Tracker Pixel for Entry

​Bender Fundraiser Uses Healing Power of Music

Music | March 16th, 2022

By John Showalter 

john.d.showalter@gmail.com

In my experience of writing about music, two things have always stood out about local music acts, one being how much excellent musical talent can be found at the local level, and the other being how quickly folks can band together toward a common cause with art and music as a backdrop.

That holds true not just for the music scene in Fargo-Moorhead, but elsewhere in the state too, as I found out when I interviewed Dylan Bender and Alex Thomson of Bismarck.

The cause in question is a fundraiser concert in Bismarck to raise money for Bender’s father Tony, who is a respected columnist, novelist, newspaper publisher, fellow music supporter and enthusiast. Bender recently broke his hip. Such a major occurrence led to an extended hospital stay for Tony, as well as the temporary apartments that he had to stay in during his period of rehabilitation after having his hip replacement.

“Our goal is to raise money for any ongoing expenses of improving and maintaining Tony’s overall health throughout this whole thing,” said Thomson. “Whether those expenses be medical bills, cost of living, or even something as small as getting a coffee at his favorite spot if he’s feeling down. We want Tony and his family to know they are not alone through any of this.”

Originally, the fundraiser was meant as something of a surprise for Bender, being set up by Thomson and other friends. “…I found out a lot earlier than my friends had hoped,” said Bender. “They intended to surprise us with it. I found out about three or four days into the hospital stay from a friend on the phone, but I won’t throw him under the bus on paper.”

“I knew I wanted to do something as soon as I had heard that he had broken his hip,” said Thomson. “I looked at my event calendar and for the next show I was setting up I already had a touring band (Lung) on my schedule for April 7th and Gus had Mooncats set for the 8th. So we talked it over amongst each other and the bands and just decided to combine the two shows to support the same cause, since they were already back-to-back dates.”

Bender and Thomson both have pedigrees in the Bismarck music scene. Bender has been playing since 2017. He began in a band called Strikes Again with Richard Loewen and a few other friends, and then started working at Rhythm Records, where the fundraiser concert will be taking place. From that point he started helping book shows at Rhythm Records as well as performing in other bands there.

Thomson has been involved in Bismarck’s music scene for fifteen years, a little over a decade of which has involved playing, booking, and promoting shows. “Ever since Rhythm Records started doing shows in 2014, I sort of made that my home base for bringing bands from all over the country to Bismarck whenever I could,” said Thomson.

The fundraiser has quite the lineup for the two nights over which it will be taking place. “Lung are headlining the first evening, and are actually coming through on tour from Cincinnati,” said Bender. “They’re a two-piece electric cello and drum group. Very grand and almost intimidating sound. Kate’s vocals are haunting. They’ve played a few shows around the area before but I’m not sure they’ve been to Rhythm.”

“Vanity Plate is playing, and everyone in that band is an angel. Jasmine and Zack have been so kind, and inclusive, and all around encouraging to me and my friends over the years. They are such a great band too, powerful vocals, calculated guitars, and boisterous drums.”

Green Boots is a Bismarck stoner rock band with members of some of my favorite bands to see when I first started going to shows,” said Bender. “There’ll be more announced for the show, and I believe a first surprise show from a new band in town.”

“The next night The Mooncats are heading, also releasing their new album,” said Bender. “They’re a wonderful Americana group from Bismarck that has been doing a lot of touring and playing a lot of regional festivals. They’ll be releasing the album on vinyl and CD that night.”

“Wildly Appropriate will be playing as well. They’re a freak folk group from Bismarck with an overlapping with the Mooncats, as well as Gus Lindgren, the owner of the store.”

“Shakey Calls will be playing,” said Bender. “They’re actually on their way down to Texas right now for SXSW. Really great band that spans a lot of genres, and makes great use of all the different vocalists in the band.”

“The band I’m in will be playing that night as well,” said Bender. “The band is named Hello Spillovoy after my great-grandfather. It’s fun indie rock, and it gives me an excuse to play music with two of my best friends. Ben Braunagel is the vocalist, Ansen Boehm is on bass, and I play drums.”

“Anyone and everyone is welcome to come and support this, and we hope to see a large turnout,” said Thomson. “We understand there are people who will want to show their support but are unable to attend, so there has been a GoFundMe set up for anyone who feels compelled to help.”

____________________________

IF YOU GO

Night 1 (Thursday, April 7)

Lung

Vanity Plate

Green Boots

+ more TBA

Night 2 (Friday, April 8)

Mooncats [CD RELEASE SHOW]

Wildly Appropriate

Helko Spillovey

Shaky Calls

6pm start both nights All ages

GoFundMe:         https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-tony-offset-medical-expenses?fbclid=IwAR3HPao_HFEh9nVvOcjcS4jgtpfaQlEIaCnXyPNC-Znv1g5x9q6_qQd7ChE

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.com Ten North Dakota communities will participate in the nationwide No Kings Day of Peaceful Action on October 18. The grassroots movement is a nonviolent protest against President Trump’s…

By Michael M. Millermichael.miller@ndsu.edu I would like to recognize some of the scholarly Germans from Russia from Canada and USA shared on the GRHC website. There are additional names not included here. If you have suggestions…

Friday, October 31, doors 8 p.m. show starts at 8:30 p.m.The Aquarium above Dempey’s, 226 N. Broadway, FargoThe annual Aquarium Halloween Cover Show is back and it is stacked. And this time there are a limited amount of presale…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com At the end of September, downtown Fargo said goodbye to another old friend; the Spirit Room closed its doors, marking the end of an era. The Spirit Room room has been a fixture downtown for the…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comAnother public health crisis besides guns: lack of empathyThe Sisters of Charity have finally had enough of their Trumper boss, Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York. One of the most…

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 Gion and Nichole Hensenrickgion@gmail.com The wait is finally over. Those who have visited Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Cafe lately know about the recent major additions and renovations that have taken place over the past…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Dakotah Faye is a hip-hop artist from Minot, North Dakota, and he’s had a busy year. He’s released two albums. This summer he opened for Tech N9ne in Sturgis and will be opening for Bone…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.comNoémie Merlant, working from a script she wrote with Pauline Munier and her “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” collaborator Celine Sciamma, directs herself in “The Balconettes” (the…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Gallery 4 downtown recently celebrated its 50 year anniversary, making it one of the longest consecutively running galleries in the country. With different membership tiers, there are 17 primary…

Press release“Shakespeare with a sharpened edge.” To launch its 2025 – 2026 season, Theatre NDSU is thrilled to team up with Moorhead-based organization Theatre B to perform a co-production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and…

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…

By Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com When we are sick, all we want is a cure. You go to the doctor, they give you a pill, you take it for a bit, then you are cured. It happens. But unfortunately, it is not always the case. …

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.comMoral accountability and the crisis of leadership  As a recovering person living one day at a time for the last 35 years, I have learned not to judge others because I have not walked in…