separately. Miner game tickets will be sold. Information: 747-5670 or utep.edu/minerpalooza.
UTEP Football — The Miners’ first home game of the season is Saturday, Sept. 4 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Sun Bowl Stadium. Ticket information: 747-5234, 544-8444 or utepathletics.com.
UTEP ROTC to DC 5K — The UTEP ROTC will host a 5K run and 1-mile walk at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, at Ascarate Park, 6900 Delta. First 100 participants receive free t-shirt; refreshments for all participants at end of race; raffle prizes offered. Registration: $20 ($15 ages 10 and younger; team members). Late registration after Sept. 2 is $25 ($20 children/team members). Information: raceadventuresunlimited.comPark entry fee is $1 per vehicle.

Southern New Mexico

‘First Fridays’ in Silver City — Several of historic Downtown Silver City’s restaurants, shops and “Red Dot” galleries will stay open late the first Friday of each month as part of the monthly “First Friday” shopping event. Information: 1-800-548-9378 or silvercitymainstreet.com.  The Sept. 3, event features dedication of the Downtown Gateway Arch with live music and entertainment.
All-American Gun & Western Collectible Show — The 1annual show is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4-5, at the Ruidoso Convention Center. Hundreds of guns, gun-related items, Indian artifacts, knives, cowboy gear and more will be on display. Proceeds benefit Lincoln County charities. Admission: $5 (free for age 12 & under free). Information: (575) 257-6171 or trekwest.com/gunshow.
Cloudcroft Labor Day Fiesta — The annual family party is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Sept. 4-6, on Burro Avenue in Cloudcroft. The event includes live music, games, a sidewalk sale food and the chance to explore and hike in the surrounding mountains. Admission is free. Information: (575) 682-2733 or 1-866-682-8777 or cloudcroft.net.  Free melodramas at the Open Air Pavilion in Zenith Park are 7:30 p.m. nightly, Sept. 3-5. This season’s feature is “Poultry in Motion.”
Cottonwood Festival — The 20th annual Labor Day Weekend arts and craft festival is Sept. 4-6 in Alameda Park, alongside White Sands Blvd. (U.S. 54/70) in Alamogordo. The event offers more than 80 booths of handmade arts and crafts, entertainment, food, zumba and hip-hop demonstrations, karaoke and more. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. Admission is free. Information: Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, (575) 437-6120, 1-800-826-0294 or alamogordo.com.  An Ambassador Cook-to-Order Breakfast is 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, with sausage, eggs, pancakes, juice and coffee. Cost: $6.50 per plate.
Harvest Wine Festival — The New Mexico Wine Growers Association presents its 2010 Labor Day Weekend festival noon to 6 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Sept. 4-6, at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds, Las Cruces. Admission: $15, includes souvenir wine glass; under 21 free accompanied by parent of legal guardian. Monday is Military Day, with $3 discount for active duty military with ID. All adults must have valid ID, regardless of age; designated drivers encouraged. No pets, coolers or open containers allowed. Information: (575) 522-1232, 1-800-494-6366 or wineharvestfestival.com.  The festival features wines produced by New Mexico’s leading wineries, available for tasting and for sale by the glass, bottle or case, plus live entertainment each day, specialty foods, arts and crafts, and the University of Wine with featured speakers and presentations.  Grape stomp contests are held on the hour from 1 to 5 p.m.  Featured entertainers begin at 12:15 and 3:15 p.m. daily. Saturday’s performers are Daddy Os (rockabilly) and Nuevo Sol (southwest music); Sunday’s are Terry Bullard (country) and The Liars (80s and 90s music); Monday’s peformers are Remember Then (classic hits) and C.W. Ayon (one-man blues and roadhouse classic).  To get to the fairgrounds, take I-10 West toward Deming, then take the fairgrounds exit and follow the signs.
