Lake Effect String Band at Caddy Shack. Photos by Jill Fisher. 

This past week I spent some time on non-musical events since Jazz Appreciation Month was overlapped by the Twin Ports Festival of History with several interesting evening talks. 

One delved into the Socialist movement in the early 20th century and another documented WPA artwork in the region. Sometimes one just needs to recognize there are other fascinating activities out there that require a break from the music scene. And then we can return to live music with renewed energy, which I did! 

A couple brief listens included hearing newcomer Elsa Krantz on acoustic guitar performing original compositions at the Zeitgeist restaurant on Tuesday, April 8. She has a lovely voice on her own and harmonizes nicely with others, as we witnessed when she was joined by Sonja Martin and Jen Krussow (of the Hot Tamales Cosmos) in her second set. Krantz will continue to serenade folks there on Tuesdays for the rest of April.

On Wednesday, April 9, I got over to Superior to check out a new open mic/jam session recently begun at Superior Tavern. Traxx Nelson is the laid-back organizer of this jam and the word on the street was it has become a lively showcase for up-and-comers. 

One of our favorite performers, Shane Nelson, was on hand to provide backup for the  performers taking part. Willow Sowada and Jordan Schmidt of the band Crimson Soul, were two that participated. Willow’s deep contra alto voice was notable. I’ll want to hear that full band one of these days.

With JAM, the month-long jazz appreciation month still rolling, getting out on Thursdays to Duluth Cider to hear various forms this genre takes was a priority. 

UMD Jazz Band

On April 10 the large UMD Jazz Band, conducted by jazz professor Gordon Lewis performed wonderful big band and other jazz classics for the first hour. When I say large, I mean they really had the brass: four trombones, four trumpets, five saxophones, plus a clarinet, two guitars, keyboards and drums. Talk about a big sound! 

It should be noted that while these players are all UMD students, they are not all music majors. This makes their tight sound even more impressive. Kudos to Lewis for keeping them all together

And that wasn’t all. A modern jazz set followed by a trio consisting of Ethan Ostrow (keys), Lance McDonald (upright bass) and Abinnet Berhanu (drums). Ostrow and Berhanu are based in Minneapolis (I couldn’t track down McDonald). They were very professional, rightly so given their music education credentials. I’d like to hear them again, maybe at someplace like the Rathskeller. 

Ethan Ostrow, Lance McDonald and Abinnet Berhanu

Moving on – My exciting new discovery is the Lake Effect String Band, which played last Friday, April 11, at Caddy Shack in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. I headed over to the gig sans the Curmudgeon since he is not a fan of bluegrass (because, in his words, “that mother-pickin’ banjo” is typically in the mix). And in this case, not only was there a banjo but 2 mandolins at one point! 

But I’m getting ahead of myself since I actually made my way there to see the opening act, Peat Boggs in an electric set.

I wrote a little bit about the Peat Boggs a couple months ago (2/13/25 Reader) when I first heard them. Members of the quartet are Charlie French (vocals, guitar), Cole Webster (acoustic and resonator guitars), Ben Wagener (electric bass) and Chris Shea (drums, cajon). That was basically an acoustic set at the Zeitgeist restaurant, so not only did I want to hear them again, but I was curious as to how different they might sound going electric.

As it turns out, the difference in sound was not as much as I expected. It may have as much to do with the difference in venues as between acoustic and electric. The most noticeable difference was that Chris played a full drum set rather than the cajon (box drum). And boy, did he ever play them, putting his body and soul into some of the more uptempo tunes and otherwise providing the rhythmic foundation for the various tunes they played for us.

Peat Boggs will be playing during Homegrown and its music is described in the Field Guide as an “organic blend of groove, jazz and twisted folk music.” I would agree that begins to characterize its sound. 

Peat Boggs

On Friday evening though, as a pal and I tried to nail down their blend of genres, we noted the instrumentals were “atmospheric and a bit funky.” One number, “I Need a Break” was fast and discordant, then rather trippy. 

