Music
Steve Solkela – “Son imbrogliato io gia”
Steve Solkela performs his favorite aria in this promo video for the intermezzo opera La Serva Padrona, which runs Sept. 11-12 at the Lyric Center in Virginia and Sept. 13-15 at the Douglas County Historical Society in Superior. (more…)
Alan Sparhawk Band Live at Minnesota Music Month Showcase
Alan Sparhawk performed at Radio Heartland’s Minnesota Music Month showcase at First Avenue in April, backed by Al Church on drums and Cyrus Sparhawk on bass. The set featured the songs “Stranger,” “Get Still,” “Can U Hear” and “I Made This Beat.” Sparhawk’s upcoming album White Roses, My God releases Sept. 27 on Sub Pop Records.
Ian Alexy – “Angeles”
“Angeles” is the fifth video release from Ian Alexy‘s new EP of cover songs titled Campfire Extraordinary. The song “Angeles” was originally written and recorded by Elliott Smith.
Big Into – “Getaway Aston”
Who can save Curtis Kraft Mattson from villains of the highest order? Only Graham Hakala in a classy car. It’s all in the latest music video from Big Into.
Alan Sparhawk – “Get Still”
“Get Still” is the second release from Alan Sparhawk‘s upcoming album White Roses, My God, scheduled for release Sept. 27 on Sub Pop Records. The video was directed by Ingrid Weise.
Cloud Cult – “One Human Being”
The fourth video release from Cloud Cult‘s new album Alchemy Creek is for the song “One Human Being.” The video and artwork are by Annabelle Poppa.
Indecent Proposal – “The Cage”
The latest video from Duluth band Indecent Proposal was shot on the S.S. William A. Irvin ore boat museum. The featured actors are Kelly Killorin, Stuart Gordon and Danielle Thralow.
Dan Bern with Jane’s Great Dane – “Cowboy”
Here’s a little ditty for all the young cowboys who “rustled cattle in Missouri and brought them up to Duluth.”
Suggestions for a Minnesota Authors Class: Song Lyricists
I’m teaching a Minnesota authors class for the first time this year, and I want to make sure it’s hip and current and that it’s Duluthy. So I’m asking for help.
I want to do a brief (two-week) unit on song lyrics. I’m looking for Minnesota’s best song lyricists and their best lyrics. (more…)
Teague Alexy and Woodblind – “5 Foot”
Teague Alexy teams up with the nine-piece Duluth ska band Woodblind in this rocksteady reworking of “5 Foot.” The song is a Teague Alexy original that first appeared on the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank album Number One Contender. (more…)
The Slice: Vinyl Vault
The Vinyl Vault is a record store housed in a bank vault at the Washburn Cultural Center, about 60 miles east of Duluth. It opened in 2017.
In its series The Slice, PBS North presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.
Charlie Parr – “Ten Watt”
“Ten Watt” is from Charlie Parr‘s 18th album, Little Sun, released earlier this year. The video was directed by Adam Jones of Polecat Productions.
Superior Siren – “Rattlesnake”
The single “Rattlesnake” is the first full-band release from Superior Siren since 2018. The song has been in the band’s repertoire for years, but was recently re-imagined with the addition of Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Erin Aldridge. The video is directed by Illy Killy with videography from Chris Linder of Lakedrop.
Nat Harvie featuring Alan Sparhawk – “Red”
Song from the Nat Harvie album New Virginity. Video shot and edited by Nik Nerburn.
Ian Alexy – “Little Lies”
Duluth’s Ian Alexy has a new EP of cover songs titled Campfire Extraordinary. “Little Lies” is the third video release from the EP. Alexy’s rendering of the Fleetwood Mac song is accompanied by visuals from two old D. W. Griffith films — What the Daisy Said (1910) and The Mender of Nets (1912).
Alan Sparhawk – “Can U Hear”
Duluth musician Alan Sparhawk has released the first track from his upcoming album White Roses, My God, scheduled for release Sept. 27 on Sub Pop Records. The video was directed by Rick Alverson. (more…)
Cloud Cult – “The Universe Woke Up as You”
The third video from Cloud Cult‘s upcoming album Alchemy Creek is for the song “The Universe Woke Up as You.” The album is set for release Aug. 8.
The video was directed by Chad Amour of Motion 117 Productions.
Saltydog talks creative process, recording at Erickson house
Members of the band Saltydog on West Michigan Street near Bent Paddle Brewing in July 2023: Sam Deters, Owen Mahon, Gavin St. Clair, Jacob Mahon, Calvin Lund and Bryan Johnson. (Photo by Aaron Reichow)
Saltydog isn’t new anymore, hence the dropping of “New” from the band name. The Duluth-born jam band has accumulated an impressive cult following over the past seven years, playing venues across Minnesota and Wisconsin, including Duluth’s Bent Paddle Brewing on Monday nights. An enthusiastic group of funk and blues lovers seem to follow the band from show to show, along for the improvisational ride Saltydog takes them on. (more…)
Indecent Proposal – “Albright”
Duluth band Indecent Proposal‘s latest video was shot at the Historic Duluth Armory. It was produced by Clear Cut Media in association with Henriette Jensen Blade.
Above & Below: The rise, fall, and rise of the Duluth underground
The July 2004 issue of Twin Cities monthly magazine The Rake included a feature on the Duluth music scene. The Rake existed from 2002 to 2008 and its archives, including the Duluth article, are available online. The text of the now 20-year-old story also appears below, with images from the magazine. (more…)
Duluth Band Stickers
In the aftermath of the 2024 Homegrown Music Festival a few band stickers that got crammed into jacket pockets and tossed onto shelves have been assembled into a tiny pile at the Perfect Duluth Day World Headquarters. Which got us to wondering how many there are in total, either stuck to something or crammed into drawers. It turns out, maybe not that many. The initial search at PDDHQ turned up only ten, but there might be more hiding in forgotten spots. So consider this post a work in progress, and please share images of the local band stickers you’ve got on your bumpers, lockers or the paper-towel dispensers of your favorite drinking establishments. (more…)
Austin Castle – “Creek Water”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oEb3s5oKUM
Austin Castle, with Cole Mikel on guitar, performs “Creek Water” in the Board of Trade Lofts in Duluth. The video was shot by Holden Law and Andrew Mathews.