Music
Chuck Haavik – “Nothing to Say”
Duluth’s Chuck Haavik has a new EP, Friend For the End of the World. The single “Nothing to Say,” embedded above, features Dave Mehling on electric guitar, Emily Haavik on backing vocals and Luke Mirau on drums. Mehling produced and mixed the album.
Haavik’s EP release show is Dec. 27 at Wussow’s Concert Cafe.
Ian Alexy – “Living in a Dream”
The latest from Duluth’s Ian Alexy is a bluesy rock track with an afrobeat inspired chorus, featuring Emma Lee Heart on guest vocals. The “Living in a Dream” video features a collage of footage from public archival sources, edited by Alexy.
Alexy’s new album, The Tao of Ian, releases on Dec. 9.
Duluth Album Releases in 2000
Dial back the sound system one quarter of a century. The year 2000 was of particular significance to the Duluth music scene. It’s possibly the first time more than a dozen local albums were released in a single year. The emergence of a few local music labels is partially the reason, but in general the reduction in the cost to put out compact discs, growth in the number of bands and easier access to recording technology all contributed to the spike in output, which has only accelerated since.
Compiled here is an incomplete list of Duluth-related music releases from 2000. If you spot something that’s missing, feel free to comment here or send an email to paul @ perfectduluthday.com. (more…)
Pronoya – “Your Worship Cannot Be Undone”
Pronoya‘s new EP All for the Sun is out now on numerous platforms. The video for the track “Your Worship Cannot Be Undone” is directed, shot and edited by Cristian Pastrana of D/E Design & Studio.
Pronoya’s EP release show is Nov. 29 at Pizza Luce.
Toby Thomas Churchill – “You”
Duluth’s Toby Thomas Churchill has a new album called Nighttime coming out Nov. 28. “You” is the first single.
Rich Mattson and the Northstars – “Races With Turtle”
Rich Mattson and the Northstars are jumping over hurdles, running round in circles and racin’ with the turtles in their minds. The video for the band’s new single is directed by Reggie Pype.
Lee Clark Allen shares ‘seasons of life’ on new album
Lee Clark Allen at the Roxy on Broadway in Denver, Colorado.
There’s a stereotype that some musicians have “super egos.” Patrick Clark, an English teacher at the University of Minnesota Duluth and musician who performs as Lee Clark Allen, wants to avoid that. (more…)
JamesG – “Feeling Myself (Today)”
Former Duluthian James Geisler, aka JamesG, is feeling the flow today.
Robert Plant covers Low on Tiny Desk Concert
Rock icon Robert Plant performed a five-song set for National Public Radio on Halloween. The third piece, “Everybody’s Song,” was composed by Duluth band Low.
At the 10-minute mark in the video, Plant explains that it’s the third song he has recorded from Low’s 2005 album The Great Destroyer.
Music in the Weeds: Between Howls
Duluth band Between Howls performs two songs from a ridge overlooking Grand Marais.
Music in the Weeds is a new video series from WTIP North Shore Community Radio that showcases northern Minnesota artists performing original music at scenic and meaningful locations around Cook County. It is produced by M. Baxley and Will Moore.
Ian Alexy – “Move Like Water”
Duluth’s Ian Alexy has a new album on the way. The Tao of Ian is set for a Dec. 9 release.
An alternate version of the “Move Like Water” video, centered on a dance performance by Annika Danielson, previously appeared on Perfect Duluth Day. The new version adds footage of Alexy and beach scenes from Wisconsin Point.
Breanne Marie & the Front Porch Sinners – “Shelf”
Two Trees, the new album from Duluth’s Breanne Marie & the Front Porch Sinners, is out today and the album release show is Nov. 15 at Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake with The Yeah Scherz opening.
The video for “Shelf” is directed by Breanne Marie and Anya Tepler.
