I look in the paper and see nothing about sustainability. No solar, no wind, no geo. But great music. That’s the way it is, Dem. or Rep. Why is Duluth so anti progressive?

This is a Minneapolis band, but the video is directed by Nicholas Sunsdahl, and the lovely Chelsy Whittington appears in it — both of whom are locals.

MPR has this story about the difficulty of settling into Duluth both professionally and otherwise for a new college grad.

I know in order to finally make this place home myself I had to leave after my tenure at UMD and gain experience and then be willing to make a little less salary but then be able to live here and enjoy it’s uniqueness permanently. I know of others who have done the same and feel the same a I do.

What’s your experience?

Duluth not welcoming, young transplants looking for work say

Last night I spent a few hours in the boardroom of the Duluth Art Institute, where artists, representatives of arts organizations, and hangers on like myself met to talk about ways to better align local arts. The result, Twin Ports Arts Align, is a group that is 85 percent energy so far — a webpage, a Gmail account, a Facebook page, all set up by Crystal Pelkey of Zeitgeist and an engine behind Nerd Nite — with Kristin Duckart of the DAI.

What would you want to see in a group whose primary mission would be the support and facilitation of local art? So much of the work is just getting the key players to the table; Arts Align should just be applauded for getting us this far. What is next? I’m thinking they need someone to get their hands dirty — about 1-2 PR interns. What steps would you like to see next?

I am working on an investigative piece right now on racism in the East Hillside and  I want to hear peoples opinions on it. Do you think racism is an issue in Duluth’s East Hillside? Have you seen it firsthand or experienced it yourself? I recently talked to someone who had seen an act of racism on the DTA. Has anyone else witnessed racism on the DTA?

CMT World Premiere Trampled by Turtles "Alone"

This was really a pleasure to see, both as a Duluthophile and a music lover. Our boys just keep getting bigger (and better). “World Premiere” music videos surely don’t have the same appointment television mystique that they did back in the early 80s on MTV, but still. This is cool.

Dave Simonett’s MN tattoo and various Duluth scenes and landscapes all have uncredited cameos. Feel free to do the “Where in Duluth?” game on them. I could only figure out a couple on my own.

What locally relevant new songs on SoundCloud are you liking? Here are my finds.

Bull Feathers — “Shake” (Cougar Conley and the Virgin Marcus!)

Emily Haavik — “Fall” (Hey, she’s a PDD intern!)

Modern Gentlemen and DZK — “Mean Streak” (Insert parental warning label here)

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Do you like film, music and art? How about free tickets to movies, bands and art exhibits?

The Duluth Superior Film Festival (formerly Sound Unseen International Duluth) is looking for volunteers. The festival runs May 30 through June 3, 2012 and consists of film, music, and art events.

Positions available include ticket takers, ushers, and traffic directors. Volunteers will be provided with a festival pass for their service, which is good for all festival events. This is a great opportunity for those who want to be involved in film, music and visual arts!

Date: 5/30 to 6/3/2012
Locations: Zinema 2, Tycoons Alehouse, Prøve Gallery, others TBD
Contact: Letisha Rice
Phone: 715-292-2856
Email: letisha @ dusuff.com

You know what they say about there being two seasons in Minnesota. And if winter is over, it must be road construction season. The I-35 Mega Project returns and the city is doing work on Kenwood Avenue and 46th Avenue West. Start remembering all of your alternate routes.

Sarah Vowell (writer, radio personality, and voice of Violet from The Incredibles) is speaking at Mitchell Auditorium.

Also at St. Scholastica is a free silent movie film fest showing Nosferatu, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Metropolis.

The noir play, A Steady Rain, opens at the Teatro Zuccone featuring the very talented Zachary Stofer and Scott Mallace.

And, oh yeah, beer. The Gitchee Gumee Brewfest is back at Wessman Arena.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know!

A film of Duluth and a trip to Isle Royale by my Grandpa Henry.

Art history has taken us into some very interesting and sometimes strange terrains and spaces these past 150 years. What’s amazing is how much pop culture has been influenced by fringe and almost unknown artists in terms of the wider public, just as our clothing fashions are influenced by events that took place last year on a runway in Paris.

Thanks to the Duluth Art Institute we had an opportunity to re-visit the 1980 Robert Hughes eight-part documentary called “Shock of the New” which is a helpful overview of what occurred in the arts from the late 1900s to Pop art and Happenings. In a surprise follow-up DAI curator Annie Dugan gave us a 2005 sequel/addendum in which Hughes looks back and makes some additional observations.

There are reasons the wider public struggles to grasp what the fringe players are up to, but Hughes and art critic Greg Volk (who spoke at UMD a few weeks back) help bring insight and perspective to many basic issues regarding modern and post-modern art. My personal observations are assembled here for consideration and discussion.

