Photo by Haley Conlin

Overcoming All Obstacles

By Brady Bredell
Contributing Writer

As residents of Minot cope with the aftermath of a disastrous flood, metal band I, Apparatus speak out about the challenges they face as artists from that area.  With the upcoming release of their debut album on October 18th, I, Apparatus fight to find a balance between music, family, and community. HPR was compelled to find out more.

HIGH PLAINS READER: You’re releasing your debut album, “Ebola & The Botanist” on October 18th. How did recording this album differ from previous releases?

BJ:  We recorded with Josh Schroeder at Random Awesome Studio, in Bay City, Michigan, because we heard the record he did for our friends Vendetta Spoken. What was different for this record, was that he had a mutual appreciation for doing a record that was more ‘raw’ than most recordings being done now. The drums were live drums, not triggered, and the guitars were done with live mic’ing. We were able to work on more ideas, and were able to experiment more, which we didn’t have time to do so before in the studio.

HPR: “Ebola & The Botanist” is an unusual album title. Can you enlighten us?

CODY:  Ebola and Botany are the second and third songs of the CD.  The main concept of the album is that the world is dark and corrupt, and we as a society are diseased(ebola),however if humanity in general works together a peace can be reached, but we have to work at it (Botany). So in short Ebola represents corruption and misanthropy and The Botanist represents philanthropy and hope for our world.

HPR: How did you end up signing with your record label, Hotfoot?

DENNIS: Sent out our Iscariot Ep and Jeremy from Hotfoot told us to send him anything new that we recorded. Once we were done with the full length we sent it to him and got a pretty fast reply. After talking with them for a bit we decided that Hotfoot would be a great label to work with. Plus I think he’s cute.

HPR: Will this be your first show in Fargo/Moorhead?

CODY:  No, we have played Fargo/Moorhead countless times over the last three years. We have played fargo with almost every I, Apparatus lineup.

HPR: Do you have any upcoming tours in the works?

BJ: We have a four day mini tour with our friends Tiny Moving Parts (Fargo) and It Came From The Sea (Bismarck) that happens Sept 15th-18th, taking us to Pierre, SD; Kearney, NE; Omaha, NE, and Fargo. After that we have a three day run with Icarus the Owl (Portland, OR) on Sept 23-25, hitting Minot, Bismarck, and Aberdeen, SD.

On October 1st we play at Rock The Leaves, which is an annual benefit show in Minot. This year they’re donating the proceeds to purchasing drywall to be given to people who need it to help rebuild their flooded out homes. The next day, we leave for a tour that runs October 2nd-11th, where we do a loop around the Midwest with Words Like Daggers (Omaha, NE), then we head east on a solo tour to Maine and back. On the solo tour we’ll be sharing the stage with our friends Alistair Hennessey (Minneapolis, MN), 2194 (Ann Arbor, MI), and our labelmates Pangea (from New Hampshire).

HPR: In addition to the challenges you face as a band whose roots are in a desolate region of North Dakota, the flooding in Minot must have added a few extra hurdles. How has this devastating flood changed you as a band?

BJ: Other than having my house severly flooded this summer, it really hasn’t changed us as a band at all. We’re still the same four guys who are passionate about playing the music we write. If anything, it just made us appreciate the small things like the security of ‘home’ and we hope that our community can rebuild to somewhat resemble it’s former self.

HPR: I was told that most landlords & property owners have been doubling and even tripling the rent on homes and apartments in Minot? How do you think this will impact culture, particularly music culture in Minot?

BJ: Rent here has been doubling and sometimes tripling, worse than before the flood. Along with that, houses and apartments are being sold to oil companies looking to house workers, while pushing out the previous tenants that are stuck looking for housing in an area that lost a huge amount of rental properties due to the flood. The greed that’s showing it’s ugly face post-flood in an area already lacking homes due to the oil boom, is sickening. I think it’ll affect the people and the culture here because people will leave due to not being able to afford the rent with the low wages, because, obviously, not everyone in town works on the oilfield. It seems like it’s only going to get worse. One can only hope it gets better, fingers crossed.

HPR: BJ, I was told your home was completely inundated by flood waters. How has this tragic event shaped you personally and musically?

BJ: It hasn’t really changed me musically. I’m still focused on the band, while dealing with the situation that Mandy, my wife, and I have been put into. Its another forced restart of our lives, in a new home, possibly in a new city. We’re determined to have a new home, and to get our lives back to ‘normal.’ As much as the flood hurt us and various family members who also lost their homes, we’re just hope for the best and plan to keep doing what we’ve always done.

HPR: Rumor has it that I, Apparatus of Minot may become I, Apparatus of Fargo. Is their any truth to these rumors?

BJ: That rumor may become truth, we don’t know yet. It all depends on what my wife, Mandy, and I decide in regards to our housing situation. The members have all agreed if we move there, they’ll follow. If it happens, expect to see us at your stores/shows, etc, more often.

HPR: What should attendees of the show at The New Direction expect from I, Apparatus?

DENNIS: Blood. Orgys. Sex. Black Mass. Terror. Love in it’s purest form. Honesty. Mythology. Cystic Fibrosis.

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WHEN: Sunday, September 18th 5:30-10:00pm
WHERE: The New Direction, 14 Roberts Street Fargo
HOW MUCH: advance tickets $6 at both Mother’s Music locations, all ages