Jorma Kaukonen has Duluth tour stop in April
I just looked at Jorma Kaukonen’s tour schedule and discovered that he’s coming to the West Theatre in Duluth on April 23. The co-founder of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna is a guitarist, lyricist, singer and biker, and runs Fur Peace Ranch, a guitar camp in Ohio. Get a copy of his autobiography, Been So Long from Zenith Bookstore, across the street from the West. It’s a great read. At 85, he’s a stalwart. Duluthians, please give him a warm welcome!
JamesG – “So Long”
Former Duluthian James Geisler, aka JamesG, points out life is short in his latest music video, “but at times, it’s so long.”
Video Archive: Crazy Betty – “Days of Easy”
Take a quick dip in the lake and do some flips off the dock. It’s been 25 years since Duluth band Crazy Betty released the music video “Days of Easy,” shot on Park Point and other Duluth locations in late summer 2000. And yes, the whole thing is very, very 2000.
The video was directed by Nicholas Kapanke.
Ian Alexy – “Move Like Water” (Dance Version)
The new music video from Ian Alexy features a dance performance by Annika Danielson.
Rafe Carlson – “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”
The legend lives on with Hermantown native Rafe Carlson‘s cover of Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
Carlson is releasing his new music on Nov. 12 at Duluth Whiskey Project.
War Bonnet – “Crazy Horse”
Hoka hey! Hoka hey! The latest from Iron Range-area band War Bonnet draws inspiration from the Oglala Lakota war leader Crazy Horse. The song is the second track off the band’s Mesabi album, released in September. The video was created by Chaz Wagner.
Dirty Knobs – “Squid Crow Pro”
Dirty Knobs, a music project of Duluth’s Zac Bentz, part of The Electric Witch and The Surfactants, released the new album Scorcher on Halloween. On Youtube the tracks come with psychedelic visualizers as above for “Squid Crow Pro,” a track I have on repeat. I would loosely characterize the album as a collection of ambient electronica soundscapes, textured and chewy. These tracks are going to get me through winter.
Chrissie Hynde Featuring Alan Sparhawk – “County Line”
Chrissie Hynde, famed lead singer of The Pretenders, has released a new album of duets featuring K. D. Lang, Cat Power, Debbie Harry and a number of other artists, including Duluth’s Alan Sparhawk. The album is titled Duets Special. Sparhawk sings with Hynde on a cover of the Cass McCombs song “County Line.” (more…)
Breanne Marie & the Front Porch Sinners Featuring C-Silence – “Ida Mae”
Duluth-based Americana band Breanne Marie & the Front Porch Sinners have a new album — Two Trees — set for release Nov. 14. The single “Ida Mae” features rapper C-Silence and was released in July.
The album release show is scheduled for Nov. 15 at Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake with The Yeah Scherz opening.
Big Into – Too Young (Remix by MidiEvil)
The explosive conclusion of the two-part music video collaboration between Big Into and MidiEvil has arrived. For part one, check out the video for “Behind the Veil.”
Music in the Weeds: Emma Tweten with Adam Kirsch
Grand Marais singer-songwriter Emma Tweten performs two original songs aboard the schooner Hjordis on Lake Superior, with Adam Kirsch on banjo.
Music in the Weeds is a new video series from WTIP North Shore Community Radio that showcases northern Minnesota artists performing original music at scenic and meaningful locations around Cook County. It is produced by M. Baxley and Will Moore.
Indecent Proposal – “Drift Away”
The new single from Duluth band Indecent Proposal wrestles with leaving the familiar behind while searching for something bigger — a late-night highway, window-down kind of song about letting go of what’s heavy and choosing light.
R.I.P Todd Eckart
News broke today that Duluth musician Todd Eckart was one of two people killed in a head-on automobile collision in the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 53 at Berg Park Road in Amnicon Township on Oct. 22.
Eckart was one of the city’s busiest performers, playing gigs at virtually every possible venue. Below is just a small sampling of his vast array of gig posters. (more…)