14/05/2024
I always knew I'd end up in Duluth (The Zenith City by the Unsalted Sea) but it wasn't exactly easy moving out of Minneapolis, my home for 40 years. Loved visiting on trips down from the Iron Range. My mom and dad met here, and all three siblings went to college here. I did my first big show opening up for Taj Mahal at the Norshor Theater in '84 after my first LP Paper Tigers came out, and over the years (first musician at Fitgers Fitger's Brewhouse Brewery and Grille, played the first Bayfront Blues Festival and did that another dozen times, and never had a bad gig here.
So when the stars aligned, I sold my house in Nordeast Mpls. and headed back up North. As a simple twist of fate had it, I ended up renting the first floor of Dylan's childhood home (take what you have gathered from that coincidence) and moved in on July 3, 2021. Since then, I've rekindled old friendships here, and made some great new ones. While at Zimmy's place, I finished two books, Alphabet Jazz-Poetry, Prose, Stories, and Songs, and Blood in the Tracks (The Minnesota Musicians Behind Dylan's Masterpiece) I co-wrote with Duluth native, author, and ace journalist Rick Shefchik. I also contributed to Bob Dylan in Minnesota (and I'll be joining my co-authors at Wussow's Cafe on May 25th while we celebrate Dylan week up here.
I recently celebrated my one year anniversary of my weekly Wednesday residency at the very cool Black Water Lounge. I have also enjoyed working on my new radio show Stars Over the Prairie, airing every Saturday from 10am-Noon on KDAL 610AM0103.9FM and also record my Twin Cities radio show, Wall of Power Radio Hour out of my house. We have been doing reruns of my Wall of Power TV on MCN6.org and need a few more shows (we have close to 8 in the can) to roll out a new season this Fall (thanks to my great producer Andy Watson for keeping that train on the tracks!) Between them all, we probably have over 400 shows combined, which scratches the itch to document history, and showcase my fellow musicians, and "cool people from all walks of life and all 50 states."
And now, I'm putting the band back together, time to strap on my rock and roll shoes. I met a great new bass player Taylor Shykes at a Al Sparhawk show last summer, and he's hooked me up with a great young drummer and we are debuting this Sunday at Mr. D's at 3pm for a benefit for longtime Duluth musician Rose Hoene.
And now (if you are still with me) I am very excited to announce I have been booked to Headline the Duluth 4th of July Fireworks show at Bayfront Park, one of the largest fireworks display in the Upper Midwest where they are expecting over 10,000 people!
All in all, that tells me the Universe is giving me a wink as a great way to celebrate my 3rd anniversary in Tilt Town (almost to the day.) I love this city, my neighborhood, my home, and the opportunity to still make a living banging on the guitar. I made the right move! I will always be a NE MN guy from my head to my toes, and ain't ever leaving God's Country.
I live by two mantras my dad drilled into me since I was a kid. 1) "Whatever you can conceive, and believe, you can achieve." 2) "Remember to be kind and make someone happy." Those lessons have served me well. Bless you all good people, and thanks for listening! Your buddies, Paul and Blue
