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    Also Good Bets: Today-Oct. 7


    2009 - 09.30

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    Photo by Denn Santoro from here.

    SINGER/SONGWRITER
    Songwriter Cliff Eberhardt brings his mix of folk acoustic Amaricanan road songs to a performance at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Amazing Grace, 394 S. Lake Ave. Eberhardt has just released "500 Miles: The Blue Rock Session," of which the Winnipeg Free Press said: "His latest album, his ninth since 1988, is a tasteful affair showcasing his soulful growl, which that calls to mind such fine singers as Richie Havens, Jimmy LaFave and even Randy Newman." Guest musicians include Alejandro Escovedo, Mary Gauthier, Jon Dee Graham, and Kelly Wilis. Tickets for the show are $15.

    LIVE FROM SEATTLE
    Carolyn Cruso, a songwriter from Seattle, is playing a show at Amazing Grace at 8 p.m. on Friday. The multi-instrument folk roots/jazz/pop and Celtic inspired contemporary acoustic singer recently released a CD called "Have You Ever." I’ve got a copy. It’s nice. Perfect for a rainy day, sweatpants and a glass of wine. Tickets are $10. Here is who people say she sounds like, according to MySpace: "People say I sound like Kieth Jarrett, Joni Mitchell, Rory Block, Bonnie Raitt, Jewel, Enya, Loreena McKennit, Ian Anderson, Chrissy Hinde and lately Phoebe Snow."

    LUNCH BREAK
    The Fall Festival, a collaboration between the Duluth Farmer’s Market and Minnesota Power, is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday on the corner of Lake Ave. and Superior Street. Veggies, jams, jellies, honey, crafts and more are available.

    CELTIC SPLENDOUR
    Daithi Sproule and Laura MacKenzie will perform "A Harvest of Celtic Splendour" at 7 p.m. Friday at Duluth Congregational Church, 3833 E. Superior St. This duo has recently released the CD "The Pinery," which will be available at their show. Apparently the Minneapolis Star Tribune has referred to MacKenzie as a "Celtic Music Wizard," which is pretty amazing, visually. Sproule played a show at Carmody Irish Pub about a month ago, if I recall correctly. Tickets for this one are $15 for adults; $7 for students.

    WHAT’S HAPPENIN’ HAYWARD
    Fiddler Randy Sabien will be joined by Prudence Johnson and Dan Chouinard for a performance at 7:30 p.m. at Hayward’s Park Theater. Sabien is known around town for his jazz violin, but he can also play mandolin, guitar, and piano, and his style can deviate to country, swing, blues or rock. Tickets are $20 at the door; $16 in advance. Call (715) 634-4596.

    STAR PUPILS
    Texas-based folk singer Jim Keaveny is has a show on Tuesday at Fitger’s Brewhouse, 600 E. Superior St. He has just released his fourth album, "Music Man." Keaveny’s MySpace page has a wonderful biography about hating school and being the star piano pupil of Mrs. Buck. Here is his resume: "Played in a band in Eugene, Oregon a couple years. Worked as a fisherman, a dishwasher, a cook, a treeplanter, a firefighter, a janitor, a graveyard maintenance man, a brewer, in several factories, and later (what I do now) as a carpenter."

    Also Good Bets, a companion to the Wave’s Best Bets section, is a weekly feature that includes additional ways to fill your entertainment schedule for the next week.

    More from Ian Grant: Relic Hunter


    2009 - 09.28

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    Ian Grant, formerly of Duluth, is the host of "The Relic Hunter," a show on the Travel Channel that debuts at 9 p.m. Saturday. Grant, who owns Bjorling & Grant in Minneapolis, spends 2-3 months total a year traveling to remote locations and collecting artifacts. 

    Here are some outtakes from an interview with Grant.

    WHAT’S THE OBJECTIVE BEHIND ‘RELIC HUNTERS’
    To get [travellers] off, into the back roads and back alleys and villages and finding things that are culturally relevant and relevant to the history of the place they’re visiting. And relevant to them. A lot of them are like "Well, I’m here so I have to buy this scarf because I read it in a magazine that I’m meant to buy this scarf here." Forget the scarf. Go wander around and find something that’s interesting to you. Ten years from now when you look at it in your house, it’s going to bring back, immediately, memories flooding back from the trip. Rather than 10 years from now not remembering where you bought the scarf.

    WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE BEST PLACE TO TRAVEL?
    It depends on what I’m going for. If I’m going for a relaxing vacation, Thailand always seems to be at the top of the list. It’s still pretty exotic to us in the West. It’s easier to get to. It’s beautiful, the people are nice, the food is great, you can stay in great places and it’s not too expensive. You get everything from gorgeous palm furnished islands all the way to mountains, and you can just kick back.

    If it’s wanting to go to a place that is so culturally exciting and vibrant and tough … India is always at the top of my list. It’s such a huge place. It changes so dramatically from region to region. And it’s hard. It’s both hard and absolutely stunningly beautiful at the same time. I look at India as being, pound for pound, the most impactive travel you can do. There is so much coming at you. It’s not for everyone. A lot of people go there and will never come back. It’s just too tough. For one out of five people who go there from the States — particularly the States — for one out of five, they’ll always go back because there is always something that touches them there.

    UNUSUAL FINDS
    In the Rainforest of India, this coastal region called Kerala, I was able for awhile, for a couple years, to find these very particular boat heads that really don’t exist anymore because poeple don’t make them anymore. They’re pretty rare pieces. They range from 3-4 feet tall. They’re impressive linear things that were decorative on these rainforest dugout canoes that they use to herd ducks. Those were pretty cool. Sad to see them sort of disappear. For a number of reasons. That’s sort of old world charm. The other one … still in Kerala … they make a very particular bronze cooking bowl. Because this region of India was the center of the International spice trade from 1200 to 1600 BC … [They have] all these different influences on their art. This bronze cooking bowl is one of them. It’s directly influenced by the wok from China, but it’s really an unusual shape. It’s developed from that.

    I go [there] once a year.

    Tibet, or Napal, I get some great Tibetan artifacts, Tibetian cabinents, Tibetan doors … They’re impressive pieces. You can buy similar items in China and India, although they’re typically fake. Anytime I can get to Katmandu and Napal, I try to come up with one of those. I don’t get there as often. Every three years or so. I spend a lot of time in Northern Thailand. For awhile it was twice a year. Now it’s once a year. Up in a city called Chiang Mai. Then further up to the Golden Triangle.

     

    The haps from Beaner’s songwriter competition


    2009 - 09.25

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    Jill Zimmerman of St. Paul won Wednesday’s singer/songwriter competition at Beaner’s Central. Photo by Benny Moreno from here.

    Jill Zimmerman, a young musician from St. Paul, won the Singer/Songwriter Competition on Wednesday at Beaner’s Central. She was one of two performers to bust out some music on a keyboard, and then performed her second song on guitar. Her style, lyrically, has a sort of stream-of-consciousness to it. She a little poppy, a little folky, really fun.

    There were 16 performers, and they played two songs each. They were judged on Lyrics, Melody, Stage Presense and Originality. (I was a judge. My second songwriting competition in a month. So fun. Although I’m an erratic judge with little rhyme or reason to what catches my ear from minute to minute).

    Lance Benson was the runner up. He’s got a bit of an alt-country folk sound and seemed pretty comfortable on stage. Third place was Emily Jayne of Duluth, who went Tori Amos all over the keyboard. She was fantastic. Totally reminded me of one of my favorite musicians/celebrities/people to follow on Twitter, Amanda Palmer of Dresden Dolls.

    The People’s Choice Award went to a fine, fine young guitar player, Lucas Ollanketo. It looks like he is from St. Paul-ish area. He brought about three rows of entourage with him to the show and got a lotta love from the audience.

    Friday FYI: More stuff to do


    2009 - 09.25

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    Photo of Hairball from here.

    The multi-costumed 80s tribute band Hairball is playing at Grandma’s Sports Garden at 10 p.m. Tix are $10. This Minneapolis-based band has dueling frontmen who take turns being Axl Rose, Jon Bon Jovi, Ozzy, etc.

    The 1987 comedy-horror cult film "Evil Dead II" is this weekend’s midnight-ish show at Zinema 2. Think flesh-eating, demons … Show starts at 11:55 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Also, since were talking about Zinema 2, "The Cove" is the latest add.

    And since we’re talking about films: The Free Range Film Festers are showing "Pray the Devil Back to Hell," at 7:30 p.m. today. Head to the film barn at 909 Country Road 4 in Wrenshall. Here is where I lazily cut and paste a summary from their Facebook page: The award-winning documentary tells the story of Liberian women determined to bring dignity and peace back to their country and their stand against Charles Taylor and the warlords, armed only with white t-shirts and courage. Their story has inspired legions of fans during the film’s nationwide theatrical run, multiple festival awards, and international screenings.

