Music
Steve’s Overpopulated One-man Band – “Ranger Things”
Straight from the Iron Range comes this Halloween medley by Steve Solkela. The music was recorded at Kaleva Hall in Virginia. The medley includes: “Ranger Things Parody,” “Ghost of John,” “Play that Scary Music Bite Boy,” “Pass the Witch’s Broomstick” and “Zombie Taylor Swift.”
David Dondero – “Oh Minnesota”
Duluth-born troubadour David Dondero performed at Wussow’s Concert Cafe on Tuesday. One of his new songs mentions the Zenith City and a variety of Minnesota locations. The song was penned in 2019 and hasn’t appeared on any official releases, but the demo track linked here was posted to Patreon. (more…)
Charlie Parr – “817 Oakland Avenue”
Duluth’s Charlie Parr released a new album in July — Last of the Better Days Ahead. The video for “817 Oakland Avenue” features animation by Drew Christie.
Moors & McCumber – “There’s Always Something”
Moors & McCumber have a new album coming out Oct. 15 titled Survival. The Moors half of the duo is Superior’s James Moors, who has been performing with Colorado native Kort McCumber since 2005.
The video was produced and directed by Travis Bush.
Bob Dylan’s Last Hit
“Bob Dylan got away with murder.” —John Lennon
October 1960. Nineteen-year-old Bob Dylan takes the bus from Minneapolis to Duluth under a cloudless sun. With a head full of songs, he steps off the Greyhound carrying a backpack and two guitar cases. One case has a sticker saying “Ten O’clock Scholar Coffeehouse.” The other has blue words painted on it, “the Tombstone Blues.” A cab drops him at the Kozy, a desolate shithole even then. He rents a room. Placing the backpack and Ten O’clock Scholar on the bed, he leaves with the Tombstone Blues.
Bob walks a few blocks to his childhood home in the faded warmth of dim memories. Then he heads toward the Owls Club. He tries not to look at St. Mary’s Hospital, where he was born, as if he holds a grudge. Entering the club he walks past the bar to the pool room. Cigar smoke fills the air. He is greeted by the Scaletta family: Louie the King, Frankie Mineshaft, Mack the Finger, and Sammy Gaspipe. Several other made men and tough guys haunt the shadows. The King shakes his hand. “Good to see you, Bobby. After this, your debt is paid. But it’s too bad we gotta lose you. Sure we can’t convince you…?” Bob feels the menace of the question but he knows the King respects him — and maybe even fears him a little bit. “No thanks Louie, I got something else in mind for myself.” “Well I tell ya kid, it’s been a pleasure to watch you work.” (more…)
Alex Lewis – “Rivers and Roads”
Duluth’s Alex Lewis covers the song “Rivers and Roads” in this video produced for Mentor North by DanSan Creatives. The song was composed by the Head and the Heart and appeared on the band’s self-titled album, released in 2011.
Condor: Duluth band in the 1970s
Condor group photo shot before a gig at Press Bar in St Cloud.
One of Duluth’s more notable bands of the mid-to-late 1970s was an act called Condor. There was very little information online about the band in 2021, when this post originated as a crowdsourcing quest to change that. Photos have since been added, along with new information at the bottom of the post. (more…)
Duluth Electric Fetus merchandise up for auction
What’s left of the Duluth Electric Fetus? Sadly, only nostalgia. And just like when the store was open, it’s all for sale. Auction Masters of Osseo launched the Electric Fetus (Duluth, MN) online auction this week. Bidding ends at 6 p.m. on Oct. 11. (more…)
MN Moder featuring Q – “4/20”
Duluth-based hip-hop artist Zachary Moder, aka MN Moder, has a new video for a not-so-new song. “4/20” is from his 2019 album Modervation.
Anthony Bennett – “Damn Duluth”
Duluth’s Anthony Bennett presents this cover of the classic A.J McLean song “Damn, Duluth,” from the forthcoming compilation album Duluth Does Damn Duluth.
If you don’t understand, see “AJ Mclean praises and damns Duluth on TikTok.”
Mary Bue – “Tequila Song”
Mary Bue has a new music video for a track from her 2020 album The World is Your Lover. “Tequila Song” is produced by Jon Hain. (more…)
Low – “White Horses”
The new album by Duluth band Low is out today. Hey What is the band’s 13th full-length release in 27 years.
“White Horses” is the fourth video from the album. It is directed by Shane Donahue.
Moors & McCumber – “Survival”
The second video release from the new album by Moors & McCumber, featuring Superior’s James Moors, is for the track “Survival.” The video was produced and directed by Tim Bloomquist of Iowa-based Professional Video.
Survival set for release in October.
Lanue – “July”
The fourth video release from Duluthian Sarah Krueger’s new musical project, Lanue, features dancing and choreography by Mason Binetti. Krueger shot and edited the video herself.
The debut Lanue album was released in February and is available on Bandcamp, Apple Music and Spotify.
Steve Solkela’s Accordion 5k World Record Attempt
Iron Ranger Steve Solkela ran 5 kilometers through the streets of Virginia while playing an accordion. His finishing time was 34 minutes and 34.91 seconds, which is presumably a record — there seems to be no previous attempts at this stunt.
Video by Nathan Wangensteen.
Marc Gartman’s Fever Dream – “Keile”
The new album from Marc Gartman’s Fever Dream is about the early life of his great grandmother, Kate “Keile” Gartman. She fled Russia for New York City in 1906 and as a teenager survived the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, an industrial disaster resulting in the death of 146 garment workers. The video featuring the albums six tracks is comprised of footage from the Prelinger Archives and the Library of Congress.
MN Moder – “Elevator” (Visualizer)
Step into the “elevator” with Duluth-based hip-hop artist Zachary Moder, whose new single promises to take you to “another level of pleasure.”
The song is from the MN Moder album, Sweet Dreams, which was released in June.
The Slice: A World of Accordions Museum
Helmi Harrington, owner and curator of A World of Accordions Museum in Superior, talks about the museum’s collection and the concert hall at Harrington Arts Center.
In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV 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.
Bayfront Blues Festival Aerial Footage
Videographer Adam Jagunich captured these aerial images last weekend during the Bayfront Blues Festival.
Shaunna Heckman – “Cradle the Sound”
Duluth musician Shaunna Heckman has a new single, “Cradle the Sound.”
“This song mostly reflects building confidence to take leaps, trusting my intuition,” Heckman wrote on Facebook. “Overcoming the battle of the inner chatter vs the heart, as messy and terrifying as that can be. Keeping toxic people and negativity away and encompassing the beauty of what you might just find when you own your truth. Hold on to that within your own walls. It’s so precious.”
Moors & McCumber – “What Would Love Do Now”
The duo Moors & McCumber, featuring Superior’s James Moors, has a new album titled Survival set for release in October. The video for the single “What Would Love Do Now” was produced and directed by Tim Bloomquist of Iowa-based Professional Video.
Low – “More”
The third video release from the new album by Duluth band Low is directed Julie Casper Roth. Hey What is schedule for release on Sept. 10.
Torment – “Pig Pen” (Live at the Cabooze)
Duluth band Torment has a new song, “Pig Pen.” This video is from the band’s Aug. 8 performance at the Cabooze in Minneapolis. The next show is Aug. 21 at the Caddy Shack in Duluth.