Music
“Cincinnati Dancing Pig”
The song “Cincinnati Dancing Pig” was released by everybody and their brother in 1950, and in this post several versions are gathered. The words were written by Al Lewis and the music by Guy Wood. The internet purports the first recording was by Dick Jurgens and His Orchestra in May 1950, but the first release was by Red Foley in August 1950.
The Duluth-related lyric:
From Duluth to Birmingham
He’s the pork chop Dapper Dan,
He’s the keenest ham what am,
Cincinnati dancing pig
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “I’ll Do it When I Feel Like It”
An ode to procrastination by Duluth’s Ingeborg von Agassiz.
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “November”
Another spontaneous little ditty from Duluth’s Ingeborg von Agassiz.
Low – “Always Trying to Work it Out”
Low teams up with director Phil Harder again for this video from the new album “Double Negative.”
The video was shot at the Hillside Whole Foods Co-op.
(more…)
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “O Giver of Dreams”
The video for the title track of Duluth musician Ingeborg von Agassiz‘ debut album features footage from the 1933 animated film The Mascot by Ladislas Starevich.
Josh Musikantow – “Duluth 99”
Chicago-born composer Joshua Musikantow references Duluth on three tracks of his 2006 new-classical album Etched in Twilight and Other Works. Above is “Duluth 99: In the Garden with Mary.” Below are “Duluth 99: Rope” and “Duluth 99: Haiku.”
Musikantow notes “Duluth 99” is “a duet for flute and percussion consisting of three movements, each inspired by a different personal experience in Duluth.” (more…)
Jerree Small and Marc Gartman sing the Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down” at Sir Ben’s
Forgive the bar noise. Summer 2018
Jim Snidero – “Duluth at Noon”
Saxophone virtuoso Jim Snidero for some reason titled an instrumental piece “Duluth at Noon.” Whether the tune sounds like a midday stroll on the Lakewalk is up for interpretation.
Perhaps coincidentally, the song is on Snidero’s 2015 album Main Street, which is the same title as Sinclair Lewis’ famous satiric novel from 1920. Lewis had visited Duluth while in the early stages of crafting Main Street, and moved to Duluth 23 years after it was published.
Teach Me Equals: A Clear Cut Oner
The experimental “post-classical” band Teach Me Equals was in Duluth in 2014 for a performance at Red Herring Lounge. The next day the duo teamed up with Manny Villanueva and Brandon St. Germaine of the Duluth-based creative video outfit Clear Cut to record three songs performed live for a series of “Oners.”
Part 1: “Lullaby for Piano”
Part 2: “As the Crow Flies”
Part 3: “Dictionary of Imaginary Places”
They Might be Giants – “Rabid Child”
The alternative rock band They Might be Giants dropped a reference to Duluth on its self-titled debut album in 1986. Whether “the Big Duluth” mentioned in the lyrics to “Rabid Child” is supposed to be a clothing store or the nickname of a person or what, well, that’s up to the listener. (more…)
The Wilbury Index
There are certain dignities and indignities that come with old age. Most of us would like to be considered wise, but we also want to run fast and be sex symbols. All of that is relative, of course. There are plenty of intelligent teenagers and elderly imbeciles. I ran a half marathon when I was 31 and people twice that age were passing me.
The word “old” is as relative as the attributes associated with it. You can join the American Association of Retired Persons at age 50, collect Social Security at 62 and retire from your job at a wide range of ages or never. I think I was 27 or 28 the first time one of my friends seriously commented that we were “getting old.”
Well, sure, we’re all getting old. But when are we actually old? Do our looks and physical/mental fitness have anything to do with it, or is “old” just a number?
I say it’s just a number, because I can’t, in seriousness, walk up to more wrinkled people my age and ask, “what’s it like to be so old?” (more…)
Haley – “Double Dutchess”
Former Duluthian Haley releases her new instrumental album Pleasureland on Oct. 12. A slew of videos for tracks from the album have been recently released. “Double Dutchess” was shot and directed by Duluth artist Allen Killian-Moore in rural Iowa, Minneapolis, Duluth, Chicago, Rochester and the North Shore of Lake Superior. (more…)
Jeb Loy Nichols – “Say Goodbye to Christopher”
When it was that Wyoming-born and Wales-based musician Jeb Loy Nichols was in Duluth, and why he’s never coming back, are anyone’s guesses, but it’s apparently related to someone named Christopher. (more…)
The Return of Kiss
Thirty-nine years ago — Oct. 6, 1979 — Kiss played its third concert in Duluth, having previously appeared in 1974 and ’77. The band continued to “return” into the 1980s and ’90s, most recently performing in Duluth in 2016, when Paul Stanley tweeted that a certain Duluthian is “such a clearly miserable asshole.”
Those who attended the show in ’70 recall Judas Priest did not show up. John Cougar filled in and was purported booed.
The Fractals – “Gear Grinder”
This video is a couple years old, but somehow missed the PDD radar when it was released in 2016. The Fractals play Beaner’s Central tonight at 7 p.m.
Low – “Poor Sucker”
The new Low video is directed by Karlos Rene Ayala. The Duluth band is touring Europe in October in support of its new album Double Negative.
Jay Leonhart – “The Couple from Duluth”
As near as can be determined through web searches, “The Couple from Duluth” was composed by acclaimed bassist Jay Leonhart and was originally released on his 1984 album with Joe Beck titled There’s Gonna Be Trouble. The version above is a live recording from Leonhart’s 2015 album The Bass Lesson. (more…)
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “William A. Irvin”
Hot new hit 41-second single by Ingeborg Von Agassiz.
Complete lyrics:
The William A. Irvin ship has been removed to fix the slip.
Meat Puppets – “Lake of Fire”
The punk rock band Meat Puppets released “Lake of Fire” on the 1984 album Meat Puppets II. It also appears as a hidden track on the 1994 album Too High to Die.
The Duluth reference goes a little something like this:
I knew a lady who came from Duluth
She got bit by a dog with a rabid tooth (more…)
Video Archive: The Dames on KBJR-TV
Twenty years ago today — Sept. 24, 1998 — Duluth band the Dames was featured in a segment on KBJR-TV News. The band performed at the Shrine Auditorium the next day with two other local bands, Crazy Betty and Groundskeeper Willie.
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “Rebel Robin” featuring Betty Boop
New video by Duluth artist Ingeborg von Agassiz for a song from her debut album O Giver of Dreams.
Video Archive: The Tisdales – “Find it in Me”
Uploaded to YouTube 10 years ago today — Sept. 18, 2008 — is this track from Duluth band the Tisdales. The song “Find it in Me” appears on the group’s 2008 album “Bakers Dozen.”
Swimming with Nancy – “Fourth Street”
This Duluth song doesn’t actually have the word “Duluth” in its lyrics, but is loaded with Duluth references. It’s from the self-titled 2005 album by Duluth band Swimming with Nancy.
Low – “Rome (Always in the Dark)”
Low‘s new album Double Negative is out today on Sub Pop Records. The new music video, “Rome” is directed by Aaron Anderson and Eric Timothy Carlson.