Let me tell you a story.
On March 6th, 2020 my ol’ buddy Kalin Krohe and I went to Chadron to see singer/songwriter Branson Anderson at the Bean Broker. It was a fantastic evening of great music, great food and drink, and a healthy supply of shenanigans.
Branson Anderson at the Bean Broker, 3/6/20.
Branson is, like friend Krohe, one of those magical souls who can sit in front of an audience with just voice and guitar, and keep the room entertained late into the evening. Branson’s voice evokes, at various turns, WIllie Nelson, Slim Whitman, Eddy Albert and others. But the final result is a unique, unmatched sound. That night at the Bean Broker, Branson had vinyl albums for sale (Kalin and I each picked one up). He also had a questionable future ahead of him. During the show, Branson mentioned that he was scheduled to go sing his songs for folks in other cities…but he was not certain it would happen.
It didn’t.
March of 2020 ushered in the life-changing explosion of the Covid-19 virus. No more than a week after our trip to the Bean Broker, things had changed substantially. Kalin, Mike Glesinger and I were the only three employees allowed to work at Radio City. And Kalin ended up choosing to work at home.
Having never lived through a world war or depression (great or otherwise), this was the closest to having some notion of what it must have felt like to go through them. Lack of access to food and other essentials; uniting to fight an unseen enemy; and the inability to do simple things like eat at a restaurant, go to the movies, or even go to work or school.
It was a dark time for me, because I was forced–after a lifetime of labeling myself an introverted loner–to accept the fact that I craved social interaction. I tried to keep telling myself that everything would get better and I’d be able to spend time with my friends again. But I didn’t believe it, until the vaccine came around.
Eventually, things did get back to normal. Through the grace of God and modern medicine, I did not get the virus. Kalin came back to work at the office, and everything seemed just about as perfect as could be expected. I still would think from time to time about that evening at the Bean Broker. If, for whatever horrible reason, that had truly been the last Krohe/Wenty friend adventure…well, it was a good way to go out. Mexican Coke, great music, and dinner at Runza. Which at that time was not in Alliance so it was truly a rare treat. Oh, and we went to Wal-Mart and I spent foolishly on a box set of Jerry Lewis movies.
Fast forward to this evening. Alliance’s nifty nightclub Dead Unicorn Society welcomed Branson Anderson to the stage! And Krohe (who recommended Branson) and I were there.
Branson Anderson at Dead Unicorn Society, 6/24/23.
With COVID way back in the rear view mirror, Herr Kroheim von Spoonheim feels free to put his head on my shoulder. I guess you take the good with the bad.
Branson’s show tonight was spectacular, a full evening of originals and covers. Branson’s song choices are fantastically eclectic. Didn’t expect to hear this old chestnut:
And here he is singing an old Hank Sr. classic:
I like that the lyric in the song says “Im crying for you, dear”, and there’s an actual deer in the background, Now that’s synergy!
The only bad thing I can say about Branson is that he’s awfully tall. Or else Krohe and I are awfully short. Maybe both are correct.
It was great seeing Branson again. We had a nice chat after the performance, and then it was time for him to pack up and hit the next city. Incidentally, dinner at DUS was outstanding. Smoky chicken thighs, pasta salad….yum yum! (Kalin ate my asparagus. This is the true mark of a friend: keeping you away from vegetables.)