Performing every 2d and 4th Wednesday at the Whiskey Junction in Minneapolis

MOJO ROOTS have been performing  for the past 14 years; providing a musical alternative to the home grown, agriculturally provocative, party-down atmosphere of the Minnesota State Fair; performing nightly at Cafe Caribe. In fact the group was created by mick laBriola to exclusively work only at the State Fair with a few special-event exceptions. Recently Markiss, MOJO ROOTS guitarist and lead man, has moved back to the Twin Cities. As a result the trio is ready to get-down and shake up the local music scene, with an enticing aura of exuberance and boogie down jams coagulating Blues, R & B, Reggae, Ska, Second Line, Funk, Soul and International Rhythms. In addition MOJO ROOTS can, on demand, provide exclusive  genre performances accordingly. In other words we can perform an all Blues or Reggae set or sets for whatever occasion.

Starting in February 2012 we well perform every 2d and 4th  Wednesday at Whiskey Junction http://thewhiskeyjunction.com/  in the historic West Bank in south Minneapolis; alternating Wednesdays with the Lost Marbles.

Check us out and I’m sure you will dig our eclectic mix of old school jams.

• State Fair Musical Impressions/Mojo Roots -Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010

by mick laBriola-Camden News-4-1-12

With an undaunted air of confidence and a tranquil disposition, singer-songwriter and guitarist Lorenzo Michelutti insists; “I always knew what I wanted to do from a very early age.” Lorezo is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for his premier music project, “Concentual.” This spelling means to possess harmony. Concentual is a four piece rock band that has captured the hearts and praise of many of the midwest’s top venues and artists, being touted as the “next big thing” in the Twin Cities. You can check the group out at http://www.facebook.com/Concentual

In addition to music, Lorenzo works as an IT (information technology) recruiter for Robert Half Technology (http://www.roberthalftechnology.com/). He helps place highly skilled computer professionals on various projects. Lorenzo currently lives in Spring Lake Park and co-parents his six year old daughter, Eva.

Born in Ohio, Lorenzo moved to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota in 1990 with his parents Guido and Genny and brother Alex. His parents and brother are originally from Italy, and he is the first in his family to be born in the U.S. At age six Lorenzo’s grandpa Ermes, gave Lorenzo a tape recorder. This gesture launched Lorenzo into what would become a lifelong passion; music! “I started writing songs at that time. I would turn the tape recorder on and sing my own little melodies and make words up; my lyrics.”

“By fifth or sixth grade I started writing poetry. And around that same time I asked Mom if I could get a guitar; thankfully she said yes! As early as I can remember I wanted to be Elvis. Soon I had my first guitar-a Samick ‘strat copy’ with a 15XR Crate amp. I took lessons for about three months at Schmidt Music in Brooklyn Center with Paul Krueger. I wanted to learn how to play accompaniment chords so I could write my own songs. Ever since then I have been self-taught. However, when I was 22, though (and in the band Civilian), I took vocal lessons from Cara Mastrey, sister of Tawn Mastrey; a former DJ at 93X.”

“Over the next few years, I kept writing until I put together my first band, ‘Mezzanine Stair’, while I was attending Osseo High School. This was a 4 piece group from about 1997-99. After that I focused on college.”

Lorenzo graduated in 2002 from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. After college he started playing solo acoustic gigs. He performed a series of acoustic gigs at the New Dehli Bar, and took one-off shows, opening for national acts like Sondre Lerche, the Golden Republic, and others at local hot spots such as the Fine Line Music Cafe, and even headlined an acoustic evening at First Avenue’s Mainroom. In 2007 “Concentual” was looking for a lead vocalist and Lorenzo started performing with the band, which currently does 80 to 85 shows per year.

Concentual has been working on original material for the past couple of years and started looking for local producers last fall. They found James Harley of World Record Productions who has a substantial client list ranging from Lucinda Williams to Quietdrive to Prince. Concentual plans on releasing three EP’s (extended play recordings) over an 18 month period. “It’s important to stay in front of peoples faces. If you release a full album people will attach themselves to a few cuts and forget about the rest of the music. Give people two or three songs, let it marinate in their ears and they’ll be ready for more later.”

The EP release approach was introduced to Lorenzo and his bandmates by a pivotal figure in the American music industry, Bob Lefsetz. Bob writes a email newsletter and blog called “the Lefsetz Letter” which expounds on the diminishing role of the major labels; the decline of physical musical formats; the prevalence of Peer-to-Peer file-sharing; and the need for legitimate distribution.

