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The mystery and masks of the Iron Range
You think you know a place, or people, and you really don’t. History is layers upon layers of truth that is only knowable through a quasi-scientific estimation. And you know who I think represents that best? Our fellow northern Minnesotan, Bob Dylan. He theorizes in most recent interviews that the closest you get to the…
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And so wily propsectors shall battle the Fightin’ Poes
I feel compelled to say something about the Super Bowl this Sunday. It is the most American of American holidays — billions spent and made on a sport that only Americans understand or enjoy (and, more recently, Canada … but, you know). The San Francisco 49ers, a team named for gold prospectors from a city…
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Trampled by Turtles $5 album downloads at Amazon
Hey howdy hey, northern Minnesota alt bluegrass sensation Trampled by Turtles has $5 album downloads at Amazon until next week. Shop and save! You bet I make money if you click on these links. If all goes to plan I’ll have a bill that folds when this is done. We’ll be in the crowd for…
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Trampled by Turtles to mark 10th anniversary with MN tour
Trampled by Turtles announced their 10th Anniversary Minnesota Tour this week and tickets just went on sale. My Cheapskate bride and I nabbed a pair of tickets for the May 8 Grand Rapids, Minnesota, show at the Reif Center. Get your tickets here. I’m sure this show will have me scheming for my June 29…
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Trampled by Turtles go shells to the wall on Conan
If you missed last night’s performance by Duluth-based Trampled by Turtles on “Conan,” here it is: It’s pretty sweet. Boy these guys look like they’re from here, don’t they? Related posts: No related posts.
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Trampled by Turtles to perform on Conan Wednesday night
Trampled by Turtles, the progressive bluegrass sensation based in northern Minnesota, will appear on Conan this Wednesday night on TBS. The show airs at 10 p.m. with the musical appearing sometime after 10:45 p.m. TBS rebroadcasts the show during overnight hours as well. Last week, Duluth Mayor Don Ness was a regional viral sensation with…
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Iris Kolodji and friends to play two shows on the Range
One of the side benefits of hosting the Great Northern Radio Show on Northern Community Radio is meeting some of the best musicians in Minnesota. We highlight original music that tells the story of this place. We also provide an outlet for young, up-and-coming artists. It’d be an honor to know that one of them…
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Duluth mayor Don Ness does Gangnam Style
I suppose I could complain that infectious sounds of Korean pop rocker Psy’s “Gangnam Style” are only now reaching the shores of Lake Superior. This was, after all, the top internet sensation of 2012 and new holder of the all-time YouTube record. So many parodies have surfaced that another surely could not be needed. But…
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Downton Abbey in Downtown Duluth
Hey, Aaron, do you watch Downton Abbey? No, I’m afraid I don’t. You should. It’s really good. It’s about old stuff and history and elegance and England and such. You like that stuff. I do like that stuff. It’s about power dynamics and such. You like that. Yes, I do. It’s on Channel 8. You…
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Twin Cities public TV sends in the Turtles to debut new show
The Lowertown Line, a new show by TPT’s Minnesota Original public television project, made its debut this week. (I saw this on MinnPost). It is, by appearances, Minnesota’s answer to PBS’s Austin City Limits, where I and many have long mined new original music for my iPod. TPT certainly seems to have ambitions to find…
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Dylan Days readies for 2013, calls for writers
Robert Zimmerman fronts the Golden Chords at the Hibbing Memorial Building Little Theater in 1958. (Copyright: Monte Edwardson, the guitarist pictured at left. LeRoy Hoikkala is the drummer.) I continue to work with Dylan Days, the Hibbing-based arts organization honoring Bob Dylan every year in his Iron Range hometown. The big shindig will be May…
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The writing life at MinnesotaBrown.com
This is just a reminder that this blog is just one of several ongoing writing projects. You can hear my Northern Community Radio commentaries on the Morning Show and Between You and Me. My column appears every Sunday in the Hibbing (Minn.) Daily Tribune. I write and produce Northern Community Radio’s Great Northern Radio Show.…
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Great Northern alum headlines ‘Acoustic Cafe’ tonight in Chisholm
I haven’t been writing about it every week, but you should know that the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm has continued its free Thursday night live music events called “Acoustic Cafe.” From 5-9 p.m. the cultural center offers free admission so you can hear the tunes and check out what’s new around the former Ironworld.…
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Looking back at the Letterman years
Though having kids dramatically reshaped how I watch late night television, I probably logged as many hours watching David Letterman in my teens and early 20s as anyone but the feed managers at NBC and CBS. It was cool to see him honored recently by the Kennedy Center for his work. CBS is re-airing the…
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What is the sound of five accordions playing A-Ha?
OK, time to change up from the seasonal music: That would be A-Ha’s “Take on Me” by five young accordionists from the KUM SONG School, filmed in Pyongyang, North Korea a year ago. (h/t Dan Lewis’s “Now I Know” newsletter, which has more fascinating back story on North Korea’s fondness for accordions) Related posts: No…