    And since we weren’t talking about music at all, it looks like The Acceleratii and The Undesirables have been added to tonight’s show at Luce, in addition to the Tisdales and Manheat.

    Also Good Bets: Today-Oct. 1


    2009 - 09.23

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    Vintage 63 photo from here.

    VINTAGE 63 AT BREWHOUSE
    You would not believe how much time I spend on MySpace. Although there is no real reason for me to have a MySpace site, I love that every musician in the world is on MySpace. It’s like walking into a big building full of people with guitars and harmonicas who were influenced by, I don’t know, Jimi Hendrix or Ani DiFranco, and screaming "Does anyone in here know anything about the Duluth band Vintage 63?!" And all of a sudden I have a mini biography, photos, music … Speaking of Vintage 63, the trio of Mike Tester (guitar), Tony Taber (bass) and Philip Flesch (drums) describe their sound as rock music with a 60s retro sound. From MySpace: " … [Sounds like] you stepped into a psychedelic time-machine that transported you back in time to listen to a fledgeling band on the verge of stardom." Check them out at 9 p.m. Thursday at the Brewhouse. Other names they toss around: White Stripes, Beatles, Jet.

    LOTSA BANDS
    Bohemia Arts, 22 N. 1st Ave. W. is hosting a six-band show at 4 p.m. Sunday. The lineup includes: Young Widows, the punk/hardcore Minneapolis band Cowards!, post-punk, experimental metal (experi-metal? You can use that. It’s free for the taking) band Blue Water Dance, Tiny Moving Parts is Fargo-bound, Benson-based, and plays experimental, indie, visual, La Dispute, a blues soul band from Grand Rapids, Mich., and Road Warrior, who plays experimental, ambient and visual. Tix are $10.

    I GET GREAT EMAILS: LORDS OF THE TRIDENT EDITION
    Madison metal band Lords of the Trident has a show at Pizza Luce, 11 E. Superior St., on Saturday night. And from the fantastic descriptions department comes this one, from a guy who calls himself Fang VonKillenstein: "We are an 80s heavy metal/costume metal/over-the-top stage show metal band …" (Other band members include: Asian Metal, Killius Maximus, Korgoth, Capt. Bluddbeard). Influences include: "Barbarians, Warriors on Horseback, Battle, Swords, Axes, Flails, Lightning, Virgins, Robots, Dystopian Futures, Rum, Motorcycles, Knife Fights, Knitting." I wish all bands were funny bands. On purpose.

    GET LOW, GET LOW
    It goes without saying: Thursday night is Low at Sacred Heart. Tix are $15 at the door,$10 before you get to the door and the whole thing starts at 8 p.m.

    DOUBLE DOWN
    The Tisdales and Manheat have a show at 10 p.m. Friday at Luce.

    Barber’s video going places


    2009 - 09.23

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    Black Eyed Snakes – Rise Up! from Brian Barber on Vimeo.

    I could post this video every day. I’ve wondered if the humor could translate to a NonDuluth audience. Is an animated eyebrow raise by Mayor Don Ness as funny in Roseville? Maybe so. 

    Brian Barber’s submission for the film festival portion of Homegrown Music Festival has flown the coop. According to a release, the animated video, set to the Black-Eyed Snakes song "Rise Up!" will be seen at the Walker Art Center, the Sound Unseen Film Festival in Minneapolis, on MNTV — Twin Cities Public Television, and at IFP’s Cinema Lounge series in Minneapolis. Also: Zinema 2.

    The video features attack seagulls, Mayor Don Ness, and local landmarks, including the Aerial Lift Bridge, which morphs transformer style.

    The video was originally shown during Homegrown, then at the Free Range Film Festival. It was on the Channel Frederator Animation Podcast, and on WDSE Channel 8′s "Smart Films."

    Brian Barber is a Duluth-based artist, designer, illustrator, musicians, etc.

