Music
Wood Blind’s Veikko Lepisto, back in the day
Duluth band Wood Blind plays Sept. 25 at Beaner’s during the week-long “One Week Live” celebration. We dug into the shallow end of the PDD archives and dusted off this Royal Crown Revue video circa 1997, which features Wood Blind bassist Veikko Lepisto doing his thing with the old crew.
Lepisto was born in Duluth and studied bass with Billy Barnard at UMD. He lived in Los Angeles during most of his music career, but has been back in Duluth for over a year.
Adam Sippola launches Kickstarter for live looping album
Adam Sippola will be live looping it up at the Red Herring Lounge on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. There will be food, drinks at the bar, of course, and sounds provided by Sippola.
The purpose of the Kickstarter is to gather support and raise funding to record a live looping album at Sacred Heart Music Center during the fall and winter, and to create an album release concert event, also at Sacred Heart.
Driving Away with Bone Appetit
The band Bone Appetit rests between a parody and an homage to 1980s hair metal. Ahead of the reunion show Saturday at R.T. Quinlan’s, members Ryan Van Slooten and Cory Ahlm discussed the band’s signature song, “Drive Away,” while Tony Bennett of Cars & Trucks and Alan Sparhawk of Low share their thoughts on Bone Appetit’s place in Duluth music history.
Homegrown Steering Committee Openings
The Homegrown Music Festival is looking to add new members to the Homegrown Steering Committee – the nonprofit committee responsible for the nuts and bolts of the eight-day festival. Ideal candidates have a love of local music and our community, and an eager commitment to continuing to improve the 16-year celebration of local music and culture. Committee terms are two years, with the opportunity to renew.
Deadline for application is Friday, Sept. 26.
The Kid and Nic Show – “Little Darlin”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYhoAoJSTUg
A little doo wop on Duluth’s hillside, performed by the Kid and Nic Show.
Venus DeMars embraces Sacred Heart
Venus DeMars has been busy. After finishing a national your with Against Me!, DeMars returns to her hometown on Saturday for a concert at Sacred Heart, where she will record her first acoustic album. In this interview, she explains how her new album will be a culmination of her musical experiences.
Preston Gunderson with Jillian Rae – “Night”
Video by Peter Jamus and David Kasyanyuk
Shot at East Medicine Lake, Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles — all near Minneapolis
Actors: Laura Blak and Vinny Balbo
Preston Gunderson is a singer/songwriter from the Iron Range. His album While I was Gone cracked the top 200 on the iTunes pop charts, and his EP The Recluse peaked at no. 25 on the iTunes Singer Songwriter Music Chart. He was a casting finalist on NBCs The Voice, but did not appear on the TV show. He was also named the 2014 Bob Dylan Singer-Songwriter Grand Champion during Dylan Days.
Jillian Rae is known in Duluth for her days lending fiddle skills to the band Two Many Banjos. She performs solo shows and in a number of bands in Minnesota.
Trap God featuring Lil Mikee – “Dumpin Back”
I’m interested in hearing comments about this music video shot in Duluth. Do you think it portrays our city fairly? Does it make you want to visit Duluth? What do you think?
Chris Belich – “Stars”
Duluth’s Chris Belich plays a mean steel pan.
Record Stores on Highway 53: Deaf Ear Records in La Crosse
Manager Tina Melvin describes how Deaf Ear Records became a landmark in La Crosse’s downtown, and how collecting records can fill a void in a person’s life.
Fun Fact: Deaf Ear’s best-selling used record is the same as Revival Records in Eau Claire’s best-selling used record — Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.
Part One: Vinyl Cave in Superior
Part Two: Revival Records in Eau Claire
Deaf Ear Records
112 Fourth St. S.
La Crosse WI 54601
608-782-7829
Record Stores on Highway 53: Revival Records in Eau Claire
Owner Billy Siegel opens up about how Revival Records started with liquidating his personal record collection. He mentions how selling the collection allowed the store to become an integral part of Eau Claire’s music scene.
Fun Fact: Revival Records’ best selling used record is Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.
Part One: Vinyl Cave in Superior
Part Three: Deaf Ear Records in La Crosse
Revival Records
128 S. Barstow St.
Eau Claire WI 54701
715-514-4202
Record Stores on Highway 53: Vinyl Cave in Superior
Owners Tom Unterberger and Tom Johnson explain how their love for music lead them to open Vinyl Cave. Located in Superior, 1.7 miles off Highway 53, the store is a required stop for record collectors in search of classic-rock favorites.
Fun Fact: Vinyl Cave’s best selling used record is Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.
