Paul Whyte

Staff Writer

A South Shore native and University of Wisconsin-Superior journalism graduate. Lifelong musician, and former open mic host. Passionate about the music scene and politics.

Content By This Contributor:

Sarah Pray Returns to the Lake and Cornucopia

Paul Whyte

The album touches on a number of topics but a common theme is yearning and the delicate nature of relationships. The song, “Just Not in That Way,” displays some sort of disconnectedness within a relationship.

The Hold Steady Returns to the Northland

Paul Whyte

The Hold Steady out of New York may not be a household name per se, but in Minnesota they are known within the indie rock scene for their lyrics that reveal stories about the Minnesota

Ire Wolves: The Ascetic

Paul Whyte

Saying that some music is “metal” is a pretty loose description. “The Ascetic” goes from hardcore and heavy sludgy metal to melodic and pretty breakdowns and transitions.

Black River Revue: Spring Thaw

Paul Whyte

This album came out just in time for the weather to change from brutal and nasty to pretty nice. One thing that I’ve noticed about a lot of groups and artists that lean towards folk/Americana/bluegrass is that summer and winter albums often differ

Dead Skull: BLAM!

Paul Whyte

A lack of members does not equate into a lack of rocking and this seems to be the case with Dead Skull’s debut album, “BLAM!”

The Electric Witch: We See the Shapes

Paul Whyte

There are some die hard electronic musicians in the area such as Logan Erickson of Low-Gain and Tobin Dack of DrOhm and then there are pleasant surprises such as when Americana/folk artist, Marc Gartman, came up with Fever Dream.

Eric Swanson’s Mix

Paul Whyte

There’s a lot of influential people in the Twin Ports’ music scene, but it’s fair to say that audio producer/engineer Eric Swanson has made his mark in the area.

Yellow Plate Hotel: The Final Scene

Paul Whyte

There are plenty of albums put out by singer-songwriters in the area and it’s no light task to judge someone’s personal, stripped down and minimalistic approach to music.

Shopper Found at Mariner Mall

Paul Whyte

Tuesday, April 1 at 253 p.m. Superior Police were called to the Mariner Mall on a report of suspicious activity. They arrived to find a tan Buick parked in the mall’s parking lot with no driver in attendance.

Strictly Hammers: The Weak Album

Paul Whyte

Once again Strictly Hammers has pushed and bended genres. The blend of creative and experimental production with smooth rhymes is what their music lies on.

Kitten Forever: Pressure

Paul Whyte

I count it as a blessing being a teenager in the ’90s. It’s debatable, but the music that was brought to the forefront by corporate-run media was particularly real compared to what is coming out today.

Drive-By Truckers: English Oceans

Paul Whyte

“English Oceans” captures snapshots of life in America as well as touches on political themes and acknowledges getting older.

Sara Thomsen: Somewhere to Begin

Paul Whyte

Sara Thomsen’s latest album, “Somewhere to Begin,” is a collection of songs that often delves into themes of political, social and environmental issues through lyrical imagery and storytelling.

Lorenzo’s Tractor: What I Think I Am

Paul Whyte

It was a snowy night on Friday, May 3 during the 2013 Homegrown weekend. After midnight, Roscoe’s Pioneer Bar was intermixed with a handful of regulars and a few remaining musicians and audience members who decided to stick around

Red Mountain: Scowl Lightly

Paul Whyte

Red Mountain featuring Anton Jimenez-Kloeckl is a musical project that has been evolving for a number of years in the Twin Ports.

Best of the Northland 2013 Reader Poll - RESULTS!

Paul Whyte, Robert Boone, Carol George

As another year passes, the annual Reader’s Choice awards tradition continues. For 16 years you, the above average readers of the Northland’s finest newsweekly have devoted oodles of hours providing us with the lowdown on the finest of the Northland.

Bev's Jook Joint approaches its final days

Paul Whyte

For the last 16 years Bev's Jook Joint in Superior, Wisconsin has been a tavern and music venue featuring performances from all genres of musical acts, but especially featuring Bev's favorite style of all, the blues.

Local Music News

Paul Whyte

Minneapolis Band Fathom Lane’s Self Titled Album

Jeffery James O’Loughlin: Going off the Deep End

Paul Whyte

On Saturday during last week’s Homegrown, singer-songwriter, Jeffery James O’Loughlin, shared his music to a strong crowd at Sir Benedict’s. The show was also a CD release celebration for his lat

Black River Revue Review

Paul Whyte

There may be at least as many bluegrass/string bands in the area as there are breweries, but that shouldn’t be a reason to ignore Black River Revue. As far as the genre goes, they have put together a very s

Traveling Americana Musician Michael Quinn

Paul Whyte

What do you when the American dream isn’t panning out quite as well as you’d hoped? If you’re Michael Quinn, you travel the world. Quinn is touring in the region and will be

Ten Things That Suck About Summer in the Northland

Paul Whyte

Everyone knows that summers in the Northland are part of why the winters are bearable year after year. BBQs, nature and all sorts of activities are possible for a few short months and many of us make

Danecdote: The Departure

Paul Whyte

Danecdote is an electronic music project featuring Daniel Nelson from Duluth. The album “The Departure” continues the works of Nelson that fuse various forms of electronic music such a

March Against Monsanto: Duluth Joins the World in Protest

Paul Whyte

It was a rather dreary day on Saturday, May 25 as a group of people from all walks of life took upon Superior St. and Lake Ave. in protest of the American biotech giant Monsanto. There was no specific group resp

