Our special guest today was Dan Murphy. You may know him from Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks or Golden Smog – but soon you’re going to know him from The Scarlet Goodbye. They are playing November 26 at The Hook and Ladder with Low Rats and Butter Boys and then December 18 at Palace Theatre, opening for The Jayhawks and Matt Wilson and His Orchestra.
After an 8-year hiatus from music, Dan met Jeff Arundel (who has his own long history in Minnesota music) and the new connection renewed a passion for music and they started playing together. They sound great together; they have unlocked new talents in each other and it was fun to hear how that’s happening. Dan sings more than we’ve heard in the past; Jeff is turning up the volume. The sum of the parts is more!
We got to hear a few of the new songs. Both Heather and I are partial to Angel Dust but it’s our immediate favorite in a great group. Fresh New Hell is a unique look at our past couple of years and it serves as a prescient cautionary tale. It’s about the pandemic, but Dan wrote it in January-February of 2020, just before the shutdown. He’s very honest about his naiveté about the virus at the time – but we were all naïve. I love the generosity of putting it on album. We also played Celebrated Summer, a campfire version of Hüsker Dü’s song. As pure a fan as I am of Hüsker Dü – this cover is great, very different vibe but a great vibe for today.
Speaking of covers, that was the theme for the day. We were looking for a cover of a Minnesota band, a Minnesota band covering a song or Minnesota band covering a Minnesota song. Thanks to everyone who sent us requests and/or their own music. We didn’t get through it all so we’re going to do covers 2.0 next week. (Not too late to chime in!)
You can listen to playlist on Spotify (might have some of next week’s surprises too) or check out the list below:
| Artist | Song | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Red Pens | Helter skelter | minnesota beatles project |
| Dessa | Balance | I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats: All Hail West Texas |
| Partyflower | Funkytown | Funkytown – Single |
| Babes In Toyland | We Are Family (Ben Grosse Nemesisters Chic Dub Mix) | We Are Family – EP |
| The 99ers | Queen of the Surf | Stand Up and Surf |
| The New Standards | The Book of Love | Sunday Morning Coming Down |
| Davina and The Vagabonds | Heavenly Day | Sunshine |
| Leslie Vincent | Ain’t Misbehavin’ | These Foolish Things |
| Jillian Rae | When Doves Cry | When Doves Cry – Single |
| Justin Townes Earle | Can’t Hardly Wait | Midnight At the Movies |
| Hüsker Dü | Love Is All Around | Eight Miles High / Makes No Sense At All – EP |
| Solid Gold | Danger Zone | Synchronize – EP |
| The Jayhawks | Lights (From Sweet Relief: A Benefit for Victoria Williams) [1993] | Music from the North Country – The Jayhawks Rarities |
| Tina Schlieske | With a Little Help from My Friends | Sweet Relief III: Pennies from Heaven |
| Charlie Parr | Jesus on the Mainline | Glory in the Meeting House |
| Sarah Morris | Hold Me Now (feat. Graham Bramblett) | Between Here and There – EP |
Mostly Minnesota 