Hatch Chile Festival — The “chile capital of the world’s” 38th annual celebration is Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4-5, at the Hatch Airport on N.M. Hwy 26, 1 1/2 miles west of Hatch, featuring vendors, carnival rides, arts and crafts, chile food and ristra tying and painting demonstrations, live music, beer garden and fresh roasted Hatch green chile. Admission: $10 per carload. Information: (575) 267-5483 or hatchchilefest.com.  The Hatch Valley Chile Festival Parade is 10 a.m. Saturday in downtown Hatch.  Live music includes the Simon Balkey 12:30 and 1:45 p.m. Saturday; Queen Priscilla Banuelos at 12:30 p.m., Las Cruces High School Mariachi at 1 p.m. and Clay Mac 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.  Contests are 1:30 and 2:45 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, including chile eating, chile toss and watermelon eating.  Horseshoe tournament is 12:30 p.m. Saturday; registration begins at 9:30 a.m.  The Chile Festival auction is 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Hillsboro Harvest Festival — Percha Creek Traders Artisan’s Cooperative hosts the 2nd annual Labor Day weekend festival 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, in Hillsboro, N.M., featuring works by area artists, artist demonstrations, and a farmer’s market with local produce including newly harvest apples from the Mimbres Valley. Guests can visit the Black Range Museum and Ocean Grove Hotel, and see historic adobe homes, churches, and ruins dating from the late 1800s. Information: (575) 895-5797 or perchacreektraders.com.  Featured artists include Jane Dobrott (western hat shaping and wire sculpture) and Ray Hamlett (native woodwork). Local, shops, galleries and restaurants will be open.  Percha Creek Traders is in downtown Hillsboro on Highway 152, 17 miles west of I-25 at exit 63.
River Rendezvous — The outdoor craft fair is Saturday through Monday, Sept. 4-6, at Chartreuse Moose gallery in Ruidoso, N.M., across from the tennis courts on Sudderth Drive., featuring area arts and crafts and food. Information: (505) 990-3550.
‘Rolling Stones’ Gem and Mineral Show — Grant County Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Society’s 27th annual show in Silver City, N.M. is Sept. 4-6 at the Grant County Business and Conference Center, 3031 Hwy 180 East, in Silver City, N.M. The show offers guided field trips, vendors, silent auctions, exhibits and demonstrations. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. Admission is free. Information: rollingstonesgms.blogspot.com.  The show, a Labor Day Weekend event in Grant County for many years, features dealers from around the Southwest with museum-quality mineral specimens, jewelry, and arts crafted from rock and gems. Quantities of “rough” stones are available for cutting and polishing work, as well as equipment and supplies.
Labor Day Parade and Street Fair — Carrizozo, N.M. hosts the Labor Day Fair Monday, Sept. 6, at McDonald Park.Parade starts promptly at 10 a.m. behind the 4 Winds Restaurant on 12th Street. The fair is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with music by Paul Pino & the Tone Daddies and local band No One Cares. Admission is free. Information: (575) 648-2855Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino — Mescalero, N.M. Age 21 and older admitted. (Ticketmaster) Information: 1-877-277-5677 or innofthemountaingods.com.• The Black Crowes — The Georgia rock and roll band who has sold more than 20 million albums performs at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6. The band has sold over 20 million records and is listed at number 92 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.” Tickets: $25-$100.
Spencer Theater for Performing Arts — Airport Hwy 220 in Alto, N.M. (about 12 miles north of downtown Ruidoso). Free public guided tours are 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays (except show dates). Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872 or spencertheater.com.• Ray Price — 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31. The great western crooner’s hits go back decades, and Price continues to release new recordings of western standards and swinging country. A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1952, his early songs include “Crazy Arms,” the 1956 country song of the year. In 2007, Price recorded the Grammy-winning hit CD “Last of the Breed” with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. Tickets: $66 and $69.
All American Futurity — The running of the 51st All American Futurity is Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6, which marks the end of the racing season at Ruidoso Downs. From 160 to 180 quarterhorses compete in the trials, with the 10 fastest advancing to race for a $2 million purse.  Live racing is Thursday through Sunday, except on holiday weekends when the horses run Friday through Monday. First post is noon.  General admission and parking are free; reserved seating ranges from $5-$7; Turf Club admission is $10; valet parking is $5. Information: (575) 378-4431 or (575) 378-4140 or raceruidoso.com.

