“Lost Sheep: Aspen’s Counterculture in the 1970s”
My good and longtime friend Kurt Brown plies his trade as a poet, author of such collections as Return of the Prodigals (1999), More Things in Heaven and Earth (2002), Fables from the Ark (2004), Future Ship (2007), and No Other Paradise (2010). However his latest literary effort is a memoir based on his experiences during the 70s in Aspen, Colorado:
A description of the book:
“Lost Sheep” recounts the author’s journey from the “real” world of 1970s America to the rollicking, freedom-loving, outlaw world of Aspen. Blending personal narrative, local history, dramatic interlude, and cultural analysis, the story begins as a literary journey but quickly evolves into the memoir of an entire town — a time and place many consider to be Aspen’s “Golden Age,” when artists, eccentrics, and outlaws took over the city and transformed it into an alpine bohemia.
The noteworthy cast of characters — famous, infamous, and unknown — includes Claudien Longet, Jack Nichlson, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, Steve Martin and Ted Bundy.
Well, let me just open up the book to an entirely random page. Let’s see, how about P. 132:
By the time I go up the cement steps and unlock the door, it has stopped snowing and there are already a couple of people shivering on the pavement, waiting to come inside. This isn’t unusual, as Hoot Night is our most popular event. So popular that we need a door man, Joe Popper, whom everyone called Joe-the-Door. Every Monday evening for years, musicians have been lining up to strut their stuff on the cramped stage at Jake’s Abbey, bringing their friends along. By the time Scott Myers arrives, there are already a few more waiting at the bar to sign up. Scott is the Hoot Master tonight, and it’s up to him to schedule the acts and emcee the event. He is a musician himself and will appear later in the evening with his partner, Pat Flynn, whipping the audience to a frenzy with an up-tempo rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61” and instrumentals like “Blackberry Blossom” and “Stolen Boulders.” For the time being, though, he has work to do.”
“It’s gonna be a busy night,” Scott warns me, taking out a large paper tablet to write down the acts in proper order. “I’ve had a few calls from people wanting to sign up in advance. We’re pretty full already.” This will be bad news for the latecomers who are sure to show up to find that the list for the evening is complete. The Hoot Master and I have to take all the guff when things go wrong. Scott is only the most recent Hoot Master, but there have been others.”
Huh. This guy Scott sounds like me. Wait. It is me! I lived in Aspen from 1978–1980 and that is where I met Kurt who was a bartender there. Kurt’s right about the long tradition of Jake’s Abbey and its Hoot Night. The legend is that it was started by the Smothers Brothers back in the 60s and continued for decades. Performers at the Hoot Night included The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Martin, an early iteration of The Eagles, John Denver, and many others.
I can’t even begin to describe the beauty and brilliance mixed with debauchery and insanity that was Aspen in the 70s. Fortunately Kurt Brown can and did with his excellent memoir “Lost Sheep”. I highly recommend it.
Here is a review in the Aspen Times.
Another review in the Aspen Daily News.
To buy it, go here.
And for those of you who might be interested, you can hear a live 1978 recording of Myers & O’Flynn here. That’s me on guitar and lead vocals, Pat on lead guitar and harmonies. Pat went on to play with the New Grass Revival and has had a long career as a studio musician, songwriter, and producer. You can learn more about Pat here.
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