Seth Langreck

Driving Away with Bone Appetit

The band Bone Appetit rests between a parody and an homage to 1980s hair metal. Ahead of the reunion show Saturday at R.T. Quinlan’s, members Ryan Van Slooten and Cory Ahlm discussed the band’s signature song, “Drive Away,” while Tony Bennett of Cars & Trucks and Alan Sparhawk of Low share their thoughts on Bone Appetit’s place in Duluth music history.

Venus DeMars embraces Sacred Heart

Venus DeMars has been busy. After finishing a national your with Against Me!, DeMars returns to her hometown on Saturday for a concert at Sacred Heart, where she will record her first acoustic album. In this interview, she explains how her new album will be a culmination of her musical experiences.

Record Stores on Highway 53: Deaf Ear Records in La Crosse

Manager Tina Melvin describes how Deaf Ear Records became a landmark in La Crosse’s downtown, and how collecting records can fill a void in a person’s life.

Fun Fact: Deaf Ear’s best-selling used record is the same as Revival Records in Eau Claire’s best-selling used record — Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.

Part One: Vinyl Cave in Superior
Part Two: Revival Records in Eau Claire

Deaf Ear Records
112 Fourth St. S.
La Crosse WI 54601
608-782-7829

Record Stores on Highway 53: Revival Records in Eau Claire

Owner Billy Siegel opens up about how Revival Records started with liquidating his personal record collection. He mentions how selling the collection allowed the store to become an integral part of Eau Claire’s music scene.

Fun Fact: Revival Records’ best selling used record is Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.

Part One: Vinyl Cave in Superior
Part Three: Deaf Ear Records in La Crosse

Revival Records
128 S. Barstow St.
Eau Claire WI 54701
715-514-4202

Record Stores on Highway 53: Vinyl Cave in Superior

Owners Tom Unterberger and Tom Johnson explain how their love for music lead them to open Vinyl Cave. Located in Superior, 1.7 miles off Highway 53, the store is a required stop for record collectors in search of classic-rock favorites.

Fun Fact: Vinyl Cave’s best selling used record is Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.

Part Two: Revival Records in Eau Claire
Part Three: Deaf Ear Records in La Crosse

Vinyl Cave
1717 Belknap St.
Superior WI 54880
715-392-1477

Interview with Trampled by Turtles mandolin player Erik Berry

Trampled By Turtles Eric Berry

Erik Berry Interview – 6/17/2014

Mandolinist Erik Berry discusses the new Trampled by Turtles album Wild Animals, his thoughts behind songwriting and what it’s like to play at Bayfront Festival Park. The Duluth band headlines a show on its home field this Saturday with Doomtree, Low and Haley Bonar also on the bill.

Direct link to audio.

Duluth Band Profile: Dad’s Acid

Dad's AcidDad’s Acid mixes the surf-rock of the 1960s with the swagger of the Cramps. Nikki Moeller and Jake Swanson mention how the song “Surf’s Up Minnesota” cornerstones the EP First Trip. Click on the link above to hear the interview and click on the link for the band’s video “Red Surf.”

Duluth Band Profile: Lay Low & Bender

Lay Low & Bender is the musical outlet for Keir Gellatly. He opens up about being a front man and his love for ’90s pop-rock. Click on the image above to hear the interview.

Duluth Band Profile: Christoph Bruhn

Christoph Bruhn plays American primitive fingerstyle guitar. He mentions how this type of music is meant for listening. His debut album Weekends on the Frontier is set for reissue on Grass Tops Recording.  Click on the image above to hear the interview.

Duluth Band Profile: American Rebels

Americans Rebels mixes feedback and smooth rock on The EP. Kyle Maclean and Scott Millis talk about the band’s forthcoming album. Click on the image above to hear the interview.

Duluth Band Profile: Saint Anyway

Saint Anyway delivers driving stompgrass. Tony Petersen talks about how the band is in the process of changing its sound. Click on the image above to hear the interview.

Duluth Band Profile: Maddy Siiter

Maddy Sitter adds a youthful approach to song writing. She explains how music has aided her in addressing issues that few young adults address. Click on the image above to hear her interview.

