Music

​El Gato del Rio unmasked

August 21st, 2019

El Gato del Rio-photograph by Latoya Myran

We had a chance to connect with El Gato del Rio, a mysterious masked quartet from the wilds of Western North Dakota--Stark County to be exact. It’s hard to pin them to a genre. Dark cabaret? Country Gothic? Labels are irrelevant at this point, not only are the fine folks of El Gato del Rio skilled musicians, they’re gifted storytellers with a taste for theatrics. We had a chance to chat with band member Ripley Crow about the band, the masks and what’s next for El Gato del Rio.

High…

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​50 Years of Peace & Music at Bluestem (from someone who was there)

August 21st, 2019

Woodstock 50 - photograph by Rod Hadland

By Rod Hadland
rodanthonyhadland@gmail.com

Woodstock 50 died a slow death in the months leading up to August 2019. Maybe it was doomed from the start? Maybe it was just bad luck, but what worked in 1969 doesn’t work today. I was always set on attending the Bluestem 50th Anniversary tribute show in Moorhead when I first heard about it. I first went to Bluestem back in 2011, and have been to a dozen or so great performances there since. This was written in the aftermath of the past…

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Maria Cree: Playing, Planning and Promoting in Minot’s Music Scene

August 21st, 2019

Maria Cree - provided by Maria Cree

Maria Cree has been active in the music scene in Minot for 10 years, but has loved music all of her life. A drummer, music promoter, and festival organizer, Cree does not let the grass grow under her feet. She has been a part of promoting Girls Rock in Pine Ridge, Grip Fest, and Why Not Fest, an annual three day arts festival showing local and international talent.

The High Plains Reader caught up with Cree and asked her about her role past, present and future in the Minot music…

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​Make it a double: HPR chats with Sangha and Maul

August 21st, 2019

Double photograph by Ben Hoos and Gabe Schwanke of Sangha

By Martin Beckmann
beckmanniscool@gmail.com

August 24th at the Aquarium, Radio Free Fargo will be throwing the first of two four year-anniversary parties. 

This event will feature five of Fargo's premier metal bands and two great Midwestern acts with Sunless and Tongue Party. Sunless is a monstrous technical death metal beast from Minneapolis making their second appearance in the FM area. Their most recent album Urraca is out on Willowtip Records, and is a must listen if you're into…

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50 years after: Remembering Woodstock

August 14th, 2019

John Sebastian performing at Winnipeg Folk Fest 2019 - photograph by Nicole Hofer

In celebration of the 50 year anniversary of Woodstock we thought we’d collect some stories from three men who were there on stage--whether they planned it or not. We spoke to Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra of Canned Heat prior to their performance at Blues Fest in 2016. We chatted with John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful at the Winnipeg Folk Fest this year and we also had the opportunity to visit with David Crosby prior to his upcoming performance at the Fargo Theatre.

Adolfo…

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​Give Peace a Chance at Bluestem

August 14th, 2019

Fifty years ago a music festival took place. Held at Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm near White Lake in Bethel, New York, approximately 400,000 people gathered for “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music,” alternatively referred to as the “Bethel Rock Festival."  Thirty-two acts performed despite the less than ideal weather conditions, without realizing that they were taking place in what would come to be considered a linchpin of American counterculture, and…

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​Let’s get folked up

August 7th, 2019

The Dusty Boys, Will Burns and Austin Miller - photograph by Sabrina Hornung

When you think about the genres of folk and punk, the genres may seem quite different at first glance, though both were built on the spirit of DIY. I mean, what’s more punk rock than Woody Guthrie’s guitar painted with the words “This machine kills fascists?” Combine the genres and there’s a force to be reckoned with. We had a chance to check in with Will Burns, Mr. Meaner percussionist and Bindle Fest co-organizer on the two day festival featuring 20 acts from across the US…

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​Don Jamieson: comedy, heavy metal, and Zakk Sabbath

August 7th, 2019

Don Jamieson

“I’ve always loved rock and comedy so my first two albums were Kiss ‘Destroyer’ and George Carlin ‘Occupation foole’ I thought these two things are so meant for each other, hard rock and heavy metal have so much humor in it,” said New Jersey based comedian Don Jamieson. He’s currently on tour with Zakk Sabbath, the Black Sabbath cover band fronted by Zakk Wylde. We had a chance to chat with Jamieson about “That Metal Show,” what makes a good roast and...hate…

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​Center of Attention

August 7th, 2019

Lost Horses at Center Fest - photograph by Sabrina Hornung

Center Fest 3 kicks off in Robinson, North Dakota this Friday and will run through Saturday night. What started as a discussion about the center of North America has taken on a life of its own and become an annual celebration.

Several years ago, Bill Bender, who owns Hanson’s Bar in Robinson, discovered that the trademark for the Geographical Center of North America – previously held by Rugby – had run out, so he was able to get it and decided to label Robinson as such.

“We…

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​Rev it up

August 7th, 2019

Reverend Horton Heat - photograph by Thom Jackson

When I had the chance to catch up with the Reverend Horton Heat aka Jim Heath, I was greeted with a friendly smooth slow Texas drawl. He’s like an encyclopedia of early rock n’roll knowledge, theories and killer stories. His band has opened for everyone from shock rocker Marilyn Manson to the ORIGINAL shock rocker Jerry Lee Lewis. In fact the pianist currently on tour with Heath even plays Jerry Lee Lewis as a tribute act. After nearly 30 years in the game, Heath is also one of the…

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