News & Articles

Dance Attic rocks during last week’s chilly Porchfest opener. Photo by Jill Fisher.

While the weather was not particularly conducive for outdoor performances, our local Twin Ports musicians brought their own heat to compensate for the very cool temperatures during the kickoff to Superior’s Porchfest on Thursday, June 12. 

Three groups proved their commitment, stamina and good circulation on this gloomy evening with an overcast sky and temperature of 56 degrees that, due to a brisk breeze, felt like 48. 

Beginning at 6 pm, each of the bands – Dance Attic (Jimi Cooper and Suzi Ludwig), the Lindula Brothers (John and Brian) and Janie and The Spokes (Janie Aas/Oase, Pete Aas, Garth Anderson and Jordan Ash) – gave us two hours of non-stop music in Superior’s Hammond Park neighborhood. 

A scant group of hearty souls came out to enjoy the free music on this chilly evening.

Dance Attic was the first I heard. This twosome played a mix of covers and originals from a variety of genres. Jimi and Suzi have enough energy for a band of six pieces. I picked up on their energy immediately as I arrived during their cover of “That Cat Is High,” a tune I associate with Manhattan Transfer but which dates back to the 1930s on a record by The Ink Spots. 

Among the originals they played was “From Paris To Poplar.” I could have stuck around to hear more from them, but needed to check out Janie and The Spokes, which was located just around the corner.

Janie & The Spokes

Janie’s band now has quite a number of original compositions to its credit with three albums out. They performed many of them, including “Houdini” and “Rise” from their 2024 album Eclipse and “Drivin’” from Dead Eye Rust released in 2023. Janie noted that the four members of this group are also members of a newly formed Dylan tribute band, Shelter From The Storm, which performed a concert at Sacred Heart Music Center during the recent Duluth Dylan Fest. They do a good rendition of “I Shall Be Released,” with Peter singing lead.

I also spent a fair amount of time listening to the Lindula Brothers duo. Their playlist is always of interest, mostly consisting of covers, both traditional and deep cuts. But they also play some originals, such as “Walkin’ Down the Road,” which was written by John as he drove to Alaska for a job long ago. Their selection of covers are by artists with whom they seem to be particularly sympatico – John Harford, John Prine and Pete Seeger. 

Lindula Brothers

The latter’s “What Did You Learn In School Today?” provided apt political commentary for our times, as did Charlie Parr’s “Under the Red Cedar.” These were very special. 

When they sang more traditional tunes such as the Irish “Wild Mountain Thyme” and the Scottish ballad “The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond” it really sparked nostalgia in us listeners. Then were up tempo songs such as “Mountain Dew,” which drove us to dance and thereby keep warm.

Before calling it an evening, I got back to Dance Attic to see Suzi strut her stuff on the accordion with some fast-paced polkas. Dancing to those will generate some heat! 

They also covered songs by Carl Perkins, Hank Williams (“Hey Good Lookin’”) and Buck Owens to keep us movin’ and groovin’. It was a great evening of music despite the chill in the air. I only hope the next round of performances during Porchfest will enjoy better weather so more folks come out to hear all the offerings. 

This outdoor concert series continues on Thursday evenings throughout the summer. East End locations will host the musicians on Thursday, June 19, with Slope City (beginning at 5:30) and others: Side Street Detour, Brother Jon Band and Buena Buena all starting at 6 pm. You can find all the details at superiorporchfest.org.

The weather wasn’t any better for outdoor music the following evening, Friday, June 13 — indeed it was even chillier with a stiff breeze off the lake making the 52-degree temp feel like 39.

But the Earth Rider Festival grounds had fires burning and, starting with Timothy Martin and the New Normal, the music was hot. This band is led by Earth Rider CEO Tim Nelson (Martin being his middle name) and includes several members of the Big Wave Dave and the Ripples band: Brian Wells (keys), Peter Knutson (lead electric guitar) and Alex Piazza (bass). Jim Hagstrom on drums rounded out the group, keeping the beat going strong. 

Timothy Martin and the New Normal

This is the first time I’ve heard this band – this combination of players – even though they claim to have been around 10 years. But then it was admitted that they basically only play once a year. Really? How do you sound this tight, this deep, this hot when your members play just an annual gig?

I didn’t recognize virtually any of the numbers this band played because most were originals. Tim’s vocals were expressive, forceful and lyrically interesting. “War Baby” and “Holy Water” were two of the most intriguing. The sound veered between straight up rock to psychedelia. One cover they performed was “Pushin’ Too Hard” by a 1960s band, The Seeds, which I never heard of. These guys must dig deep into their vinyl collections to come up with the likes of this. I was blown away and hope they will play more frequently than once a year and that I’ll hear of any future gigs.

Second up this evening was The Gemstones. I heard these players for the first time when the band was called AfroGeode & the Gemstones. It was the opening act for the 2022 Homegrown at Hoops Brewing. 

The Gemstones

Sadly, lead singer Diona Johnson, AKA AfroGeode, died unexpectedly in the spring of 2023. Where many bands might have fallen apart in this circumstance, The Gemstones persevered with their music, saying they felt Diona would have wanted them to. 

Well, I am so glad they did. I have heard them numerous times since 2022 but I never heard them sound better than they did on this evening. 

Today the group consists of Josh Nickila (electric guitar, vocals), Courtney Ellian (keys, vocals), Manny Eisele (bass) and Ian Hopp (drums, vocals). Marlena Boedigheimer, who played sax when I first heard them, is no longer with the group. 

Their sound ranges from Latin to jazzy, to rowdy rock and a bit of punk. I believe all their  tunes were original. Josh tears it up on guitar and has a gutsy vocal style with great emotional expression. Ian also sang several numbers wonderfully while wailing on the drums. 

Courtney too gives it her all when it’s her time to lead a song, such as with “You’ll Be Fine,” as well as with her sweet and salty percussion. Then there’s Manny lending a consistent, funky bass line that is essential to their sound. Their set was hot, hot, hot! 

Headlining the concert was Big Wave Dave and the Ripples, which is one of the top bands in our area, especially for those of us who love to dance. There was no let down when they took the stage. 

Big Wave Dave and the Ripples

Besides the three players who did double duty playing as part of the New Normals, the nine-piece band included six others: Dave Adams, the growling lead vocalist, Matt Wasmund on baritone sax, Alex Nordehn on trombone, David Rode on trumpet, drummer Scott Millis and substitute saxophonist Randy Lee whose talent was appropriately showcased.

Although these guys play primarily covers, you wouldn’t refer to them as simply a bar band; their sound is so fulsome and professional. Their repertoire consists of select tunes they have made their own. 

One of my favorites they totally do justice to is David Byrnes “Life During Wartime” (though they did not play it that evening). Instead, we got a full throttle version of Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm” and a fabulous version of the Beatles’ “Lady Madonna,” with Dave inserting some great skat. 

So, yeah, this rounded out an evening of high-test music I won’t soon forget. And if you haven’t heard them yet, note that they will be playing at Bayfront on Saturday, June 21, at Glensheen’s Concerts on the Pier on Wednesday, July 23, and up in Two Harbors at the Castle Danger Brewery on Saturday, Aug. 16.

We sure have the opportunity to hear good music in the Twin Ports with great out- and indoor venues in both Duluth and Superior. 

Get out there and enjoy it as much as you can!