Battle of the Hamm’s returns

Music | September 3rd, 2015

In 2004 Chris Lindstrom and his bandmate Chris Moore wanted to throw a party -- a BIG party. Both were active in the music scene and the idea of a battle of the bands came about. Add a $10 30 pack of Hamm’s as an entry fee, enter 10 bands and the Battle of the Hamm’s was born. The victor would collect all the beer, be king of the after party and win a custom-made championship belt made of the finest cardboard and duct tape money could buy.

A few months ago Lindstrom was having a beer with a friend and the wheels started turning.

“I spent the next couple of days asking around to see if there was any interest in doing it again and there was tons of interest,” Lindstrom says. “I talked to a couple of people who are in bands now and they say that Battle of the Hamm’s was one of their first experiences with the F-M music scene.”

Lindstrom handpicked the bands and specified that it’s not about the best bands in town. His intent was to play with friends in bands that would otherwise not have an opportunity to play together. Think of it as a Fargo-Moorhead music variety pack.

“The initial idea behind the Battle of the Hamm’s was a bunch of friends getting together to have fun and party,” Lindstrom says. “It’s not about winning -- that’s not the point of the Battle of the Hamm’s. It’s to have a good time.”

The band lineup will include Swing Low, Still, GALS, At the Emporium, What Kingswood Needs, SOTOS, Uncle Dad, No Thumbs Up, Pisstory and Brütälür.

Each band will play a 25-minute set, meaning the show will be off to an early start with doors opening at 7 p.m. and the show starting at 8 p.m. at The Aquarium above Dempsey’s. A ballot box will be available for attendees to cast their vote for the crowd favorite.

The original Battles of the Hamm’s took place between 2004 to 2008 in the basement of the VFW, which then was an all-ages venue. Lindstrom believes that the biggest difference in 2015 is that there are a lot more bands now than there were 10 years ago.

“Back then we had to seek out bands that were willing to play, and now there are so many types of bands,” Lindstrom says.

Unfortunately, the original Battle of the Hamm’s championship belt is in Georgia in the hands of Justin Norris, former drummer of the Fargo band Necktie Suicide. F-M music veteran and bandmate AJ Anderson adds, “For the local music scene, this show is almost like the World Series of local bands. It's a traveling trophy, which we have had since the last time this event has taken place.”

Anderson assures us that as soon as the belt makes it to Fargo, it will be in the hands of the victor.

IF YOU GO:

Battle of the Hamm’s

Sat. Sept. 5, 8 p.m. - 1 a.m.

The Aquarium above Dempsey’s, 226 Broadway