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The draw of mining jobs on the Iron Range brought with it an adventuring hobo jumping a train for travel to backbreaking work. Toting a brave culture of American frontier folklore hobos would gather round the campfire, society misfits sharing a tune. Armed with a banjo (not the musical instrument), a small shovel often used to lift coal, the migrant workers helped build the backbone of the U.S. mining industry from the late 1800s to the 1930s.

And to the hard-working travelers of another day comes a nod and bow from a decade strong band called Hobo Revival, debuting their third album drop, The Pulled Pork Sessions, at the Locker Room Bar and Grill in Coleraine, Minn., on Saturday, April 27th from 7-10 pm.

Credit to Kim Grillo Nagler, the band’s founder, singer and songwriter whose gift is the ability to interact with lyrical prose and reflections with roots steeped in Iron Range history. Kim is also a sign language interpreter of 25 years, currently working in the Hibbing School District.

A Hibbing high school graduate, Kim obtained her post-secondary education at St. Paul Tech College. She said her parents Barb and Bill had a family cabin on Perch Lake, where the family gathered all summer long. They referred to the place as “Hobo Heaven” as family, friends and loved ones came and went, each evening prompting added harmony around the family campfire. Music was alive and spirited among the five Grillo children, four daughters and one son. Kim describes herself as a self-taught musician influenced by a family who simply loves music.

In high school, Nagler dabbled in poetry with a healthy dose of guitar. Both show in strength with her vivid songwriting that crosses every aspect of life from love songs to relationships, daily struggle, the comfort of home to strife in the world, including unfair labor practices. Her original “Guatemala Girl” was written after doing laundry, noting a tag in her daughter’s shirt. The plucky lively folk song sets the imagery of a young girl working hard in labor while the Mariachi band plays in the factory streets. Kim powers out the ballad, one to put to replay repeatedly to catch every fine idiosyncrasy.

Nagler says her own music influences are Sam Cooke, who she describes as her favorite male vocalist of all time, Tom Waits, Emmy Lou Harris, Patti Griffin and Stevie Nicks. She gives a big shout-out to the talent of Shovels and Rope, a band that was part of the Grand Rapids Riverfest in 2022. Kim describes the band as the best of the best – talented with the ability to switch instruments with ease.

She reveals the heart of every musician, wondering if they will be the next break-out band and recognizing the industry is complex, raw and competitive.

“Musicians, like any good artists, continue to perform because it fills their soul – not their pocketbook,” Kim emphatically stated, “the pay scale has not moved tremendously and doing this business full-time can mean sacrifice.” She continued, “We go out to engage with the people and to keep the arts alive.”

Hobo Revival, like a good mix of folks around the campfire can be solo, a duo, a trio, 4-piece, and 5-piece. Kim said the beauty in the band is that every player is experienced and able to pick up the harmony, chord progressions, the beat and the rhythm through the magic called music.

“It is an incredible chemistry, this set of people that I am gifted to sing and play alongside,” Kim said.

The band has been playing all around the Minnesota Northland for years, from festivals, dining establishments, area bars and Legion clubs, in fields, at street dances and overlooking the lakes. One of their favorite joints to play at in summer months is Deer Lake Charlie’s in Effie, Minnesota. The rustic pub is a staple for seasonal cabin owners who look forward to the band’s soul and folk-rock appeal.

Currently, Hobo Revival consists of Kim Grillo Nagler, guitar and lead vocalist; Andy Gregorich, lead guitar; Ricky Harding on bass; Al Oikari, guitar, and keyboardist; and Robert Klaysmat on drums. Kim loves her band members and said everything the band does musically could not be done without them. They make the songs come alive.

Gregorich is an expert glassblower who loves paranormal research. Kim’s lovingly refers to her amazing bass player from Chicago as “Crazy Ricky” and the multi-instrument master is Oikari, who also jams with a band in Minneapolis. Drummer Klaysmat is Kim’s cousin who she calls the heartbeat and backbone of the band.

“These guys are my bacon – they bring the grease, and everything is better because of them,” Kim said.

You can follow Hobo Revival on Facebook and subscribe to their page on You Tube. Their first two albums: Hobo Revival and Kitchen Sink are also available via Spotify. Look for Kim, a brunette, with a big smile behind a handcrafted (made in Hibbing) Miesbauer electric acoustic guitar.

Once Kim starts singing her original ballads, you may ask yourself, could she be hobo kin to Woody Guthrie or a by-product of Joni Mitchell. Afterall we are all sixth degrees of separation from someone, and this gifted Iron Range gal most assuredly has roots tethered in a connection to hobo history.