Rocky Wall Productions, supported by generous donors, is once again bringing free music to Silver Bay. Known for hosting the popular Silver Bay Music in the Park series, which features both local and national acts, the organization now invites the community to a free Happy Holidays concert. Scheduled for Saturday, December 14, from 7 to 10 PM at Reunion Hall, the event will feature Gene LaFond & the Wild Unknown. It is sure to be an unforgettable experience for all in attendance.
When I spoke with LaFond, he told me to come out to the event and wear my dancing shoes. I admitted I’d spent my dinner prep listening to his music on Spotify—and yes, I was dancing in my kitchen. Dinner took quite a while to make that night, but it gave me a perfect chance to get to know him through his music before we talked on the phone.
I was thrilled to finally connect with the musician whose name had come up in countless stories I’d written about the local music scene. Despite his frequent mentions, we’d never crossed paths before. One detail about him stood out above all: his unique connection to Bob Dylan. In Minnesota— especially up north—Dylan’s legacy runs deep, celebrated as both an icon and a hometown hero.
As I explored all three albums located on Spotify (turns out shepherd’s pie takes forever to assemble), LaFond’s music carried me back in time. Bob Dylan’s influence resonated clearly, yet LaFond’s voice stands uniquely his own—a tribute to the golden era of folk’s rise in the 1950s. It’s a voice shaped by years of sharing stages and stories with some of the era’s most talented and iconic musicians.
LaFond’s modesty shone through as he expressed genuine surprise that I had listened to his music before our call. “Well, you might be my number one fan,” he said with a self-deprecating laugh. I assured him I was well on my way to becoming one, indeed. I enjoyed every song I had heard and was eager to listen to them again.
“Those are treasures to me,” LaFond said. “It’s all original music. I had some great help. As you can hear, the musicians that back me up on those songs are just the most top-notch people in the Twin Cities and around here, too.”
Admitting he isn’t much of a music arranger, he said the songs started out as simple acoustic guitar sounds. “These people helped me bring it alive.”
Many people have profoundly influenced LaFond’s musical journey—a path that brought him to Silver Bay nearly a decade ago after living in the Twin Cities. He first came to the area for a concert with his longtime friend Scarlet Rivera, the violinist Bob Dylan discovered in New York City and featured on his album Desire.
While in Silver Bay, LaFond and his partner, Amy Grillo—the other half of their acoustic duo—came across a small cabin overlooking the lake. They’ve called the area home ever since. He remarked that their location allows him to make music freely, without worrying about bothering the neighbors. I couldn’t help but counter that I didn’t think I’d mind if I lived in earshot.
Though LaFond didn’t pass his one and only college music class, his introduction to music came much earlier. A piano in the family room was a fixture of his childhood, and when he was about 14, his parents bought him a guitar. “It’s been my instrument ever since,” LaFond said. “I just love it.”
In high school, LaFond played tenor sax but admits it wasn’t his strong suit. Instead, he gravitated toward the guitar, playing alongside a friend. The duo even won the school talent show during their senior year. He fondly recalled cruising around town, singing doo-wop songs, but one memory stood out more vividly: the day, at around 15 years old, when he bought an album featuring Bob Dylan.
“I bought his first album and I laid on the floor in my parents living room with my head to the speaker and I thought ‘oh my God, this is incredible’ because I’d never heard anything like it,” he explained.
When he was a sophomore, LaFond recalls hanging out in Dinkytown, where beatniks would gather, reciting poetry and snapping their fingers as they drank near-beer. Occasionally, a folk singer would take the stage, and LaFond was there on a night when a young Bob Zimmerman—Bob Dylan’s given name—performed.
In 1969, LaFond met Larry Kegan, a turning point in his life that opened up incredible opportunities and experiences. Kegan was in a wheelchair, having become a quadriplegic after an accident in his teens. Despite the challenges, LaFond was a talented musician and also Bob Dylan’s childhood best friend, leaving a profound impact on everyone who knew him.
“You couldn’t keep him down,” LaFond said. “He taught me the importance of not giving up.”
The two formed a band called the Mere Mortals, which LaFond laughed about, noting it was because they considered Bob Dylan to be immortal. However, when he met Dylan for the first time in 1975, LaFond said, “I’ve always idolized him because of his songwriting. Meeting him made me realize he was just a human being, and it sparked me to write more.”
Kegan and Dylan were close friends, so much so that Kegan would call Dylan to let him know that he and LaFond would meet up with them on the Rolling Thunder Tour. This tour was a unique variety experience, featuring a wide array of musicians including Joan Baez, Rambling Jack Elliott, and Scarlet Rivera, among others.
“I got to tag along, and we would just go from town to town and gig to gig,” said LaFond. “We did that a couple times a year, maybe 3 times a year, for a couple weeks at a time for 25 years. I got to meet all these musicians.”
LaFond reported how kind everyone was to them as they travelled along with the tour. “They didn’t know who we were but we were Bob’s friends, so they treated us wonderful. Bob was just so kind to us all the time. I got to do such a special thing that was so inspiring to me, being around Bob and Larry.”
Apparently, Dylan’s only rule for the Rolling Thunder Tour was, “Do whatever you want, just don’t get arrested.” (When I asked LaFond if he got into any trouble, he took the Fifth.)
One of LaFond’s fondest memories from this time was when Dylan asked the Mere Mortals to open for him at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis, even offering his bass player, Tony Garnier, to join the band. There were 30 minutes allotted for the opening act, and apparently, no one had informed Soul Asylum, the originally planned opener, that they wouldn’t have time for their full set. “They cut the sound to them completely without any warning,” LaFond laughed.
The Mere Mortals were incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play several original songs. They so impressed the road manager, they were asked if they would like to join the tour as a permanent opening act. Although they were blown away by the chance, Kegan fell ill shortly after, having respiratory issues that sometimes kept him in the hospital for several months at a time.
LaFond also enjoyed playing with his band, The Wild Unknown for many years. “These guys that are coming up to play on the 14th at the Reunion Hall are old, old friends of mine. I think we played close to 20 years together in the cities. We had fun playing every little club in the cities for a number of years.”
Since moving to the area, it had been ten years since the whole band was together when LaFond travelled down to the cities to rehearse with them for the upcoming show. It was just like old times. “They were ragging me. They remembered it all. Like falling off a bike.”
Locally, LaFond and Grillo can often be found playing at Ledge Rock Grille, the Cascade Lodge, Tettegouche events, and many other shows. They have been writing songs and performing together since 2012. They also play at the Veteran’s Home in Silver Bay twice a month. “That’s my favorite gig,” he said. “It’s just wonderful seeing these people react. People who have given everything for us. They just enjoy having some music in their lives.”
He is going to try to convince Grillo to sing a song or two with the Wild Unknown which will be a real treat to everyone in attendance. With nearly 450 recorded songs, LaFond joked that the band better play really fast to fit them all in!
Expressing gratitude to Rocky Wall Entertainment and all the volunteers helping to put on the show, as well as the Best of the North Shore and other donors, LaFond is excited for the concert. “I hope to get people dancing,” he said. Listening to LaFond’s music again as I write, I’m even more convinced that won’t be a problem.
Get out your dancing shoes and head to Reunion Hall in Silver Bay for Gene LaFond & the Wild Unknown on Saturday, December 14th, starting at 7 PM. The concert is free! For more information go to rockywallentertainment.org.
