April 12th, 2017
I recently sat down with Terry VanDewalker of The Big Wu. One of the original members, and a good friend of mine. He had great insight into their history, and how they made it to 25. He’s now a husband and a father of three. His entire adult life has been comprised of playing with The Big Wu, something he never would have imagined when he was 18.
Now, 25 years later, a celebration of the music, and the people of The Big Wu, is coming to The Sanctuary Event Center.
Not a lot of bands…
April 5th, 2017
With the ability to rap in English, Spanish and Hebrew, Kosha Dillz may be one of the most diverse hip hop artists of our generation. HPR got the chance to ask Rami Even-Esh, aka Kosha Dillz, a couple of questions about his tour Oy Vey, his life, and his upcoming show at The Aquarium.
High Plains Reader: Kosha Dillz has collaborated with some pretty big names, including Matisyahu and the Rza. What was it like to work with the Rza?
Kosha Dillz: Rza brought me to the studio one day and it…
March 29th, 2017
The High Plains Reader had the opportunity to sneak away from the festivities of South by Southwest to meet up with the 4onthefloor frontman Gabriel Douglas, over drinks and cupcakes left over from a party the night before at a surprisingly quiet bar on Fourth Street -- strong contrast with the bustling foot traffic and the sound track of traffic, chatter, distant amplified music and occasional sirens in the streets.
HPR Publisher Raul Gomez and I arrived early to test out the light…
March 29th, 2017
If you’ve ever found yourself downtown at one of Fargo’s music hotspots on a Friday or Saturday night, chances are you’ve seen The Vistas, the funky soulful jam band made up of guitarist/vocalist Jake Schaefbauer, bassist Grant Wigen, and drummer Eli Davis.
This Saturday night, The Vistas are celebrating the release of their first full studio album with a concert at The Aquarium.
High Plains Reader sat down with two of the band’s members to talk music, their style and how The…
March 29th, 2017
Photo by Daniel Topete
With influences from Marvin Gaye and The Band, Chicago-based indie folk rock band Whitney’s Julien Ehrlich considers their sound to be “country soul.” Throughout the album Ehrlich’s warm falsetto is melancholy yet optimistic, combined with strings, brass, and even an occasional bit of twang. Who would ever have thought country and soul could pair so well?
Whitney has been on a rigorous touring schedule to promote their record, “Light Upon the Lake” to…
March 22nd, 2017
Changes in the presidential administration are always bound to bring out artistic expression, whether supportive or critical. The recently inaugurated Trump administration is no different. It’s safe to say that the 45th President of the United States, in the two months he has been in office, has inspired his own fair share of artistic response. One local example is the upcoming “Deportation Tour” to take place at Zandbroz, with a name that calls to mind Trump’s highly…
March 15th, 2017
Fargo-Moorhead’s artistic output shouldn’t be underestimated. From visual art, to film, to music, there’s plenty of creative work being produced in the area every year. Yet with so much content being made, it’s easy to overlook some of the talent that comes from Fargo-Moorhead.
Free Truman is one group that many people might not yet be aware of. The band consists of Tayler Krabbenhoft, who provides vocals and plays guitar, her sister Tia Krabbenhoft on drums, and Scott Heidinger…
March 8th, 2017
Sims, from Minneapolis hip hop super crew Doomtree, will be performing with Sean Anonymous at the Aquarium on March 11. HPR was able to talk to both of them about their relationship, the upcoming Fargo show and what they both have been up to musically.
High Plains Reader: Last September, HPR was able to chat with you before you played at the Sanctuary Event Center with Gentlemen of Doomtree. What have you been up to since then?
Sean Anonymous: Not gonna lie, life has been wild. The last…
March 8th, 2017
Those who have been following the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra during the 2016-2017 season realize that their concerts have been evoking a more personal, intimate feeling. Whether it was the “Intimate Tango” of this January, the “Orchestra and Guitar” of November 2016, or “The Great Romantics” of September 2016, the Masterworks series has focused on a more earthy, passionate relationship with the audience than the equally astounding blockbuster-themed previous…
February 23rd, 2017
As youths, members of the punk-country band Lucero cultivated their love of music at the neighborhood haunt known as The Antenna Club, which was known to host matinee hardcore shows. But in a city like Memphis, home of the iconic Sun Studios, Lucero bassist John C. Stubblefield said, “There’s so much history in music here, it’s hard not to be influenced.” This being said, you can see how they managed to blend a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll to develop their…
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By Alicia Underlee NelsonMore than 1,000 pro-worker events are planned for Thursday, May 1 across the country, including rallies in Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Forks, Minot and Jamestown. East Grand Forks and Bismarck will host protests…
From concerts and car shows to Japanese art and Juneteenth celebrations, there's so much going on around the region this summer. This year's High Plains Reader Summer Events Calendar is back and bigger than ever. It's packed with…
June 21, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway N., Fargo“We Watch Shudder,” Fargo’s favorite horror podcasters, bring on the darkness during the longest day of the year. The Darkest Day of Horror Film Festival features…
By John Strandjas@hpr1.com One description that perhaps aptly describes the mental state of many lately is that they feel they are attached to a string. Or several strings. Call it the notion that people are played like puppets,…
By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comFor sale: White House in D.C. housing dung beetles and giant leechesI suspect someone close to Donald Trump has read “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,”because the Trump administration is…
By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…
By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com After a very inspiring conversation with Kayla Houchin of Sonder Bakehouse a few weeks ago, I decided that it’s an appropriate time to write a column about some of the sweet people who are involved…
Mooncats and Pert Near Sandstone play Empire TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comThe MoonCats describe themselves as “Americonscious Campfire Folk.” They have a clear acoustic folk sound with a sense of whimsy — think…
By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com The writing/directing partnership of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck has to be one of the most curious cases of crazy connect-the-dots career moves in recent cinema. From short documentaries and…
By Raul Gomezraul@hpr1.com Minutes before Modern’s Celebration of Life opened its door at the Sons of Norway, I was fiddling with the bar computer, trying to pull up the playlists of Modern’s work I had set aside for the…
By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…
By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…
By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…
By Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There appear to be differences in the incidence of mental illnesses between men and women. For example, women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, post-traumatic stress…
By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…
By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson.nd7@gmail.com Our trucking business has me driving almost daily from gas plants in western North Dakota's oil patch to Canada. I haul natural gas liquids (NGLs) products we used to see flared off at…
