Bon Iver's Justin Vernon has always maintained close ties with his Upper Midwest homeland, including the founding of his April Base recording studio, the recent reboot of his Eaux Claires festival in his hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Bon Iver's unique partnership with the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. But he may have outdone himself in terms of charming local collabs.
As Pitchfork reports, Vernon wrote and recorded a jingle for Howard's Bar in Stillwater, Minnesota in the Twin Cities area. Specifically, the song is advertising the meatloaf dippers one can purchase at Howard's — either as an entree or an appetizer, as the lyrics specify. "Meatloaf dippers/ At Howard's in Stillwater/ Meatloaf dippers/ Can be a whole meal or a starter," Vernon sings in an easygoing falsetto. "Meatloaf dippers/ Oh so light and yummy/ Come on and warm your tummy/ With dippers."
Howard’s Bar opened in 2023 at the former site of Whitey’s Bar by chef Adam To and his partner Caroline Smith, the musician who performs as Your Smith.
The song can be heard in a promo spot with retro animation that reminds me of the Rankin/Bass Frosty The Snowman cartoon. Watch below.
The Howard's website is here. I'm not seeing meatloaf dippers on the dinner menu, so they may want to update that to provide a price point for the coming influx of tourists.
