In 2018 the Duluth Armory Became a Stage for a CW Duluth Television Program. Now It Is Streaming Online as a Miniseries

In the same way that bloggers and journalists have historically recycled content they created, so we've seen the Internet do likewise, absorbing and re-purposing nearly all the media content created since the dawn of civilization. This week I received notice that the local Duluth CW program that I wrote about in 2018 is now streaming on Amazon Prime and will soon be available on Tubi. 

The program was recorded mid-winter at the unheated Historic Duluth Armory, where Bob Dylan saw one of Buddy Holly's last performances, in blustery cold winter weather not unlike the night of that 1959 Winter Dance Party. Five local musicians were featured in a five-episode miniseries that aired locally here in Duluth.

The series, renamed "Acoustic at the Armory," features acoustic performances by Charlie Parr, Alan Sparhawk of Low, Ingeborg von Agassiz, Superior Siren, and Rick McLean, and it intentionally references ties to the Armory's storied past.  

Filmed in Duluth during the winter of 2018, each musician braved frigid temperatures for the opportunity to perform for the small camera crew assembled there. Because of a demolition order that was placed on the Armory in 2001, no one could technically make use of the building at that time. Temporary access to the building was granted by the City of Duluth, however. Each episode featured live performances and interviews with the artists, as well as untold stories of the Armory’s music history, rare photos of Buddy Holly in Duluth, along with background music provided by musicians from the Twin Ports.

Yesterday I reached out to Keith Hopkins, a producer for local television station KBJR, who was Series Director for this miniseries. I asked how his Armory miniseries ended up on Amazon. Hopkins explained that "Amazon has open submissions. This means any producer can submit projects for consideration. I submitted ours six to seven weeks ago and they agreed (to stream it.)" 

When asked what other side projects he's been currently working on, Hopkins said, "Right now I'm working on a documentary about some local guys who do parades and parties as Ghostbusters to raise money for the Ronald McDonald house. 100 percent of the money raised is donated." 

That sounds like fun. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about that as the story unfolds.  

You can find Acoustic at the Armory here on Amazon.

The series trailer can be viewed here on YouTube.

A very big shout out goes to Mark Poirier, Executive Director for the Armory Arts & Music Center, whose work behind the scenes helped make this show possible.

Related Links

A Visit with Local TV Producer Keith Hopkins

HexagonMotionPictures.com

BUDDY HOLLY LINKS

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-visit-to-buddy-holly-crash-site-in.html

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2019/02/in-memoriam-buddy-holly-stood-on-these.html

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2019/01/more-buddy-holly-fingerprints-not-fade.html

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2019/01/sunday-nights-blood-moon-plus-more.html

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2010/08/day-music-died.html

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2018/01/remembering-buddy-holly-dance-party-jim.html 

Duluth Does Clapton: Sacred Heart Kicks Off 2020 with a Bang

If you want to start an argument amongst music fans, ask this question: Who's the greatest guitar player of all time? Some will swear it's Hendrix. Others Eddie Van Halen. Still others... well to some Clapton was God.

EdNote: We interrupt this blog post to say that if you've ever seen Tuck Andress of Tuck & Patti, there would be no further discussion.

Actually, I personally dislike all such blather about the best Dylan album or best Beatles song or best drummer or whatever. I always say, "By what criteria?" There's just so much talent in this field. Jimmy Page, Mick Taylor, Keith Richards, Pete Townshend, and on and on.

Personally, some of it comes down to the kind of music you like. And part of it comes down to their entertainment value as performers. I think here of Townshend and Hendrix.

I was never into Prince, but he was phenomenally talented. Zappa and Santana are cut from different pieces of cloth, and each an innovator in their own ways. I once worked with a fellow whose allegiance was to Mark Knopfler, and once had a friend who swore by Jeff Beck.

EdNote: One of Jeff Beck's classic cars appeared in an ad I created once for Rodder's Journal. Thank you, Mr. Beck, for permission on that. 

I first began listening to Eric Clapton in high school. I had all three Cream albums with Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. Clapton was really just a kid there, but a phenomenal talent from the getgo. I loved the music, loved the lyrics and loved the psychedelic album covers. I purchased Blind Faith as soon as it came out, with the original "indecent" cover featuring a young girl holding an airplane.  And when George Harrison's All Things Must Pass came out after the Beatles breakup, sides five and six got the most play time, with Clapton accompanying a team of players in an Apple jam. And I've still never tired of Derek & the Dominoes to this day.

