Best Bets for Nov. 26
By: Christa Lawler, Duluth News Tribune
- Saint Anyway
- The Shack Pack
- Skillet
Folk-style Saint Anyway brings ‘summer job’ to Northland
Two years ago Saint Anyway, a folkish Americana bluegrass band, showed up to play a gig at Coffee Bene in St. Paul and found about 200 fans packed into the small venue for the show.
Nice, but what the heck?
The band was still relatively new. They didn’t yet have a CD.
“We [had] put up posters, but this was impossible,” said Jamie Kallestad, the guitar half of the duo that also includes Tony Petersen on banjo.
Turns out the California-based alt/rock/grunge band Switchfoot was playing a larger venue show that night in the Twin Cities area, and lead singer Jon Foreman had stopped into the coffee shop to play an acoustic warm-up. Since Saint Anyway was already booked at the venue, Kallestad said Foreman was told he could open for the rookie band born in the halls of Cloquet High School.
Foreman borrowed some of the guys’ equipment, and his technician gave Saint Anyway some sound tips.
“It was a very strange situation,” Kallestad said. “We had a celebrity singer open for us. … We’re still using some cables he left behind.”
Saint Anyway performs typically during breaks from college: Petersen attends Berklee School of Music in Boston; Kallestad is a senior at Yale studying American studies. They have three local shows planned this week. Catch them at Red Mug in Superior, Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake in Duluth, and Gordy’s Warming House in Cloquet — essentially the band’s home court. They don’t come home without playing a show at Gordy’s Warming House.
Two years ago Saint Anyway spent part of the summer playing coffee shops and bars en route to Colorado. Last summer they did a similar trip, then tacked on another tour to Tennessee.
“So far, it has been a summer job,” Kallestad said. “It’s been a fantastic summer job.”
On the road for weeks at a time, sleeping in tents and on couches, playing a heavy concentration of shows, selling CDs and T-shirts.
“We don’t get rich,” Kallestad said. “We get by and we don’t lose money.”
GO SEE IT
Who: Saint Anyway
Music genre: Folk rock, Americana, bluegrass
Today’s show: 7 p.m., Gordy’s Warming House, 411 Sunnyside Drive, Cloquet
Friday’s show: 10:15 p.m., Sir Benedict’s, 805 E. Superior St.
Saturday’s show: 8 p.m., Red Mug Coffeehouse, 916 Hammond Ave., Superior
Trailer Trash Bash at RT Quinlan’s
Hmm … What does one wear to a Trailer Trash Bash? Sleeveless flannel shirt, sleeveless wrestling T-shirt, sleeveless any-kind-of-shirt, the most thigh exposing-est cutoff jean shorts, mullets Aquanet-ed to righteous perfection. For further inspiration, see “My Name is Earl.”
The second annual event, quickly becoming as much of a Thanksgiving week tradition as turkey hangovers, is from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday at RT Quinlan’s, 220 W. Superior St. The Acceleratii, Stick Shift Suicide and DJ Child Support provide the trailer trash soundtrack.
There is a $5 cover, $3 for anyone dressed in their trailer trash best. Costumes will be judged by the Harbor City Roller Dames.
The Acceleratii is a four-man rockabilly, psychobilly, rock band. The highlight of their MySpace bio: “Among the group’s many treatments of early rock, jump blues, country, swing, classic punk and psychobilly are many of the Acceleratii’s new original tunes, which should appeal to all fans of these genres — especially if you’re 6 years old.” Stick Shift Suicide is a local rock/metal band.
The Shack Pack gets in the Christmas spirit
The Shack Pack, the jazz band of Randy Lee, Billy Barnard, Jerry Siptroth and Steven Garrington — with Peter Provost singing — is performing its Christmas show this weekend. Expect classic tunes like “Santa Baby,” “White Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Winter Wonderland,” with a touch of Vegas lounge style.
Shows are at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets for dinner (choice of prime rib, salmon, shrimp or chicken Alfredo) and the performance are $25.
Local comedian Ted Schick is opening the show. On Friday, young magician Jake Roeber joins the lineup at the Shack in Superior.
Skillet rocks for Christ at the DECC
The Christian hard rock band Skillet is touring in support of its August CD release “Awake,” which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The band’s material has been featured in specialized niches: “Monster” was the official theme song for one college conference’s week of football, is part of the soundtrack on MTV’s “Bully Beatdown,” and during a special on the 25th anniversary of WrestleMania. Skillet’s release “Hero,” is featured on the video game WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010, and on commercials for Sunday Night Football.
Skillet’s first album, “Comatose,” got a Grammy Award nomination.
Also performing: Hawk Nelson, Decyfer Down, and the Letter Black.
GO SEE IT
Who: Skillet
When: 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Auditorium
Tix: $24.50 plus fees
Tags: arts and entertainment, best bets, life, music, superior, cloquet, entertainment, food, restaurants, bar, concert
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