august 27th- Sept 2nd
Central/Northeast
‘A Man Having A Baby’ — The premiere of the new romantic comedy by El Paso playwright Martin R. Cardenas is 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28-29, and Sept. 4-5, at the Scottish Rite Theater, 301 W. Missouri. The play is about “the world’s biggest bachelor” dealing with the reality of becoming a parent. Ages 13 and older recommended. Tickets: $12.50; available on ticketbully.com.
‘A Day of Reckoning’ wrestling — The inaugural World Wrestling Today event is 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at Cohen Stadium, featuring several champion wrestlers. The show will crown the WWT’s World Champion and World Tag Team Champions. A special ladies match between Simply Lucious and former WWE Women’s Champion, Jazz, is planned, as well as a special tribute to former El Pasoan, Eddie Guerrero with the Guerrero Family. Tickets: $20 general admission; $30 box seats; $50 ringside.

Raise Awareness for Candlelighters run — El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Richard D. Wiles hosts the inaugural 8K and 5K runs and 1-mile fun walk benefiting Candlelighters of El Paso 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at McKelligon Canyon. First 500 runners receive a free t-shirt an refreshments provided to all participants. Medals awarded to top three male and female runners in each category. Registration: $20 in advance; $25 on race day. Information: Chris Rowley: 478-5663. Online registration at raceadventuresunlimited.com.  Packet pick-up is 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, and 7 to 7:45 a.m. at the starting line on race day.
Movies in the Canyon — Free movies will be shown Friday and Saturday nights at the McKelligon Canyon Amphitheater. Showtimes are 7:15 and 9:30 p.m. and later showings are Fridays and Saturdays. Movies range from G to PG-13-rated features. Concessions available (no food or beverages may be brought in). Information: 534-0665 or moviesinthecanyon.com.• Aug. 27 — “Nacho Libre” and “School of Rock”• Aug. 28 — “Hook” and “The Goonies”
El Paso Diablos Baseball — The American Association minor league team regular home game time is 7:05 p.m. (Sundays at 6:05 p.m.) at Cohen Stadium in Northeast El Paso. Tickets: $8 box seats; $7 general admission (free for age 4 and younger). Information: 755-2000 or diablos.com.• Aug. 24-26 — Shreveport Captains

Western Gala — The dinner-dance benefit for the 81st annual El Paso Ford Dealers Southwestern International PRCA Rodeo is 6:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 28, at Sunland Park Race Track and Casino’s Signature Ballroom. Cocktails served at 6:30 with prime rib dinner at 7:30 p.m. and dancing to Clay Mac Band 8 p.m. to midnight. Silent auction and giveaways also featured Tickets: $75 ($600 table for 8). Information: 525-8464 or elprodeo.com.  The rodeo runs Sept. 23-26 at Cohen Stadium.

Feria del Valle Cristo Rey — Cristo Rey Catholic Church, 8011 Williamette (next to Yucca Park), will host its annual bazaar Aug. 27-29 offering carnival rides, food (gorditas, enchiladas, funnel cakes, tacos, etc.), games, live entertainment, matachines dancers and more. Hours are 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, and 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Headline entertainment begins at 6 p.m. each night. Admission is free. Information: 591-0688 or 591-6399.

Eastside
The Ataris — The pop punk band performs at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, with Spoiler and Free at Will at Club 101, 1148 Airway. All ages show. Tickets: $10 in advance. Advance tickets for most events available at Club 101, All That Music, Psycha and online at ticketbully.com, unless otherwise listed. Information: 544-2101 or club101.com.

El Paso Psychic Fair — The fair is 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28-29, at the Hawthorn Inn, 1700 Airway (at Boeing). Admission: $5 for both days (private readings not included with admission). Free admission with active duty military I.D. Information: 345-6245 or elpasopsychicfair.com.  The fair features aura photos, tealeaf readings, handmade New Age crystal and gemstone jewelry, spirit writing, Feng Shui products, aromatherapy and readings by 14 professional psychic readers and mediums from across Texas and New Mexico. Readings offered in English and Spanish.
Lower Valley
Shakespeare in the Park — Shakespeare on the Rocks presents three of The Bard’s classic at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday andSunday, Aug. 20-22 and Aug. 27-29, at the Chamizal National Memorial, 800 S. San Marcial. Admission: $10 ($8 military, students and seniors). Group rate for 10 or more; $6 with advance notice. Information: 532-7273, 474-4275 or shakespeareontherocks.com.

Downtown/Westside
EPSO Anniversary Gala — The Grammy-nominated Eroica Trio performs for the El Paso Symphony Orchestra’s 80th anniversary celebration Saturday, Aug. 28, at the El Paso Museum of Art. Cocktails are 6:30 p.m. with dinner at 7:30 p.m. and the Eroica Trio at 8:30 p.m. Formal attire. RSVP by Aug. 21. Tickets: $125 ($250 couples; $1,250 table for 10). Information: 532-3776.  The Eroica Trio has won the prestigious Naumburg Award, resulting in a highly successful Lincoln Center debut and has since toured the United States, Europe, and Asia. The trio also has released eight critically lauded recordings with multiple nominations.

Alfresco! Fridays — The free outdoor concerts begin at 5:30 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 10 at Arts Festival Plaza (between El Paso Museum of Art and Plaza Theatre). Presented by the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department. No outside food or beverages, or pets allowed. Information: 534-0689, 541-4481, or alfrescofridays.com.• Aug. 27 — Radio La Chusma (Latin reggae/world)
Rubin Center — UTEP’s Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts is next to Sun Bowl Stadium (off Dawson Drive). Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Information: 747-6151, Rubincenter@utep.edu or utep.edu/artsandculture.  Showing Aug. 26-Dec. 11:
Sun Bowl Volleyball Invitational — The 6th annual collegiate volleyball tournament featuring UTEP and teams from top women’s programs across the nation is Friday and Saturday, Aug. 27-28, at UTEP’s Don Haskins Center. Teams/game times to be announced. Tickets: $5 per day. Information: 533-4416, ext. 15.

