Andrew Olson's weekly column on music for The Reader Weekly Magazine

Fillmore and Other Concert Poster Artists of the mid-1960s: Many artists participated in the creation of images we identify with the 1960s, but posters promoting concerts survive as primary visual touchstones of the era. Between 1966 and 1972, a dozen artists created over 350 posters. Books like The Art of the Fillmore and websites like www.thefountainheads.com have more information on the posters in the show.

The Duluth News Tribune article on the poster show


Jack White Takes Portland

After seeing Jack White play at the WaMu Theater in Seattle, my wife and I caught two White shows in Portland, Oregon the next day.

Jack White Defangs WaMu Theater in Seattle, Washington

Jack White performed at the WaMu Theater in Seattle, Washington last Tuesday and debuted his new solo venture. I’ve seen Jack White perform every year since 2005, with the exception of 2007 when the White Stripes canceled their Fargo, North Dakota show. It also has been since 2005 that I have heard him perform any songs from The White Stripes.

Jukeboxing:

Filling a Jukebox & Thinking Nostalgically About Vinyl

Last December I purchased a 1965 Seeburg Discotheque jukebox from a woman in Nowthen for $375 and had it brought up to Duluth.


Purchasing my 1965 Seeburg Discotheque Jukebox

This past weekend I purchased a 1965 Seeburg Discotheque jukebox from a woman in the Twin Cities.


Classic Rock & Roll Interviews:

Interview with Don Brewer of Grand Funk Railroad

One of the biggest stories in rocklore is about how Grand Funk Railroad was fired by Led Zeppelin for overshadowing them as their opener in the early 1970s. I asked Don to tell me the story of that fateful tour.


Interview with Sam Andrew of Big Brother and the Holding Company

Big Brother and the Holding Company played two sold out shows in Saint Cloud and one in Zumbrota this past year around Mother’s Day . After talking to many promoters and venues around town I haven’t found anyone yet who can help to bring them up to Duluth, but they do play again in Saint Cloud this October 14th and 15th.

Concert Posters & Artists:

Victor Moscoso Interview

“It was the best of times…. Unless you were in Vietnam” – Victor Moscoso



Lee Conklin: Fillmore Artist, Album Cover Designer, and Psychedelic Mindbender

In the 1960s there were parallels to past revolutions. The Boston Massacre was replaced by Kent State, Sit-ins for Civil Rights replaced horrific Battles of a Civil War, and the Common Man of Payne became known as a hippie.


Randy Tuten: Led Zeppelin & Bill Graham Concert Poster Artist Interview

In the mid-1960s making concert posters in San Francisco was similar to Paris a century before when Toulouse Lautrec did posters for The Moulin Rouge. It was a spiritual marriage of music, artists, rebellion, and revolution that made advertising images more important than just rock show ads.


Vinyl Records:

The Duluth Flood Drowned My Record Collection

On Wednesday morning I woke up to my wife telling me that my car had been flooded overnight and that I should maybe check on our basement.

*Article appeared in City Pages Magazine

The Best Caves in the Twin Ports: The Rathskeller at Tycoons and The Vinyl Cave in Superior

On Friday night at Tycoons the Rathskeller was full of brave newcomers and on Saturday the Vinyl Cave in Superior was overflowing with quiet record hounds.

What's On tap in the northland:

The Twin Ports are the Napa Valley of the Northland for Beer

It seems like each week a new brewery is opening up in the Northland, making the area like the Napa Valley of beer.


The Rex Bar - Happy Hour with a View, or a Fun Night Out

The new deck area at the Rex Bar, located in the lower level of Fitgers Plaza, has one of the most beautiful views in the city and drink specials that will entice any thrifty visitor.

Artists of Northern Minnesota:

Skatradioh: Pinnacle of Local Concert Poster Art

David Moreira, better known in the art world as Skatradioh, has taken local concert poster art to an entirely new level. Last Saturday at the new Ochre Ghost Gallery in downtown Duluth there were some amazing pieces created by Skatradioh on display. A UMD student, Moreira has a fresh perspective on this classic art form. CLICK HERE FOR A NEW ARTICLE ABOUT SKATRADIOH'S SHOW AT THE TWEED


SkatRadioh defines Occupy Duluth movement through his art

David Moreira, known in the art world as SkatRadioh, created an amazing logo for the movement that transcends the social contract argument being waged around the country. It features the iconic local image of the lift bridge with the words, “Occupy Duluth” written below.



Jeredt Runions: Wilderness Pop Artist

Jeredt Runions performs with paint and artistic insight while on stage with local musicians like Cloud Cult, Trampled By Turtles, and Retribution Gospel Choir.

Local Duluth Reviews:

Toby Thomas Churchill: Death

A few months ago Toby Thomas Churchill released his first solo album and exposed his musical soul through an array of catchy tunes.


The Black Eyed Snakes

The Black Eyed Snakes played for a large crowd at Pizza Luce’ this past Saturday night after debuting a few videos and performing at the Zinema 2.

Cover Stories and Photos: