This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug: Discover Duluth 'investigates' downtown blizzard fun and another contest starring ... me!

Yep, so I guess blogging is all I do on my days off.... Anywho, here are some great reads (and "sees") for y'all:

"Discover Duluth: Downtown Blizzard Fun" -- Just like the headline says, me and my camera (a match made in heaven?) toured downtown during the Tuesday blizzard's "warming-up" period. (Some photos from that session were also used with freelancer Robert Lillegard's story "Snow Smarts: A Winter Weather Refresher.")

Speaking of freelancers, I also contributed some bits and pieces to Diana Blom's "Say No to Lead: Great Local Gift Ideas for Children." (If you've followed my "career," but can probably just about pinpoint where I left my mark.)

On that subject, here are some links to stories I did on local products that would make superb stocking stuffers for you and yours: "Duluth's Music Community Bands Together for Baby Pearl" and "'B' is for Brian Barber, Illustrator Extraordinaire" -- and, since we're here and all, it's about high time I remind you that Barber's Pizza Luce art show opens Thursday. (More info here.)

And, finally, the third installment of the "Where in the Northland is Matt Perrine?" contest is online now. (Bonus fourth clue -- which couldn't possibly help you in the slightest: Referring to it as "make-out city" significantly reduces your chances of being invited back....)

(Today's "poster" is an outtake from the "Where in the Northland is Matt Perrine?" contest. If you can't tell, I was actually playing* with a spider on the old Interstate Bridge when this photo was taken ... yikes!)

*In reality: Trying not to run away screaming like a little girl.

ELEVATION: Zac from the Surfactants talks about the Rock for the Tots benefit

In case you haven't already heard, LocalM.com is sponsoring a terrific benefit Saturday, Dec. 15, at R.T. Quinlan's (downtown Duluth).

The event, allusively dubbed "Rock for the Tots," will feature such hard-charging acts as the Surfactants, Autotoxin, Professor Hefner and Jealous Jester. (Secure entrance by shelling out five bucks or ... by doing the best thing and donating a new toy for a child in need.)

To shed a little more light on this worthy cause, we here at Fly High, Duluth! (OK, just me...) harassed the Surfactants' Zac Bentz until he gave in and answered a few questions:

Fly High, Duluth!: When was the second album (untitled, like its predecessor) released?

Zac Bentz: The unofficial CD release for the second album was at our Red Lion show July 14. Right now it's still only available on our site, but it should be in stores very soon.

Was it recorded like the first one, with everyone contributing their respective parts from their own homes?

Yep. I did some recording with Eric (Anderson) and Marcus (Matthews) a couple times, but for the most part everything was recorded by each member in their own homes. I then gathered all the files via the Web and did all the mixing and editing myself.

How did you guys get involved with the Rock for the Tots benefit? Are you friends with Craig Rhode/the LocalM.com people?

Yeah, we've known the LocalM people for a while, and got to know them a bit better at last year's Homegrown. They've been a huge supporter of us, which is pretty amazing. They just came to us with the date and we jumped at the chance.

What do you think of the three other groups on the bill? Have you played with them before?

We've played with Professor Hefner before, but Autotoxin and Jealous Jester are both new to us. Judging from their MySpace stuff, I think we're all in for a very interesting night.

Finally, this may be a stupid question, but what kind of presents would you be hoping for if you were a kid these days?

Video games. There really doesn't seem to be any quality to the regular toys that are out there. Even the new Star Wars figures are all rad and boring. I think a Nintendo DS and a few games would be the best thing to get. Probably because I have one myself! Give it to the kid during the day, then sneak in some gameplay yourself after they go to bed.

(Image stolen from the Surfactants' Web site, www.thesurfactants.com.)

---

COMING JANUARY 2008: A full-on Surfactants feature in the pages of your trusty Duluth Budgeteer News!

So, guess whose space heater JUST STARTED ON FIRE?!

No joke -- only five minutes ago I had to rip mine (pictured) from the wall, run down the stairs and throw it into the snow to prevent my house from burning down! I just wanted to share this information with you as a public service announcement so you remember to NEVER, EVER buy anything from WeatherWorks. That's all.

A&E FYI: ‘The Brian Barber Pizza Luce Art Show!’

Who: Brian Barber
What: Art show
Where: Duluth’s Pizza Lucé, 22 E. Superior St.
When: Dec. 13 through Jan. 8 (the opening reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13)
Why: Brian’s awesome … man. (And here’s proof!)

Illustrator Brian Barber will be exhibiting paintings, drawings and screenprints at Pizza Lucé in downtown Duluth. Many of the illustrations on display are from his recently published children’s books, “My Favorite Places from A to Z” and “My Favorite Sounds from A to Z.”

The opening reception will be Thursday, Dec. 13, from 7 to 9 p.m., and is free and open to the public. The show will be on display at Pizza Lucé through Jan. 8, 2008.

Barber has illustrated work for children as well as work for Minnesota Monthly, Mpls./St. Paul Magazine, City Pages, The Rake and locally for the Homegrown Festival and Ripsaw News. His work has also been seen in several advertising campaigns.

“My Favorite Places” and “My Favorite Sounds” are among the first titles published this year by Maren Green, a new publishing company in Minnesota. Peggy Snow is the author of both books.

For more information on Barber or his illustrations, visit www.brianbarber.com.

---

FURTHER READING: "'B' is for Brian Barber, Illustrator Extraordinaire" (Duluth Budgeteer News, Oct. 28, 2007)

FHD say 'Keep yourself alive!'

