5Q :: Videos upon videos of ‘The Duluth Scene’

Unless you’re on the Homegrown Steering Committee, sometimes it’s next to impossible to tell one “Banjo” from the next.

That is, it’s really a task placing all the names with all the faces in the Twin Ports’ ever-expanding music scene.

Shake hands with TheDuluthScene.org, a handy new online destination whose only content so far is videos of local performers performing. Lots and lots of them.

The Web site is spearheaded by one Ryan Dahlberg, who was gracious enough to give us a little more information about his pet project:

Budgeteer: What inspired you to devote so much time and energy into creating The Duluth Scene?

Well, actually this thing happened by accident. I had originally posted one video I had shot of a performance from Charlie Parr and Alan Sparhawk.

That first week the video was downloaded 172 times. As I went to more shows, I posted more videos, and then created a Web site to present them.

Since the very beginning, all my inspiration comes from my viewers: from those first 172 in February 2009 to the 90,000 that have been watched since then — in over 70 countries across the world.

I was impressed by the amount of videos you already have on your site. Do you shoot everything yourself? If so, will you ever expand to allow people to upload their own clips?

Even more impressive are the videos I haven’t had time to add to the site. Of the 460 videos I’ve shot to date, there are only 125 or so that I’ve posted to The Duluth Scene.

I’ve certainly considered letting people contribute directly to the site, and have from time to time posted videos from other people.

What is your connection to the local scene? Do you play in any bands, or are you just a big music lover such as myself?

I’m also known as DJR, aka “The Spinner of Hipness.” I’ve been spinning at Fitger’s Brewhouse since 2008. (He’s currently on hiatus until May.)

This may be a little tough, but ... if you could only talk up one local song to an outsider, which track would you pick to showcase our region’s immense pool of talent?

“Minnesota” by Jerree Small has always been a favorite of mine.

After receiving national attention, sharing the stage with Garrison Keillor on “A Prairie Home Companion” — not to mention frequent appearances on The Duluth Scene — Jerree still calls Superior home.

On a somewhat-related note, what do you think of “Wilcogate” — the whole Wilco becoming an honorary Duluth band situation?

I’m certainly not opposed to Wilco being honored. I would, however, have liked to see a Duluth artist/band receive this praise.

Tags: budge a and e, arts and entertainment, the duluth scene, ryan dahlberg, charlie parr, alan sparhawk, the spinner of hipness, duluth, budgeteer, 5q, djr, youtube, videos, brewhouse, wilcogate