Music

​Rising from the ‘Ashes’

August 3rd, 2024

Lamb of God celebrates 20th anniversary of a seminal album

by John Showalter

john.d.showalter@gmail.com

Photo by Travis Shinn

When the band Burn the Priest formed in 1994, they likely did not realize the impact that they would have on the metal genre. Thirty years later, the band is still going strong, albeit with a few changes in lineup and their adoption of the much better-known moniker Lamb of God. In that time, they have released eleven studio albums (two of which were under their…

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​Documenting Atmosphere

July 18th, 2024

HPR chats with Slug of the hip-hop duo Atmosphere

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

When Sean Daley, also known as Slug, the voice of Twin Cities-based hip hop duo Atmosphere and co-founder of rap label Rhymesayers was growing up, he said hip-hop was the “large tool in my toolbox of socializing.” Whether it was breakdancing, graffiti or being a fan of the sound, he knew it was not his parents’ music and it was a movement that he felt belonged solely to those kids. High Plains…

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​Pour one out for Harold’s fifth anniversary

July 18th, 2024

By John Showalter

In the several years since its owners purchased what was once Main Avenue Auto in Moorhead, Minnesota in 2019, Harold’s on Main has quickly transformed from the new kid on the block to a Moorhead fixture. Not even a pandemic that seemed to put the world on pause was able to drive them off the rails. What started as just a bar now regularly hosts outside concerts, vinyl nights, and karaoke, among other events. On July 27, Harold’s will be celebrating its fifth…

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Getting down to the real Nitty Gritty

June 20th, 2024

HPR chats with Bob Carpenter of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

When asked if it was fair to consider the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band as “the godfathers of contemporary Americana” during our interview, longstanding band member Bob Carpenter chuckled and said, “I think that's for someone else to decide.” Fans can do exactly that during the band’s Farewell Tour, which swings through North Dakota and Minnesota in June.

“I don't know,” Carpenter…

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Hamming It Up at the Aquarium

May 16th, 2024

By John Showalter

john.d.showalter@gmail.com

Musicians in the Fargo-Moorhead area are often supportive of each other. They will attend each other’s shows, collaborate on projects, play as openers for each other, so on and so forth. However, there is nothing wrong with a bit of friendly competition — and that is why we have Battle of the Hamm’s. A veritable tradition for The Aquarium at this point, Battle of the Hamm’s sees several local bands face off in a battle of the bands…

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STILL, After All This Time

March 21st, 2024

By John Showalter

john.d.showalter@gmail.com

It is not unheard of for bands to go on hiatus. However, as the old saying goes, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” That is why when a local group like STILL comes back to perform it is always cause for excitement. On Saturday, April 13, the long dormant doom noise project will return to the Aquarium co-headlining a show with Timmy Williams of “The Whitest Kids U’ Know” fame, who will be performing stand-up comedy in an…

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ADVANCE BASE with WALDEMAR, ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE (NEW!), and HOPECHEST

December 5th, 2023

The Aquarium, 226 Broadway North upstairs, Downtown Fargo

Friday, December 8, 7:30-11pm

Doors 7:30 pm // Music 8 pm
21+ // $10 advance // $12 DOS

Over two decades, Christmas songs have appeared throughout Owen Ashworth’s recorded output, from Casiotone for the Painfully Alone’s 2016 fan favorite “Cold White Christmas” to Advance Base’s latest Christmas single, “Christmas Steve.” There have been enough Advance Base and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone Christmas songs to…

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The Ultimate Folk Punk Collaboration

October 10th, 2023

Dropkick Murphys Put Music to the Words of Woody Guthrie

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Photo by Dave Stauble

With the release of 2022’s “This Machine Still Kills Fascists” and 2023’s “Okemah Rising.” The Dropkick Murphys have been focusing on acoustic shows for the past couple of years. Now they’re plugging back in for their latest tour.

“We've kind of gone back to the electric thing and you know what's been fun about that is a lot of those three songs we played for…

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40 Years of Being Peculiar: The Melvins

August 24th, 2023

By John Showalter

john.d.showalter@gmail.com

The Melvins formed in 1983 Montesano, Washington, founded by singer/guitar player Buzz Osborne. The group is known for its heavy sound mixed with a dose of punk, forming its own subgenre.

In those 40 years, they’ve released 30+ original albums, including live full lengths and countless singles. They've collaborated with Jello Biafra, Mudhoney, and Fantômas for individual releases and toured the world more times than Burgum has gift cards.

We…

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Rock and Blues With Gov’t Mule: HPR Speaks With Warren Hayes

June 20th, 2023

By Sabrina Hornung 

sabrina@hpr1.com

Photo by Shervin Lainez

Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule spoke to HPR about his new albums, collaborations, inspirations and how he found his love of rock and roll.

High Plains Reader: I always think that it's interesting to ask artists about how they spent their 2020 lock downs, Gov’t Mule came out with two…

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