Rob Nelson: My Avatar

Paul Whyte

A lot of different styles of music found their way on to my desk, but the four song album “My Avatar” by Rob Nelson is certainly one of the more unique album

New Same Sex Marriage Law Lets People Be Who They Are

Paul Whyte

On Tuesday, May 14, Gov. Mark Dayton signed into law a bill legalizing same sex marriage in Minnesota making it the 12th U.S. state to approve same sex marriage. The day before, members of the Minnesota Senate held personal spe

Jeffery James O’Loughlin: Going off the Deep End

Paul Whyte

On Saturday during last week’s Homegrown, singer-songwriter, Jeffery James O’Loughlin, shared his music to a strong crowd at Sir Benedict’s. The show was also a CD release celebration for his latest album “Going Off the Deep End,” which is the seventh album that O’Loughlin has put out.

Musicians Gone Astray

Paul Whyte

Homegrown week has started and it’s hard to wrap one’s head around the amount of dedicated individuals within our Twin Ports music and arts community that have poured their talent, sweat and performances

Homegrown Horoscopes

Paul Whyte

It’s no secret that Paul Whyte and Lane Prekker are not only intertwined in to the Twin Ports music, they are also in deep with the stars and universe. Yes, this alliance of astrological minds has meticulously read the stars and this is

Profit vs. Environment? Take a Guess

Paul Whyte

When looking at our Earth today it’s undeniable that we as a Human species have made our mark. Whether by evolution or a higher power, we ended up rising above, dominating and conq

A Couple of Cover Bands in the Area

Paul Whyte

There seems to be a good amount of cover bands in the area that perform at the local bars and sometimes can be found at a street dance in the summer time. I have a special appreciation for original work but if a song is well performed, it stands as a song well done regardless of who wrote it. I ended up with two different cover albums on my desk recent

Drug Wars: Episode 3

Robert Boone, Paul Whyte

It has been a wild ride for Jim Carlson and anyone who has worked at Last Place On Earth (LPOE) in the past few years. Tensions between the head shop located in the middle of old downtown Duluth and

Duluth Police Raid Last Place on Earth a Third Time

Paul Whyte

At 2:20 p.m. the Reader received a tip that federal agents would be heading yet another raid on the Last Place on Earth. The Duluth head shop located on Superior St. has been the cause of much debate and controversy over their sale of synthetic drugs that are sold as incense and

Northland Enquirer Crime Report

Paul Whyte

Homegrown Chicken Missing: Police have Suspects The iconic Homegrown Chicken has gone missing on Wednesday night, March 27, and Police suspect fowl play. The primary suspect is Tyler Scouton the loca

Madame Gazelle: Siren and the Storm

Paul Whyte

Madame Gazelle is primarily made up of the husband and wife duo Jesse and Jocelyn Richter. Their new debut album “Siren and the Storm” captures a unique sound that is often soothing and easily accessible. While the album has a country/roots feel to it, there’s something that goes beyond that.

Breanne Marie: Six Strings of Peace & Sanity

Paul Whyte

Most musicians have reasons as to why they start writing and composing music. Often enough it seems that hard times are a catalyst for people to turn to writing music. I have met Breanne Marie Schlies and have seen her play on a few occasions and she always seemed to have a friendly and happy disposition and the originals and covers that

Brewfest at Black Bear with Dropkick Murphys

Paul Whyte

It was an overcast yet fairly warm afternoon Saturday, February 23. I had the day off and had made plans to run around and see a variety of shows that evening including Tobin Dack at Amazing Grace, Cait Leary at Thirsty Pagan and end the n

Cait Leary: Nothing’s Enough

Paul Whyte

Cait Leary’s new EP album “Nothing’s Enough” is a mix of pop, jazz and folk yet she creates her own sound in that the songs have a feeling of being somehow from the past but indeed hold their own today. She has been described as a “hybrid” musician, not

Strictly Hammers: Tempus Fugit

Paul Whyte

Strictly Hammers regularly play shows in the Twin Ports and they set themselves apart from typical hop-hop acts primarily due to their backing tracks that are often more experimental and electronic than drum and bass oriented. The general feel of one of their live shows comes off more like a high energy

Bigfoot Winter Shakedown

Paul Whyte

Underlying some shows in the area are promotions and productions companies that usually involve just a few people that are truly dedicated in making this area’s music scene more exciting

Swallows: Witching & Divining

Paul Whyte

There is a good amount of original music that can be described as “roots” or “folk rock” in this region. Although the Twin Cities based band, Swallows, do achieve these genres in their music, the delivery and mix of elements in their fifth album “Witching & Divining” sets t

Boyd “Bump” Blomberg and Pushing Chain

Paul Whyte

This Friday, January 18, the band Pushing Chain will be playing at Twins Bar in Duluth. The group Pushing Chain primarily features local musicians Boyd “Bump” Blomberg on guitar and Adam Moe on fiddle and implements strong harmonies in their music.

Arto Jarvela & Kaivama: Folk Fiddle at it’s Finest

Paul Whyte

This coming Friday, January 11, the violinist Sara Pajunen will be playing with multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Rundman as the Finnish folk duo KAIVAMA. The band’s name pulls from the Finnish word “kaivaa,” which means to delve or dig. The Northland has deep Finnish roots