UTEP Women’s Soccer —Home games are at UTEP’s University Field. Tickets: $7 ($3 children). Information: 747-6150 or utepathletics.com.  The 13th annual Miners’ Classic is Aug. 27-29. UTEP takes on Fresno State at 7 p.m. Friday and Utah Valley at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Gospel Starlights — The group’s 7th annual anniversary musical celebration is 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at Abundant Joy Christian Faith Center, 4950 Y Hondo Pass. Information: Jeanette, 226-6531 or Naquitta, 202-1134.

St. Nicholas Greek Festival — The 23rd annual festival of vibrant Greek culture is Aug. 27-29 at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, 124 S. Festival. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Information: 833-0882.
Home and Garden Expo — The 11th annual expo is Aug. 27-29 at El Paso Convention Center. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The expo is the only established Home & Garden event in El Paso and is the largest home and lifestyle show in the region, with more than 200 area companies displaying the latest products and services for homeowners. Admission: $5; $3 military/seniors 62 and older; free for ages 18 and younger. Seniors and military admitted free Friday. Information: (361) 882-2071 or expoltd.com.  Special guest is Kelly Edwards, one of the industry’s most popular TV designers currently appearing on several cable shows including co-host and design coordinator on STYLE Network’s “Tacky House,” HGTV’s “Design on a Dime” and AOL Living.

Southern New Mexico
Great American Duck Race — The annual running of the ducks is Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 26-29, in Deming, N.M. Admission is free for spectators, and anyone can be a duck racer for just $5. This year’s theme is “Pirates.” The ducks are provided; don’t bring one. Call for entry forms. Information: (888) 345-1125, (575) 544-0469 or demingduckrace.com.  The Tournament of Ducks Parade is at 10 a.m. Saturday in downtown Deming.  Opening ceremonies and invocation are at noon Saturday at the Deming Elks Lodge, 2799 Chaplin.  Live Duck Races and Water Races are noon to 4 p.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday at McKinley Duck Downs. Duck Race eliminations and finals are 3 p.m. Sunday.  Other events:• Duck Royalty Pageants are at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the DPS Auditorium.• Duck Mart vendors begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at Courthouse Park and run all day Friday through Sunday, with carnival events beginning 4 p.m. Friday and running all day Saturday and Sunday. Live entertainment from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.• Duck Race Dance is 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, at Hat Creek Saloon. Admission: $5 (free with sponsor t-shirt).• The Kickoff Breakfast hosted by Elks Lodge 2799 is 7 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Courthouse Park.• Hot Air Balloon Mass Ascension is 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Deming Soccer Field.• Barbecue hosted by First United Methodist Church is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.• Slow Pitch Tournament runs all day Saturday and Sunday at the Hooten Complex.• The Great American Tortilla Toss is 2 p.m. Saturday, and the Great American Outhouse Race is 5:30 p.m. on Silver Street.
Rodney Carrington — The country comedian and star of the sitcom “Rodney” performs at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, at Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino in Mescalero, N.M. Carrington has recorded eight major comedy albums selling over two million copies. Also an actor he co-wrote and co-starred in “Beer for My Horses” with Toby Keith. Tickets to be announced. Ages 21 and older admitted. (Ticketmaster).
J. Paul Taylor birthday — A free public celebration honoring the life and career of long-time Mesilla resident J. Paul Taylor 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at the Mesilla Plaza. Taylor, who turned 90 this summer, served as a state legislator, teacher, and administrator. Festivities include music, refreshments, and a brief ceremony. Attendees may bring copies of photographs or written recollections of activities shared with “J. Paul.” Information: (575) 915-5756 or FriendsofTaylorMonument@gmail.com.  Hosted by “Friends of the Taylor Family Monument”, a nonprofit organization dedicated in support of the Taylor-Barela-Reynolds-Mesilla State Monument. In lieu of gifts, donations are welcome for the monument fund.
MainStreet SalsaFest — The 2nd annual salsa competition is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, on Main Street, between Las Cruces and Griggs streets in Las Cruces. Businesses, restaurants and home salsa makers, compete for cash prizes and other awards. Tasters may vote for their favorite. Entertainment and dancing provided by Sobradosis del Sabor band with salsa lesson throughout the day and a dance competition at 3 p.m. Also featured are children’s activities, food and drink and vendor booths. Admission is free; tasting wristband for voting is $3. Information: (575) 525-1955 or downtownlascrucespartnership.org.
Downtown Ramble — The City of Las Cruces hosts an evening of music and art 5 to 7 p.m. the first Friday of the month at the Las Cruces Downtown Mall. Information: (575) 523-2950.
Spencer Theater for Performing Arts — Airport Hwy 220 in Alto, N.M. (about 12 miles north of downtown Ruidoso). Free public guided tours are 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays (except show dates). Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872 or spencertheater.com.  Nearly Neil & The Solitary Band perform 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 — Singing Neil Diamond’s hits like “Sweet Caroline,” “Holly Holly,” “Red, Red Wine,” and “Song Sung Blue,” vocalist Bobby Bruce not only looks like Diamond, but also matches note for note. He is joined on stage by fellow musicians Kyle Radomsky, Craig Zurba, Dave Corman) and Marlow Holder. Tickets: $66 and $69.
Stephanie Fix — The award-winning root-rock Austin singer-songwriter performs at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. Fix has been a finalist in eight different national songwriting competitions including the USA Songwriters Competition and the International Billboard Songwriter’s Competition. Her most recent CD, “Crooked Smile” has gained praise from music critics and publications. Admission: $10 at the door; reservations recommended. Information/reservations:(575) 523-1223 or no-strings.org.

