People's Jug Band Takes The Prize

"...regardless of what you play, the big thing is keeping the feeling going." ~ Wes Montgomery

Last Thursday I gave a preview of the weekend, which included The 13th Annual Battle of the Jug Bands, produced by Icehouse Studios, Coho Handcream for Men and De Elliot Bros. The competition drew in a half dozen competitors, a packed-to-overflowing crowd and a members of the local media.

It has been my privilege to do a few gigs with de Elliot Bros. which this past weekend included a Saturday night show as a warm up for Sunday. And Sunday, we helped warm up the crowd for the rest of the bands, who really didn't need any assistance from us. Each and every one was awesome.

The six bands competing for the Coveted Yid-wegian Krumkake Iron played in this order:

Fat Chance
The Spit Band (below left)
The Geezers
People's Jug Band
Procrastinators
Jook Savage Jug Band

There was an impressive array of talent on display with musicians like National Soap Box Derby champ Bo Conrad of Minneapolis and Duluth's Colorblind Johnson. I am somewhat amazed the even let the likes of me onto the stage at all.

The People's Jug Band, a young group from the Twin Cities, took the prize. They played with passion. (last photo below) Wish I could tell you more about them. They're up-and-comers with fire in their bosoms, and quite a bit of talent to boot.

The pictures on this page are from Sunday's Battle, some taken of bands on the stage and a few outside shots. There were many familiar faces, but some new blood, too. All in all, you really need to mark you calendars for next year's Memorial Day gathering, the 14th Annual Battle of the Jugbands. A big tip o' the hat to Elliot "Blind Willie" Silberman for putting it all together.

Someone once said, "Most of us go to our graves with our music still in us." Don't be that way. Don't do that. Sing your songs and change the world.