Music

​Green Blue: A new band among old friends

June 12th, 2019

Green Blue band - photograph by Jon Behm

When asked to describe the sound of Green Blue, Minneapolis based musician Annie Sparrows formerly of the Soviettes and Awesome Snakes laughed and said, “Our friend came up to me after a show and he said ‘Do you like Belle and Sebastian?’ and I was like--I don’t really listen to them but I know who they are so ...maybe? Then he goes, ‘I love Belle and Sebastian and you guys are the Belle and Sebastian of psych rock.’”

The Belle and Sebastian reference was in describing the…

Read more...


El Supremo reigns supreme

June 12th, 2019

El Supremo started out as a one man band for Chad Heille, drummer of the iconic Fargo stoner rock band Egypt. Once the project started rolling it started to snowball. With the addition of Egypt guitarist Neal Stein, Cam Dewald of Gorgatron and Chris Gould on keys their latest album “Clarity through distortion” is a psychedelic force to be reckoned with.

HPR: The first El Supremo demo was recorded in 2008, how did El Supremo come to be?

Chad Heille: It was really out of a lack of like…

Read more...


​Stay connected to your own voice

June 5th, 2019

Ani DiFranco - photograph by Danny Clinch

By Abby Swegarden
abbyjoswe@gmail.com

Ani DiFranco has always craved intimacy. This may come as a surprise to many fans of the folk icon, because we know her as a fiercely independent singer, songwriter, activist, poet, and now author. Ani has always defied any sort of categorization, though, and she forever reminds us in 1995’s “Not a Pretty Girl” that she is, in fact, “32 flavors and then some.” 

In her delicious new twist, we are gifted a sprawling, 300 page look at her…

Read more...


Kottonmouth Kings, Cannabis, and Concerts

June 5th, 2019

Kottonmouth Kings

If one were to compile a list of hot button issues in American news, the legalization of marijuana would certainly find its way on there. Though there is a growing acceptance of its usage for both medicinal and recreational purposes among the general population and the list of states that have legalized it grows longer as time goes on it still struggles to receive its blessing from the federal government to be legal in all fifty. Dustin Miller, AKA D-Loc of the hip hop (or as he likes…

Read more...


​A Harmar is born

May 29th, 2019

Design by Raul Gomez

All photographs provided by Rickett + Sones

“I’m excited to play the first show at Harold’s on Main, it’s fun to know that the friends I made in Moorhead in the 90s playing punk shows at Ralph’s... we all kind of stayed together and opened up a really cool bar,” said Twin Cities crooner Sean Tillman, also known as Harmar Superstar. 

Tillman also happens to be part owner of Harold’s and will be playing on Saturday June 15 during the second day of the first annual Harold’s…

Read more...


Look Out Posers: DTFM Vinyl Distro is in Town

May 15th, 2019

DTFM Vinyl Distro owner Devin Casavant

There is a golden oldie by Peter Allen called “Everything Old is New Again”, and that is certainly true about vinyl records. It is no secret that vinyl records are no longer just your parents’ musical format. Their popularity has skyrocketed among a new generation of audiophiles who cite everything from aesthetics to audio fidelity to a “warmer sound” for their ditching the formats like CD that supposedly made them obsolete.

Locations like Orange Records and Mother’s in…

Read more...


NeedToBreathe brings acoustic show to Fargo Theatre

May 8th, 2019

NeedtoBreathe

NeedToBreathe is bringing their Acoustic Live Tour to the Fargo Theatre May 15 and HPR was able to catch up to keyboardist and vocalist Josh Lovelace to talk about the tour as well as the band’s charity golf tournament and Lovelace’s Young Folk project.

High Plains Reader: How’s the tour going?

Josh Lovelace: It’s been really really good. We’re feeling good and everybody’s doing really good. It’s been really fun for us to get back in front of people. It’s been nice to…

Read more...


​The FYB life with Cascades

April 10th, 2019

The Cascades - photograph by Fargo.live

By Gary Ussery
usseryg@gmail.com

FYB. Three letters, three words, well known by the guys who make up Cascades, and anyone who is a fan of the five-man band. When asked what genre best describes their sound, I was bombarded with at least a dozen different categories, and sub-categories. We finally narrowed it down to punk, rock, and the important one to many, emo. FYB (f*ck yeah bud) was the callsign of Carter Amundson, the former bassist of Cascades, and a friend gone too soon for many of…

Read more...


​How do you Dü?

March 27th, 2019

Design by Jessi Schmit

The Lacrosse, Wisconsin based indie rock three-piece Porcupine came up on former bassist of Twin Cities based hardcore punk trio Hüsker Dü, Greg Norton’s radar one night in 2009 as they opened for the Meat Puppets. Norton met the band after the show and made fast friends with guitarist Casey Virock and managed to stay in touch via social media.

Fast forward to 2016. Norton’s project Conqueso disbanded and serendipitously Virock’s bass player didn’t work out either. “Casey…

Read more...


​More Than Just a Building: New Direction Fest 8

March 27th, 2019

TND fest - photograph provided by Gary Ussery

By Gary Ussery
usseryg@gmail.com 

It is hard to be a part of the Fargo music scene without knowing the name “Jack Stenerson.” His is a name I learned early on in my musical photography career, and for good reason. Jack is one of the biggest names in and behind the Fargo Music scene. If you have rocked out at The Aquarium (@aquariumfargo), Jack probably had a hand in the show. Heck, he was probably working the cash box. If you have enjoyed a concert at The Sanctuary (@sanctuaryevents),…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry Horse Park Tracker Pixel for Entry Bismarck1 Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem1B Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem1 Tracker Pixel for Entry Nicoles2 Tracker Pixel for Entry Hjemkomst

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comNorth Dakota communities will join a “nationwide day of defiance” against authoritarianism and President Donald Trump’s policies on Saturday, June 14. A range of "No Kings" events…

Back-to-school season is on the horizon, but there's still plenty of summer left. Check out our favorite August attractions and events in North Dakota and western Minnesota. And if if you missed them, here are a few excellent May…

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…

Fighting the good fightBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Over two thousand rallies took place nationwide June 14 as part of the “No Kings" protest. Ten of those protests were held in North Dakota, with thousands in attendance.…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comA syndrome is defined as a group of signs and symptoms that collectively indicate or characterize a disease, psychological disorder, or other abnormal condition and any complex of symptoms of an…

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 The weather warmed up quickly here in the upper Midwest this spring, sparking prime eating season. This means burger battles, food trucks and lake-season food travel. The 2025 Downtown Fargo Burger…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comThe Moorhead Public Library will offer three free, all-ages outdoor concerts featuring regional bands this summer. The series begins on June 12 with the Meat Rabbits, a group that blends…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com As we continue to deal with the ongoing horrorshow of racism, misogyny and transphobia embraced by the current administration, films like “Sally” can serve as an important reminder that…

By Deb Wallworkdwallwork@icloud.comI first met Catherine Mulligan at a party at her house. It was a small gathering, spontaneous, just a few people over for dinner. Directed toward a stack of plates and bowls and a big pot warming…

North Dakota play about mental health launches Midwest tour in AugustBy Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.com A new one-act play inspired by patients buried in the Old Cemetery at the Jamestown State Hospital will tour festivals in…

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…

The drug that keeps re-purposing itselfBy Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There is a drug that is getting a lot of attention nowadays all over the world. It has various commercial names (Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus), but…

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@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…