Guess you got to make your bones

i'm fairly certain that Paul Lundgren is the reason I had to wait 18 years to kiss a girl and 20 before I lost my virginity.

Paul Lundgren used to give me nightmares when I lived next door to him. He traumatized my teen-hood.

Just kidding. But he does ruin everything.

I really appreciate everyones efforts and I'd still like to play at some venue at some point. Hey, I got a year left here and I'm gonna make it a good one.

And don't get me wrong I will be enjoying as much of Homegrown as I can. ;)

Here's a piece of what you might have missed:

"Isn't this festival about showcasing new music in the Duluth scene?"

No, it's not a new music festival.  It's a local music festival, and I'm guessing it would have helped your chances if you had actually played in Duluth before.  I don't envy the committee -- deciding which bands to cut is a tough job, and someone's always going to be pissed.  Glad to hear your opportunities are expanding, good luck!

Yeah I think not playing a show in Duluth at all and trying to get on Homegrown isn't the easiest thing in the world. I dig your sound so getting some groups together and setting up a show would be a good start. Make some calls.

And trust me, from knowing most of the committee members, they have the hardest job in Duluth as far as I'm concer ... wait a sec!? I'm playing 9pm at the Twins Bar!??

LUUUUUUUUNNNDDDGGGGREENNNNN!!!!!

-LVP kickball 2009

Homegrown Sunday New Band Night is for showcasing new music.

If you are frustrated with the lack of commitment dedicated to a new music scene, do something about it. Or were you expecting someone else to do the work?

I played in Dick's basement when Jay handed me his bass towards the drunk-end of a Manheat show. I played through the end of a noisy song and Brandon turned around and realized that Jay and Brennan were no longer playing and Chris Kelly and I had taken their places. Does that make me somebody?

Moorhead, Bemidji, St. Cloud, Rochester, as far as I know none of them are even close to Duluth. I would go so far as to say they couldn't come up with 80 bands not even close to the 150 that are on, and that doesn't even include all the old timers that didn't apply. As far as I can see only thing missing is a good blues band. Let's put those 80 bands on the street from Fitger's to Quinlan's and rock this town.

Paul, do you guys have a full chorus, or are your accepting new members? 

i can't carry a tune and i'm tone deaf to boot...

cliff dwelling elists, they won't even let me show my movie

Any publicity is good publicity. . .

Unrelated to Homegrown; there is a lack of Twin Cities bands that play in Duluth. The few I've seen have bleak attendance unless backed by local favorites and then the crowd comes for the local band and leaves... A touring Twin City band should be welcomed... Pretty much any big favorite band in the Twin Cities has never played here. Yes, Duluth has a very close, stuck-up scene...

One more bitch, the Twin Cities have treated Duluth bands well.

Rex - seriously don't make me type up a list of the Twin Cities bands that I've either brought to Duluth, played with, or done sound for. Actually, doing sound at The Rex in Fitger's for 8 months I saw more Minneapolis/out-of-town bands there then I did local. They got paid well too and had a crowd 90% of the time. I get e-mails from bands wanting to play in Duluth a lot and try as hard as I can to get them a show.

And as for being treated well playing the cities: most shows I've played there's either no one there, or the crowds leave after the local bands as well. It's next to impossible to get a weekend gig, and on average of all the shows I've played in the cities, we received $20 or nothing.

Who got invited to the RSC show in the Living Room? Only the Good Ol' Boys got invited. I completely agree with the person who posted this. I didn't get an invite, so yes there is elitist attitudes with Homegrown. As I said countless time there are two Homegrown festivals. One for the cool people, and one for the rest of us. 

Suck it Paul Lundgren and your censorship.

Now look, I really expect to be invited to sing harmony the next time anyone on the Homegrown committee decides to sing in the shower, I mean c'mon, how can you deny me my big break ya bunch of elitist community do-gooders? And by the way, my cousin from Austin plays a mean shower washboard, so you outta invite her, too.