By: George Varga

Keeping busy is easy for self-described “passion-aholic” Bret Michaels. Staying alive has been more of a challenge for this veteran rock star turned TV-fueled pop-culture sensation (“Celebrity Apprentice,” VH1′s “Rock of Love With Bret Michaels”). Indeed, his multiple near-death experiences this year only seemed to slow him down momentarily before he sprang — well, limped — back into action.

“My absolute strength and my absolute weakness are the same thing, because I love to work,” said Michaels, 47, who is being considered by the producers of “American Idol” to replace head judge Simon Cowell. “My passion is my blessing and my curse. It’s a tough thing for me sometimes.”

Make that a very tough thing.

So far this year, the man born Bret Michael Sychak has suffered a brain hemorrhage and a stroke. He also underwent an emergency appendectomy and learned that he has a hole in his heart, which will require major surgery in January to try to correct.

Someone less determined might regard these as good reasons to consider early retirement. Or, perhaps, as the impetus to take up less demanding activities, like learning macrame or teaching Ozzy Osbourne how to make pastry.

But not Michaels, a lifelong Type 1 diabetic who rose to fame as the lead singer for the glittery hair-metal band Poison in the second half of the 1980s.

Witness the prelude to his late-May victory on “Celebrity Apprentice,” which saw him literally stagger out of his hospital bed after suffering the aforementioned brain hemorrhage and stroke (and undergoing that emergency appendectomy). That he then flew to New York against the expressed advice of his doctors was a no-brainer, at least to him.

Never mind that when he joined “Celebrity Apprentice” host-cum-TV-boss Donald Trump and this season’s other finalist in a Big Apple TV studio, Michaels strongly resembled the namesake of “Look What the Cat Dragged In,” the title track from Poison’s second album. (Sample lyric: I look like hell / Half alive or half dead / I just can’t tell.)

“Absolutely everybody at the hospital said: ‘I don’t think this is a smart idea,’” Michaels recalled with a wry chuckle. “But here was my problem: I worked really hard to win ‘Celebrity Apprentice.’ And I felt, if I had the proper medication, I’d be all right. I didn’t feel great, I’ll be honest. I mean, you know I’m sick when I don’t go to my own after-party! But I needed to go on the show. I knew it would never be the same to win and be sitting in my hospital room or in a small satellite TV studio.

“I didn’t know I’d be the winner, but I knew I was going to be in the finale and I knew it was down to two people, Holly (Robinson-Peete) and me. I knew in my soul I wanted to go back to New York for the finale because I wanted so bad to win.”

That desire to persevere, if not triumph, has been a constant for Michaels through much of his life. It has helped him through heady success (starting with Poison’s heyday in the 1980s) and extended doldrums (most of the next decade until Poison’s 1999 reunion), a previous near-death moment (the 1994 car crash in which he broke his ribs, nose, jaw and fingers) and pre-fame labor (working a double-shift as a fry-cook and a bus boy at a Bob’s Big Boy in his native Pennsylvania).

Michaels laughed when asked what skills he acquired as a rock star that helped him not only to make the final cut but to win “Celebrity Apprentice.”

“I’ve learned every business skill I’ve needed to learn from the entertainment business, mostly from rock ‘n’ roll,” he replied.

“You must have nerves of steel when you get into the rock world, because you’re dealing with some of the best people and some of the sleaziest lowlifes in the universe. As I said on ‘Apprentice,’ never mistake my kindness and respect for weakness.”

Fair enough. But what about Trump, the show’s host? Just how good an air guitarist is the real estate magnate?

“I’ve never seen Don play air guitar,” Michaels said. “But I did my homework before going on ‘Apprentice.’ I looked back at Don’s life and found he excelled at music at a young age, so that was good news for me. We didn’t bond on the show, but we (now) talk about sports and music and life.”

