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The Long Goodbyes at Fitger's Barel room. Photos by Jill Fisher.

 This week was fabulous for live music. It started with a serendipitous evening on Tuesday, Oct. 10, with a repeat visit to the Rathskeller to hear the Hot Club of Duluth. They were extremely hot this evening and I was pleased to see their audience has grown in the past year, such that the place was nearly full.

I would have stayed the entire evening to enjoy the swinging music by these four excellent musicians (Veikko Lepisto, Eli Bissonette, Jimi Cooper and Darin Bergsven), but there was a new group in town that I had to check out. So, it was off to the Barrel Room at Fitger’s to hear The Long Goodbyes, a band based in the  Twin Cities.

Members include Evelyn Christian-Ronning (keyboard and lead vocals), Garth Morrisett (acoustic guitar, vocals), Pete Caritas (lead guitar, vocals), Tony Mendoza (bass, vocals) and Jeff Mueller (drums). Our own Adam Moe sat in with the group playing a fierce fiddle. (Who knew? Last I saw him, he was playing acoustic guitar at Sir Ben’s!)

What a fun discovery the Goodbyes were. They played a range of covers by The Band, Stones and of course the current favorite of many, “Jolene” by Dolly Parton. My favorite, though, was Sippy Wallace’s “I’m A Mighty Tight Woman” (also recorded by Bonnie Raitt) which Evelyn belted out in fine bluesy style. This is a band I’m going to keep on my radar!

Then there was the much-anticipated Patsy Cline Tribute concert by Joyann Parker and her band at the West Theater on Thursday, Oct. 12. It was all anyone could have wanted. Since I’d seen Parker this past summer up in Silver Bay and praised her in my review, I had high expectations for this show (which she has been performing for the past six years). But I was also a bit apprehensive about her interpretation of Patsy Cline’s repertoire.

Joyann Parker

I need not have worried. Not only did Parker do justice to the songs we all know so well, she actually sounded like she was channeling Patsy’s spirit. Parker’s sonorous contralto voice and range match those of the late iconic singer. And Patsy’s vocal stylings, with those occasional slight hesitations in the melody lines, came through loud and clear, along with the original’s emotional expression.

It’s understandable that Parker was recognized as Best Female Vocalist And Tribute Act in the 2019 and 2021 Midwest Country Music Awards.

Beginning on a high note with a rendition of “Always,” Parker interspersed the facts of Patsy Cline’s life with the numerous hit songs she recorded before her death in a plane crash at age 30. Much of this background information was familiar from a PBS documentary that was recently re-aired, but there was also new information as well. One of the most remarkable tidbits was Patsy’s precognition of her own death.

Parker did a great job of transitioning from her commentary to one of the hits, as in the case of telling a story about how Patsy hated the composition by a young songwriter named “Hugh Nelson” and repeatedly refused to record it. But eventually she was persuaded otherwise and the result was a hit – "Crazy” written by Willie Nelson.

Parker’s regular back-up band comprised of Tim Witt (keyboards), Chris Bates (bass), Mark Lamoine (electric guitar and vocals) and Bill Golden (drums and vocals), provided the 50s- and 60s-like sound one hears on Patsy Cline’s recordings, and looked like they stepped right off the Grand Ol’ Opry stage in their matching cowboy getups.

Parker, herself, was glam in a sparkly cocktail dress. The setlist included 14 of Patsy’s greatest hits, among them: “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “I Fall To Pieces,” “Heartaches,” “She’s Got You” and “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” the latter being a nod to Patsy’s gospel records. Parker appropriately ended the concert with “Sweet Dreams.”

This concert was a benefit for the Armory Arts and Music Center’s Music Resource Program. One of the exciting announcements made during the concert was that restoration and rehabilitation work on the Armory building has begun. Mark Poirer stated the Armory is slated to be ready for concerts by the fall of 2025. Can’t wait for that!

On Saturday, Oct. 14, I made it out to the Breeze Inn for the opening act of its Oktoberfest. Music under the tent began at 4 pm, provided by The Red Bearded Strangers. Band leader Lee Martin (of Feeding Leroy, acoustic guitar) and Steve Carlson (electric guitar) backed by a drummer and an electric bassist were cookin’! Lee gave it his all on vocals and guitar, breaking a string before the fourth number and Carlson really shred his electric guitar. They played mostly covers including two good ones by Hoyt Axton – “Boney Fingers” and “Never Been To Spain.”

Wish I could have stayed for their entire performance, as well as the following act – New Salty Dog. But difficult choices had to be made, so I headed over to Wussow’s to hear Erik Brandt & the Urban Hillbilly Quartet, a group based in the Twin Cities.

Opening for that show was another Twin Cities based act – Wilkenson James A.J. Scheiber (acoustic guitar, vocals) and Liz Wilkenson (vocals) make up this duet. Though I only got to hear three of their numbers, they were definitely worth the sacrifice. The two harmonized beautifully, especially on the Townes Van Zandt song “If I Needed You,” which seemed to reflect the influence of the Emmylou Harris and Don Williams version; very nice.

A.J. is a singer-songwriter whose original compositions are showcased on their eponymously titled 2014 CD. He has an accomplished finger-picking style that enhances Liz’s sweet vocals. His original, “Johnny Cash’s To Do List,” was both historic and well-crafted. Three members of the Urban Hillbilly Quartet sat in with them before it was their turn on stage.

Erik Brandt & Urban Hillbilly Quartet

Erik Brandt & Urban Hillbilly Quartet, formed in 1995, has four members: Brandt (acoustic guitar accordion, vocals), Mike Schultz (electric bass, vocals), Celeste Kiewel (fiddle) and Jimmy Orvis (Pandero drums – Brazilian tunable tambourines).They played mostly original works by Erik, who teaches high school English. On this evening their show included a potpourri of genres.

Brandt admitted that the group has something of an identity complex, which they demonstrated with their folk, country, slow ska, Cajun and Americana-inspired numbers. Brandt’s accordion added an appealing edginess and bounce to several tunes in their repertoire. The “UHQ” has put out several CDs and more songs are on the way. One they played, “Size of Diamonds,” has yet to be recorded. If you like variety, you’ll dig this group.

They perform around southern Minnesota regularly with an upcoming show on Nov. 11 at the Midway Saloon in St. Paul, again together with Wilkenson James.

Upcoming: The Annual Harvest Moon Gala in Two Harbors – a benefit for Community Radio KTWH-LP, 99.5 FM – which takes place on Saturday, Oct. 21. Fans of New Salty Dog and Breanne Marie may want to make the trek up the shore to enjoy a dinner and/or the concert to follow. Get all the details at KTWH.org.