Music

Dear Homegrown Diary

Sunday:

The mayor was late at Tycoons but, given his pre-proclamation speech involving the real/made-up story of Homegrown, which may or may not involve a story of fire-ring elves, makes sense and is forgiven.

Mr. Ness went on to win the Homegrown Pub Quiz at Carmody, leading to a who’s-who of wearing the chicken hat. Devon yelled well, and everyone got a prize.

For this old slag, the Repo Man-style back at Tycoons was worth an open-eyed listen after so many hemp-inspired ales.

There was much talk of slipping over to Luce, or back to Carmody. I’m sure readers can fill in.

Safe to say, it was a rowdy first night, leaving one to wonder if we all can hold out. I save my strength, it looks like Monday is here.

Homegrown 2012 Resource Rundown

Today, ladies and gents, marks Day One of Homegrown: The Apocalypse. Homegrown banners are in rotation here at PDD, and you can still submit new ones if you’re so inclined. (more…)

Homegrown Band Count, 1999 to 2012

“Ten bands, then 25, then 40 and 50. It would be nice to see it plotted out.” — Homegrown Music Festival founder Scott Lunt in today’s Duluth News Tribune

Here it is, plotted out:

History of the Homegrown Chicken

We tracked down the origins of the Homegrown Music Festival chicken and interviewed the original artists.

Check out our photo slideshow and audio story at LakeVoice to see the evolution of the Chicken.

TxT Tix

I’m wondering, why is Homegrown punishing Trampled by Turtles fans by making them pay an extra $20 to get in? Isn’t having to wait in line for 24+ hours going to be bad enough?

Haley Bonar with a *free EP download on NoiseTrade.com

Haley Bonar is giving away a sampler EP from her “Golder” album which came out last year. Haley claims MSP as her home these days but she has deep roots here in Duluth, too. If you want you can share some of those roots in the comments, I always love hearing that stuff. Especially after some folks have been doing so well on a larger stage lately. In fact, this seems like a fantastic week for music and acknowledgement for Duluth artists. We just became Duluth, MN home of Bob Dylan, Low AND Trampled by Turtles. Haley is another candidate for high pop culture level consciousness and success. This noisetrade promotion is good exposure for her, and us.

* Yes, she’s giving the EP away, but you can give her a tip if you want, also NoiseTrade will add you to their email list and they send out a lot of offers and opportunities (at least one a week). I don’t mind so much as a music lover, but you should know that going in.

Trampled by Turtles on Letterman (video)

Trampled by Turtles – “Alone” (Live on the Late Show with David Letterman)

Kickstarter for Breanne Marie: “Music saved my life”

Duluth’s Breanne Marie seems like a very nice lady and I think she makes a nice addition to the local music scene. (more…)

Duluth band Trampled by Turtles on Late Show with David Letterman

Tuesday, April 24, 10:35 p.m., KDLH-TV 3.1
Late Show with David Letterman guests:
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
Wendy Williams (The Wendy Williams Show)
Trampled by Turtles (CD, Stars and Satellites)

Three Song Sunday releasing CD May 1

Three years in the making, the long awaited album by Duluth band Three Song Sunday is finally coming out during Homegrown week on May 1.

Homegrown banners on PDD

I’m a little late this year, but here is the annual call. We’re looking for your Homegrown photos! The guidelines are the same as always. We’ll rotate Homegrown images in that extremely horizontal and hard-to-fit-a-photo-into space at the top of the page during next week’s festivities.

Duluth Album Releases in 2004

Greg Cougar Conley
For You
HDC Records

Jerree Small
Mobius
Available on CD Baby

Trampled by Turtles
Songs from a Ghost Town
Available on Amazon

(more…)

Does anybody know the history behind the Homegrown Chicken as a mascot?

Don’t get me wrong, the Chicken is cool, but I still don’t understand how it became the mascot. If anybody has any insight into this historical mystery, let me know.

Retribution Gospel Choir gets Revenge

Duluth band Retribution Gospel Choir will have its song “Feel it, Superior” featured in tonight’s episode of the ABC-TV drama series Revenge. It airs locally at 9 p.m. on WDIO-TV channel 10.1.

Blue Tape. No Frames.

Unsanctioned Homegrown Print Photo Show: Blue Tape. No Frames.

Just what it says. @2104 will be hosting a last-minute, non-sanctioned print photo show for Homegrown. (more…)

Video Archive: Dukes of Hubbard Live at Schooners in 2002

You’d never know what would happen next at a Dukes of Hubbard show (circa early 2000s). On stage, they would mix Phish with Kenny Loggins, then beatbox. Or play Ween followed by a Beatles medley and other antics. Or Jane’s Addiction followed by Herbie Hancock, while trading instruments and doing shots. And with Trudy (good dog, may she rest in peace) lounging off to the side. Some nights were more of a variety show than a usual set of music. (more…)

Stage Diving Mayors

[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]

I forgot to mark my calendar, but yesterday was Trampled by Turtles Day in both Duluth and Minneapolis. Here’s Don and RT Rybak crowd surfing at First Ave last night after making the proclamation.

Murzik — “Poison Tears”

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.

Trampled by Turtles – “Alone”

The new Trampled by Turtles video premiered on the Country Music Channel. 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.

Duluth SoundCloud Sampler

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

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

Haroula Rose — “Duluth” (Mason Jennings cover)

(more…)

The Fractals – “Car Farmer”

Live on the PlayList, April 5.

Zoo Animal on the Local on KUMD

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.

So it begins … again

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.

Why can’t this happen at Bayfront?

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.