Duluth Band Profile: Wino, WI

Wino, WI drives hard rock back into Duluth. Greg Conley and Scott Millis explain how the band started as a reaction to folk. Click on the image above to hear the interview.

Duluth Band Profile: Hanna Cesario

Hanna Cesario uses the ukulele to play jazz standards. In this clip she plays a live version of “Heavenly,” a track from her forthcoming album. Click on the image above to hear the interview.

Duluth Band Profile: Duck Duck Punch

Duck Duck Punch uses infectious synthpop on its debut album Human Chemistry. Member Bryan Rudell opens up about the band’s forthcoming EP Take it Like a Man. Click on the image above to hear the interview.

Duluth Band Profile: The Formal Age

The Formal Ages adds surf riffs with synth keyboards to deliver its forthcoming album, 1923-2319. Jake Jonker talks about story behind the band. Click on the image above to hear the interview.

Duluth Band Profile: Timmy Jacks Off

Harrison Crane uses the pseudonym Timmy Jacks Off to release noise rock. In this interview, he elaborates about his process of stream-of-consciousness songwriting. Crane is currently releasing music freely to the public through Bandcamp. Click on the image above to hear the interview.

Duluth Band Profile: Red Mountain

Red Mountain surrounds listeners with an eclectic blend of sounds and rhythms. In this interview, band members talk about how the song “Chad” began as a friend’s dream. Red Mountain is working on a follow up to its debut album Scowl Lightly. Click on the image above to listen.

Duluth Band Profile: Ryan Van Slooten

Ryan Van Slooten mixes the undertones of rock with the subtle touches of heartland music. In this interview he opens up about how the song “Crazy Earth” connects him to his fans. He is currently writing the follow up to his album Victory March. Click on the image above to listen.

Duluth Band Profile: Troy Rogers

Troy Rogers ventures into the future with music-playing robots. In this interview, he talks about the current state of musical robotics and his work with Expressive Machines. He is currently building his musical robotics workshop. Click on the image above to listen.

Duluth Band Profile: The Social Disaster

The Social Disaster takes the chaos of noise and mixes it with the vocal flavor of jazz. In this interview, the band opens up about how a collaborative songwriting process produced the song “Foolproof.” The Social Disaster is currently recording its debut EP. Click on the image above to listen.

Duluth Band Profile: Sarah Krueger

Sarah Krueger mixes the vocal power of soul with the earnest songwriting of folk. In this interview she opens up about how her song “Ships and Trees” connects listeners to themes of loss and abandonment. She is currently recording the follow up to her 2011 album Dancing with Phantoms. Click on the image above to listen.

Duluth Band Profile: Lion or Gazelle

Duluth’s Lion or Gazelle redefines itself with its newest material. Songs like “Gloria” and “The Harder it Rains” add a lyrical tension to otherwise cheerful pop melodies. The three-piece is made up of Matt Mobley, Sophie Turk and Brian Ring. The band released the EP There’s Blood in Fire in 2013 and is finishing its latest full-lengthen record.

Click the image above to hear an exclusive interview with Lion or Gazelle’s Sophie Turk and Brian Ring as they describe their music’s content.

Duluth Band Profile: Vivielle

Duluth’s Vivielle blends two-part vocal harmony with the lo-fi approach of Sebadoh. The four-piece is made up of brothers Lino and Joe Rauzi, Rosalie Uggla and primary songwriter Nat Harvie. The band just released the single “Time Falls Apart.”

Click the image above to hear an exclusive interview with Vivielle’s Nate Harvie as he describes performing in Duluth.

Duluth Band Profile: Wolf Blood

Duluth’s Wolf Blood combines heavy riffs with thrashy doom. Consisting of bassist Brian Wells, guitarists Mike Messina and Mindy Johnson, and drummer Jake Paulsrud, the band has just released a 7-track cassette. With songs ranging from “Witch” to “Dancing on Your Grave,” listeners should be prepared for a wall of sound.

Click the image above to hear an exclusive interview with Wolf Blood members as they describe the band’s sound.