Today's guest is Nate Sipe, a founding member of the legendary Minnesota string band pert near Sandstone, who has been a staple of the Midwestern roots scene for over twenty years. As a multi-instrumentalist and co-curator of the Blue Ox Music Festival, Nate offers a unique look at the pipe dream of a lifelong career in music. In this episode, Nate reveals the origin of the band's name, discusses the urgent role of musicians as ambassadors for a traumatized Minneapolis, and shares how he stumbles into his best melodic hooks by simply noodling on new instruments. And much more.

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https://linktr.ee/pertnearsandstone

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• 00:00 - Theme and introduction

• 01:59 - Tom welcomes Nate Sipe to Pursuing the Muse

• 02:31 - Celebrating "Pert Near" 20 Years as a Band

• 04:07 - Song Inspiration: "Pipe Dream" and Touring Realities

• 06:14 - The Collaborative Songwriting and Studio Process

• 08:28 - The Origin of the "Pert Near Sandstone" Band Name

• 11:29 - Nate Sipe’s Journey as a Multi-Instrumentalist

• 15:34 - Finding Hooks through "Noodling" and Stumbling

• 18:08 - Recording "Shooting Star" with Family Heirlooms

• 19:42 - "Grace": Addressing Homelessness and Urban Life

• 22:23 - Reflections on the Minneapolis Community and Trauma

• 25:24 - Being an "Ambassador" for Minneapolis on the Road

• 29:26 - Curation and Origins of the Blue Ox Music Festival

• 32:50 - The Growth and Vibe of the Blue Ox Community

• 35:55 - Musical Influences: From Grunge to Leo Kottke

• 41:32 - Composing for Theater and Film (Ishmael)

• 48:17 - Upcoming Tours and the "Road to Blue Ox"

• 51:30 - Insights from Hosting the Blue Ox Podcast

• 55:08 - Blue Ox 2026 Logistics and Camping

• 57:41 - Outro & Final Remarks