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Honey Jane at Duluth Cider. Photo by Jill Fisher.

Catching up with our local music scene after a short hiatus is no easy task! One thing I missed was the kick-off of JAM Duluth with Aaron O’Connor Sextet and Gochujang at Duluth Cider on April 2.

As I write this, I see that I’ll also miss the second JAM session at Bent Paddle with The Boys Back Home on Monday, April 6. I hope some of my readers will have gotten out to see those gigs.

You can bet I will be at Duluth Cider on Thursday, April 9 to see the College of St. Scholastica Jazz Band and the Thomas Woytko Collective! Note that Woytko is the organizer behind this wonderful month-long event that brings us right up to and overlaps with Homegrown (April 26-May 3).

‘Tis the season for music-music-music!

So here’s what I did manage to see this past week: On Tuesday, March 31, there was a perfectly delightful launch party at Zeitgeist Teatro Zuccone for Junkyard Mule’s eponymous album. I have extolled this group not that long ago when they played Earth Rider’s Cedar Lounge (Dec. 18, 2025 issue of the Reader), so I was expecting to hear a great concert. What I was not expecting was two great openers for their gig.

I came in a little late to this concert but did get to hear the incomparable Ross Thorn singing several of his original tunes, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, with Jen Krussow on standup bass providing harmonies. The first number I heard was “Baby That’s All I Need” with his wonderful whistling. It was followed by the hilarious “Can I Pet That Dog?” He also sang his “Saturday Morning” after which came a beautiful, plaintive tune the title of which I think is “Pick-A-Dee-Day.”

Jen Krussow and Ross Thorn

The two finished off with a cover of one of my favorite John Prine ditties, the political “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore.” Ross’s voice is so strong and true. I always enjoy hearing him. And Jen provides just the right sweet notes in harmony.

Next there was the unexpected treat of hearing Rich Mattson and Germaine Geberling of the Northstars band sing some of their original tunes.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised since the album was recorded, mixed and mastered at Mattson’s Sparta Sound studio. Rich mentioned how nice it was to be in Duluth on a Tuesday for a change before jumping into Germaine’s original composition, “How Can It Be?” They also played a tune called “Night Hawks” that Rich said was reminiscent of gangs of black sheep friends hanging out together until all hours after a music gig.

Rich was having great fun playing the Rickenbacker electric guitar he bought in 2015, coaxing twangy songs from the instrument as he backed up Germaine singing another of her originals, “Karmic Debt.”

Rich Mattson and Germaine Gemberling

Going further on their tune, “Rendezvous With a Star,” he produced plenty of feedback fuzz to demonstrate his rock and roll creds.

Rich described having a dream while he was camping and, since having a pen and paper in the tent with him, came up with “Wild Hatches Grudge.”

Completing their set were several blues tunes, with him playing harmonica on the final number. The only thing missing was his classic kick at the end of a song. Guess that’s because there was no drummer on hand to coordinate with! I must say, though, he and Germaine sound as good as a duet as with the full Northstars band.

The group of the hour, Junkyard Mule, took the stage at 8:50 pm. The trio is comprised of Nate Hynam (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Clancy Ward (fiddle, guitar, vocals) and Jen Krussow (standup bass, vocals). They proceeded to play all the songs from their new album in the same order start to finish. If that wasn’t sufficient reason to purchase the $10 CD, I don’t know what would be.

Indeed, I’ve listened to it several times now and finding it to be every bit as enjoyable as their live performance (not as usual as you might think). Every one of the 12 tracks are fun songs with memorable, distinctive melodies.

The first track is “Tiffany” about an “old drivin’ Dodge,” the second, “Desert Town,” is a story about daddy being locked up in jail in the great southwest for a couple of weeks.

Then came one that has become a favorite of mine now that I’ve heard it several times: “Smokin the Edges.” It has some captivating lyrics, e.g. “Making the wrong change, never at the right time…What did I ever do that made you have to choose to be a better man than me?” and “Well we’re smokin’ the edges while driving in a blizzard getting passed by a jeep with no plates.”

If, like me, you wonder what “smokin’ the edges means, Clancy explained it’s driving over the rumble strips that define the edge of freeway lanes because you’re driving in a blizzard.

Junkyard Mule

“Straight and Narrow” also has a fine refrain: “It ain’t the life that I dreamed of but it’s the life that I know, take me down that lonesome highway; I keep her on the straight and narrow.” Really sweet!

Another of the tunes that particularly speaks to me is “Sense of Place” which has the wonderful line: “coming back to my hometown that isn’t where I’m from.” That describes exactly my feelings about Duluth!

Without transcribing each of the songs, I can simply say that each one is listenable and provides the requisite variety for enjoying repeated playings. The song title “Junkyard” may be what inspired the name of the group, it too has an interesting story to convey. I’ve heard the group perform it live and I believe the recording captures its essence.

JM finished with an upbeat instrumental that Clancy named “Two Pointer.” It was written but not titled by the Illinois fiddler Gerry Harrison who builds fiddles with two points instead of the typical four, which is why he named it that.

What a great evening of music it was, allowing me to escape worries for a little while.

By Friday, April 3, I was ready to venture out into the music scene once again, this time to witness the debut of a new duo — Melissa Borer and, wait for it, Jen Krussow!

That gal sure gets around. Not only playing with Ross Thorn and Junkyard Mule, but also with the ladies of Hot Tamales Cosmos and now this: Honey Jane. The place was Duluth Cider and despite the snowy, blowy weather, a good sized audience showed up to hear what these two had to offer. Melissa played both banjo and acoustic guitar while Jen eschewed her typical standup bass for an acoustic guitar.

Although Jen stated the two women were a bit nervous, the living room set they erected on Duluth Cider’s stage was designed to create a comfortable, inviting vibe and no nerves were in evidence.

What was apparent was their simpatico vocals. Both women have a wide vocal range allowing them to alternate their low and high harmonies. As I’ve already noted, Jen has sweet, pure voice with a natural talent for harmonizing. Melissa’s voice has an interesting bit of Appalachian twang with strong projection, that I particularly appreciate.

The songs these two performed were mostly their own originals and included “Snowing On the Hillside,” a nice tune about what we all can experience here in Duluth. Another I believe was titled “I Wonder Where This My Life Has Flown.” Melissa also penned “Sun and Moon.” I would put most if not all their songs in the feminine category — soulful, soothing, somewhat introspective and emotionally telling. The only thing I suggest they consider is a foot drum or other rhythmic device to add punch.

In any case, these two are definitely worth following to see where their creativity takes them.

UPCOMING: As noted at the beginning of the column, the weeks ahead promise to provide plenty of jazz music via JAM Duluth. Check out all the offerings at https: jamduluth.com. And if you are in the mood to dance to rock and roll, get out to the Powerhouse bar in Proctor to hear the Lake City Smokin’ Section from 5-8 pm.

On Sunday, April 12, Matinee Musicale presents the Isidore Quartet at 3 pm at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 2310 E. 4th St., Duluth (Doors open at 2:30)

ALSO: Be on the lookout for the Homegrown Music Festival Field Guide available at most music venues. You’ll be amazed at what’s on tap for the annual fest slated for April 26-May 3!.