    Here is the video’s tour schedule:
    Sound Unseen Film Festival, Sept. 28-Oct. 4, Oak Street Cinema, Minneapolis
    Cinema Lounge, 3rd Wednesday of each month at Bryant Lake Bowl, in Minneapolis; Nov. 7 at Zinema
    MNTV, Dec. 27 on TPT 2 and Jan. 2 on TPT 17
    Walker Art Center lobby, starting March 1, 2010, on Best Buy video screens

    Dink Tank: Weight-Loss-A-Thon


    2009 - 09.22

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    The sketch comedy troupe at Renegade Comedy Theatre is doing some fund-raising, weight-lowering. Nine members of Dink Tank have teamed up with Cold Fusion (who will do the weekly weigh ins) to see how much weight they can collectively lose between After School Special and the opening night of the holiday show.

    Dink Tankers are taking a walk-a-thon approach, where donations can be made per pound — specific to an individual, or toward the entire group’s weight loss.

    I’m not seeing a form online. But I bet you can put some money here.

    UPDATE: You can get a form by sending an email to evankelly@gmail.com.

     

    3 Spin Review: Little Gray House: Howlin’ Moon


    2009 - 09.18

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    Little Gray House: Howlin’ Moon

    Go See Them: Little Gray House’s CD release show is at 10 p.m. Saturday at Carmody Irish Pub, 308 E. Superior St.

    Working knowledge of Little Gray House: I did a little mini write up on this band before they made their Homegrown debut. So, to know of them for less-than a year is to know of them for almost the entire time they’ve been together. What I learned during that interview: They are named for the house where some of the band members live.
    Brief Bio: According to their Myspace page, the band started as just friends with a shared taste in music who wanted to form a band — despite not necessarily having years and years of mastering their chosen instruments. Marc Gartman was looking to create a bluegrass Celtic hybrid — and yanked a bouzouki off his wall and added it to the mix.

    5 Things Little Gray House wants you to know about the song "Just Hold On, Sweetheart" via Gartman:

    1. The song is about how being in a touring band can make it hard to maintain a romantic relationship back home. The lyrics are fairly nonfictional plus nonautobiographical.

    2. That’s an original 1960s Maestro Fuzz-Tone guitar pedal making that little saxophone-sounding riff. Same sort of pedal that Keith Richards used on “Satisfaction.” It’s my dad’s pedal.

    3. I was completely trying to make the song sound like “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum. A No. 1 hit for him in 1970 [in Canada].

    4. Also sort of ripping off [Al] Sparhawk when he sings: “Take your time, sweet thing” on “Take your time” that Low/Retribution Gospel Choir tune.

    5. “The other guys they lend a hand / The one I want though it is not from a man.” One of my favorite lines I’ve written.

    3 Spin Review is a feature where I receive a CD in the mail. Take a quick zip, skipping ahead when a song starts to poke my brain, lingering when it has immediate appeal. Second spin includes listening to it while I’m doing something else. Third spin I actually decide if I like what I’m hearing. These brief reviews will also include my working knowledge of said band, so you know whether my opinion is trustworthy, and then the opinion of someone else who has reviewed the CD. (This plan deviates from its original form when it comes to local bands). 

    Well, DiFranc-ly …


    2009 - 09.17

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    Submitted photo of Ani DiFranco

    So … last night was was fun. One good way to show off to visiting musicians is to give them a lake view during their show. Here are some additional thoughts from last night’s Ani DiFranco show in the Harborside Ballroom at the DECC:

    * I couldn’t really hear what opener Greg Alan Isakov was saying between his songs. I’d read something about him that characterized him as shy. Was social anxiety making him eat the microphone, or was he just hard to hear? I always worry about saying x sounds like y, but I could not stop thinking that he sounded a lot like Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket. I liked when he messed with the mic for his fourth song, "Liars." The Boulder, Colo., folk musician’s minimal show included a cello player, a fiddle player, a drummer, and Isakov on guitar. I liked him, but the entire vibe of the place changed when Ani DiFranco came out.

    * When I interviewed DiFranco a few weeks before her show, I asked if she still could bring authenticity to songs she wrote 20 years ago. She said if she wasn’t feeling it, she didn’t play it. I guess that was kind of a no-brainer. But what I really wanted to ask is, "Will  you be playing ‘You Had Time’"? Because hot-dang, that’s my all-time favorito. And she did play it. And it was so much better than when I play it in my car. The effect was the same. That song makes me leak tears like a leaky drinking fountain. She got some big cheers when she sang the line: "Girl did you kick some butt, I really don’t remember …"

    * I’d never seen Ani DiFranco perform live before, and I was stunned by the aerobic workout. That really explains her ripped pipes. And she just had this great-big-old grin on her face the whole time. At one point, she looked at the audience and said "I love my job." 