DULUTH DOES CLAPTON: 

A TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC OF ERIC CLAPTON

January 25, 7 - 10 p.m. @ the Sacred Heart Music Center (SHMC)

DETAILS HERE & TICKETS HERE

THE DULUTH MUSIC SCENE has as much talent as any music scene anywhere in the country. This includes Hollywood, Austin, Nashville and the Big Apple. You can check it out each spring during our Homegrown Music Festival the end of April/beginning of May. That's why this Sacred Heart  Tribute Series is so phenomenally rich.

Setting up for another Armory Arts concert to kick off Dylan Fest

According to Mark Nicklawske, SHMC Board of Directors Secretary, "The Duluth Does series really brings the Duluth music community together and showcases what a strong, creative and talented group of musicians we have living in the Twin Ports. It promotes the work of world-renowned masters like Clapton and at the same time gives a stage to hard-working local musicians, exposing their talents to a large audience. The series is organized and run entirely by volunteers and the musicians donate their time and talents. All the money raised through ticket sales goes into maintaining the historic Sacred Heart building and supporting its programming and projects."

In recent years Sacred Heart has hosted Duluth Does Tom Petty (about a year after his death), Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, and Carol King & James Taylor (in one show). One even higlighted Low, with Alan Sparhawk sitting in the audience.

"The mastermind behind all this is Eric Swanson," says Nicklawske. "Eric is the SHMC sound engineer, former SHMC executive director and co-owner of the SHMC recording studio. Eric picks the artist to honor, puts out a call for acts, organizes the set list and produces every facet of the performance. He's amazing. Without Eric's hard work organizing and producing these events they would never happen. Eric puts in hours and hours into organizing the show and works days in advance setting up the stage and sound system and then tearing it all down afterwards. He does it all for Sacred Heart."

I can testify that Sacred Heart is an amazing venue to perform at. I've had the opportunity on a pair of occasions in conjunction with the Armory Arts concerts during Dylan Fest. During the setup, Eric Swanson and team spent a full half hour adjusting the mics to capture the piano I would be playing "What Good Am I?" on for optimal sound quality.

Best sound technicians, best venue, best local talent... performing one of the true greats of our generation. It's time to order tickets because I'm certain this one will sell out.

Related Links
Sunshine of Your Love, Cream at the Revolution Club, 1968.
Clapton Autobiography Has Me Plugged In
Clapton Autobiography Proves to Be A Worthy Read

Jamie Ness Fund-Raiser: That's What Friends Are For

Philosopher Albert Camus once wrote a novel called The Fall. It was not about painting houses and falling off ladders.

My grandfather was painting his house once and the scaffolding fell. He landed on his heels and shattered both. Excruciating pain and six months in recovery.

I painted apartments for four years and did a measure of exterior work. Even though I do not consider myself afraid of heights, I did always respect them when up on ladders.

When I heard details of Jamie Ness' fall it caused my stomach to churn. If you read on you'll see details from his Go Fund Me page.

* * * *
Musician Jamie Ness, a lifelong Duluthian, has generously donated his time to support good causes over the years including performing at the Duluth Dylan Fest. I'm confident there will be a strong showing of support at Saturday's fund-raiser at The Rex at Fitger's. In fact, when I see the lineup of performers I am a little concerned about there being enough room for everyone.

What Happened: The Big Fall

October 3rd, after 20 years of working as a house painter, Jamie had a fall from the top of a twenty-foot ladder. As the feet of the ladder suddenly slid away from the wall, Jamie instinctively grabbed a large air vent suspended from the ceiling. A huge section of the vent came down with Jamie and the ladder.

As the EMTs were taking him to the ambulance, Jamie was worried about the cost of the ambulance ride, the damage to his client’s property and trying to give his helper instructions on how to clean up the paint and blood.

The impact of Jamie's face coming down onto the ladder from that height split his upper lip straight through. He had a broken maxilla (upper jaw bone) and teeth that were loose and shoved out of position. Facial surgeries will need to be done in stages because his bone is too unstable and requires grafts. So far Jamie has had two of his front teeth removed and his other teeth were wired together. In addition to many contusions, Jamie has multiple complex fractures in his foot and is on his second of three or more casts. He is getting around on crutches.

The Appeal

Jamie Ness with the band.

Please join Jamie's friends and family in support of his recovery from a traumatic ladder fall that resulted in nearly $30,000 of medical and dental bills. He has been unable to paint since the accident and he could use our help. A Pizza Buffet, Silent Auction, and Music are planned from 4-8 PM at the Rex at Fitger’s. Suggested donation is $20.

They now have nearly $12,000 of silent auction items up for grabs at the event, donated by local businesses and artists.

