Crowdered House

Musician Ron Crowder keeps doing the damn thing

Albuquerque-based musician Ron Crowder is all about releasing singles these days, not that he doesn’t have enough material for more than a few records. Part of the reason lies in the post-pandemic -culture lull that seems to have found people a bit more interested in experiencing media rather than owning it; part of it comes from the modern day shape of releasing music.

“It’s really a kind of thing about how much music do people want to listen to?” Crowder queries from his own professional recording studio Incrowd after he’s finished recording for the day. “In my head I’m like, ‘I’ve got enough material, but does anybody care?’ To get anybody to listen to anything, you’re asking a lot.”

True enough, and there’s not a whole lot of money in music, besides, at least at the indie artist level. No matter, though, as Crowder says he’s both happy releasing singles—like the recent “Speed of Life,” a sort of McCartney meets Ben Folds number that’s heavy on syncopated rhythms and poppy keys—and being focused mostly on playing live and living in the now.

“I learned when I was a teenager...that I want to have as much fucking fun as possible, to burn it down, to live it now,” he tells SFR.

All through September, that fun comes in the form of a weekly residence at the Cowgirl BBQ on Sundays. There, Crowder will Voltron (yes, that’s a verb) an evolving cast of musicians to back him up in his quest to bring his rock/pop/funk/soul sound to the masses. This week’s band includes drummer Mark Clark, bassist Justin Bransford, guitarist Jim Casey, pianist Brant Leeper and vocalist Teri Lynn Browning—which is a stacked bill, frankly.

“I’m trying to carve out my little niche,” Crowder adds. “I’m like a cottage industry, y’know?” (Alex De Vore

Ron Crowder: Noon-3 pm Sunday, Sept. 10. Free. Cowgirl BBQ, 319 S Guadalupe St., (505) 982-2565

Get Wet

With the way we need water here in New Mexico, some might want to join the fight through participation in the 2023 Watershed Fest from the Santa Fe Watershed -Association. The organization seeks to protect and restore the health of the Santa Fe River through various events and actions, and this week’s gathering comes in the form of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival. At the fest, find various inspiring environmental films about protection and restoration—then hopefully keep it going by supporting the longtime nonprofit. “We’re all connected to water, and we’re all connected to this landscape, so everybody has a stake in the work we’re doing, which is pretty inspiring and motivating,” Executive Director Morika Vorenburg Hensley tells SFR. “This event is really all about deepening the ways that we are conversing and collaborating with each other so that we can keep moving towards this genuine stewardship of our watershed together.” (Evan Chandler)

2023 Santa Fe Watershed Fest: Wild and Scenic Film Festival: 6:30 pm Thursday, Sept. 7. $15. Violet Crown Cinema, 1606 Alcaldesa St., (505) 216-5678, santfewatershed.org

Twosies

If you’re a fan of bands like Mates of State, Smoking Popes, The Strokes, Quasi or similar poppy-punky/garagey acts, we’ve got great news for you this week—North by North is coming. The Chicago two-piece of Kendra Blank and Nate Girard is practically pop perfection in the form of big fat power chords and Girard’s powerful wail, but with plenty of chugs, juds and satisfying riffage (those are all very legitimate guitar terms). North by North makes music so catchy and head-bobby, in fact, that they’ve pretty much become our go-to this week in the car, on foot, wherever, but it’s the rocking edge the keeps us coming back for more. Find ‘em at Tumbleroot alongside home state heroes like the gothy Gullfire Waiting and the rockers of Free Range Buddhas. (ADV)

North by North with Gullfire Waiting and Free Range Buddhas: 7 pm Friday, Sept. 8. $10. Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery, 2791 Agua Fría St., (505) 303-3808

...You Don’t Look a Day Over 69

Most Santa Feans probably know the Museum of International Folk Art is kind of a big deal. Not only is the institution recognized worldwide for its commitment to the folk arts and artists of the world, it’s one of those community-minded kind of places that features plenty for kids, locals and so forth. It’s a time of change for the museum, too, what with new Executive Director Charlie Lockwood taking over in May and upcoming renovations to the atrium skylight courtesy of a Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Green Initiative grant. Also huge? MoIFA turns 70 this week and plans to celebrate the milestone with music and dance from Compañia Chuscales and Mina Farjado Flamenco, plus a special walk with the Labyrinth Resource Group. Oh, also? There’s cake. Happy birthday, MoIFA! (ADV)

Museum of International Folk Art 70th Anniversary: 1-3 pm Sunday, Sept. 10. Free. Museum of International Folk Art, 706 Camino Lejo, (505) 476-1204