    * My other favorite nerdy moment was when she said in this sort of mechanical voice: "I come from the land of Lake Erie, to speak to you, the people of Superior."

    * I really thought that guy in the middle section, back row who did a "WHOOOOO" after every single song wasn’t being genuine. He didn’t alter his tone from song to song, and did the same "WHOOOO" when Greg Alan Isakov was playing. The more WHOOOOOs a person dishes out, the less value they hold. IMHO.

    * I totally thought she was going to play "32 Flavors" during her encore, but she didn’t.

    So … What did you think of the show?

    Also Good Bets: Today-Sept. 23


    2009 - 09.16

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    CARL GAWBOY EXHIBIT
    Peace United Church of Christ is hosting artist Carl Gawboy’s art exhibit and lecture series "Transformations in the Cutover." The opening reception is at 7 p.m. today at 1111 N. 11th Ave. E. Lectures in the series include "Triumphalism and the Indian Image," which is at 7 p.m. Wednesday and includes slides by Gawboy about issues related to American Indian Art. "Misusing the Oral Tradition" is at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 and is a lecture on anthropologists, historians and curriculum developers and their use of the American Indian oral tradition. "’Many Acts of Goodness they had Shown Me’ Defending and Defining Indians 1670-1989" is at 7 p.m. on Oct. 28. These events are free and open to the public, but donations will go toward "Carl Gawboy Portrait," a documentary about the artist’s life and work. Here is a story about Gawboy from MNArtists.org.

    MUSIC AT REX
    Jake Dilley and The Color Pharmacy will debut its EP "Detour" at 10 p.m. Thursday at the Rex, 600 E. Superior St. This EP by the Minneapolis band is just a stopover en route to his 3D experience "T.R.I.P.S." which is still in the works. Also playing: The Half Hearts, an indie/powerpop/grunge band from Minneapolis. Tickets are $5.

    C&T
    Cars & Trucks are performing after Saturday’s NorthShore Inline Marathon. Skate on over behind Pioneer Hall, where Tony Bennett, Mat Milinkovich and Matt Osterlund will be playing from noon to 3 p.m.

    GETTING JAZZY
    Twin Cities-based jazz ensemble Story City is playing at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Park Theater in Hayward. Musicians include Andrew Schwandt on sax; Steve Faison on percussion, guitar, vocals; Steve Jennings on drums, Fred Goetz on keys; Terry Burns on bass and Karl Koopmann on guitar. Tix are $16 in advance; $20 at the door. Call (715)634-4596.

    FUNNY BUSINESS
    Comedians Scott Novotny and Darrin Meyer (ha! his site has a blurb from a former DNTer) are up this weekend for Food and Funny at Dubh Linn Irish Pub, 109 W. Superior St. Novotny has opened for Dennis Miller, Jay Leno, Weird Al, and has been on HBO. Shows are at 8 p.m. Friday, but food should be ordered by 7 p.m. Tix are $18 with food; $10 for show only. There are two shows on Saturday, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tix are $10.

    MORE COMEDY
    Comedian Mark Lundholm will kick off the College of St. Scholastica’s recovery services program Clean wwith a show at 7 p.m. Thursday at Mitchell Auditorium. Lundholm, who has been in recovery since 1988, has had his own Showtime Comedy Special and has written and starred in one-man shows including "Addicted … A Comedy of Substance." There will be a performance by The Randy Lee Ensemble and appetizers at 6 p.m.

    ALSO AT CSS
    Vocalist Maurice Jacox will perform Nat King Cole’s greatest hits at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mitchell Auditorium. The show "Straighten Up and Fly Right" features hits like "Mona Lisa," "Ramblin’ Rose," and "Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer." Tix are $20 for adults; $15 for senior citizens and students; $10 for those 12 and younger.

    DISCOVERY
    Walt Pederson, one of the four men to take the first successful snowmobile expedition to the North Pole, will be the featured speaker at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Minnesota Discovery Center. Pederson is kicking off the exhibit "Iron Dogs: Snowmobiling in Minnesota." The cost is general admission, $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for students and free for those younger than 6. This exhibit runs through Nov. 29.

    Also Good Bets, a companion to the Wave’s Best Bets section, is a weekly feature that includes additional ways to fill your entertainment schedule for the next week.

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