Part Two: Revival Records in Eau Claire
Part Three: Deaf Ear Records in La Crosse
Vinyl Cave
1717 Belknap St.
Superior WI 54880
715-392-1477
Trampled by Turtles – “Are You Behind the Shining Star” (Live video from the Late Show with David Letterman)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bghbg79rFZU
Dave on Dave: TBT’s Carroll comments on band’s previous Letterman appearance
On the occasion of Duluth band Trampled by Turtles making a second appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman — tonight at 10:35 p.m. on KDLH-TV channel 3.1 — I looked back at notes from an interview with Banjo Dave Carroll from spring 2013. He told stories about being on the Letterman and Craig Ferguson shows that didn’t make it into the story I was working on at the time.
Here is Carroll sharing an anecdote about taking a break outside the Ed Sullivan Theater before the Letterman gig:
They have these barriers on the sidewalks that are kind of gated off for photographers to hang out and allow them to get a picture of celebrities — whoever’s coming in. … It happened to be Amy Phoeler. We were hanging out there, and there were all these photographers. Her black town car or whatever pulls up, the photographer looks at us and says, ‘hey are you guys in the band?’ We kind of looked at each other and said ‘yeah, yeah we’re in the band.’ And they just said, ‘hey, get out of the way!'” Amy Poehler was coming across the street and they didn’t want us to be in the background with her.
Jack Campbell releases new video and Fundrazr
Local musician Jack Campbell just released a new free single “Drive” with a video by Lakefront Films and he’s doing a crowd funding campaign through Fundrazr to make a full length record.
Trampled by Turtles – “Wild Animals” video and Bayfront concert photos
A rainy new video; perfect for the night of a rainy concert at Bayfront Park.
Latest Duluth Song Reference
With a possible new entry for the Duluth Lyrics Vault – the new Phish album ‘plooped’ (or dripped) on Tuesday. Here are the lyrics to “Halfway to the Moon”:
(more…)
Haley Bonar – “Kill the Fun”
New video from former Duluthian Haley Bonar.
Interview with Trampled by Turtles mandolin player Erik Berry
Erik Berry Interview – 6/17/2014
Mandolinist Erik Berry discusses the new Trampled by Turtles album Wild Animals, his thoughts behind songwriting and what it’s like to play at Bayfront Festival Park. The Duluth band headlines a show on its home field this Saturday with Doomtree, Low and Haley Bonar also on the bill.
Bliss – “When I Grow Up”
Duluth rapper Bliss released his new album The Most Important Things in Life are Invisible on Bandcamp today. Above is the newest video, “When I Grow Up.” (The video for “Go,” released last month, was also part of this post, but has been removed from YouTube for some kind of “terms of service” violation. The video for the album’s title track was posted on PDD back in March.)
Pineapple Arts now offering music lessons
Pineapple Arts Center in Downtown Duluth is now offering music lessons. Guitar, bass and ukulele lessons are available, and songwriting/composition help can also be provided.
Here’s what they had to say on the matter:
We’re so excited to have Duluth-area musician and News Tribune music writer Tony Bennett (Cars & Trucks, The Dames, Seed Math) offering music lessons for beginners/intermediates this summer! Lessons will be dictated by what the student wants to learn, with a focus on fun and creativity. Tony is able to cover many styles, including: rock, folk, blues, punk, metal, avant-garde, pop, some country, and much more! Give the store a call at (218) 722-2919 if you want to take music lessons ~~THIS SUMMER~~ acoustic and electric guitar ~~ bass guitar ~~ or songwriting and composition. ~~ Lessons are available on Tuesdays between 6-9 PM. Cost is only $20 for a single half-hour lesson, and $70 for a four-lesson package deal!
Perfect Duluth Day Outdoor Summer Concert Primer 2014
With one of Duluth’s coldest and snowiest winters behind us, it’s time to warm up for summer music. Venues like Bayfront Festival Park and Big Top Chautauqua host major touring acts throughout summer, along with a number of smaller summer concert series put on by Lucius Woods Performing Arts Center, Summer (Mostly) Thursdays, and Chester Creek Concert Series. There will be more bands to see than time to see them. Here’s a look at some of the summer 2014 highlights.
June 14
Pert Near Sandstone
Big Top Chautauqua
Pert Near Sandstone kicks off the summer under the big top.
June 17
Charlie Parr
Chester Bowl Park
Bluesman Charlie Parr kicks off the Chester Creek Concert Series.
June 20-21
Lake Ave Live 2014
Lake Avenue Restaurant and Bar
Two nights of music under a big-top tent in the parking lot of the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace in Canal Park, featuring Grrl Prty, the4ontheFloor and more. (more…)
Charlie Parr – “Union Tramp”
Green Room performance by Duluth’s Charlie Parr at Turner Hall in Milwaukee. Video produced by Phil Hosticka & Jay Patterson.