“The work really begins after the recording. Now we work our asses off to promote our work. Record labels have no power anymore. Now, you see many old cats from famous bands on the road. They have to play live to stay in business. You can’t just hide behind record sales anymore.”

Starting May 4th Concentual will start a soft sell of the first EP; doing a fund raiser at O’Gara’s Garage in St Paul for “Rock the Cure”. This is a benefit for Breast Cancer including artists such as Tim Mahoney, GB Leighton, Molly Maher and her Disbelievers, and Hookers and Blow. The Concentuals official EP release date will be on Saturday July 28th at Bunkers with July Fighter and La Madness.

“I often get my inspiration from non-music related things like reading books and watching movies. I get a vision about a song and it’s like I’m writing a sound track for that vision. Sometimes I start with a word or phrase or melody, with no rhyme or reason. Just whatever inspires me at that moment. I love playing dirty rock & roll and sometimes love writing a ballad.”

“There is a quote that comes to me every-time I’m writing music, by Leonardo da Vinci; ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’.”

by mick laBriola-Camden News-3-1-12

An electric-luminescent glow of enthusiasm emanates from the highly energetic and passionately motivated musician Pwajdeur (pronounced water) Swanstrom. He is a guitarist, singer-songwriter and bandleader for his current musical endeavor, HypNoXIOUs. Pwajdeur identifies HypNoXIOUs as an original alternative-progressive-indie rock band. You can hear this group at http://vimeo.com18960396 or at www.myspace.com/hypnoxious. Pwajdeur has two children: his daughter Serendipity, 12, and son Cavishaw, 9.

Music has been a life-long passion for Pwajdeur. And in addition to his musical exploits, he is CEO for a food-seasoning company for popcorn called “Pwajdeurcorn” (distributed at Whole Foods) that he started about three or four years ago; he sells electronics at Sam’s Club part-time; and is a full-time student at Minneapolis Community and Technical College majoring in Sound Arts.

He and his wife, Gera Exire La Tour, have lived in north Minneapolis for about two years and are very proud 2011 Tornado survivors. Gera (gera_latour@hotmail.com) is the President Emeritus • Member at Large for the Minnesota Brewers Association (mnbrewers.com), a collection of home brewers of all levels of experience located in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. It’s member’s interests run the gamut from those who brew using extract kits, to all-grain mashers, to those who simply appreciate and enjoy good beer. Gera also teaches the BJCP Exam Prep Class Organizer at Beer Judging Certification Program (www.bjcp.org). Pwajdeur emphasizes, “It’s about the smell, mouth feel, color and taste.”

Pwajdeur and Gera’s home was hit by last May’s tornado, that pounded north Minneapolis. Pwajdeur recounted the shocking event: “Gera was sitting at the computer and heard something. The power in the house went off and on! You could feel a pressure mounting in and around the house, Gera heard a rumble and something like thunder and ran in the basement!” Fortunately, Gera was not hurt. But the house sustained heavy damage, including replacement of the roof, ceilings and walls. Pwajdeur and Gera had to relocate to a hotel and an apartment for four months.

Pwajdeur grew up in south Minneapolis near 50th and Portland and attended Washburn High School. He lived with his step-brothers Steve and Matt. He also had two more siblings living in Texas, Amy and Mark. Pwajdeur remembers his first music experiences listening to his brother Mark’s record collection of rock, heavy metal and 80′s music at about age three or four. He recalls the Beatles, the Bee Gees and Styx. He recounts later hearing his Mom’s collection of music, ranging from Linda Ronstadt to Jim Croce to Paul Simon.

Pwajdeur enthusiastically recalls, “Then I met my instruments. While visiting Texas, usually about twice a year, I picked up my first guitar at age 12. My brother Mark played bass and his friend Tom played guitar and provided an opportunity that remained with me throughout my life.” Pwajdeur immediately took the guitar seriously, “ I started taking lessons and loved making sounds on the guitar. I remember listening to Adrian Belew from King Crimson.”

“I played guitar forever. My first guitar was a rental of a Les Paul copy, not even an Epiphone. Then I obtained an Ibanez RG 430 with EMG 61 active pickups. I had my rock and my Carvin double-stack amplifier. I played from Junior High all throughout High School and was always in a band. But the most memorable band was ‘Raging Saints.’ Then I had a very long hiatus.”