At the end of their set they got into rare rockin’ tune that was almost head-banging grunge (where Chris really let loose on the drums). 

Without very discernible melodies, this group has developed a unique sound worth hearing more of. With that said, it was a rather strange pairing with the Lake Effect String Band that followed them.

The four-piece Lake Effect String Band, the members of which are based here in the Twin Ports, started out as a trio back in the summer of 2023 with a first public performance in October of that year. The earliest iteration was with Michael Geraci (banjo), Will Robertson (guitar) and Jamie Sharp (mandolin). 

After having tried out a bass player (or two), Bob Helland was invited to play with the band on February 23, 2024, —even though he was a pianist and guitarist and hadn’t picked up his electric bass for years! 

When Sharp moved to Minneapolis to finish his medical schooling in June 2024 Luke Rutten replaced him in playing mandolin. So this lineup has had less than a year of playing together. I won’t say it’s tight yet, but it’s getting there!

These guys are energetic. They played hot licks that covered and paid tribute to bluegrass stars, especially two-time Grammy award winner Billy Strings with his “Taking Water.” 

They covered tunes by Ralph Stanley, the Stanley Brothers, Jerry Reed, Johnny Horton, Merle Haggard and others (several of which Strings had recorded as well). 

“Old Home Place” by J.D. Crowe was especially fine with its lyric “Why did I leave my plow in the field and look for a job in town?” 

Besides covers and an instrumental or two, they played seven original tunes composed by different band members. One, “Hoo Dee Doo” by Rutten, was great fun to hear. 

And, for me, the high point of their performance was when that crazy showman Helland sang lead on “Bella Ciao,” an Italian folk song of resistance to fascism. He began acappella, with an entirely ethnic, call it gypsy, sound before the other fellas joined in to twist it into a fast-driving bluegrass number. Fabulous! And an appropriate tune for our time.

Later in their set, former founder/member of the band Jamie Sharp and Simon Cropp (pedal steel guitar), who hails from Decorah, Iowa, joined the band for several songs. This was a super upbeat, danceable performance all the way around. 

Intrigued? They are set to play at Bent Paddle’s pre-Homegrown show on Friday, April 26. I encourage you to get out and see them!

Only a couple more outings completed my week of musical rounds: I had to catch up with Indecent Proposal at R.T. Quinlan’s on Saturday evening, where they opened for Motorcityhead. I was surprised to see that drummer Jevin Joki was missing; Andy Larson has taken his place, at least for the time being. 

Thankfully, they were just as fine and feisty as ever. The headliner group on this evening was super loud, so much so I could not hear the vocals or understand the lyrics to whatever heavy metal tune they were blasting out. 

Despite seeing one of my favorite local guitarists, Andy Lipke, in the audience, who told me he’s a fan of the group and has followed it for years, I had to leave after one number. Once again I had ventured beyond my music comfort zone.

The next day I returned to Quinlan’s for the Blues Jam that happens there on the second Sunday of the month and which is being expanded to include a jam on the fourth Sunday. The timeframe is now 5 to 8 pm (as opposed to 4 to 7). 

Sunday Blues Jam

There were lots of musicians there awaiting their turns on stage. Though I missed the previous sessions, by all accounts this is becoming the place for local blues. Mel Sando has been the organizer, though others are now pitching in. Mel and his group, Last Highway Band, will not be there on the 27th since they will be competing in the Road to Memphis Blues Challenge down at The Blues Saloon on Rice Street in St. Paul that day. We wish them good luck!

UPCOMING: The Twin Ports music scene appears to be heating up in the week leading up to Homegrown. Here are just a few of the gigs I am looking forward to: The Foxgloves and Maygen & The Birdwatcher at Sacred Heart Music Center on Saturday, April 19; the final Big Jazz band concert at Weber Hall on the UMD campus on Wednesday, April 23; and the Cameras, Jumpsuit & Gemstones at Caddy Shack on Friday, April 25.

See you out there!