Perfect Duluth Day: Tonight at Starfire Lounge

The release of Homegrown Rawk and/or Roll: Starfire's Mix.

Thursday, Dec. 20 | 9 p.m.
Burrito Union, 1332 E. Fourth St., Duluth
The event is free; the disc costs $8

ALBUM REVIEW BY MATTHEW R. PERRINE, BUDGETEER NEWS

Is there a better way to honor Duluth’s preeminent music event than by letting its founder select the sounds that made it great in the first place?

Well, let’s hope not; because the dudes over at Homegrown Music Festival are about to release “Homegrown Rawk and/or Roll: Starfire’s Mix.”

I know what you’re thinking: There are at least 50 top-notch local compilations — but, you have my word, this is one for the ages. In fact, this is the ultimate overview of the Twin Ports scene on the market. Aside from the meandering/slightly obnoxious opener, I Am the Slow Dancing Umbrella’s 11-minute-plus opus “Origami Whisky and Something,” there isn’t much in the way of “filler” on this essential “Duluth Scene for Dummies” mix tape.

Though the flow is sometimes disjunctive — Amy Abts’ fragile “Number 7” following the Dames’ hard-charging “Taiwan” (aka the greatest hard rock song of all time) and the Black-eyed Snakes’ equally exhilarating “Rise Up!”? — the variety of songs more than makes up for such a petty complaint.

While there are noticeable gaps in the lineup (nothing from Marc Gartman’s three terrific groups?), the best songwriters Duluth has to offer are here: Alan Sparhawk and Tony Bennett both get two slots, Charlie Parr rolls on with newbie “Just Like Today” and Mark Lindquist is represented with Giljunko’s “Mohawks.”

Which brings me to my second nitpicky qualm: Had track selection been up to me, I would’ve certainly replaced “Mohawks” with “Sunnyside Estates,” Giljunko’s true shining hour. It’s more representative of the group’s uncanny sense of humor — and the unmatched quality of Lindquist’s ensuing solo/Little Black Books career.

Nevertheless, as an added bonus, some of our fair city’s lesser-known acts (outside of the Northland, that is) also get some action: Jamie Ness rocks the “Blue Collar,” Mary Bue dazzles with “Red Dirt Trails” and, coming in somewhere between Atmosphere and Ween, Crew Jones proves with “Banjones” that “hip-hop from Duluth” isn’t just a punchline.

Last, but certainly not least, is the curator’s very own composition, “I Like it in Duluth” (recorded during his Father Hennepin days).

If you’re compiling Duluth’s greatest hits, you know you can’t get far without that track — and that’s something that certainly wasn’t lost on its author.

Comments

I really like how, except for Amy, no one in the so-called Hog Damage Collective made the cut. (Puddle Wonderful, BOTH, Sleepfarmer, The Surfactants, The State Champs, Humanoid, Bloodstool, The Virgin Marcus, et al) Those guys are self-important elitists who have been a blight in the local scene for too long. It's nice to see Alan Sparhawk's music finally getting some local recognition though.

Sincerely,
Sour Grapes/Avoiding Work

Posted by: Zac Bentz | December 20, 2007 01:15 PM

Puddle wasn't eligible because they broke up before Homegrown existed.

Starfire wanted to include a Greg Cougar Conley solo song, but Greg never played Homegrown solo. A technicality, yes, but we had to hold Scotty to it since literally hundreds of bands have played Homegrown and leaving people out was unfortunately the nature of the beast.

Better luck on volume two is I guess the best thing I can say.

Posted by: Paul Lundgren | December 20, 2007 01:39 PM

ye gods, because it is a lot easier to bitch about what is not there then to praise what is.

Why isn't the LSCC represented, I mean that is the only thing that is important right?

Anyway, good chance I'm going to be dead to the world tonight so prolly won't make it, but good luck, the listing looks good.

Posted by: edgeways | December 20, 2007 01:48 PM

If there are so many bands in the HDC, why don't you put out your own compilation?

I want I want I want.

This is the Starfire Mix. Don't like it? Put out a DirtyKnobs mix. Get off your bum and do it yourself. That's what is so great about the Duluth music scene. You of all people should know that.

Posted by: bitchy mcbitcherson | December 20, 2007 02:00 PM

Doesn't Dame Tony count just a little bit?

Posted by: starfire | December 20, 2007 06:51 PM

i hrt tony bennett!!!

Posted by: starfire | December 20, 2007 06:55 PM

Yeah, no kidding -- aren't the Dames in the HDC? I need to check my back issues of Hog Damage Collective Quarterly ...

Anyway, if it were up to me (limited to ten tracks):

Giljunko - "My Soul's In the Mail"
Dames - "Taiwan"
Bone Appetit - "Fight to Win"
Crew Jones - "Chapter 13"
Black-eyed Snakes - "Chicken-Bone George"
Father Hennepin - "I Like It In Duluth"
Both - "Can't Be Faded"
Ol' Yeller - "The Boys Are Back In Town"
Charlie Parr - "Samson and Delilah"
Low - "Starfire"

Basically, all tracks that I've seen live and thought were awesome.

[Bonus tracks: That one Taconite song were everybody screams and Meat Loaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light".]

Posted by: cork1 | December 20, 2007 08:33 PM

Serioulsy Zac, this is pretty whiny. It's titled "Starfire's mix," not "lets make sure everyone's ego is stroked." For the record I have played at every Homegrown and I am not on the CD and I am perfectly fine with that. I hope Starfire makes his investment back and I hope he's savy enough to make a nice little profit, too. He deserves it.

(Bone Appetit doesn't count since I didn't write or play on the record with Drive Away. Cork it's Fight to Kill, not win. Anyone can win)

Posted by: mr ashley | December 21, 2007 07:22 AM

For the record the Homegrown Committee paid to have the CD produced and did all the actual work. I only picked the songs. I am receiving no monetary compensation except for a couple freebies.

I believe this will be an annual CD with a different curator each year, who should be next?

I nominate Mark Lindquist.

Posted by: starfire | December 21, 2007 08:09 AM

Yeah, the plan is to do future volumes with tracks chosen by different musicians, but first a reasonable amount of the first edition have to sell. So let's not get carried away and nominate anyone for something that may not happen.

If there are profits, by the way, they will be funneled into the nonprofit festival. So no one's pockets are being lined, even if they deserve it.

Oh, and it was a swell party last night.

Posted by: Paul Lundgren | December 21, 2007 08:20 AM

You guys are way too modest.

I hope this CD is sucessful, becuase I would nominate the duo of Matt Milinkovich and Andy Olson. They could write liner notes for each other's picks.

Posted by: mr ashley | December 21, 2007 10:22 AM

Less QQ, more pewpew.

Posted by: adam | December 21, 2007 01:28 PM

Tonight at Starfire Lounge

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