Music
Alex Frecon – “I’m From Minnesota (The Minnesota Anthem)”
This new video from Minneapolis hip-hop artist Alex Frecon features a few scenes shot in Duluth.
The 4ontheFloor – “Radio Edit [Explicit]”
Minneapolis band the 4ontheFloor, featuring occasional Duluthian Gabriel Douglas, has a new music video out, a new album on the way and a Kickstarter campaign nearly wrapped up. (more…)
Alice Cooper – “Remarkably Insincere”
Alice Cooper drops a reference to Duluth on this song from his 1982 album Zipper Catches Skin. (more…)
Abort Scene – “Born Pinned to the Duluth Wheel”
Perhaps the least-known Duluth song is by the Champaign, Ill.-based band Abort Scene. “Born Pinned to the Duluth Wheel” was released on the album Seeds of the Real Alternative (Waterloo Records, June 3, 2008). The track also appeared on the band’s 2013 compilation Rational Hardcore. (more…)
Duluth’s Madam Butterfly
Rena Vivian Smith as Madam Butterfly, Cosmopolitan Magazine, February 1907
The latest “Forgotten Duluthian” posting by David Ouse at the Duluth Public Library’s Vintage Duluth blog is about Duluth’s Madame Butterfly, Rena Vivian Smith.
Bob Dylan – “Something There is About You”
Consider this the third post in the “Ruth Trilogy.”
Part One: Shuggy Ray Smith – “Ruth from Duluth”
Part Two: Ruth Hart: “Baby Ruth from Duluth” (more…)
Mary Scott Bywater – “America’ll Win the War”
One century ago, as “The War to End All Wars” raged on, Mary Scott Bywater of Duluth wrote and published a forgotten anthem.
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Shuggy Ray Smith – “Ruth from Duluth”
This little tune, purportedly released in December of 1965, is about a “little pretty girl” from Duluth who “eats corn on the cob through a picket fence.” Enjoy. (more…)
Doug Setterberg & Stan Boreson – “Scandinavian Hot Shot”
From the album Yust Try to Sing-a-long in Swedish with Doug Setterberg & Stan Boreson, Golden Crest Records, undated (circa 1962).
Local music fans will recognize this tune as the inspiration for the Hoot Owls song “Scandinavian Hot Rod.”
Video Archive: Fred Tyson – “Free Man”
Circa 2007, Fred Tyson performs “I’m a Free Man” at the Red Lion Lounge … and forgets most of the words.
Bijou Noir – “Do This to Me”
Former Duluthian Gus Watkins has released this new video under his band name, Bijou Noir. He’s returning to Duluth Aug. 10 for an album release show at Blush.
The video was shot this summer in pre-World Cup Croatia, where Watkins has been living off and on since 2017. Joseph Hyrkas is the director.
List of Bands that Have Played Head of the Lakes Fair in Superior
The Head of the Lakes Fair is an annual tradition in Superior. The weekend event usually features bands performing on a stage in the center of the Superior Speedway. Often the headliner is a major touring act that is a bit past its prime. Below is a scattered list of bands that have played the festival. Because … nostalgia. (more…)
The Guy Who Sings Songs About Cities & Towns – “The Truth About Duluth”
Matt Farley of Danvers, Mass. has been producing slapped-together novelty songs under clumsy pseudonyms since roughly 2004. The emphasis is clearly on quantity over quality; his website notes he has released 19,000 songs. He purportedly made $23,000 off his music in 2013.
Mysterious Biz White Song about Duluth
We need to unearth some Duluth-based songwriter history. The current reference librarians at the Duluth Public Library are unable to track down the lyrics to a song about Duluth by Biz White, a female librarian during the 1980s and ’90s.
Here’s the conversation:
I was visiting with friends yesterday and one of them said he had been trying to find the lyrics to a song written about Duluth. It was written by Biz White, who used to work at DPL, and he thought it may have been for a Playhouse production. Some of the lyrics he remembered were, “Oh Duluth, your granite hills rise,” and “Oh Duluth, your heartless hills.” I was hoping you had some ideas.
Thanks,
Kim
Help! Does anyone have these lyrics recorded?
Glen’s Neighbor – “Explore, Dream, Believe, Imagine”
Duluth-based bluegrass band Glen’s Neighbor recently released its third album, Ice Cream. The video for the single “Explore, Dream, Believe, Imagine” is directed and animated by Shane Nelson.
Dubz – “Livin'”
Duluth rapper Bryan Wick, aka Dubz, once again enlists the services of Arizona-based Priceless Video Productions on this video for a track from his 2017 release Throw it on My Tab.
Perfect Duluth Day Outdoor Summer Concert Primer 2018
It’s officially summer, now, and the PDD Calendar is stuffed with every ding-dang concert from here to eternity (or at least, like, Tower or somewhere). Of course, the usual suspects like Bayfront Festival Park and Big Top Chautauqua are in there, as are smaller series like Bayside Sounds, Chester Creek Concert Series and Summer (Mostly) Thursdays. Here’s a peek at some of the upcoming sure-to-be outdoor-music highlights. (more…)
Gaelynn Lea – “Lost in the Woods”
Official music video for Gaelynn Lea‘s “Lost in the Woods” from her forthcoming album, Learning How to Stay, which will be released on Sept. 7. Preorders available through GoFundMe.
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “Oh, What a Morning”
Another new video by Duluth artist Ingeborg von Agassiz featuring found footage.
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “What’s Wrong with Me?”
New video by Duluth artist Ingeborg von Agassiz.
Art of Peace continues with “Soulstice”
In 2002, the Art of Peace exhibits/events in Duluth sprung up as a response to the events of 9/11 and the resulting Iraq War. From those events, the Echoes of Peace Choir (led by Sara Thomsen) was born. The choir and its associated nonprofit organization still thrive.
Once again a grass roots effort has sprung up in Duluth to address violence, injustice and the erosion of our democratic principles. A peaceful, artistic event is planned in response to the president’s visit to Duluth on June 20. In just a few short days, a grassroots impromptu group of individuals and nonprofit organizations have put together a diverse program with members of our community.
This is, in effect, a new Art of Peace event in Duluth.
Soulstice: A Celebration of Peace, Love and Democracy is a free concert and community gathering at Leif Erikson Park on Wednesday, June 20. It begins at 5 p.m. (more…)
Low – Double Negative Triptych
Here it is, a Low triple feature — three new music videos for songs from the album Double Negative, scheduled for release Sept. 14 on Sub Pop Records. (more…)
Martin Ledin – “The Coldest Season”
Martin Ledin, a musician based out of the Bayfield Peninsula, released this music video last week for a track from his self-titled 2017 album. The video was created during a live performance at his album release party last fall. It features Ed Willet on cello and Dane Hauser on percussion. The video was directed by Kjell Kvanbeck of True Norse Films. The sound engineer was Ryan Rusch.
Ledin will performing this Thursday ahead of King Cardinal at Blacklist Artisan Ales. The show starts at 9 p.m.
Steve Earle was in Deluth
According to the back of the tour shirt, Steve Earle made a stop in Deluth recently. He must be friends with Christie Brinkley — when she visited Duluth in 2016 during John Mellencamp’s tour stop she Instagrammed photos from around town and noted that she loves “Deluth.”