Music
Arty Duluth Concert Ticket Stubs
In general, concert tickets are not attractively designed. These days people show up at the gate with a computer printout as evidence of admission purchased online, or more often just hold up their phone to display a code. When there are physical tickets involved, they tend to be nothing more than a faded Ticketmaster logo with the show details in grey, all-caps print. And that’s just in the case of mainstream traveling artists.
When it comes to shows featuring local bands, there often are no tickets involved at all. Admission is frequently free or it’s a cash-at-the-door affair. But there are a few occasions where tickets to local shows get arty. (more…)
MN Moder – “Shooting Star”
The latest from Duluth-based hip-hop artist MN Moder is for all the dreamers. The video was produced by Montclair Media.
River City Records & Books open in Lincoln Park
Chris Huppert shops for phonograph albums Saturday at the newly opened River City Records & Books in Duluth. Huppert had list of 10 hard-to-find albums he was searching for.
Traffic was brisk at River City Records & Books on Saturday. The new store at 1814 W. Superior St. in Duluth’s Lincoln Park Craft District opened on Friday at 3 p.m. (more…)
Beyondbliss – “Try Tomorrow”
Beyondbliss is joined by Slug and Jaze on this track from his new album Born Deaf. The visualizer was made with an artificial intelligence program.
Beyondbless – “Born Deaf”
The latest from Superior-based rapper David Kittelson, aka Beyondbliss, is the title track from his recently released album Born Deaf. The video uses artificial intelligence to take a trip through a human ear and experience sound for the first time as Kittelson raps about what he went through as a child born deaf.
Breanne and Anya Tepler – “It’s Time to Go to Bentleyville”
It’s not quite time to go to Bentleyville yet, but members of the Tepler family have a new music video ready for when Duluth’s annual holiday light display opens Nov. 18. (more…)
Rachael Kilgour – “Ontario”
“Ontario” is the third single from Duluth native Rachael Kilgour‘s new album, My Father Loved Me.
Hayward record and book store will move to Duluth
The former Riverside Flooring building at 1814 W. Superior St. in Lincoln Park will be home to a new record and book store. (Photo by Mark Nicklawske)
A Superior native and long-time music collector who haunted some legendary, long-lost Twin Ports area record stores plans to open his own shop in Duluth’s Lincoln Park Craft District.
Todd Hanson, owner of Hole in the Wall Books and Records in Hayward, has announced plans to open a new store in the former Riverside Flooring building at 1814 W. Superior St. this fall. The store will be called River City Records and Books. (more…)
The Black Labels – “Please Give Me Something”
A track from the 2001 Shaky Ray Records compilation album Let’s Get Sloppy.
R.I.P. Black Labels’ drummer Ryan “Chunk” Lund — April 25, 1983 to Sept. 17, 2023.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Cast – “What a Pleasant Journey”
Thirty years ago today — Sept. 18, 1993 — the sci-fi comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000 mentioned Duluth in “The Train Song” a.k.a. “What a Pleasant Journey.” Specifically referenced in the lyrics is the 1992 benzine spill in Superior known as “Toxic Tuesday.” (more…)
Sydney Hansen – “You or the Whiskey”
The latest music video from Duluth native Sydney Hansen features Aurora Kalligher and Michael Joki and is directed by Bo Allen of Bo Allen Productions.
Sidestreet Detour – “Time is Short”
Sidestreet Detour performed its Superior Porchfest concert on June 15 on a residential driveway near Central Park. Porchfest is a free, family-friendly music and art series in which attendees can bring a blanket or lawn chair, pack a picnic and/or simply stop by to enjoy the show.
The 2023 season concludes on Thursday, Sept. 7, with music at sunset around a campfire in Billings Park.
Accordion on a Unicycle with Steve Solkela
Steve Solkela performs Wild Cherry’s hit song “Play that Funky Music” on accordion while riding a unicycle … because he’s Steve Solkela.
R.I.P. Rex Bar at Fitger’s
Patrons gathered at the Rex Bar Sunday for its last night in business. (Photo by Mike Creger)
Rex Bar at Fitger’s closed Sunday after nearly 15 years in business. It opened in 2008, following a brief period when the bar was called Lido. Prior to that the space operated as the Fitger’s Tap Room. (more…)
Dave Rave and the Governors – “Lear Jet”
Canadian rocker Dave Rave has been teaming up with Minnesota-based musicians for more than a decade, performing as Dave Rave and the Governors. Although the Minnesotans in the group are mostly from the Twin Cities, Duluthians will recognize Rich Mattson of Sparta playing guitar at far left in this music video.
“Lear Jet” is from the band’s new album, Seven, recorded at Mattson’s Sparta Sound studio. Video by Reggie Pype.
Rob Harvilla gets “heavy into Low”
Though the July 26 episode of the podcast 60 Songs that Explain the ’90s is about the Mazzy Star track “Fade Into You,” music critic Rob Harvilla spends the first 20 minutes of the show gushing over another song and band entirely.
“My new favorite song is ‘Cue the Strings’ by the Duluth, Minn. band Low from their 2005 album The Great Destroyer,” he states at the start of the show, before launching into a deep dive into the music of Alan Sparhawk and the late Mimi Parker. (more…)
The Black Labels at the Red Lion Lounge in 2004
Gomez takes lead guitar on this ditty during the Winter Riot at the Red Lion Lounge — Dec. 18, 2004. This show featured a mix of surf, rock ‘n’ roll, and reggae tunes. If anyone still has a Winter Riot T-shirt, I’d be interested in obtaining it.
JamesG – “Lawnmower”
In his latest music video, former Duluthian James Geisler, aka JamesG, takes the ol’ John Deere for a spin.
Rachael Kilgour – “Heart on Fire”
The video for the second single from Duluth native Rachael Kilgour‘s upcoming album, My Father Loved Me, is a self-made production with editing help from Sara Pajunen. It features the heart of some of the places Kilgour has called home.
“I did not fall through the rafters, not even once, while recording,” Kilgour notes.
Lovehouse – “Alone Right Now”
The second video release from Duluth band Lovehouse includes scenes from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. It was directed by Parker Majerus. The song is from the band’s 2022 EP Shades of Red.
The Acceleratii – “Seven Nights to Rock”
Some time after Steve “Gomez” Mahlberg and Ben Marsen played in the Hadjis and the Black Labels, they created some great rock and roll with the Acceleratii. This is from their 2011 self-titled CD.
Beyondbliss – “Bipolar Kangaroo”
In this new lyric video, Beyondbliss raps about the extreme highs and lows of life. The song “Bipolar Kangaroo” is from the recently released album Born Deaf.
At the Rex? – Aug. 17, 2014?
Can anyone refresh my memory if this was a Hadjis or a Black Labels reunion show?
Indecent Proposal – “Late in the Morning”
Indecent Proposal‘s music video for “Late in the Morning” was shot by Manny Villanueva at Spurs on First, among other Duluth locations. It features Henriette Soderlind and Stuart Gordon.