That's it; just a friendly reminder from the staff at Fly High, Duluth!* (Tonight it took me no less than two-and-a-half hours to make it home because of the blizzard -- a commute that on any other given day would've taken 15 minutes ... tops.)

*Me, basically.

Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 57: What's that floating in the water?

Submitted for the approval of the Twin Ports Awesome Mix Tape Appreciation Society (wanna join?) ... the latest installment of "Don't Tell a Soul."

As always, to encourage the consumption of music that doesn't suck, I have provided -- wherever available -- links to free, artist-sanctioned MP3s of the songs.

Dragonfly, get back to yr mother!
Matt

(Questions? Comments? Want one of your band's songs to be considered for an upcoming awesome mix tape? E-mail mperrine [at] duluthbudgeteer [dot] com.)

*******

1. The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank - "2010"
The Hobo Nephews (Teague and Ian Alexy) make music that will "restore your faith in recorded sound." (Not to rip off myself too much or anything....)

2. Kenna - "Out of Control (State of Emotion)"
"Pop music" hasn't sounded this good since ... Kenna's last record. (Go figure.)

3. Maritime - "Guns of Navarone" (other MP3s available here too)
If you, like me, think the Promise Ring's "Wood/Water" was one of the most important records of the new millennium, then ... well, you probably already own Maritime's new record -- so I'm kind of preaching to the choir, eh?

4. George Harrison - "Apple Scruffs"
It's a debate for the ages: What's a better record, "All Things Must Pass" or the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds"? Someone should just tell me the answer, because I'm sick of losing sleep over this silly little query.

5. Jens Lekman - "The Opposite of Hallelujah"
Recommended if you like Rufus Wainwright and Dexys Midnight Runners. A weird mix, I know, so hopefully you'll hear it too.

6. Babyshambles - "Delivery"
I'm as sick of Pete Doherty as the next music geek, but, what do you know? He actually sat down and took some time to wrote another decent song. (It's been awhile, "brah"!)

7. Jay-Z - "Lucifer"
Should've retired at the top.... (However, a special nod of our collective hats to Kanye West for one of the tightest tracks in Jay-Z's lengthy catalogue.)

8. Fare Well - "Stay Pretty"
R.I.Y.L. Motion City Soundtrack, early Stereo.

9. Northern State - "Away Away"
Sounds like somebody's aiming for Deborah Harry's throne!

10. Buck 65 - "Intro" (from "Situation")
It's weird to put an intro track on a mix tape without the song it "introduces," but Buck 65's "Intro" has a misleading title: This is more along the lines of an original DJ Abilities composition. Stunning ... can definitely stand alone. (Speaking of Abilities, wasn't his performance Friday night at Luce -- with Eyedea, of course -- one of the most amazing things you've ever seen in your life?)

11. Mac Lethal - "Pound that Beer"
You heard it here first: "Party album of the year." p.s. Watch this track's sweet, "retro-fantastic" video on Rhymesayers' Web site.

12. Electric Light Orchestra - "Hold On Tight"
Better before it was used in a commercial, but, still, a classic.

13. Ween - "Your Party"
Funny shit right here.

14. Eels - "That's Not Really Funny" (some MP3s available here)
But not here -- though the vibe really flows from track to track.

15. The Format - "If Work Permits" (free live MP3 here)
The epic closer from 2006's No. 3 album. (Can you tell I'm getting excited for this year's list?)

16. Ravens & Chimes - "General Lafayette! You are Not Alone"
R&C's lead singer sounds exactly like the Format's ... weird.

17. Mason Proper - "My My (Bad Fruit)"
Rock it.

18. The Shapes - "Dry on Ice" (listen here)
For fans of Dealership, reru and, to a lesser degree, Imperial Teen. Good stuff.

19. Modico - "Vertigo"
These guys are sure to blow a speaker or two, but I can't quite put my finger on what they sound like. (Download it and give it your best shot!)

20. Billy Corgan - "Rats"
The one good thing about "Ransom"....

21. Pitchshifter - "W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G." (listen to a live version here)
Oh, boy, this sure brings me back to high school. This is some intense rock 'n' roll.

22. The Killers - "On Top"
I know it's not "cool" to love the Killers, but I just can't help myself sometimes.

23. Pearl Jam - "Push Me Pull Me"
It's funny how experimental PJ can sometimes get, and, yet, retain a level of listenability that's enviable compared to some of the shit I've come across in my adventures.

24. The Pixies - "Mr. Grieves"
The ultimate Pixies statement?

This Week's (Belated) Shameless Budgeteer Plug: McInnis' Kitchen, Great Northern Music Center, CD reviews and Jay Cooke

Enjoying this season's first monster snowstorm? Either way, here's a few choice nuggets to keep you warm tonight:

"McKinnis' Kitchen Launches Debut Album, Side Project" -- For fans of the sounds of the Atlantic Maritimes, Newfoundland, Scotland and Ireland and/or two fiddles/Perrines for the price of one!

"Bob Norquist, Eliza Blue and Cadillac Kolstad are Welcome Here Anytime" -- CD reviews for three superb out-of-town acts.

"Discover Duluth: Road to Jay Cooke" -- Like the road to Hana, but a lot bleaker. (Yay!)

"Make Your Own Music with Great Northern" -- An advertorial, yes, but a Superior Street tradition nonetheless. (I just bought my first ukulele there!)

And, finally, if you can find it, I recycled "Sunsets 'R' Fun," which I shot at Bayfront Festival Park's lights festival around last Thanksgiving.