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S.G. Goodman opening for Trampled By Turtles at Bayfront on July 5. Photos by Jill Fisher

With the Fourth of July holiday and all the music events surrounding it now in the rear view mirror, I look back with amazement at the relentless pace of music in the Twin Ports and realize it was just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. What follows are tidbits from all the shows I was able to pack into what felt like our two weeks of summer we get every year. 

Because I skipped writing for the July 10th issue of the Reader, I must mention, if briefly, two concerts I saw on the first two days of the month, namely the Lake Effect String Band performing at Chester Bowl on Tuesday, July 1, and Black River Revue at Glensheen’s Concert on the Pier the following evening. Both events were blessed with absolutely perfect Duluth weather—78 degrees with a light breeze on the former, 80 degrees at the Lake for the latter. 

Black River Revue at Glensheen

Chester was filled with an appreciative audience for Lake Effect and boaters filled the water in front of the pier while landlubbers crowded the shore for Black River. Both shows were memorable.

A private party in the rocky hill above Lincoln Park neighborhood, with musical entertainment, was a real treat on Thursday, July 3. We got to hear Charlie Parr together with Dave Hundreiser on harmonica entertain a crowd of about 75 folks. I will always get to a Parr concert if at all possible; to be able to enjoy his songs in an open air yet still intimate setting, can’t be beat. 

After that, Michael Laughing Fox, a storyteller, poet and member of the northern Wisconsin Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, mesmerized us with his special  presentation. It was wonderful to witness, especially when he played beautiful evocative melodies on a wooden flute that conveyed the spiritual essence of the stories he told. 

Michael Laughing Fox

If this wasn’t enough, invitees got to hear what I had assumed to be an ephemeral band, Tired Eyes, because it’s made up of top area musicians who all have their own bands. Taking its name from one of Neil Young’s darkest songs, the band covered several deep cuts from Young’s repertoire. More about them below! 

The party doubled as a fundraiser for Life House of Duluth so our host (who shall remain nameless in this column) deserves many kudos for putting this evening together.

Before the fireworks on the Fourth, I spent time dancing to one of my favorite bands, Boxcar, at Bent Paddle Brewing Co. This outdoor venue is one of the best in the Twin Ports, with a spacious stage, good sound, ample seating and viewing choices for the audience. along with a decent area for dancing. Boxcar plays mostly original compositions which distinguishes it from so many other bands that play covers of popular music. I can’t take in every one of Boxcar’s gigs, but I would if I could! 

Then there was the highly anticipated Trampled by Turtles concert at Bayfront on Saturday, July 5. Palomino grant winner Sophie Hiroko was the opener for the show. She and her backup players were good; she moderated her punk stylings. which evidently appealed to the multi-generational audience as they enthusiastically applauded her set. She was very gracious in having embalming Eve, who were runners up in the Palomino competition, join her onstage for the closing number. 

More intriguing to me was the second act, S.G. Goodman, a singer-songwriter from Hickman, Kentucky.  Her voice impressed me as something between Iris DeMent and Lucinda Williams. Goodman has a rather laid-back stage presence with her slow, heart-tugging songs. This is not to say she and her band didn’t rock out on a couple of songs. 

It’s seeing these national acts, which bring in a whole other type of music, that almost aways turn me on, so I was particularly appreciative of getting to hear her regional sound. 

Getting back to the main attraction, this was only my second time seeing TBT so I was interested as to whether I would dig them more than when I saw them a few years ago. 

On that occasion they seemed to play nothing but “fast grass.” While I greatly appreciate bluegrass (banjos and all!) the band’s relentless speeded up numbers turned me off on my first exposure. However, on this evening their musical offerings ran the gamut from fast-paced numbers to slower ballads. The show was also enhanced when Alan Sparhawk joined them for a couple of numbers. 

The stage lighting was quite spectacular and, with the manufactured stage fog (that pretty much blew away in the wind), it was a sight to see. By the time TBT took the stage Bayfront was as crowded as I’ve ever seen it, so there’s no doubt this group is greatly esteemed by their hometown crowd. Indeed, they were called back for two encores. 

Trampled by Turtles enveloped in stage fog.

No wonder lead singer Dave Simonett announced “This is our favorite show we do every year.”

After taking a respite on Sunday, I was back at Bent Paddle on Monday, July 7, to hear Jumpsuit, which I have written about previously. They have a residency on Mondays in July – you’ll have two more chances to see this group here on July 21 and 28 before Saltydog returns to perform on Monday evenings in August. 