Here is the entertainment schedule:
4:30 PM - Kyle Ollah
5:30 PM - Ingeborg Von Agassiz
6:30 PM - Jerree Small
7:30 PM - And a special Duluth performance by Low

A portion of the show will include live painting (art) by fellow house painter and friend Dusty Keliin.

There will also be a pizza buffet from 4-6:30 PM donated by Valentini's Vicino Lago, Pizza Lucé, Vintage Italian Pizza, V.I.P, Pizza Man Duluth, Theotherplace, and Do North Pizzeria & Pub, Hermantown.

If you can't be there January 26th you may Donate Today.

Who – Jamie Ness, longtime local musician and self-employed painter.

What – Medical Relief Party

When – Saturday, January 26 from 4:00-8:00 PM

Where – The Rex Bar at Fitger’s

Why - As a result of the fall he has nearly $30,000 in medical and dental bills. He has been unable to paint since the accident and could use our help.

* * * *
Among the donations from local businesses and artists there are hotel stays, A Loll Adirondack Chair, restaurant gift cards, pottery, books by local authors and poets, an array of gift baskets and certificates, and much more.

One more time: https://www.gofundme.com/7zukhb-jamie-fund

Getting the Lowdown on Marc Gartman: An Interview

If you spend any time with Marc Gartman you will hear one recurring theme: the centrality of song writing. Over a period of ninety minutes the theme was referenced and underscored in a variety of ways. "As long as I'm writing and I'm able to get things done..." and "The more I do it, the more the tap is on..." and, "For me, it's all about song writing. Writing is what I do..." Even when we talked about Dylan, Gartman -- who had just finished reading Chronicles, Vol. 1 again -- found the parts about song writing to be what stood out for him. "Dylan's style of writing... interesting. To read about his indecisiveness, all the struggles he went through to get it right..."

IN 2004/2005 Marc Gartman became a Twin Ports transplant. His life now intersects with the Duluth music scene at multiple points. Like many here he's created or been part of a number of groups including Two Many Banjos, which had a five year run, and his Fever Dream project. He's found his work with Dave Caroll and Erik Berry of Trampled By Turtles to be stimulating, which includes performing with Dave Caroll as Glitterati, a creative and financially motivating undertaking. A Deadhead, Gartman will be putting on two upcoming shows titled Gartman Plays Dead later this year, one with TBT's Erik Berry and a December show with Caroll.

Currently free from the responsibilities of a day job, Gartman is able to focus on the writing that so motivates him. When we met for lunch this past week he'd been working on new material from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. "When creativity strikes, it trumps everything. I have to grab it when it happens."

All of us who write well understand.

EN: Where did you grow up and what other places have you lived?
MG: I grew up in Westchester County, New York. It's about 20 minutes North on the commuter train from Manhattan. My parents were born and raised in the Bronx and their parents are from Kolomyia which is (was?) in Poland. We're 100% Jew so they had to get out of there during WW2. They settled in NYC. I went to Boarding School in Northfield, Massachusetts and then got a Bachelor of Science in Film at Boston University. I moved back to NYC after college and made a documentary on my favorite band (at the time) Low. I had no idea I'd end up here but that was the first time I had heard of Duluth. I came and visited a few times when I was working on the Low doc and I also recorded some music on friends' records at Sacred Heart. I thought that studio was really cool so I wrote some music specifically to record at Sacred Heart as well. I ended up getting a job as a photojournalist at KBJR and then fell in love with the city. The main reason I stay is I have some very close friends and there's something in the water that makes me write a lot of music. As long as I'm writing songs I'm ok.

EN: How did you come to take an interest in music, and particularly in being a performer?
MG: I took an interest in performing music when Sean Flood picked up my dad's acoustic guitar when we were 14 and girls stopped and listened to him. I wanted to be in a band and write original music and tour the world and elsewhere. 25 years later it's still great to have girls dance to my music and I'm still writing original music so I'm content.

EN: How did you discover Low? What prompted you to make this documentary?
MG: A friend recommended I pick up their album The Curtain Hits the Cast. I didn't understand it at first and then I did in a big obsessive way. Their music was so spare yet it retained classic song structure which is important to me. I had a deep desire to know who was writing these songs. I reached out to them in '99 about making the doc and they were hesitant at first but eventually agreed. I followed them around for a couple of years and we became and have remained friends.

EN: What was the most interesting thing you learned about Low from doing this documentary? 
MG: The most interesting thing I learned about making the Low doc was that I was too in love with their music to be objective about telling a good story. I feel like It's mostly just a love letter to Alan. I put it on Vimeo last year because it showed at the DSFF but I'm not really sure where it is now. Richard Hansen might?

