The 6th and Final Run.
Any project reaches an end. All in all, the year six run of the series documented nearly 70 bands who crossed countless genres. The final year, like every year before it, demonstrated how vast, how different the scene was in Duluth. Even when I called it in, I was happy to be a part of the story. Maybe in 40 years, someone can stumble across these and be surprised about how vibrant Duluth has always been.
Prone
On a peripheral level, Prone uses an element of surprise. With a few synths and an assortment of random instruments, it can be difficult for audiences to gauge what’s going to happen. In fact, after seeing the group set up, you wouldn’t expect to hear a strange blend of electro-funk. For primary song writer Chris Leblanc, Prone is a chance to get back into the driver’s seat.
Charlotte Montgomery
Coming-of-age is a plot structure that is easily consumed in palatable forms, think 
movies like Breakfast Club or Superbad—comedies about the transition from childhood to adulthood. Charlotte Montgomery’s The Lonesome Ghost of Me asks another question: What if this transition isn’t easy? As she points out, after completing the record with friend Corey Newman, the whole process can be debilitating. The record served a larger purpose for her in the end.
Attom
For many people, their first live shows are low key. VFWs. Basements. Or open mic nights. Kyle Stern isn’t one of these people. After winning a remix contest, his first gig was slightly bigger: A two-hour DJ set at Bonnaroo Music Festival. Under the moniker Attom, Kyle is a rare example of musical success during the streaming age.
Nudecolors
Nudecolors doesn’t shy away from playfulness. Bright guitars paired with rather fashionable aesthetics, it’s like taking a walk through candy land. There’s an odd flipside to Nudecolors: the difference from appearance to content. As singer and guitarist Steve Hamlin and guitarist Nic Hanson explain, their work isn’t about what they want to communicate, but how people interact with the band’s music.
Moon Dogs
Supporting another person’s vision, you think about it, is easy: just follow the leader and do what you’re told. When guitarist Jesse White and bassist Corey Fladoe started Moon Dogs, they realized complete, creative control isn’t easy. After recruiting veteran drummer Shanna Willie, the group went into lockdown. And as it emerged, the band found an unexpected problem: When a group of friends plays for another group of friends, sometimes complements aren’t nice.
Mrs and the Sordid Affairs
Groups like Poison, Motely Crue, and even, at times, Stryper, were part of a fascinating spectacle: wear a bunch of make-up, dress like a woman, and party like a man. For Moriah Skye of Mrs and the Sordid Affairs, glam metal’s theatrics overshadow an unpleasant reality: the difference between masquerading an image and living your life as a member of the trans community. Moriah isn’t oblivious to the challenges others face outside the trans community. Unfortunately, it seems that people have a difficult time grasping her and her music.
Great Unwilling
Finding commercial or critical success in the independent music scene isn’t easy. And after years of seeing limited results, it’s a draining experience. When guitarist and singer Jesse Hohi-szle switched gears and ventured into stoner metal, he discovered that success is more about perspective than anything. After Jesse teamed up with drummer Mark Mesinna and bassist Joe Ovee as the Great Unwilling, the band began to take shape. But, they soon discovered mixing stoner-rock riffs with slow, groovy rhythms made them the odd group at times.
Brian Glatten
Improv music can be a hard sell for some people. Outside jazz circles and legions of prog-rock fans, it has a fairly limited audience. Guitar instrumentalist Brian Glatten faces this reality on a regular basis. And after countless gigs, he finds a way to circumvent some of improv’s pitfalls. But, it wasn’t always easy for Brian. After growing up on the East Coast and gigging with rock-trios, transitioning into solo-instrumental music wasn’t as straight forward as you could imagine. It’s not like improv comes with an instructional manual. For Brian, it’s part of the learning process.
