How about (in keeping with asEM's theme) a piece of the Lift Bridge that they were auctioning off?

Neat Idea Don, I assume you must be introducing the band?

1) Get back to you, "trinket"? How about something from your office that symbolizes Duluth (something old, vintage,)

2) They must represent Duluth in the way that they experienced it, tell others stories, spread the word about the north shore and the spirit of the beautiful lake.  (ehem you know like tell all your buddies to come up here and play!).

3) They get the key to the city? And it's in the bottom of the lake. (Sorry not sure if that was funny). 

Good luck, are those your topics of choice to speak of when you are introducing the band?  

P.S. Will the NSA/Google research platform offer realtime algorithmic hunger/belly food suggestions?

I definitely agree that the major perk should be that they be allowed to at least apply for Homegrown, you know, in a special honorary sort of way and, again, if their demo doesn't suck.

Right, Paul. Good point. We may have to threaten to not give them their honorary gifts until the weekend is over and they've fulfilled their promises. They should also buy a local residence, or at least rent an apartment. 

Also, as far as a Duluth band in good standing:
1. They should have local acts open for them.
2. I want to hear them chant "Bone Appetit, Bone Appetit", or do a rendition of a Bone Appetit song which will be a duet with Jeff Tweedy and Cory Ahlm.
3. Put all Duluth bands on the guest list.

Local T-shirts are always a plus, too. Can Ringo Starr qualify for Homegrown?

If Ringo's shirt gets him in then the Replacements and Meat Puppets get in for name dropping Duluth in song.  I suppose Queens of the Stone Age should get something for naming a tour after Duluth.

While the mayor is at it, please look into if Van Halen is actually banned from Duluth for damage to the skywalk. If this story from my youth is indeed true, then please reverse this as well.  That's pretty rock and roll and they should also be a Duluth band.  Make sure you get the Roth era Van Halen, not Van Hagar and not Eddie's son.

Ozzy should get in for playing on Easter and pissing on the DECC.

Not sure if the Cult did anything special for Duluth, but that was a cool show.  Maybe whip up some stuff about brother Wolf and Sister Moon.  Ian would like that.

Actually, Bone Appetit should go through the process as well.  The core of the group was not from Duluth.  I think Johnny Heartless wins as being actually from Duluth.  I know a Superior born like myself won't qualify.

When is that hydrocodone-popping jackass going to pay me the $2,000 he owes me?

Tweedy's off the pills if that is who you are referring to Adam.

1.) I agree that a Lake Superior Agate would be a perfect "official trinket".  Why mess with perfection and sculpt or carve it?  Plus, I know from carving soap stone and collecting agates, that the beauty of an agate is in the banding which makes sculpting/ carving much more difficult and likely to fracture.

Not sure why my comment was formatted like that. Sorry.