I lived in Austin TX in the late 80s-early 90s and the people who hated SXSW held their own festival as an alternative.

All I can really say is work your butt off and promote yourself, make friends (not enemies, like dickhole is doing, it will get you nowhere).  Take any gig you can find, even if it only pays $25 and is a 5 hour round trip on a work/school night.

"I didn't get an invite, so yes there is elitist attitudes with Homegrown."

I couldn't think this statement was funnier if you covered it in sad-clown tears.

I can think of one really good way not to play next year either and you are doing a great job of that.

Also, it would be awesome if this year's Homegrown t-shirts can somehow include the quote, "Suck it Paul Lundgren and your censorship."

booya!

Wow. It's the popular kids against the nerds all over again.
I thought it was a pain in the ass to be in a band in the cities...

Mike Wilson rocks at DIY. I always get picked first because I rock at sports!

I heard Bob Dylan is playing a show atop the Armory on Saturday of Homegrown... Shhh..

I love the fact that my "elitist" has been such a trigger point. I don't play in a band and never called anyone a bastard. I have no issue with how Homegrown is run; I think Duluth is too inbred... Let's start a new "inbred" attack. 
Q:Tony, why did you leave the cities?
A:You're a rock star here?

Whats all the bitchin about? You all are killin my buzzz! I know for a fact that this is not an elitist event because they have allowed me to play for the last 8 years! I'm not in with the in crowd, never have been. Spent a lifetime on the outside lookin in. As the great Yogi Berra said, "don't follow the crowd, no one goes there any more. It's too crowded." So you all don't like the party someone is pitchin then pitch your own party. It's like masturbating, that way you can have it anyway you want it. PS: my name is not an obscene texting abbreviation, it is my initials.
PSS: Any washboard players want to sit in with me you're always welcome. Had one two years ago and the people loved it.

Not to disagree with the picking of all 9 bands from Marc Gartman, I would like to suggest to the commitee that a vote be offer up to the public. If these "new bands" can garner enough support they should be able to play. 

Give it to the people, let the "WHOLE" of Duluth Decide.

Why don't you rent a place out, promote the fuck out of it, and show people what they're missing?  We used to do that ALL the time with my band Bone Appetit, and we made good money doing it too.  Go make 5000 flyers and show your shit down people's throats, it's the only thing that works.  If you think i'm joking about the 5000 flyers in that town, I am not, we used to make and post that many when we promoted our own shows occasionally.  We played basement keggers for years before our first Homegrown in 1999/2000.  Trust me here bud, if you have a bunch of alcohol and chicks, people WILL come to your shows, thats a proven fact.  Now Go!!!!  Do It!!!

Hey Jody!  What's up dude??

I'm sorry I participated in dragging Gartman into this! He works HARD for the money so you better treat him right! I cant wait to see all your shows and I hope there's many many hidden partys and random street theater. Back to the original hater, you must really suck b/c even my mom is playing a gig.

I know that Mat Milinkovich wanted to get Sight like December back together, did that ever happen?

Happy Homegrown to everybody!!

I know it might be sad that you didn't get to play Homegrown, but there is going to be more chances in the year to play shows. Rumors are afloat about farm field shows, and a new local music festival down by Barkers Island. Don't get angry at the Homegrown Committee. They are only do what they can fit in. I know that some of the choices might seem unfair to you, but I would recommend to donate more time to the scene and that might payoff in playing "duluth" shows. 

But don't think that PDD is the center of the music scene in Duluth, believe me there is more to this scene and more people in the background than the PDD people. There are tons of eager souls you would want to talk to you, book your band, and help you promote. 

If you need help getting the word out, ask me or nicely ask PDD. Homegrown is the Holy Grail for some bands, but it doesn't mean that your life in the high paced world of the Twin Ports Music Scene is over. 

Don't look for help from Commerical Radio, they don't care about you. 

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Who is Marc Gartman?

WTG Craig! The more the merrier. Huzzah and hats off to more festivals .. especially ones with a positive/copacetic stance ... there's enough of this scene to go around!