What’s up with people trying to burn down the Kozy? Anyway, I wasn’t all that surprised to come upon the eerily familiar site of firetrucks flanking the decrepit shell of our beloved Kozy last night. In retrospect: WTF??? Does anyone else think that restoring the property (NOT to its 2010 condition, silly!!), and making it a hub for the new/improved, swinging (yet still fringe) First St. business district is a good idea? Bring on the snide remarks (Constructive comments are also welcome.).

Live on the PlayList, April 5.

Zoo Animal was on the Local this past Wednesday, performing some tunes and talking with DJ E about preparing for their performance providing the score for The Passion of Joan of Arc at Zinema 2 (second show is tonight at 7). Listen to the podcast here.

The Homegrown Field Guide arrived today! They will be distributed over the next week to all of your favorite venues and local businesses. An online copy will be available shortly.

Does anyone have beanbag chairs they want to loan the Duluth Art Institute for a couple months? We’re serious, even though this photo makes it look like we are not.

(FYI, image Google search “bean bag chairs” and you will find some delightful internet memes waiting to happen)

Eight months or so ago I woke from my first nights stay in Duluth and slipped quietly down to the sand beach of Minnesota Point. Coffee in hand, sun gently coming up, and that now-familiar hum of the city in the background, I was excited to begin learning about my new hometown. And there in the wet sand, was etched “Is this Heaven?”

As a matter of fact I do earnestly believe in divine intervention and communication, and I took this message to me as a personal directive to find the answer to that question.

Eight months later I am still working on it. My heaven is not perfect, but it is generally a kind and gentle place. It is concerned for the weakest of inhabitants, and also for the Earth that we all share. For the most part it is clean and respectful and welcomes all.

I continue my quest to answer that question by joining the PDD community for what I believe to be some of the most important research of Duluth to date. Thanks for having me.

New St. Paul fest starting out big

Two bands that have packed Xcel Energy Center in the past will stretch out on St. Paul’s Harriet Island this summer as headliners for the River’s Edge Music Festival, an inaugural two-day event whose organizers hope will draw 40,000 people daily.

Arty metal kings Tool and bohemian jazz-rockers the Dave Matthews Band — mainstays of the summer concert circuit — will top out the June 23 and 24 lineups, respectively. Some of the other 30 or so (mostly rock) acts assembled by concert promoter Live Nation include the Flaming Lips, Mutemath, Coheed and Cambria, Brand New, Diplo, Scissor Sisters and local bands Poliça and Motion City Soundtrack.

I just finished a two-hour long open house in the Department of Writing Studies (where I work at UMD).
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Since the Southgate Bowl in Cloquet is shutting down to make way for a Walgreens, it seems fitting to pay tribute. Best wishes to Gerry and Rose Pollard, who opened the place in the 1970s.

Below is a pretty cool compilation of time-lapse videos taken over the past few weeks along the North Shore. Definitely an early spring on the shore. I’m still trying to figure out what that lightning flash thing is at 1:07 during the Aurora activity, some kinda gamma ray flash or something. Pretty sweet.

Two videos by Alex Horner — shot Sept. 24, 2010 — with music by Duluth’s Steve Horner.

It’s available now on Bandcamp, and you can name your price.

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Has anyone had an antique piano restored in the Duluth area? I am looking to have a 1907 upright restored and thus far have an estimate from Master Piano. It seems to me it would be worth getting more than one estimate for such an extensive and costly undertaking. I understand Streblow is another option. I am wondering if there are any additional companies to consider or if anyone has any experience working with either of these companies.

Coyote is hard at work on a new album. Our goal is to record our latest batch of original tunes before Marc hits the road in June! We’re taking the leap and have set-up a Kickstarter page with rewards / “pre-sales” of the upcoming CD and such.

We made a little movie to tell you all about it. Check it out…

Coyote CD Project on Kickstarter

The Kickstarter campaign goes until the end of April. Please join us and spread the word!

Thanks!
Jerree Small, Marc Gartman, and Matt Mobley

Photo by Rich Narum
Video by Ryan Dahlberg

Karen Barta has the story for NewsCenter 6.

By the way, the North Pole Bar has a new owner as of last month — Scott Sutherland. Watch out for the dude in the ski mask at the back door, Scott!

Monday, April 2
Mayor Don Ness presents the State of the City Address at the DECC… for reals this time.

Tuesday, April 3
Learn how to raise urban chickens at the Whole Foods Co-op and get some soup and the bowl it comes in at the 19th annual Empty Bowl Second Harvest Food Bank fundraiser.

Wednesday, April 4
You can see Jim Hall at Thirsty Pagan and still have time to make it across the bridge to see Charlie Parr and Devil’s Flying Machine at Tycoons.

Friday, April 6
Spring is in the air and a young man’s thoughts turn to baseball! The Bulldogs and the Saints both have games today, and admission is free!

Friday and Saturday, April 6 & 7
Hear the classic 1928 silent film, The Passion of Joan of Arc, scored by the Minneapolis band, Zoo Animal at the Zinema 2.