This is quite the exciting young group with two very talented and sassy female lead singers who do right by the rest of the band. Get out to give them a listen!

My next outing was to Pier B for a Courtside Concert by Soulhead on Wednesday, July 9. The group’s gig at this venue last summer was rained out, so this was its first appearance here. 

This may be only the second time I’ve heard Soulhead, but have become a fan, even if it plays exclusively retro covers. 

Soulhead

The five members are Leighton Helmer (electric guitar, vocals), Grant Canete (electric guitar), Manny Eisele (bass), Bella Hanson (keys, vocals) and Ian Hopp (drums). They really rocked and Ian’s rendition of Hendrix’s “Red House” totally blew me away. He really sold the blues with that song – who knew his singing was as consummate as his drumming?!

On Friday, July 11, it was over to Cedar Lounge to enjoy the end of Misisipi Mike Wolf’s regular “Weekend Primer” before Dance Attic was due to play. 

Gotta love Jimi Cooper on guitar or ukelele and Suzi Ludwig doing her thing on the accordion and mouth trumpet. They tackle any number of classic tunes (Hank Williams), silly and risqué ditties (“I’m Living with a Bear” and “The Freckle Song”) and of course polkas (“The Shotz Beer Polka,” an original). 

Another original number, “My Self-Driving Pickup Truck,” was an amusing take on “modern country.” 

But that wasn’t all this evening – Father Hennepin began its set at 9:20 with “Neon Lights.” The band of six crammed on the small stage having great fun running through their repertoire of original tunes and covers.

The weekend featured two different tribute shows at Earth Rider festival grounds – one of Neil Young’s songs the other of John Prine’s. 

On Saturday, July 12, it was a chance to see Tired Eyes a second time, which I was not going to miss after being so taken with their performance on July 3. Band members are Rich Mattson of his Northstars, Alan Sparhawk of Low fame, Kraig Johnson of Run Westy Run, Jayhawks and Golden Smog. Glen Mattson (Rich’s “big little brother”) rounds out the band with his fine, steady drumming. 

Tired Eyes

I consider Tired Eyes my best discovery thus far in 2025. But, to my surprise, the band is not as ephemeral as I assumed; it has been performing for more than a decade, having their inaugural performance at the Twins Bar here in Duluth in 2013! 

As Rich explained, they all appreciate Young’s work, so have gotten together for these kind of gigs once every year or two. Performing this kind of tribute show more frequently didn’t feel right to him, like milking someone else’s fame. Besides the members are busy creating their own music with other groups.

These fellas have succumbed to Neil Young’s more obscure, electric guitar-forward compositions that showed off their own guitar mastery. I appreciated that they eschewed the standard, ubiquitous Young covers like “Harvest Moon” and “Heart of Gold” in favor of these lesser known numbers. 

In short, I was completely intoxicated by this performance. It will have me delving back into Young’s work to rehear what they brought to my attention. 

Near the end of their set, Tired Eyes invited Dave Pirner, frontman of the notable Minneapolis band Soul Asylum to join them onstage. You know you can tell a group is really in the flow and having fun when it plays 20 minutes beyond its contracted time. The Curmudgeon summed the performance up as a “master class in how to cover a band.”

It was back to Earth Rider Sunday afternoon, July 13, to attend “Diamond in the Rough” – a tribute to the songs of the late John Prine by numerous local musicians. John SonofMel was the organizer and emcee for the show, reading some of Prine’s lyrics to illustrate what poetry they are. Each of the participants sang two or three numbers, at least one from his 1972 album Diamond in the Rough and perhaps a favorite from another of Prine’s albums. The performers included Jon Edwards, Eldri Snow, Misisipi Mike Wolf, Rick Bruner, Eric Cyr and the Cosmonauts, KristyMarie, Elsa Krantz, Brandon Parker, Rich Mattson and Thor Leseman. They all joined together to sing Prine’s “Paradise” as a finale. 

Misisipi Mike Wolf and Eldri Snow

It was a fun afternoon in which we all communed at what SonofMel termed “the Church of John Prine” and got to hear some of our favorite Prine songs.

UPCOMING: Probably my favorite annual music festival happens this Saturday, July 19, at Bayfront: the World Music and Reggae Festival. This is when we get to broaden our musical experience beyond the borders of this country. The lineup includes notable Jamaican singers, a Nigerian singer-songwriter, DJ the Sound of Fujun and, not to be overlooked, our own local ska band, Woodblind. bayfrontworldmusic.com. See you there!