Music Posts

Mary Bue – “I Don’t Need”

Another track by Mary Bue from her 2020 album The World is Your Lover, captured on video by Richard Medek in April for the Homegrown Music Festival. Steve Price and Jeremy Ylvisaker accompany Bue.

Mary Bue – “Gemini Eyes”

Former Duluthian Mary Bue‘s latest video is a stripped down version of “Gemini Eyes” from her 2020 album The World is Your Lover. The video was shot by Richard Medek in April for the Homegrown Music Festival.

Superior Siren – “Alive” (Live at Sacred Heart Music Center)

Eerie folk band Superior Siren performed a livestream from Sacred Heart Music Center on May 2. Wherehouse Productions has now released this video single from the show, featuring the song “Alive” from the band’s self-titled 2018 release.

The performance was part of the Minnesota Music Coalition‘s Minnesota Music Summit and also was integrated into the Homegrown Music Festival.

Video Archive: Bob Dylan’s childhood home in Hibbing, 1988

WDIO-TV has pulled this relic from its archive to share during Duluth Dylan Fest week. The news clip is from Oct. 10, 1988. Dylan’s boyhood home was on the market at the time. Reporter Leonard Lee went inside the house and into the former bedroom of the music icon where a shrine of sorts had been displayed. Items of note: an autograph from a pre-fame Bobby Zimmerman and a mezuzah shaped like a guitar.

The moments where the video briefly drops out are glitches in the 3/4-inch tape.

R.I.P. Duluth Electric Fetus

View through the glass door to the Duluth Electric Fetus store on April 13, 2021. (Photo by Paul Lundgren)

Duluth’s Electric Fetus store, 12 E. Superior St., announced today it will not reopen. The store was best known for selling compact discs and other music products, though items like jewelry, clothing and gifts made up a larger chunk of the sales. The company’s Minneapolis location will remain open.

Cities Never Sleep – “Kokomo”

Duluth band Cities Never Sleep has taken a musical trip off the Florida Keys to the magical fictitious land of Kokomo. Joined by saxophonist John James Ryan Jr. from Keep Flying, the band perfects its chemistry by turning a Beach Boys hit from 1988 into a post-pandemic, pop-punk chroma-key party.

Steve’s Overpopulated One-Man Band – “Oatmeal Raisin”

Just in time for prom season, Steve Solkela and his Iron Range friends have a new music video for those left feeling alone on the shelf, like an oatmeal raisin cookie. Hey, sometimes the healthiest option gets picked last.

Anthony Bennett – “I’m a Politician”

Duluth’s Anthony Bennett has a new album set for release on May 28. Fun’s Over contains 12 tracks recorded during the pandemic, including the first single, “I’m a Politician.”

Charlie Parr – “Last of the Better Days Ahead”

Charlie Parr‘s next album, Last of the Better Days Ahead is due out July 30 on the nonprofit record label Smithsonian Folkways. The video for the first single is directed by Parr himself.

Homegrown 2021 Unofficially Unofficial Recap Video

The pandemic put the kibosh on official in-person events during the Homegrown Music Festival, but with restrictions easing up a bit there were numerous unofficial events accompanying the hours upon hours of online video content put out to avoid a superspreader.

In addition to the slaptogether kickball game, outdoor video art installation in West Duluth and the scavenger hunt, there were little bits of actual live music happening with limited attendance. The video above captures clips of some of the unofficial activities, with a note that nothing is officially unofficial, it’s all unofficially unofficial, really.

Videos: Homegrown 2021 Day Seven

Saturday’s online Homegrown Music Festival content begins with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra‘s season-ending show, From Beethoven to Milhaud. At the 2:18:43 mark a big blawk of local rawk begins.

Videos: Homegrown 2021 Day Six

A bit more than two hours of local rawk and/or roll comprise the Homegrown Music Festival‘s Friday content.

Video Archive: The Black-eyed Snakes – “Chickenbone George”

From the days when digital video quality was horrific, we present the Black-eyed Snakes at the Red Lion Lounge during the Homegrown Music Festival … two amazing decades ago.

Shot by Chris Bacigalupo on May 4, 2001.

Videos: Homegrown 2021 Day Five

Thursday’s Homegrown Music Festival content is three and a half hours of livestreamed music from 2104.

Video Archive: Fred Tyson & the Tysonettes – “Pop that Thang!”

May 7, 2011 — Freddie Tyson and his beautiful backup singers perform “Pop that Thang” at Pizza Lucé during the Homegrown Music Festival.