EN: Photojournalism must have some interesting elements. You get paid to develop your skills and also get to see your work shared with an immediate audience. How long were you doing this and what did you learn?
MG: I worked at KBJR for 2+ years and then briefly WDIO. I was a photojournalist (in video, not still) at both stations. It was in keeping with my college degree so I felt like it was the right thing for me to continue doing. When I was in school I learned to edit on real film though, using a Steenbeck, and I graduated right around the time digital editing was coming into play. That changed things dramatically and I never really recovered. I learned a couple of editing programs but I never got into it like some people do. I stayed in the game for a few more years because I couldn't figure out another way to make a living but eventually I quit and worked up at the Lakeview Castle. I was a server there for couple of years and that was when I decided it was time to take music seriously and see if I could make a living at it.

EN: If Watson were to sum up the themes of all your songs in one sentence, what would he say? 
MG: I think if Watson were to sum up the themes of my music it would be lyrically I sing about my romantic relationships and sonically I play in the pop song structure. I use different instruments to write with but the layout is usually pretty consistent; verse, chorus, bridge, under 4 minutes, etc.

EN: Can you share a few details about your Low documentary "Closer Than That"?
MG: The film was 66 minutes long. I followed them around when I could for a couple of years; touring (US and Europe), recording, home life. In the end Alan bought the movie from me and they included it in their boxset they put out in 2004. I don't think it's a bad film but it's amateurish and I don't think it tells a good story. It's an interesting snapshot of a particular time in their history and that has value but it lacked a real beginning, middle, end.

EN: And what was your own personal take-away? You sacrificed 2 years of your life for this project. What did you get in return?
MG: My personal take away was becoming friends with the Sparhawks. The documentary didn't lead me to make (or at least complete) any more films. Neither did it get me any closer to really understanding how they make the music they make but I enjoyed being accepted into their world. And since I live in Duluth now I can assume that's another take away, I fell in love with this town. I probably won't direct another film but I did produce this Fever Dream video.

Gartman On Dylan
EN: What has been your involvement with the series of Duluth Does Dylan CDs? When did you first take an interest in Dylan?
MG: A few bands I've played in have recorded tracks for the series but I don't really have any other involvement other than that. The Two Many Banjos version of 'If You See Her Say Hello' is interesting. I took an interest in Dylan in my early teens. My parents were fans so they had some early vinyl around. There was also a bootleg cassette store nearby that would sell some of his live shows. Formative stuff for me.

EN: On a scale of 1 to 10, with ten being the most intense, how do you rank yourself as a Dylan fan.
MG: I'd say up there, around a 7. I just re-read his Chronicles Vol. 1. Learning all the basement tapes tunes for a gig I did last year was incredibly fun.

EN: Being from out East, did it surprise you to end up living where Dylan was born?
MG: Not really. I think my dad searches for meaning in it more than I do.

EN: You're in the middle of the local music scene. In addition to the scenery and the scene, where do you see Dylan's biggest influence here?
MG: I don't see Dylan's influence that much on the musicians themselves but I do see that his connection to Duluth has affected certain people around here in a deep way.

* * * *
For now, Duluth is home for this driven songwriter performer. What's next? We'll have to wait and see, but my guess is that the creative well he's tapped into won't run dry any time soon.

Meantime, life goes on. Enjoy the music. 

A Brief Interview with Alan Sparhawk of Low

I first met Alan Sparhawk as part of the multimedia happening titled 3N6D (Three nights in six dimensions) in February 2010. On other occasions since I captured his performances at a Halloween event, Rock Out Autism at the Clyde, a performance at Sacred Heary and last May on the Blood On The Tracks Express during Dylan Fest... but I've not had the privilege of seeing Low, until last week. The performance at St. Scholastica’s Mitchell Auditorium January 18 was one of a number of events that will be showcasing local talent in the months ahead.

Low is currently comprised of Sparhawk, wife Mimi Parker on percussion and Steve Garrington on keyboards / bass. One is struck by Sparhawk’s ease and confidence as a performer. The vocal harmonies between Sparhawk and Parker are also a feature of the group. This particular show appeared to be a live rehearsal in preparation for an upcoming tour in support of their new album. The new songs were inventively presented but earlier material was also shared with an appreciative packed-house.

EN: Who have been your biggest musical influences? 
Alan Sparhawk: Been inspired by many, many things. As a teenager, The Clash and other punk bands, then expanding as independent music thrived, eventually reaching everywhere with reggae, Neil Young, Roy Orbison, Mavis Staples, Native American songs, etc. My parents both loved and played music. My father wrote songs. Seeing that real people make music was pretty crucial, and punk/indie went hand in hand with that.

