Tracker Pixel for Entry

​Wild Hands: New Dakota bluegrass

Music | May 8th, 2014

Young Minot musicians to tour the Midwest and Europe

By Konner Johnson

Minot’s own Wild Hands have been playing music for only a few years but already have established themselves in the Midwest bluegrass scene. The group will play their first show at The Aquarium with the award-winning Minnesota string band Roe Family Singers.

Wild Hands are known for their rock-Americana-bluegrass style that delivers compellingly honest songs about this area of the country. For a smaller, isolated North Dakota town, Minot has a thriving music scene, according to the band. It wasn’t too long before all five members met and decided to make music together.

“We all loved each other’s bands, so eventually we just wound up in the same room together with instruments,” said Max Patzner, lead vocalist and guitarist.

The band had a huge first first gig, opening for Duluth’s infamous folk musician Charlie Parr in October 2012.

“It was a great first show; everyone genuinely seemed excited about it so that was encouraging,” Patzner said.

Since their debut show, Wild Hands have continued to play all around the state, sharing the stage with acts like Matt Hopper and the Roman Candles, Roe Family Singers, Pennyroyal from Minneapolis and Al Scorch from Chicago. They also were featured on Prairie Public Television’s “Prairie Musicians” last January.

Wild Hands have played once in Fargo for a songwriter series put on by Darrin Wentz at The HoDo.

“It's rare to have an audience in that kind of setting that is so into listening to the songs. It was a great show,” says Patzner.

The band’s first full-length album, “Oh, River,” is expected to be released this summer. It’s been a work in progress since last July.

“We really took the time and made the album we wanted to make and are really proud of it,” Patzner says.

On Feb. 1, the band successfully raised almost $10,000 on Kickstarter to fund the entire record, with enough funds left over cover some travel expenses.

This summer hopes to be a momentous period for the band as they set out on a Midwest tour, which will finish in Chicago. Down the road, they will have a big hometown CD release, where fans can get first dibs of the album on vinyl. Further down the road, Wild Hands will travel to California, even Europe, to promote the record.

Wild Hand’s music is available for free on Facebook and Bandcamp.

IF YOU GO:

Wild Hands w/ Roe Family Singers and Boots

Fri, May 16, 9 p.m.

The Aquarium, 226 Broadway

$5 or $3 with Neko Case stub

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee NelsonCitizens will rally in support of democracy and civil libraries in Minot on April 19 from 3-5 p.m. The event will begin at Minot City Hall (10 3rd Ave. S.W.) and participants will walk toward Broadway.…

By Prairie Rose Seminolems.prairierose@gmail.com I was a child who walked behind my parents into classrooms and kitchens, spaces of song and prayer, where teachings lived in the air and settled on my shoulders. I didn’t yet have…

Tuesday, April 22, 4 p.m.Junkyard Brewing Company, 1416 1st Ave. N., MoorheadWho here wants to taste a new beer? Try Money Honey, a peanut butter, banana and honey lager. $1 of every pint sold will be donated to the Pollinator…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com I feel like reading a newspaper is the equivalent of listening to music on vinyl. Not only is it analog, it’s an experience. I might be a little biased, but there's something about the rustling…

By Ed Raymondfargogadly@gmail.comThe wizards and kleagles in whites now wear blue suits and red tiesA hundred years ago, more than 30,000 members of the Ku Klux Klan from virtually every state in the Union wearing their white…

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 After a very inspiring conversation with Kayla Houchin of Sonder Bakehouse a few weeks ago, I decided that it’s an appropriate time to write a column about some of the sweet people who are involved…

Mooncats and Pert Near Sandstone play Empire TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comThe MoonCats describe themselves as “Americonscious Campfire Folk.” They have a clear acoustic folk sound with a sense of whimsy — think…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Given the volume of existing media material on the topic, longtime admirers of legendary documentarian Errol Morris might wonder why he would elect to become the umpteenth person to cover the…

By Raul Gomez Modern Man was a gentle soul. If you were down or just wanted a friend, he’d be there for you. I remember the first day I met Modern Man. It was Jeremiah Fuglseth and me. He wanted to write about this legendary…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

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 Josette Ciceronunapologeticallyanxiousme@gmail.com What does it mean to truly live in a community —or should I say, among community? It’s a question I have been wrestling with since I moved to Fargo-Moorhead in February 2022.…

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 Faye Seidlerfayeseidler@gmail.com In 2023, the Superintendent of Fargo Public Schools, Rupak Ghandi, gave a passionate plea to the Fargo School Board to follow federal law, because a recently passed state law would increase…