Music
How Minnesota shaped the ‘freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
This installment of the WCCO radio program A Closer Look with Laura Oakes delves into Bob Dylan’s Minnesota roots. It aired Dec. 19. Duluth comes up.
2024: The Year in Duluth Gig Posters
As we reach the end of another year of rawk and/or roll, Perfect Duluth Day once again looks back at the posters that pimped the gigs. (more…)
The Real Bob Dylan: An Intimate Look with Louie Kemp
Recorded in 2019 at the Duluth Armory, this previously unreleased PBS North interview with Bob Dylan’s lifelong friend Louis Kemp offers insights into the life of the famous musician born in Duluth.
A Complete Unknown: Director James Mangold on Bob Dylan
JP Olsen of WDSE 103.3 FM “The North” interviews James Mangold, director of A Complete Unknown, a biographical drama exploring the early life of Bob Dylan. Mangold delves into the creative process, revealing how Timothée Chalamet embodied the spirit of Dylan, and discusses the enduring power of Dylan’s music and its affect on a new generation.
Duluth on Chalamet’s lips
Duluth keeps getting mentioned in the publicity tour for the Bob Dylan movie A Complete Unknown. At the 6:53 mark in the clip above Timothée Chalamet says, regarding singing live-to-camera in the film, “The worst thing we could have done with a Bob Dylan biopic is sanitize it, to make it sound clean … This is a man from iron ore country, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Hibbing, Duluth.” Not that Minneapolis is so dirty, but OK.
Alan Sparhawk, et. al. – “Vaster Than Empires”
“Vaster Than Empires,” the new Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross track featuring Duluth’s Alan Sparhawk, appears in the recently released film Queer. The version embedded here is an alternate cut.
How should I feel about “A Solid Brass Christmas”?
I snagged a ton of cassettes at Gabriel’s Used Bookstore. I wanted them because they were uniform in their design. They were, in other words, a “collection,” and I love being able to look over a collection. (more…)
EmbalmingEva – “Unclean”
West Duluth is ground zero for the latest EmbalmingEva music video, shot at the Jade Fountain and under the bright lights of the Korner Store.
Indecent Proposal – “Glow”
The latest video from Duluth band Indecent Proposal was shot an Enger Tower and other nearby locations. It stars Rylee Kuberra and features the video work of Capture Chaos Productions. (more…)
Steve Solkela & Party Marty – “Carol of the Bells”
Accordionist Steve Solkela performs the popular Christmas song “Carol of the Bells” with Party Marty working the guitar and wine glasses.
Torment – “Die Alone”
Duluth band Torment is releasing a new EP, The Pain, on New Year’s Eve at Pizza Lucé. The “Die Alone” video was recorded and edited by Adam Tucker at Signaturetone Recording in Minneapolis.
Big Into “Tundra Monstera”
When a tropical climbing-plant monster emerges on the shores of Lake Superior, the Iron Range nerd-rock band Big Into is ready with a the musical soundtrack.
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “Over the River and Through the Wood”
Duluth’s Ingeborg von Agassiz has a new single with a Thanksgiving theme. The full version of “Over the River and Through the Wood” is available for listening and downloading on Bandcamp. The song is based on a poem written in 1844 by Lydia Maria Child.
Iron Range Outlaw Brigade – “Rednecks, White Trash, and Blue Collar Blues”
Iron Range Outlaw Brigade has a new single, “Rednecks, White Trash, and Blue Collar Blues.” It’s the band’s first release with John Lamar on drums; Glen Mattson has moved from drums to guitar. The video was directed by singer/guitarist Kirk Kjenaas. The rest of the band is made up of John Peterson on 10-string pedal steel and Fred Hanson on bass.
Two Takes on Best Songwriter in Twin Ports and Minnesota
Recently, in my “Minnesota Writers” class at the University of Minnesota Duluth, we spent a week discussing songwriting, and as an exercise in fun, students voted on their favorite songwriter. Then, to get a different perspective, I went to the Music Resource Center and had the same conversation. I thought I would share the results. (more…)
Torment – “Swallow Your Teeth”
Duluth band Torment has a new music video for the title track to its 2022 album Swallow Your Teeth. The group is releasing a new EP, The Pain, on New Year’s Eve at Pizza Lucé with special guests Southpaw, Unfit, Frag and Chippy.
EmbalmingEva – “Mouth Open Wide”
“Mouth Open Wide” is the latest music video from the Duluth synth act EmbalmingEva. The musicians, Galalee Wright and Jesse Hatten, directed, shot, edited and performed in the video.
Boxcar – “Freedom March”
On Election Day, Duluth band Boxcar‘s new video reminds Americans that “love of country begins with love of our countrymen and countrywomen.” The group’s second album, For Madmen Only, was released in October. The “Freedom March” video was edited by Adam Jones from public domain footage.
Did Kiss play Duluth twice in 1974?
Fifty years ago today — Nov. 3, 1974 — Kiss played the Duluth Arena in what is believed to be the band’s first of eight Duluth shows spanning five decades.
But the documentary TV series Biography released a two-part episode on Kiss in 2021 that briefly shows a handwritten 1974 tour schedule with the band slotted to play Duluth on March 27. Did Kiss play Duluth twice in 1974? Or does the documentary use a fake schedule scribbled together to create imagery for an interview cutaway shot? Or was there a canceled Kiss show before the real one seven months later? (more…)
Alan Sparhawk – “I Made This Beat”
Alan Sparhawk launches “The White Roses Tour” this weekend with four shows in Europe followed by stops in 14 U.S. cities during the month of November. The new lyric video for “I Made This Beat” is a helpful guide to learning all four of the words in the song.
Josh the Rapper – “Halloween is Coming Up Soon”
From the graveyards of Duluth, Josh the Rapper throws down about the impending holiday.
Video: Steve Solkela in the Superior Spooktacular Parade
Superior Porchfest took part in the 10th annual Superior Spooktacular Parade on Saturday, represented by musician Steve Solkela. The video was made by Bret Holland.
Anthony Bennett – “Happy Halloween”
Perfect Duluth Day’s own Tony Bennett has a hot new single burning up the Halloween charts.
Big Into – “A Werewolf’s Journey”
Iron Range nerd-rock band Big Into marks the full moon and the spooky season with the release of a werewolf-themed song and video.
DNT: Sarah Krueger leaving Duluth
According to this lavish article in the Duluth News-Tribune, Sarah Krueger (aka Lanue) is leaving town for Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She has provided our city with one of its most unforgettable stage performers and recording artists. Her music videos are pure celebrations of Duluth. (more…)