Music

​Don’t Sleep on Spite Nap

December 17th, 2020

When we were growing up we often found ways to rebel against our parents, some more nonsensical than others. Not all of us decided to use those methods as inspiration for the name of a band. Bismarck-based band Spite Nap decided to jump on that opportunity, setting the irreverent tone for the band.

“It all kind of started as a joke,” said Spite Nap’s drummer Connor Wentz, who I recently had the opportunity to interview. “We were all messing around in Matt’s basement. We all…

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The Shortest Distance to New Music is a Straight Line Arrival

December 1st, 2020

by John Showalter

john.d.showalter@gmail.com

The COVID-19 pandemic may have brought most live musical performances to a screeching halt, but that doesn’t mean that industrious musicians have been any less busy. Streaming outlets and social media have allowed groups and performers to have “live” concerts and release new music that they have recorded during quarantine. One of these groups is the local band Straight Line Arrival, who are now releasing a new album titled “The…

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​Just the Beginning for Enditall

October 21st, 2020

By John Showalter

john.d.showalter@gmail.com

Musicians and concertgoers alike unexpectedly found their plans disrupted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Artists and venues have been facing a situation that is unprecedented for most people. As the old saying goes, however, necessity is the mother of invention. Artists and their supporters have been endlessly creative in finding ways to overcome these daunting circumstances. Take Zander Ness, for example, who isn’t about to let a…

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When Will the Curtain Call Again? Performing with the Pandemic

October 7th, 2020

By Michael Str!ke

michaelstrike.solo@gmail.com

Two-hundred days.

In two-hundred days I've played one show.

At the beginning of this year if someone had told me I was going to play just one show over the span of almost seven months I would've laughed them out of the room, and then put on a show in it. I had eight tours and over 100 separate shows routed and nearly booked at the start of 2020. Then in mid-March predicted nightmares had become reality, and I made the decision to cancel them…

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Bianconi Brings on the Brahms at FM Symphony Orchestra

March 11th, 2020

Fargo obviously loves their classical music. Audiences have still turned out during the 2019-2020 season of the Sanford Masterworks Series performed by the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra despite an unrelenting winter. That being said, spring is rapidly approaching, much to people’s relief. As this month marks a departure from winter to spring with the equinox, the next concert in the series something of a departure from form as well. While the other concerts this season have…

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Michael Str!ke: The Wisco kid

March 11th, 2020

photo courtesy of Michael Str!ke

Michael Str!ke is a man of many hats and many instruments. Along with his work with Michael Str!ke and the God Damn Band he also plays saxophone for Fargo’s dustiest folk punk gypsy jazz combo Mr. Meaner. He has a new five song EP in the works and is preparing to hit the highway for a ten day tour with stops including the Folk Sh*t Up festival near San Antonio.

Str!ke’s sound would be classified as folk punk, he cites Tom Waits Neil Young and Flogging Molly as some of his biggest…

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Witchden Casts a Spell on Fargo

February 19th, 2020

photo by David Rubene

Back in January, KRFF Radio Free Fargo was going to have a benefit concert featuring the metal band Witchden from Minneapolis. Fargo got hit with a massive blizzard that just so happened the weekend of the concert. However, as the old adage goes, “Better late than never.” The parties involved were able to book a new time at the Aquarium and Witchden and the rest of the lineup will still have the opportunity to return to the area for the first time in almost a year for some long…

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A Magnificent Musical Menagerie

February 12th, 2020

Students Felipe ad Guadalupe Marino photo by Jean Marie Hellner

by Jean Marie Hellner
jhellner01@gmail.com

Vibrant violins, vivacious violas, charming cellos, and beguiling basses will be unleashed for students to explore and play at a Music Petting Zoo and Safari. Children of all ages can scope out their favorite stringed instrument and may even want to take one home for their very own. Everyone can hear incredible music – some that is sure to let loose your inner beast – performed by local students and professional musicians. The Community…

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From Musician to Musician: A Conversation with Ross Pederson

January 29th, 2020

photo courtesy of John Peterson

by Gerardo Gomez
gomezg@uni.edu

Drummer and Fargo native Ross Pederson always saw himself following in his father’s footsteps as a musician. He currently finds himself in New York City playing with many world class professional musicians and groups, including the Grammy-award winning group The Manhattan Transfer. I had the pleasure of talking with him about his upcoming show at The Hotel Donaldson on Tuesday, February 4th, but most importantly I had the opportunity to learn his story…

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Here’s to the ladies

January 15th, 2020

cover design by Raul Gomez

by Jill Finkelson
jsfinkelson99@gmail.com

Deb Jenkins returns for a 23rd year of celebrating Fargo’s Women- and their music. The story is old news now, Deb tells me over the phone as I ask her- how did this start? 23 years ago, she was working at a little cafe in downtown fargo and she asked if she could bring in some musicians. Obviously, Fargo delivered. There are so many women making great music and producing art-- the next step was bringing them all together. This was the same time…

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