EN: How did your first tour in Europe get arranged?
AS: Our record company at the time sent us over to London to do some interviews and a couple showcase gigs on our first record ('94), Then we went to Belgium and did a show in a bar. There were people there singing our songs back to us. After the show, the singers (who barely knew a little English) took us out to the edge of the city to see the view. Pretty exciting for a bunch of farmers like us. Things have just grown from there.

EN: What do you like most and least about live performance? 
AS: Playing live is to me the most honest and pure expression of music. There are magical things that happen in the moment if you let them. It is humbling and exhilarating. I can admit that I've come to love and crave the interaction with people. That relationship has many dangers and wrong turns, but nothing beats creating something then sharing it with people who want it. It feeds my ADD, but makes me want to be better. As for the down-side: 8 hours to get there is getting a little old...

EN: You have several different bands, each with different styles, but your fingerprint is on all of them. What are the key characteristics of your songs that make them a Sparhawk sound?
AS: As you would expect, from where I stand it's hard to get perspective to even try to see what I'm doing, much less control it. It's always just me -- no masks. I think if you put your true self into something for some time, you eventually find your own voice, then it's just a matter of if anyone is paying attention. Trust that you are always going to sound like you, then set yourself free.

EN: Sometimes you play what I call "trance music".... slowly building layers in a patient crescendo. Is there a name for this style of song? 
AS: I sometimes call those songs "drones". I've always loved long, repetitive music -- it's psychedelic, which to me means it tries to go beyond the surface of consciousness, perhaps digging in a little. It can be meditation or even self-therapy. Years ago, the Duluth music community did a 25 hour collective drone as a memorial. It can be very powerful. Over the years, we have tried to push the extremes, and sometimes that means coming back to simple and short. The song usually lets you know where it needs to go.

Sparhawk plays music with at least two other bands that he's assembled, the Black Eyed Snakes and the Retribution Gospel Choir. In 2010, former Led Zeppelin front man Robert Plant recorded two Low songs from their album Band of Joy. You can read more about Low on Wikipedia. For a ten minute closeup of Alan Sparhawk produced by Twin Ports Underground visit this Vimeo link.

And have a great weekend... If you're here in the Northland, think warm.

Alan Sparhawk, Shaking Worlds

Last night I finally had a chance to hear Alan Sparhawk's Retribution Gospel Choir, one of several bands he performs with. First impressions: it's the reincarnation of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, but not. That is to say, the three piece band had that Hendrix structure, but put Lou Reed on bass.

The What Four opened the night with an acoustic set, followed by eeriearq and the rocking Reggae band Uprising. Then Sparhawk and team quietly plugged in and took over.

When that first bass note rattled the floor boards under my feet I knew something serious was coming down. Sparhawk followed with singular intensity, accompanied by an accomplished drummer who could easily have been Mitch Mitchell's stand in. Retribution Gospel Choir was the fourth band of the night in a benefit concert for autism at the Clyde Iron Works in West Duluth.

My first encounter with Sparhawk was through his participation in the 3N6D performance 14 months ago at The Venue. John Heino's collaboration brainchild brought together a film maker, dancer and musician for a Happening-like experience that he himself photographed. Sparhawk's eerie, subdued innovations helped carry the imagination for those who drank it in, a feast for eyes and ears. So I did not know what to expect. last night....

Sparhawk is part of several bands, perhaps most famously Low, which has recorded eight albums. In 2010 Robert Plant, former lead singer for Led Zeppelin, recorded two of Low's songs, "Silver Rider" and "Monkey," for his Band of Joy album. Sparhawk made headlines earlier this year when Plant's recording of "Silver Rider" was nominated for a Grammy.

Sparhawk also plays with two other bands, the Black Eyed Snakes (blues) and Los Besos. He's also recorded some solo guitar work.

Though born in Seattle (another Hendrix connection) his family moved to Utah where he was raised and ultimately married his childhood sweetheart. They are unabashed Mormons, now living here in the Duluth with their two children, contributing to a local music scene which seems to be broiling with vitality right now. I was told last night his band does a month in Germany each year. I can see from his willingness to be so poured out in a performance of even modest size that he could really rattle the rafters in any sized venue. His band held nothing back, and their fans drank it in.

It got kind of late for some who get up for work early, but it was a good cause, and a show many of us did not want to miss.


Lower right: Alan Sparhawk mugs for the camera.