Music Posts

Big Into – “The Jupiter Song”

Take a tour through the solar system with Iron Range natives Curtis Kraft Mattson and Jozef Conaway. Their nerd-rock band Big Into is releasing a music video every month for each new track off their upcoming EP. “The Jupiter Song” is the fifth video in the series.

JamesG – “Be Nice”

The latest track from former Duluth hip-hop artist JamesG asks the lyrical question, “Why can’t you be nice?”

I can only assume your mean streak matches the one up in your undies.
Probably live in the past like Al Bundy.
Poking around, tryna start shit cause you think it’s funny.
Crossing lines without remorse, Pam Beesly at the Dundies.

Austin Castle and the Northern Pines – “Saratoga”

Austin Castle and the Northern Pines perform “Saratoga” in this video shot at Castle Danger Brewery in Two Harbors. The footage was recorded by Jose Leon of KTWH Two Harbors Community Radio and edited by Castle.

Austin Castle and the Northern Pines have a string of sporadic Saturday gigs at Castle Danger beginning March 30. Castle also performs monthly “Sunday Strumday” shows with bassist Ashe Burton at the Cedar Lounge; the next one is March 17.

Big Into – “Expected Daemons (Bail Out!)”

Big Into is releasing a music video every month for each new track off the band’s upcoming EP. “Expected Daemons (Bail Out!)” is the fourth video in the series.

MPR Archive: Crew Jones in 2004

As Duluth mourns the loss of Ben Larson, aka Burly Burlesque of the bands Crew Jones and Southwire, we point to a nearly 20-year-old Minnesota Public Radio piece that introduced listeners to the hot new “north woods rap” group. The segment was produced by Chris Julin and features Chris Godsey interviewing Crew Jones.

R.I.P. Burly Burlesque

Rest in peace Burly Burlesque, aka Ben Larson, one of Duluth’s best vocalists, lyricists and performers. According to the comments on the Facebook post which broke the news, he died in his sleep. He was newly a father, and a Go Fund Me has been set up to help support his family during this terrible time.

Burly and I weren’t friends but there was a time when we were friendly and familiar in the arts and music scene. I remember seeing him perform for the first time circa 2003. He comprised one-third of the band Crew Jones, and when they hopped up on stage at Pizza Lucé I was like, “Who are these weirdos?” But then they showed me and everybody. Their album Who’s Beach? dropped around then; everyone I know from those days speaks of it in reverent tones as a work of genius. A firehose of creativity, the band (Burly, Ray the Wolf, and Mic Trout) all brought their A-game. Their live performances did no less. The album became a must-have and their shows were a must-see. No one could believe these white dudes rapping about life in northern Minnesota could be so legit but there you have it. Like all of the band’s lyrics, Burly’s writing was something great; he was also a master freestyler with an outsized stage presence.

Breanne Marie & the Front Porch Sinners – “Juniper”

The new video from Breanne Marie & the Front Porch Sinners is the band’s submission to National Public Radio’s Tiny Desk Contest for 2024. The video was recorded live by Ben Anderson at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum.

The song is from the band’s 2021 album Juniper. A new record is in the works for a planned release later this year.

Daniel Durant’s Super Bowl National Anthem ASL Performance

Actor Daniel Durant, the Duluth native who starred in the Academy Award-winning movie CODA, performed the national anthem in American sign language at the Super Bowl on Sunday. But the telecast showed only Durant’s introduction before focusing on singer Reba McEntire.

The video above, via the YouTube channel of the Sign Language Studies program at Southwestern Illinois College, shows Durant’s full performance.

Almanac North: EmbalmingEva Profile

This WDSE-TV Almanac North online-only segment profiles EmbalmingEva ahead of its Valentine’s Day show with Superior Siren at Sacred Heart Music Center.

Almanac North is a weekly public affairs program on PBS North that provides in-depth conversations around issues and events that affect the region.

Mystery Photo: Western Duluth and God’s Favorite Band

Twin/Tone Records, a Minneapolis-based record label active from 1977 to 1994, has an artist page for God’s Favorite Band that features the image above.

Shane Nelson w/ Maxi Childs Trio – “Love You from a Distance”

Superior’s Shane Nelson has a new music video. The track “Love You from a Distance” is from his upcoming album The Music Saved My Life, recorded at Sacred Heart Music Center. The song features Maxi Childs on backing vocals, Steve Netzel on bass, Ron Koivisto on electric guitar and Jerry Siptroth on drums. The video is by Bo Allen of Bo Allen Productions.

Chester Creek Concert Series now Music in the Park, half of season will be in Lincoln Park

Duluth’s Parks and Recreation division announced today that performer applications are being accepted for the 2024 Music in the Park concert series. Formerly known as the Chester Creek Concert Series, the Tuesday-night shows will be held at Chester Park from June 18 to July 16, then at Lincoln Park from July 23 to Aug. 13.

Steve’s Overpopulated One-man Band – “If Heaven Don’t Have Saunas, I Don’t Wanna Go!”

Duluth’s Steve Solkela is back from touring Finland and has a new music video for one of the first songs he wrote back in his high school days.

EmbalmingEva – “Purity”

Duluth synth act EmbalmingEva released the video for “Purity” in December. It’s directed by Henriette Blade. The duo opens for Superior Siren on Valentine’s Day at Sacred Heart Music Center.

Big Into – “(Neil Young is) Thinking in the Negative (Again)”

So the story goes, Neil Young recommends chewing pieces of peppercorn to reduce marijuana-induced anxiety. And Big Into has a new song and video about that.

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