Music

Phil Kline’s “Unsilent Night” turns the audience into performers

December 2nd, 2015

photo by Tay Davidson

A different kind of Christmas caroling is headed to Fargo-Moorhead. Phil Kline’s “Unsilent Night” takes participants on a 45-minute journey from Fargo to Moorhead as each participant plays one part of a recorded composition on either their smartphone or a portable CD player.

The free event was organized by MSUM faculty member Kenyon Williams after a friend of his started doing it in Knoxville, Tenn., four years ago. What started with eight students grew to over 100 participants…

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Jon Wayne talks triumphs and adding fourth member

November 24th, 2015

By Jamie Hutchinson

They are a band that needs no introduction here. For nine years Jon Wayne and the Pain have been bringing their reggae-rock with electronic dub elements to the region, playing packed venues and even stretching their fan base out to the west coast. While frontman Jon Wayne hit some bumps when getting the band moving, he and the rest of the band are now at a high point in their careers.

Since their formation, the band’s released three studio albums, which Wayne admits…

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​MSUM prepares students for an evolving music industry

November 19th, 2015

By Jamie Hutchinson

The music industry program at Minnesota State University Moorhead finds music students turning knobs and flipping switches as they employ the latest music recording technology while running their own record label, Undeclared Records.

The label gives students the chance to receive music industry experience while at the same time offering MSUM musicians the chance to make a professionally recorded album and have it released on a record label at no cost to them.

“It is…

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Big John Bates paints Americana black

November 12th, 2015

By Jamie Hutchinson

If there’s one thing Big John Bates has become known for, it’s stage performance. But not everyone wants to play the same show year after year. Once in a while, you need to shake things up and throw a little darkness out there.

The band’s latest release, “From the Bestiary to the Leathering Room,” marks more of a change for the band as they further develop the sound they’ve been working on for a few years. Similar to film scores, there’s more of an…

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We Were Promised Jetpacks’ Adam Thompson talks current album and writing the next

November 6th, 2015

By Jamie Hutchinson

Indie rock band We Were Promised Jetpacks kicks off another leg of its “Unravelling” tour, playing the Aquarium on Nov. 13. The Scottish band released its third album “Unravelling” in October of last year. Guitarist and vocalist Adam Thompson talked about adding fifth member Stuart McGachan, the bands that influenced them and working with producer Paul Savage.

HPR: Your latest album “Unravelling” was produced by Paul Savage, who has produced world-famous…

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Martin Sexton hits the road with “Mixtape of the Open Road”

November 6th, 2015

HPR had a chance to catch up with Massachusetts-based Martin Sexton. Sexton hits the road to promote his latest album “Mixtape of the Open Road.” With influences from The Sons of the Pioneers to Black Sabbath, Sexton shares his experiences touring, writing and getting a taste of the local flavor.

HPR: Can you tell us a bit about your new album “Mixtape of the Open Road”?

Martin Sexton: “Mixtape” is a collection of songs that I’ve fashioned like a mixtape you used to make…

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Blind Joe’s run comes to an end

November 4th, 2015

What’s next after The Voice?

Recently, local musician Blind Joe had his run on NBC’s The Voice come to an end when he was eliminated in the head-to-head round after advancing for a few weeks. His appearance stirred a great amount of passion in the region with some people really bummed out he didn’t go farther. HPR wanted to see what’s next for him in his career and how the show has affected things for him.

HPR: Your run on the Voice came to an end but it had to be a good…

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Los Angeles Guitar Quartet to premiere new material in Moorhead

October 30th, 2015

By Jamie Hutchinson

The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet doesn’t like to draw lines when it comes to the music they incorporate into their performances. Having performed material written by Bach, Chet Atkins and both Frank Zappa and his son Dweezil, the Grammy-award winning classical guitarists seem to have no boundaries.

“What we try to do is play pieces that explore all the stylistic and color potential of four guitars,” said William Kanengiser, one of three original members still…

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Prof talks music videos, performing stunts and playing Fargo

October 22nd, 2015

By Jamie Hutchinson

Following the release of his album “Liability,” his first for record label Rhymesayers, Minneapolis rapper Prof is about to headline a tour of the U.S. with Fargo serving as the second date of the tour.

HPR: “Liability” has some featured guests on it, such as Tech N9ne and Waka Flocka Flame. How did you hook up with such prolific rappers?

Prof: I don’t know, man, kind of reached out. Some started hearing me, here and there. I guess, growing up, getting a…

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Dances with Vulfs

October 22nd, 2015

Rhythm section’s funk buddies make for “thrilling” debut album


For a band whose introduction to many was a collection of silent songs, Vulfpeck sure does make a joyful noise.

The funk outfit made headlines last spring after the release of “Sleepify,” an “album” of ten “songs,” each hovering just above the thirty second mark and each completely silent.

Exploiting a clever loophole in Spotify’s royalty distribution policy, the band encouraged fans to stream the…

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