“In 1991 I had a motorcycle accident, and the bike landed on my head. I was in a coma for two weeks; enough time to be gone forever. I had incurred a TBI, a traumatic brain injury, inflicting damage to my frontal lobe area. This required OT and PT, Occupational and Physical therapy and was very extensive. All of this took about 10 years of my life. I had to learn how to walk and talk again but I got it back.”

Before the inception of HypNoXIOUs Pwajdeur performed with many music projects: Arcasm, Illusion, Azone, Oyster Salad and the Way Cools among others.

I was very curious about Mr. Swanstrom’s first name, Pwajdeur. His birth name is Timothy Swanstrom, however he had a dream that revealed an alternative name that he legally adopted. Pwajdeur expressed, “I had a dream about this name, it came out of the ocean; a name that was inscribed in the sand. It was so clear and vivid. And there was a shimmering rain falling, very metallic looking. And there was my name, Pwajdeur, written in the sand coming out of the water.”

This month on Tuesday, March 13th, Pwajdeur will be performing with HypNoXIOUs at the Fine line Music Cafe, in downtown Minneapolis, located at 318 North 1st Avenue; 612-338-8100.

HypNoXIOUs music explores “Jane’s Addiction mixed with U2, mixed with Yello, mixed with PortisHead, mixed with Soul Coughing, mixed with Led Zeplike Alice in Chains on a mystical retreat with Prince in a cold sweat on Mars with Bowie singing Sinatra with Cobains rasp and Jeff Buckley’s butterflies and the soul of Freddie Mercury.

Pwajdeur recapitulates, ““HypNoXIOUs was a culmination of my music writing for a long time and the rebirth of many ideas over the years. Dedication, many efforts, taking the music seriously and having a good time!” He describes it as, “Making music, writing songs, performing outlandish songs that tap the very essence of oomph.”

by mick laBriola-Camden News-4-1-12

In the late 60′s and early 70′s an abundance of musical talent was emerging from the the Twin Cities. This very powerful and dynamic Rhythm and Blues movement would help put the Twin Cities on the national musical map; producing hard hitting grooves. At the very core of it’s inception, keyboardist & multi-instrumentalist (mandolin, fiddle, dobro, banjo, harmonica and accordion) Bruce Jackson became an integral part of this legacy.

The magnanimous and rapturous Bruce Jackson is a musician, songwriter, bandleader, certified piano tuner and music educator living in the Camden area. He and his partner, Beth Ann Hedman Dodds are recent arrivals to the northside. Bruce’s daughter Cindy lives in Bloomington, Minnesota. She has two boys, Jackson 11 and Thomas seven.

Beth is a vocalist, formally singing with the choir at St. Georges Episcopal Church in St. Louis Park. She is the site coordinator for the Loaves and Fishes dining facility in Coon Rapids and sub-coordinator for the Richfield location. Loaves and Fishes have ten locations including suburban facilities. Beth invites musicians to perform at the “soup kitchens”. Beth states “We are always looking for musicians to serve the community. Bruce and I ‘Cook & Play’, and along with other musicians have actually prepared meals for up to 150 people and then play music afterwords.”

Bruce and Beth are both members of a jazzy, funky, folky, bluesy music project called MOONDOGS88; conceived in 2001. The band is hoping to release their first CD by the summer of 2012. You can sample their music or contact Bruce for bookings at: http://moondogs88.com/moondogs88.com/Welcome.html

Bruce was among the plethora of outstanding musicians that emanated from the White Bear Lake area. Bruce grew up only about a half a mile from the preeminent vocalist Doug Maynard. And together they performed, recorded and created songs for about a decade. “I remember playing hockey with Doug at Beach School in White Bear Township, and knew him in high school.”

Music was abundant in Bruce’s childhood. He recalls at about age five hearing the delightful turn-of-the-century, parlor-music piano-playing of his grandmother, Loretta Pearl Jackson. “I remember hearing ‘Cotton Fields’ and country music like Hank Williams and Marty Robbins. And I’ve got old reel-to-reel tapes of her singing. Then there was Aunt Betty Jean, the meat-and-potatoes piano player. Whose rich lush chords implemented sixths and seconds. Betty Jean would play music of jazz giant George Shearing.”