Michaels is now completing his autobiography, “Roses & Thorns: The Reality of My Rock & Roll Fantasy.” His current concert tour is timed to promote “Custom Built,” his latest solo album on Poor Boy Records, the label he launched in the mid-1990s.

An uneven mix of new songs and old, “Custom Built” includes a remake of the chart-topping 1988 Poison ballad “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” It is the first (and, likely, last) album by anyone to feature vocal cameos by both teen idol Miley Cyrus and Jason Miller, the lead singer of alt-metal band Godhead.

“It’s not too thought out,” Michaels said. “Most of the guests on my album are there because of friendship.”

Given his near-fatal spate of recent health issues, should he be as active as he is — let alone preparing for the fall run of his new VH1 show, “Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It,” while embarked on a national concert tour?

“I’ll never have a clean bill of health, but I feel like I’m back at 90 percent,” he said. “After all I’ve been through, part of me wants to go out and sky-dive and part of me wants to stop and savor every moment. It’s a weird mindset to be in.”

To find out more about George Varga and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM

By: George Varga

“I want someone to pinch me.”

It was a simple request, and one that was easily granted. But when Ashley Matte got her pinch a split second later, the priceless look on her face — sheer delight mixed with “Are you kidding me?” incredulity — conveyed what happens when dreams and hopes become a happy reality.

That’s because the pinch was delivered by multi-Grammy Award winner Sarah McLachlan, whose music profoundly changed Matte’s life 13 years ago and inspires the singer-songwriter to this day.

It was McLachlan’s VH1 televised performance in 1997, during the first Lilith Fair women’s music festival tour, that inspired Matte (then not yet 14) to pick up a guitar, become a singer-songwriter and pursue a career in music. Moreover, McLachlan delivered the pinch while seated next to Matte at a news conference backstage at Chula Vista, Calif.’s Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, where the first Lilith tour in 11 years played on July 7.

Adding to Matte’s fantasy-come-true experience, she was sitting with McLachlan and four other Lilith artists not just as a fan, but as one of the event’s performers. Having been selected as the winner of Lilith’s “Your Stage” competition, which enables a local artist to perform as part of the festival when it visits their city, Matte had delivered a well-received set with her band that concluded less than an hour before the news conference began.

“Sarah’s been my inspiration since I started playing music, so this is amazing,” Matte, 27, said in response to a question at the news conference, as McLachlan, 42, beamed.

“She’s in awe,” said Jan Matte, Ashley’s mother, from the front row of the news conference, video camera in hand.

Nearby, Ashley’s younger sister, Kelly, a 23-year-old teacher, clicked away on a digital camera. Kelly and Jan had flown in from Louisiana, where Kelly was born and raised in Morgan City (home of the 75-year-old Shrimp & Petroleum Festival).

“We’re very proud of her,” said Jan Matte, a veteran nurse. “Ashley’s done all this on her own.”

She certainly has. But not without causing some trepidation for her parents when, at 19, she decided to move to San Diego and pursue music on a full-time basis.

“After two years at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, Ashley told us that she was quitting school to ‘follow her dream,’” Jan Matte recalled. “It was unexpected for us — and traumatic. But she’s extremely brave and determined. And she has a lot more guts than her dad and I ever had. She’s exceeded our expectations.”

Quitting college wasn’t hard for Matte, who’d enrolled as a music major despite being entirely self-taught and not being able to read a single note.

Undeterred, she used her talent to perform complex vocal parts in class. (“I was singing from memory and they thought I was sight-reading,” she said.) The fact that Matte was earning $1,500 a night singing Top 40 cover songs and classic-rock hits in Lafayette clubs helped fuel her decision to quit school. Her ability to write well-crafted songs suggested she might one day rise to the level of McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Jewel and the other artists she discovered via that pivotal VH1 Lilith Fair telecast in 1997.

If she could make it in Lafayette, the 19-year-old Matte surmised, she could make it anywhere. So, in 2002, not long after she paid a visit to friends in San Diego, she loaded up a U-Haul and headed west.

A year after moving here, she released her debut album, 2003′s “Colors.” Her second CD, “No Number, No Address,” came out last year, and several of its songs have earned airplay on leading San Diego radio station KPRI-FM. Her songs deftly draw from country, rock, blues, folk and more, enabling them to fit comfortably in a variety of musical settings.

“I’ve been here eight years now,” she said, “and am very lucky to make my living entirely from music.”

A resident of San Diego’s rustic North Park neighborhood, Matte had been at Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre more than four hours before her July 7 Lilith Fair performance began. During that time, she ate lunch backstage with her mom, sister and the members of her four-man band. This was followed by a sound-check on a canopied stage facing Cricket’s east entrance. Then came the preshow wait for Matte and her group, which is led by guitarist Rod Quevedo, her main musical partner.

“I’m excited,” said Matte, who usually plays solo or with an accompanist. “No one in San Diego has seen me with my band since our CD release gig a year ago at House of Blues.”

Together, she and her band sat in half of a 15-by-15-foot tent that served as their dressing room (fellow Lilith performer Dana DeLory had the other half). As Matte tapped her cowboy-booted feet in time to the music and typed updates on her Facebook page on her iPhone, she and her bandmates honed their harmony vocals on “Welcome Me Home,” “Wherever There May Be” and the other Matte originals they would perform in less than two hours.

“I’m feeling something right now!” said Kelly Matte, as she clicked away on her camera.

Ashley, who happily primped as she posed for Kelly, responded as only an older sister who dotes on her younger sibling can. “Wow,” Ashley deadpanned. “I’m so happy for you.”

Kelly grinned. “Mom’s hanging out with all your friends,” she said.

Ashley looked aghast. “Oh my god!”

At 3:30 p.m., a stage manager appeared to escort the musicians to the stage for their 3:55 p.m. performance.

“We love you, Ashley!” a fan yelled.

With only 30 minutes to play, Matte and her band made every note count. They delivered their seven-song set with poise, earning an enthusiastic response from the audience of several hundred.

“You guys excited about Lilith Fair being back after 11 years?” Matte asked her cheering listeners. “I know I am!”

After the set culminated with the Southern rock rave-up “In This Room,” Matte stood by the side of the stage to sign autographs and pose for photos.

“I thought her songs were amazing and I loved her voice,” said Carla Rodriguez, 27, who attended with her friend, Christina Saiz, 28. “I would totally buy her album. In fact, I will buy her album.”

Saiz nodded in Matte’s direction. “I’ve never heard her before, either, but she was a great introduction to Lilith Fair,” Saiz said.

Matte’s professional introduction to Lilith, which she attended as a teenage fan in 1998 and ’99, was just beginning. After the news conference, she bonded backstage with fellow Lilith performers Miranda Lambert and Brandi Carlile. At the end of the night, she joined McLachlan and the other Lilith artists on stage for a grand finale, replete with leg kicks.

Matte had such a good time that a follow-up interview the next morning had to be postponed.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have much of a voice today and I don’t even think you’d be able to understand me,” she wrote in an e-mail. “I usually teach an afternoon music class downtown at the Hard Rock Cafe, but I didn’t teach today. My students knew I was playing Lilith, and they all said, ‘Yeah, you deserve a break.’”

It was a short break. That night, fueled by “lots of hot tea,” Matte was doing her weekly Thursday solo gig at the Prado in San Diego’s Balboa Park. Buoyed by Lilith Fair, her dreams and hopes burned stronger than ever.

COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM

By: George Varga

It’s unlikely England’s Queen Elizabeth II and the members of veteran heavy-metal band Iron Maiden have a lot in common, apart from their shared nationality and the fact they live in a country where this summer is cold and gray. But when it comes to the genre-leaping music of singer-pianist Jamie Cullum, the queen and the Maidens are of like mind.

“The queen told me my performance was ‘magical,’ and the guys in Iron Maiden said: ‘Nice work. You play that piano like a mad man!’” said an understandably flattered Cullum, who is now embarked on a North American tour.

At 29, this charismatic musician has grown used to attracting a diverse following for his zesty mix of jazz, pop, rock, hip-hop, dance-music and more. His fans also include The Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams, with whom Cullum has recorded, and film icon Clint Eastwood, who teamed with Cullum to compose and record the understated title song for Eastwood’s award-winning 2007 film “Gran Torino.”

Cullum’s new album, “The Pursuit,” features artists as varied as the Count Basie Orchestra and members of Soul Coughing and Beck’s band.

“The commonality between them all is me,” said Cullum, who in 2005 became the first jazz-oriented artist to perform at the Coachella festival in Indio, Calif.

“Of course, a lot of people who listen to big bands have no interest in electronic dance music, but I definitely do. And that’s colored my approach, bringing all these things together. Not to show off, but in my head these things do exist together — and should. Improvisation, groove, tasty chord changes, and then opening it up in an expansive and unpredictable way. Not taking it too seriously, but then taking it very seriously.”

Cullum is hailed as “the biggest-selling British jazz artist ever,” which he is. But as his new album makes clear, he is as inspired by Paul McCartney and Squeeze as he is by such jazz giants as Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis. And while his concerts draw large audiences of enthusiastic young fans who tend to know little about mainstream jazz, he doesn’t regard himself as a musical crusader who is responsible for introducing swing, bebop and other jazz styles to a fresh-faced new audience.

“It’s definitely a privilege and not a responsibility,” Cullum said. “As soon as you treat it as a responsibility, you become a teacher, and young people don’t need another teacher. I don’t always play music a young person would recognize. But by seeing someone close to their own age that they can reference, that’s enough to get them into it. But it’s not my responsibility to carry this music to another generation.”

Cullum was a music fan from an early age. But it wasn’t until he had a series of epiphanies at four very disparate concerts that he realized he had found his life’s calling.

“Everything came together for me in the summer of 1995, when I was 14,” he recalled. “I saw Ben Folds Five, Harry Connick Jr., Herbie Hancock and Radiohead. That was when I started to take music very seriously.”

Cullum is also a big fan of jazz icon Charles Mingus and the late Frank Zappa, whose genre-leaping music set a heady new standard for ambition, intricacy and skewed humor.

“I tend to gravitate to musicians who mix things together that don’t make sense on paper but that end up working quite well,” he noted. “Zappa mixed rock, (jazz) improvisation, heavy metal, classical — and Captain Beefheart! Mingus had this great jazz style that had that gospel ‘church-y’ quality and his music was harder-edged than (Duke) Ellington’s. I like things that don’t fit into one (stylistic) box.”

His biggest inspiration now, though, is singer-songwriter Tom Waits, whose longevity and high quality he hopes to emulate.

“Waits has written some of the most extraordinary songs of the 20th century,” Cullum said. “His is a body of work you can’t deny.”

COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM

By: George Varga

It’s been 42 years since Steve Miller’s first album came out and 20 years since the release of his Steve Miller Band’s “Greatest Hits: 1974-1978,” which has now sold more than 14 million copies in the United States alone. Yet, while this veteran guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader is now touring behind his first new studio album in 17 years — the rousing, vintage blues-drenched “Bingo!” — he has no concern for what his legacy will be.

“I don’t know and I don’t care. Once I’m gone, I’m gone!” said Miller, 66, whose name is synonymous with such classic-rock staples as “Rock’n’ Me,” “Fly Like an Eagle,” “The Joker” and “Take the Money and Run.”

What he cares about is what he knows and does best — making music exactly the way he wants to.

“When you come to see my show, people are singing their parts and playing music in front of you,” said Miller, who is on a nationwide tour this summer. “It’s the real deal (and) that’s all I have left that can’t be taken by Apple or Dell or Microsoft. They can’t take my live performances, but they’ve taken everything else and trashed it. … (Technology) changed society. And, boy, do I hate what it’s done to music.”

Here’s what ever-quotable Miller had to say about …

The record industry’s downward spiral: “My new album just debuted at No 1. on the blues charts and No. 11 on the pop charts, and we (only) sold 12,000 copies. I knew it was bad, but not this bad! There is no record business anymore.”

His music-rich boyhood: “Les Paul was my godfather. He and Mary Ford spent their honeymoon at my parents’ house in Milwaukee. When I was 9, T-Bone Walker taught me how to play guitar behind my head and do the splits, and I was on my way.”

The psychedelic 1960s: “I’d been working as the rhythm guitarist in Buddy Guy’s band right before I left Chicago. In San Francisco, it was a social phenomenon, not a musical phenomenon. The Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Big Brother & The Holding Company were all folk musicians who said ‘Let’s get some Beatles’ boots, tweed jackets and Rickenbacker guitars. …’ It took me a while to realize: ‘Oh, it’s not about how good they are musically, it’s about LSD and light shows, and this is a revolution going on here, a once-in-a-lifetime thing.’ It was like an atom bomb went off in San Francisco.”

His new blues album: “I’ve never stopped playing blues and R&B. But what did it is working with Andy Johns, who is a great engineer. He was really the main instigation of this stuff. We were working on another project, and he said: ‘You know, Steve, before you die, I want to do a blues project with you.’ I said: ‘You know, I’ve been selecting some songs.’ We cut 42 songs and I felt like 28 of them hit the mark.’ So the next album is all ready to go.”

Recording his song “My Dark Hour” with Paul McCartney in 1969: “I was in London to make an album and my recording engineer Glyn Johns, Andy’s brother, was working with The Beatles, who were in the throes of breaking up. I was invited to Olympic Studio and sat there and watched Paul and John sing ‘Get Back.’ The next day John and Ringo didn’t show up, but Paul and George were there. I started showing Paul this riff, and Glyn said: ‘That sounds great.’ Seven hours later, we had ‘My Dark Hour.’ Paul was a monster on drums and he also played bass on it. I played guitar and pedal steel. It was a pretty amazing moment for me. I was a huge Beatles’ fan and to get to meet them and jam and record with Paul, wow. I learned a lot from him, just in that seven-hour window.”

The digital age: “I don’t feel like a cranky old man. I feel like an intelligent man with wisdom and experience. If they shut down the Internet, these people are finished. They won’t know what to do.”

COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM