There's one constant, though, whether the material is plugged in and rocking or softly acoustic: Derek and the band sound like they've been doing this together for a decade, not a year. There's an air of confidence and passion throughout the music that's impossible to overlook.

St. Anyway is Tony Petersen and Jamie Kallestad, an up-and–coming acoustic duo with roots in folk, bluegrass and rock n' roll. Hailing from Dylan country, Minnesota, Petersen and Kallestad have been heavily influenced both by Duluth's burgeoning alternative music scene and the resurgence of traditional music styles in the region. The songs of St. Anyway cover a wide spectrum—from lilting acoustic ballads to rowdy bluegrass banjo shakedowns and innovative alt-country creations. A dual songwriting force, Petersen and Kallestad conjure visions of the city with wry observation and evocative imagery. Their songs can punch out a powerful message or wind with insinuating melody down the back roads of a clever narrative. Between original songs, expect to hear rejuvenated folk and blue-grass covers as well as stand-out banjofied versions of rock classics. Apart from the inescapable folk-rock legacy of Minnesota's own Bob Dylan, the pair also cite Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, and Ryan Adams as major musical influences. In addition, Petersen and Kallestad claim to draw inspiration from other Minnesota homegrown acts—The Replacements, Trampled by Turtles, and Charlie Parr.

Tony Petersen is a songwriter/guitarist who also plays banjo and vocals

Jamie Kallestad is a songwriter/vocalist who also plays guitar, keyboard, percussion, harmonica, and pop bottles.

Random fact: St. Anyway is not a Christian folk band, and has sympathy for the devil.

Random fact 2: Switchfoot once opened for St. Anyway.