“Later I remembered dancing with my sister Judy (named after Minnesota girl Judy Garland) to Elvis’s ‘Heartbreak Hotel’. And there was an old RCA Victrola LP record player. It was placed in a corner of the house where kids couldn’t get to it.”

By the age of 12 Bruce was playing guitar, emulating the music of the Beach Boys and the Beatles. He played at talent shows and car shows. The muscle car phenomena was influenced by his two older brothers Bill and Bob. At age 15 or 16, Bruce was playing a red-italian Farfisa electric keyboard. His first band was “The Uncalled Four”. And by high school he had a more serious project. A R&B soul band called “Soul Syndicate”. “I went from Rock to R&B to Miles Davis.”

In 1970 or 71 Bruce joined “The Marauders” with Doug Maynard, performing jazz and R&B tunes. Later the band turned into a space funk group called “Yak Yak Boom” without Maynard, leaving other members to cover the vocals. “Whatever we did, we took it out. Never did a song for three minuets, we jammed it out! I got connected with the whole Minneapolis music industry—we were hooked up!”

Bruce continued to work with Doug Maynard in the “Space Heaters” at the 400 bar and later working with “The Doug Maynard Band”. Bruce released an album called “Lullaby”. The “Angel in the Garden” was co-written with Doug Maynard; produced on Cold Wind Records, by Tim “Dr. Dog” Bradach (http://www.coldwind.com/). The recording also included Bruce “Creeper” Kurnow and Bobby “Stinger” Schnitzer who were known as the Highland Park Boys. Bruce and Doug were the Bear Town Boys.

While studying music theory at Lakewood Junior College in 1977, Bruce’s career became permanently transformed. Bruce started taking piano lessons with a legally blind bossa nova jazz painist and keyboardist from São Paulo, Brazil; Manfredo Fest. “He would sit you down on the same piano bench that he was seated at, turn the cassette deck on and start playing up and down the 88′s. He taught me how to really play! Manfredo showed me how to create your own mix.” In 1999 my Dad passed away and two weeks later Manfredo also died; I was devastated!”

From 1980 thru 1988 Bruce worked at Torp’s Music in St Paul, a musicians instrument staple at the time. In 1987-88 he worked with “Mambos Combo”. And in 1990 joined the reggae band “Ipso Facto”. Ipso won the “Best Unsigned Band in the World” award and obtained a recording contract from Epic Records. Later in the 90′s Bruce worked with the “617 House Band”.

Bruce teaches at Evans Music; located at 2182 3rd St in White Bear Lake 55110 (651) 429-0236. And will start teaching very soon at the Camden School of Music at 3751 Sheridan Ave North 55412 (612) 618-0219.

The MOONDOGS88 currently perform at Manitou Station Resturant, 617 Lounge, Tally’s Dockside and Admiral D’s all located in White Bear Lake, MN. Beth and Bruce have been writing music together and want to “Get the one on the wall that sticks.” They have a great bunch of guys in the group and are constantly looking for new places to perform.

Bruce contemplates, “In music, the more you know, the less you know—the deeper it gets.”

THE MAYDAY CELEBRATION HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND RESCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY MAY 13TH, 2012

mick will be up to his usual antics and maniacal disposition at the 38th annual MAYDAY celebration at Powerhorn Park in south Minneapolis.

Starting with the parade, mick will be a drumming hallucination, performing with the Community Band led by Steve Sandberg. 1 pm: Parade begins at the corner of 25th Street E. and Bloomington Ave. S., and travels south on Bloomington to 34th St. E., where the parade turns west towards Powderhorn Park, where the parade ends and the MayDay Ceremony and Festival begins, at approximately 3pm.

mick will then, very exhaustively prepare for the Ceremony as Cue Director for a 200-person pageant that re-tells the story of that year’s parade, with children and adult dancers, puppeteers, a live orchestra and four giant serene puppets who represent the Prairie, Sky, River, and Woods. It culminates in the Tree of Life Ceremony: to the steady beating of drums, a resplendent red Sun Flotilla paddles the Sun from across the lake to the shore where the Tree of Life sleeps, waiting to be reawakened.

After the Ceremony comes to a rousing finale, mick will prepare for his 6-8pm performance on the cement stage next to the Ceremony site for Reggae music with “POSITIVE VIBRATIONS”. Yes mon come check out de riddems and vibrations of Jah Jah Blessings!

mick and Daughter Maya

Reggae with Positive Vibrations; members of the Maroons

by mick laBriola · Camden News 2-1-12

Engagement, articulation, emotion and tranquility are a few of the predominant characteristics emanating from the austere studio of David Cunningham. With a very confident and sensitive disposition, David is a serious oil painter aspiring to continually evolve his art work. You can view his work on his web site.

David was raised in north Minneapolis, in the Camden neighborhood, with three brothers, four sisters and his very ambitious parents. David recalls at the young age of 6 watching his brother Jeremy draw, and his cousin Joshua paint. Both artists apprenticed with fresco painter Mark Balma of Excelsior, Minnesota. David remembers asking Jeremy at age 12 what school he should attend for art studies, but nothing came of this at the time. Then at age 16, while attending high school, David began attending classes part time at the Atelier Studio Program of Fine Art in Minneapolis. And the relationship he developed with the Atelier Program would have an enduring and substantial impact on David’s entire artistic career.

After high school, David enrolled in the Atelier for four years, completing his studies in 2006. The Atelier Program melds formal 19th-century academic training with influences of the French Impressionists. Since its inception in 1970, the Atelier has had a tremendous impact on the entire academic world of French Impressionist, Renaissance and Realist schools, stressing draftsmanship and the historical “sight size” method. David emulated the work of John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn and Joaquin Sorolla. The Atelier offers no degree in Art, but rather implements a foundation for learning mind, eye, and hand coordination skills.

For his post-academic work, David ventured forth to Argentina, taking up water-color landscape creations, living out-of-his-back-pack, and residing for 6 months in the Andes Mountains of Patagonia in the town of El Bolson. This is an area that is a four-to-18 mile hike to get to: no cars or roads; middle of the mountains; only horses allowed. On his return to the Twin Cities, David brought back water-color work that he exhibited in local art crawls and coffee houses.

While back in Minnesota, David dropped water colors and continued doing landscapes in oils; for the next two years in and around Minnesota and Wisconsin living out-of-his-car. As he re-emerged back home in 2009, he acquired a modest apartment and a studio space at the Casket Arts Building in North East Minneapolis.

“Painting is a release valve, letting off all pressure”, David expresses. “Since I got out of school, I want to find my own thing. I have plenty of connections in Minneapolis, I know a lot of people; I can find cheap rent and extra work if I need it. And my work is moderately priced from around $1,000 to $4,000 per piece. I want to evolve my work to where I want to be: I have a lot of freedom and maybe I can find one exclusive gallery and perhaps put out 50 pieces per year, getting my working method down and learning more skills. For the past year I was doing indoor bar and cafe subjects; now I’m working on an outdoor perspective”.

David articulates further, “I started out at Atelier with the bare essentials, did charcoal for three years, drawing plaster casts. Got my discipline or technical abilities and it gave me the nuts and bolts. When I am done learning, I will be dead! My best work gets across emotion, in the simplest terms: just simplicity! My goal is to get across an emotion — all sensual, not intellectual — just emotions!

David now enlightened me about his process, “I see painting being into music! Andy Warhol said, the reason I paint is to listen to music! I (David) listen to music dancing around, it helps me process, amusing my models. Music is very important! I start out with a broad idea or photograph; I may take one item and create something in a half hour. I may leave the idea and let it sit, problem solving, sleeping on them. I keep a template, and expand other ideas or whatever I feel at that moment the painting becomes”.

Currently, he adds, “I am doing Street Photography. I find a street composition, catching the moment (an impressionist quote), and shoot a lot. It is an inspiration.

A little template, stages empty streets. This is the best time of the year for me, a doable time, calculating angles. Forty-five minutes shooting photos will lead to a larger piece incorporating models and other things. The viewpoint is so important and the “Eye Level”, how you see it from your body, from where you are standing, perspective points from eye level”.

Finally, David shares,”I am very rooted here and have a huge extended family. I can sell east to west, move somewhere, and move back. Drawing is a meditation, the amount of focus is incredible. My focus is on satisfying myself, and I’m getting there. But never be too satisfied, you only get better and better. To be able to paint is not easy, you must learn how to do it”. David’s favorite painters are Rembrandt and George Inness.

 by mick laBriola-Camden News-10-1-11

Emanating a great deal of confidence, Korey Hicks is a hard-driving guitarist knocking out crisp tones, smooth licks and a powerful country twang on his vintage collection of Fender and Gibson guitars. Korey is a Twin-Cities-based guitarist and guitar instructor. You can visit his website at koreyhicks.com to hear samples of his music. And his performance schedule is posted at chrisbrooksband.com for his current band “Chris Brooks and the Silver City Boys”.

