Alan Sparhawk Posts

Duluth record labels boosted the scene, but are going extinct

Compact discs and cassettes of releases from Duluth record labels fill a plastic bin at the Perfect Duluth Day headquarters. (Photo by Paul Lundgren)

Mark Lindquist, the chief purveyor of local albums at the turn of the millennium, thinks he can succinctly describe the difference between the best-known Duluth record labels.

“Chair Kickers’ put out the most gorgeous records,” he said. “Spinout had the most professional. Chaperone had the coolest. And Shaky Ray had … the most.”

Vansplaining, Episode 5: Chelsea Wolfe

In the fifth episode of Vansplaining, Duluth’s Alan Sparhawk drinks peppermint tea and listens to Roy Orbison with gothic rock musician Chelsea Wolfe.

Vansplaining, Episode 4: Mikaela Davis and Southern Star

In the fourth episode of Vansplaining, Duluth’s Alan Sparhawk performs a one-of-a-kind magic trick for Mikaela Davis and her band Southern Star.

Vanspaining, Episode 3: Cat Clyde

In the third episode of Vansplaining, Duluth’s Alan Sparhawk talks with Canadian folk band Cat Clyde about the benefits of saline vaporization.

Vansplaining, Episode 2: Lord Friday the 13th

In the second episode of Vansplaining, Duluth’s Alan Sparhawk talks with Felix and Sloane of the Austin, Texas-based brother-and-sister band Lord Friday the 13th about meditation, fonts and flying tea.

At the six-minute mark, another Duluth musician makes a cameo. Nathan Amundson of Rivulets tells a car-accident anecdote.

Featured in the next three episodes are Cat Clyde, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star, and Chelsea Wolfe.

Vansplaining, Episode 1: Our Girl

Duluth’s Alan Sparhawk, a musician in various bands, most prominently Low, has a new web series called Vanspaining in which he chats with other musicians while helping them unload and load gear at shows.

In the inaugural episode, Sparhawk talks with the Brighton-by-way-of-London-based band, Our Girl about magnets. Featured in the next four episodes are Lord Friday the 13th, Cat Clyde, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star, and Chelsea Wolfe.

Gaelynn Lea & Alan Sparhawk – Live at Square Lake Festival 2017

Longing for hot summer-concert days? Well, PDD posted a Black-eyed Snakes concert video here from last summer … and it mysteriously disappeared from YouTube the next day. So here’s a replacement — Gaelynn Lea and Alan Sparhawk from the same concert, the Square Lake Film & Music Festival in Stillwater last August.

Dead Man Winter – “Destroyer”

Alan Sparhawk DestroyerThe first video from the new Dead Man Winter album Furnace features cameos by numerous Minnesota music scene notables, including Duluth’s Al Sparhawk and two others who briefly called Duluth home, Haley Bonar and John Mark Nelson.

Dead Man Winter performs in concert Saturday at Pizza Luce.

The Alan Sparhawk Project

Ten year’s ago, Duluth musician Alan Sparhawk had his name dropped in this little comic (specifically panel three):

Alan Sparhawk Project

Questionable Content is an internet comic strip by Jeph Jacques of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It started in August 2003 and is still in production. The publish date of the comic above is not known, but it was first posted to PDD on Feb. 9, 2006.

Sea Fog

A collaboration between Tina Marie Higgins and Dan Dresser. Filmed on the Isakson farm near Duluth. Scored by the Murder of Crows.

Video Archive: The Hospital People

This recently unearthed clip from KDLH-TV’s Newschannel 3 This Morning, features the Hospital People performing the song “Crash” in support of their April 2003 Geek Prom gig at the NorShor Threatre.

There is nothing quite like rawking and spaz dancing at 6 a.m. Maybe that’s why the video is so faded.

The Murder of Crows at Sacred Heart

Gaelynn Lea and Alan Sparhawk performing an online concert, captured by Lakefront Films. Sound by Jake Larson and Eric Swanson.

Homegrown Rawk and/or Roll: Sparhawk’s Mix

It’s available now on Bandcamp, and you can name your price.

Bernie Larsen and Alan Sparhawk featuring DJ Burt Blackarach — “Bottomless”

Alan Sparhawk Unplugged