An Evening at 4th and Main

EJ Carpenter and Chuck Pyle, the Zen Cowboy, shared the spotlight on November 6, 2010, at the 4th and Main.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY WINN

New Venue in Wray Opens with the Zen Cowboy

By Sharon Lakey

“Chuck Pyle is going to be in Wray!” my husband, Dwight, called out from the office.  He had discovered the singer/songwriter through an Internet search about the Big Thompson flood in 1976, and after checking Chuck’s music out on Rhapsody, we were properly wowed. (The song, for those who might be interested, is “Here Comes the Water.”) After investigating the Wray concert, he found that the venue was serving a meal and the price was very reasonable for the whole event. He contacted the owners through their 4^th and Main website for all the details. A nice email back cemented the date, and we were set.

It’s 70 miles from Julesburg to Wray, but Dwight’s parents and aunt were willing to make the trip with us. I wondered aloud if we should GPS the address, but Dwight said, “C’mon. How hard can 4^th and Main be?” To tell the truth, we didn’t expect much of the venue. We were going to hear Chuck Pyle! Little did we know that the venue itself would become share the spotlight of the evening?

When we walked through the doors, we were greeted by soft lighting on muted, earth-toned walls, music, stemware table settings and a cash bar, behind which two elegantly dressed women were serving drinks.  Banquet tables with white cloths were set in an alcove at the back, stacks of square, white plates on one end. The corner stage at the far end of the room held a microphone, guitar and monitors, silent, in anticipation of Chuck’s performance. The computer screen and soundboard out front looked professional.  “Whoa,” I thought, marveling at the scene. “This is more than we bargained for--much more.”

A man stood behind the banquet tables, arranging serving dishes. We asked about payment, and after some conversation, realized this was the owner, EJ Carpenter. Soon, we understood we were taking part in opening night for what he hopes will be a cultural venue for many such events in the area. He told us he had finished the stage during the week and his wife, Briar, one of the elegantly dressed women behind the bar, said she still had some paint on her hand from touching things up earlier in the day.

Soon, the food arrived through the doors, and we happily got in line for the salad and French bread. EJ explained the small piece of meat on the plate beside the romaine (topped with toasted walnuts and dressed in balsamic vinaigrette) was a slice of marinated and smoked duck breast. “Delicious,” was the verdict. “I’ve never had better duck,” Dwight’s father said. “It can be so dry.” Sides for the salad included smoked salmon and goat cheese.

The main courses were of superior quality as well: well-seasoned roasted potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, pork roast, sliced beef tenderloin sandwich stacks and smoked brined brisket. “Where did you study?” I asked EJ, looking down at my plate in disbelief.

“At my grandmother’s knee,” he said with a smile. Obviously, this man loves food and its presentation in a beautiful setting.

Before Chuck arrived onstage, EJ took the microphone to introduce him and explain how he envisioned the evening progressing. “You’re going to be hearing one of the most unique finger-picking styles in the world,” he said, mentioning that Chuck plays private parties for Bill and Melinda Gates and plays approximately 100 venues a year. He also wanted us to know that he expected the audience to listen, like a concert. This wasn’t a bar scene—it was a cultural event. And, after a delightful opening poem by local cowboy poet, John Schaffner, Chuck, known as the Zen Cowboy, took his place in the spotlight. EJ seated himself at the sound board, the audience lights were dimmed, and we were taken into the world of his songs.

Chuck writes in his biography that critics gave him the title Zen Cowboy. Zen can be defined as “a belief that enlightenment can be attained through direct intuitive insight.” And it was his insight into an array of issues that we were treated to that night. As a performer he was very deliberate, and the music coming from one guitar and one voice was complex. If you closed your eyes, you would swear there was more than one performer onstage. That signature technique drove each song. He made us laugh, too, mixing serious messages with lighthearted social commentary. Between the two ample sets, dessert and coffee were served, giving the audience time to relax and chat.

When we headed back to Julesburg, there was a lot to talk about an extraordinary evening spent in Wray. We’ll stay connected through the website for our other trips out west. It was worth the 70 miles.


For a photo album of the evening by Andy Winn, click here.

Sharon Lakey is a freelance journalist, who divides her time between Julesburg, Colorado, and Danville, VT. Her blog’s “East West, Home is Best” can be accessed at http://sharonlakey.blogspot.com/

Chuck Pyle: http://www.chuckpyle.com/

4^th and Main: http://www.4thandmaingrille.com/