Korey is a full-time stay-at-home Dad who resides with his wife, Andrea, and their 17-month-old daughter, Charlotte. They have lived on the northside since 2006. The family lives in a house built in the 1950s by Andrea’s grandparents, the Hodgsons.

Korey is originally from Rochester, Minnesota, and moved to the Twin Cities in 2000. He shared one of his earliest musical experiences with me: “I remember going to the music store with my dad, Donald, and he bought a Les Paul guitar when I was six years old. My dad played Blues and Rock and performed with his local church worship service; he also had a vast record collection that influenced me alot.” This obviously made an impression on Korey, but he insists that he did not really have an interest in music then. Even though at nine years old his Dad did want Korey to pursue music.

Finally, at age 13 or 14, Korey took the leap and immersed himself in what would become his future career. He quickly digested his sister Kim’s record collection as well. Korey considers himself self-taught; he read through tons of instruction books and biographies of musicians, as well as practiced on a regular basis.

While attending Plainview High School in Plainview, Minnesota, Korey performed with his band “The White Hotel”. The group’s first performance was at the Jon Hassler Theater in Plainview, affiliated with the Rural America Arts Partnership. He was with the band until he was 18. Korey expressed to his amazement, “I learned Blues through Dad’s record collection, studied Jazz in college, and now I make my living in a Country Band!”

In 2001 and 2002 Korey attended summer Guitar Sessions at Berklee School of Music in Boston. The sessions emphasized practical playing experience through a variety of classes, clinics, and performance activities. In 2003 Korey moved to Boston to become a full-time student at Berklee College. Two years later he returned to the Twin Cities and graduated Magna Cum Laude from McNally Smith College of Music, in St. Paul, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Guitar Performance. Over this period of time Korey performed with Shelby’s Voyage, a top-40 band: Iron Horse, a Country band; and the St. Croix United Methodist Praise Band in Lakeville.

Korey emphasized, “I had the Maximized Experience: for two years I would practice from 5am to 7:30am, work till 5:30pm, teach from 6 to 10pm and come home and practice again.” Korey taught at Swift School of Music in St. Paul and the Riff Factory (Guitar Center affiliate) in Roseville. Since then, Korey has played over 800 shows regionally and has opened for artists such as Chris Duarte, Thompson Square, Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith (Muddy Waters) and Indigenous. Korey received special recognition performing for Whiskey Junction’s “Guitar Extravaganza” in 2009 and winning the Guitar Center’s “Guitarmageddon” in 2007.

Korey finds his current project working with Chris Brooks (former lead singer of The Mason Dixons) very fulfilling. “In Country music I get to play a lot of guitar, and we have played for huge crowds opening up for acts like Little Texas, Two Tons of Steel, Dale Watson and Troy Olsen.

With another child on the way, however, Korey was considering moving to Austin, Texas. He has done several auditions for national acts to perhaps broaden his income. The current state of the music industry is very challenging for musicians these days! Work is very competitive, and not as plentiful as it once was prior to the internet boom.

Korey shared, “ I learned for myself that some types of musicians play for themselves, which is important– like the reflections of David Liebman on his book “Self Portrait of a Jazz Artist” – and some play for other people. That’s why I chose Country music. I want to make other people happy when I play music.”

by mick laBriola-Camden News-11-1-11

The gracious, pleasant and joyful Larry Greenstein is a life-long northsider dedicating his career to Traditional American and Celtic Fiddling, in addition to working as a Guitarist/Singer, Playwright, a Recreational Therapist and fundraiser for the Guthrie Theater. You can reach him via his web site, fiddlertogo.com, to see what he is up to. He is truly a Community Artist dedicating his career to the service of others, rather than exclusively showcasing his talents in the performance arena. I think we should have an award for every lifetime northside artist: The “Northside Lifetime Artist Achievement Award.” What do you guys think?

Larry was born on the northside at Queens Avenue Maternity Home, originally located at Glenwood and Plymouth Avenues, and lived with his parents, Joe and Maria Greenstein, and his sister Rachel. The family moved to Larry’s current residence, where he has been since 1969. He lives with his wife, Jodi, and daughter, Hannah. Jodi works as a social worker in Golden Valley.

Maria, Larry’s mother, played mandolin and sang Polish and Ukrainian music around the home, which had a strong influence on Larry’s music career. Larry recalls first playing violin around age eight or ten, while attending John Hay Elementary School, once located at Penn and Oakland. He also was taking violin lessons from Catholic nuns at St. Joseph’s Church, once located at I-94 and Plymouth Avenue. His dad, Joe, had a grocery store, the Bargain Price Market, and was known as the “Pumpkin Man. Through his generosity hundreds of free pumpkins were distributed to school kids on “Pumpkin Day” in north Minneapolis (see the full story). Joe was also an Alderman in the 5th Ward. Larry pleasantly remembers taking a bus to the grocery store after school and then walking to his violin lessons at St. Joseph’s Church.

Larry continued playing music in the orchestra at John Hay Elementary, and then carried on music at Lincoln Junior High, switching to percussion, specifically the snare drum. Later, attending Shattuck Military School (St Mary’s) – a boarding school in Fairbault, MN -

Larry again switched instruments, this time to the Bass Drum. There he befriended Doug Humphrey, son of Minnesota Political Legend, Hubert H Humphrey.

In 1973 Larry earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater from the University of Minnesota. While attending college Larry developed his skills as a playwright, and in 1978/79 became a Jerome Foundation Resident Playwright at the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis for one year.

Although Larry received critical reviews for a production of an original work entitled “The Caucus” at Chimera Theater in 1981, he decided to re-direct his continuing education to Human Services; he next earned a Masters Degree in Therapeutic Recreation.

But he kept writing plays. He has had plays produced at the Lakeshore Players (”The Trotsky Rebellion”), Storytalers Children’s Theater (”The Littlest Snowflake”), and most recently the Northfield Arts Guild (”Alternate Bass Strum,” “King of the Fiddlers,” and “Homeless TV Segment.”) In October of 2011 his play, “Alternate Bass Strum”, was also featured at the Roy Arias Theater, near Times Square in New York City.

Larry worked as a Recreational Therapist through the 1980s and 90s, touring and performing on Guitar, conducting “Sing-a-Longs” in Nursing and Group Homes and Adult Day Care Centers, as well as doing one-to-one sessions for patients. Larry also directed several Theater groups for seniors.

In 2001/02 Larry created a new business called “Fiddler To Go”, a little Celtic and Old Time Fiddle music for parties, classrooms or historical events. Larry exclaimed, “If you ever need a fiddler of ole time music give me a call.”

He has performed for events at many locations: Heritage Days and Solstice at Three Rivers Parks; Murphy’s Landing (reenactment of 1800′s settler village); Gale Wood Farm and North Mississippi Regional Park; NE Minneapolis Arts Crawl; Spring Valley Historical Society; and at Elementary and Pre-Schools, and facilities for Seniors. Larry also worked for 15 years on the Ski Patrol for Three Rivers Parks.

On December 3rd  Larry will be performing at Murphy’s Landing (now called “The Landing”) for the “39th Annual Folkways of the Holidays” from 10am-4pm. The Landing is located at 2187 Highway 101 East in Shakopee, MN 55379 or call 763-694-7784. Larry will also perform on December 10th for “Gifts of the Holidays, Craft, Art & Food Fair” held at Crystal Community Center located at 4800 Douglas Drive in Crystal, MN 55429 or call 763-360-0588.

Larry articulates, “The kind of music I play is traditional and Celtic fiddling, not bar or club music. I feel young people should get started early. And if they’re lucky enough to do this it is very rewarding. North Minneapolis youth have access to as much music and art as possible. Not just to make a living, but to enjoy Living, as much as possible.”

Currently there are Grants available to bring Artists into your school.

mick laBriola has been educating and entertaining children in schools, since the creation of his first Assembly Program called the Maroons (music of the English speaking Caribbean) back in 1986. Since then mick has created two additional Assembly Programs, Karibuni (music of the Congo) and Maqam (music of the middle east) to further educate audiences about Culture & Music.

In 1994 mick joined the roster of Artists with the Minnesota State Arts Board, and created a Residency-Workshop program called a Rhythm Roots Workshop working in dozens of schools over the years; and providing all instruments to all students for the duration of the Residency.

Please look into a possible Grants for your school through either of the following organizations:

• Compas
• Minnesota State Arts Board

mick laBriola · Camden News-1-1-12

Anthony Rocco Sclavi has a riveting, high-intense energy that is as contagious as it is captivating. He has managed to harness this ubiquitous reservoir of insight and implement it into his art work.

Anthony is a Freelance Artist, whose focus has been in Painting & Drawing in the fields of Abstract and Representational. He is also the Creative Director for BRIO Books; a book-publishing service for self-publishing authors and small presses. And when Anthony has spare time he plays guitar and records in the studio. Anthony’s web site address is www.sclavi.net

Anthony has lived on the northside for about five years in the Camden neighborhood. He is a full-time Dad raising his five-and-a half-year-old son Rocco. Anthony’s brother Dan also shares the home; Dan also works for BRIO at their warehouse in Northeast Minneapolis in shipping and receiving.

Anthony recalls, “I remember while attending kindergarten trying to replicate the rooster on the Corn Flakes box, and since then I’ve had an affinity toward roosters. In the Chinese horoscope I am the Rooster! I started working with oil paint at about 12 years old and further cultivated my art interest taking summer classes at the University of Wisconsin-Superior at about 13.” Anthony grew up in Superior, Wisconsin. Throughout high school Anthony took three art classes per year, later continuing art studies at the University of Minnesota in Duluth.

Next, Anthony had a four-year hiatus, redirecting his focus from painting and drawing to music. He played guitar with a heavy metal band called “Outside the Fences” during this period. But finally he returned to his academic pursuits, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Arts, in 2007, from the University of Minnesota. Anthony currently plays guitar with a group called “Manchild” but primarily records; rarely performing live. He began his musical pursuits at 12.

Anthony became very enterprising while transitioning from academia to the job market. Very excitedly articulating, “While bartending at Cafe Havana I was able to market my freelance Paintings to customers.” This was indeed remarkable. “And in 2008 while pounding the streets for work I had a lucky break. I had been working at Hotel Sofitel with my friend Dan and one day I randomly met with Dan at the BRIO and surprisingly there was a job opening for an Illustrator. I was able to show my portfolio to Will Reynolds, President of BRIO, got hired and remained there ever since.”

I wanted to know more more about Anthonys’ art work. Then Anthony deluged me with perspective, “I work from either the abstract or the representational/realistic point of view. I can take the traditional approach to represent a image as it really is or experiment with mixing work with multiple medias like sound, video, photography etc. I an interested in a unifying approach, problem-solving. I have to make a decision and be involved. I am interested in the Process not concerned with the end result. Is the Process separate or combined? Process is vital.” This idea is exemplified in the genre of the Psycho Thriller, as demonstrated in film and the art world. Mentors of this genre are vast such as; David Lynch/film, Edward Hopper/paintings, Wendy White/photography, Liza Lou/bead art and Adrian Ghein/painter.

Anthony has been substantially influenced by the abstract expressionist Robert Rauschenberg who would implement used materials to his work called “Combines,” and psychologist William Glasser of the “Choice Theory” creating a new psychology of personal freedom. Anthony expresses, “I have had two goals of expressing, one of a no pre-conceived notion, and two that of the classical approach; but I feel I am about to leave this process and explore new art work. I have been studying figure drawing at The Atelier Lack Studio in Minneapolis, and I want to explore the human body.”

Anthony has had his work displayed in a spectacular variety of venues: Milwaukee Art Museum, Tweed Museum of Fine Art, NoName Exhibitions at the Soap Factory, Walker Art Center, Patrick’s Cabaret, Acadia Cabaret, Rogue Buddha Gallery, Intermedia Arts, The National Theater for Children, The House, Babylon International Gallery, Alley Show, Red Door, The Fallout, Manhattan Arts and Antiques, Wakefield Studios, Red Hot Air Festival, Kinship Mentoring, Stevens Community Center, Minneapolis Institute of Art, New Art Center (Manhattan) , Duet Exhibit at Maggie’s Garden (NYC), TBA Lounge (Brooklyn) and more.

“I spent my 20′s like a work-horse, now I am ready to do my work. I am in no hurry to develop my original work. I want to give myself 10 years to open it up and study and grow.” I think of irony and truth; all media is a lie, like representational work trying to convince someone your work is real. I think of artists like Tonja Torgerson working with silkscreen who has multiple sclerosis, exploring illness and art or artists that have isolated themselves on islands near Nova Scotia, the Apostle Islands or even Madeleine Island. They have isolated themselves to focus, to really focus and produce art.”