Music

​Basement’s Best: Kevin Morby’s ‘Still Life’ anything but still

October 30th, 2014

By Stephen Anderson

Deceptively titled, Kevin Morby’s sophomore release is all moving and shaking. A onetime member of ramshackle indie collectives Woods and the Babies, Morby follows up on the sleepy promise of last year’s low-key solo release “Harlem River” with a song cycle of musings on his constant state of motion.

With a road-worn authority, Morby weaves not-too-tall tales of modern Americana through sparse, rootsy arrangements. Soberly examining death from arm’s length,…

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​Vinyl revisited: The Fargo Record Fair returns

October 22nd, 2014

Dig out your turntables and dust off your record collection: the Fargo Record Fair is returning for its fifth consecutive year.

Since 2010 the Fargo Record Fair has been the F-M area’s great annual vinyl sale and get-together. At the fair’s helm is Fargo resident Dean Sime, who has organized the event every year. Initially inspired by a trip to New York’s colossal WFMU Record Fair, Sime set out to supply the F-M area with its own version – albeit one a little smaller in…

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Project Trio: ​Three for three in three

October 22nd, 2014

Photo by Philip Sharp

A long-awaited residency from a New York chamber trio is finally happening for area students in Fargo-Moorhead.

The passionately eclectic Project Trio, combining flute, cello and bass, comes to town this Friday through Monday, performing for three area student groups: Concordia College, Fargo Moorhead Area Youth Symphonies and Moorhead Public Schools’ string program.

Deb Harris, associate professor of flute at Concordia College, has been following Project Trio—particularly flutist Greg…

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​Farewell to New Music Thursday

October 16th, 2014

Heavy is the Head

Christopher Gabriel say new plans are on the horizon

Willie Waldman, Riesage, Turtle Island Quartet, Little Winter, Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome’s horn section, Longreef, MSUM’s Straw Hat Theatre, Haley E. & The Rydells, Poitin and dozens upon dozens of others all have one thing in common. All these creative projects have been guests on The Christopher Gabriel Program’s New Music Thursday.

Gabriel, a local radio personality for 970 WDAY, started this music segment when he was first…

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World’s only concertizing pipe organ/percussion duo slated for Sunday

October 16th, 2014

The world’s only concertizing pipe organ/percussion pair, to the best of Sally Harmon’s research, is on its way to Fargo.

It’s Organized Rhythm, and Harmon, dean of the Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, knew she had to have them for the group’s biennial concert.

“I had read an article in a magazine about these guys,” Harmon said. “Somebody else [in the guild chapter] had heard them at a convention and said they were awesome … so we said, ‘OK,…

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​The Highlands to the High Plains

October 16th, 2014

Julie Fowlis adds Scottish style, soulful voice to MSUM arts series

Sit back, relax and enjoy an aural trip to Scotland as singer Julie Fowlis brings authentic Gaelic music to Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Cheryl Nelson Lossett Performing Arts Series.

Perhaps best-known in the U.S. for her vocal contributions to the soundtrack of Disney Pixar’s “Brave,” Fowlis will be showcasing traditional Scottish Gaelic music. With instruments from highlander fiddle to bouzouki to…

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FM’s Air Jordan

October 9th, 2014

Last Monday, Fargo-Moorhead hip-hop artist Jordan Brien, a.k.a. Mic Jordan, reached his goal on Kickstarter to fund his very first full-length album, “Sometime After 83,” nine days early.

The album will release online for free this Thursday, Oct. 16, which is also the last day of the Kickstarter campaign. Contributions are still welcome until then.

Brien, a self-proclaimed activist, has a strong message behind his music that has been hitting home with local listeners, especially…

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​Taken Back Sunday

October 2nd, 2014

Photo Michael Dubin

Old-school fans of Taking Back Sunday no longer need to believe, “this all was only wishful thinking.” Their wishes have come true: the band’s “Tell All Your Friends” lineup is back together.

While the news really isn’t new anymore, it’s still significant. Formed in 1999, during a time when emo was one of the most popular forms of alternative music, Taking Back Sunday has enjoyed a long, fan-raving career. And original guitarist/vocalist John Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper…

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Too Tiny To Fail

September 18th, 2014

Photo by Kyle Reinford

Tiny is the new large. Noisy is the new “Pleasant.” At least it is in the world of Benson-based, Fargo-grown alternative rock ‘n’ roll trio Tiny Moving Parts.

Previously, Tiny Moving Parts were the quintessential young punks who threw some of best basement/house shows Fargo’s seen in recent years. Today, this tried-and-true family band (yes, they are all related) from small-town Minnesota is appearing in publications like SPIN, Alternative Press and Vice and in music festivals…

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​Q&A with Fred Durst

September 18th, 2014

High Plains Reader got to interview the one and only red-Yankee-ball-capped, Nookie-screaming, Limp-Bizkit-leading Fred Durst.

After an eight-year hiatus, the original lineup is back together and kicking a few new singles, including “Ready to Go” featuring rap idol Lil’ Wayne. The rap-metal band is also currently on a world tour and promoting its yet-to-be-released album, “Stampede of The Disco Elephants.” Fargoans can catch Fred, Wes Borland and the rest of the gang this…

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