Articles

Catching up with local composer Ryan Rapsys

From scoring Craig Blacklock DVDs and Duluth Playhouse productions to cooking up thought-provoking short films and running his own record label, Duluth native Ryan Rapsys is sure up to the task of making his mama proud.

• Rapsys
• Duluth’s Ryan Rapsys gets music on iTunes (ONLINE EXCLUSIVE)
• CD Reviews: New releases from Ryan Rapsys and Clearwater Hot Club

CD Reviews: Dante Pirtle, Barbie Bangkok and Matt and Kim

Albums enjoyed this week: Dante Pirtle's "Pirtlean," Barbie Bangkok's "People and Geometry" and Matt and Kim's "Grand."

• "Pirtlean"
• “People and Geometry”
• "Grand"

Taste Test: Buzz Bites and Foosh Energy Mints

Hundreds upon hundreds of new energy products hit the U.S. market every year. So, for this inaugural Taste Test, we're giving two new products from Vroom Foods a spin.

• Foosh Energy Mints
• Buzz Bites

CD Reviews: Bunny Clogs, St. Dominic's Trio, the Belfast Cowboys and Sebastien Grainger

Albums enjoyed this week: "Switch" by St. Dominic's Trio, the Belfast Cowboys' self-titled debut, Sebastien Grainger's "Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains" and Bunny Clogs' "More! More! More!"

• "More! More! More!"
• "Switch"
• "The Belfast Cowboys"
• "Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains"

'The brotherhood of Tepetricy is stronger than ever’

The up-and-coming Twin Cities hard rock outfit Tepetricy has a lot of local ties — four out of its five members are from Duluth, to be exact — so we thought we’d hit them up before their Jan. 10 show at Norm’s.

• Tepetricy

The best albums of 2008, Pts. 1 & 2

Locally, it was another banner year, and the national and international scenes fared just as well. See if your favorite records "made the cut."

• Photo
• The Best Local Music of 2008
• The Best Non-Local Music of 2008
• What the mayor and other Northlanders liked in ’08

What the mayor and other Northlanders liked in ’08

The question was simple: What is your favorite local and non-local album of 2008? See how people like Charlie Parr, Walt Dizzo and Mayor Don Ness answered. (Now with fantastic newness courtesy of Cars & Trucks' Mat Milinkovich and Tony Bennett!)

• "For Emma, Forever Ago"
• The best albums of 2008, Pts. 1 & 2

CD Reviews: Charlie Parr, the Tisdales, Rachael Kilgour and the second Homegrown comp

Another local CD blowout: Charlie Parr's "Roustabout," the Tisdales' "Baker's Dozen," Rachael Kilgour's self-titled debut and the “Homegrown Rawk and/or Roll: Lindquist’s Mix” compilation.

• "Roustabout"
• "Baker's Dozen"
• "Rachael Kilgour"
• "Lindquist’s Mix”

Lorrie Morgan: ‘Getting on stage is my therapy’

Lorrie Morgan is as close to Nashville royalty as they come, and the Budgeteer has an exclusive interview with her. Read on.

• Morgan

Gary Lundstrom unveils Northland-inspired Art Lamps

With the public unveiling of his Great Lake Design studio’s long-in-the-works Art Lamps now a reality, Gary Lundstrom believes he is nearing the zenith of his career.

• Lundstrom at Lizzard's

Columns

Those crazy cheeseheads, Pt. 1 or: The difference between a few bridges

Perhaps a new billboard should read “Next to Superior, We’re Doing All Right.”

• The Daily Telegram

Matthew R. Perrine: Rod Grams is a petty, petty man

Defeated U.S. Senator Rod Grams has set his futile scopes on Jim Oberstar’s seat in Congress, and he’s using every vile trick in the book.

Matthew R. Perrine: The curse of the lowly news clerk

It wasn’t a lack of community support that did in the American National Ballet, Mr. Armando Maldonado, it was me — as sure as I have two thumbs that can point right back at myself. You see, I have a curse. Or am cursed. (Sometimes it’s hard tell the difference.)