Fargo-Moorhead summer concerts you should know about

A few months ago, we informed you about Joan Baez, Ben Harper, Paul McCartney, The Flaming Lips (an interview with Wayne Coyne will in our paper next week) and other superb, heavy-hitter musicians coming to Fargo-Moorhead to perform.

Before I get to my “editor picks,” I’d like to leave y’all with a question to ponder:

Why is it lame or uncool to go to a concert wearing a t-shirt of the band/artist you are seeing?

I’ve been informed that it’s uncool since my first teenaged “underground” concert. Is it because music events are the opposite of sporting events? Or because plaid or denim button-ups are way cooler?

I don’t get it. But I know I’ll never wear Dessa t-shirt to a Dessa show. God forbid.

Without further ado, YouTube, Spotify or Facebook search the following artists and then go see them live in Fargo or Moorhead (or Waubun, MN):

<strong>Dessa @ The Rourke, July 10</strong>

Cool, collected and crazily charismatic, rapper/singer/poet Dessa mesmerizes her audiences with her fierce, poetic, delightfully wordy delivery. Her music has a bit of an acquired taste, but her sincere personality definitely not. Dessa’s kind of big deal right now, especially in the Twin Cities.

<strong>Karmin @ The Red River Valley Fair, July 13</strong>

Amy Heidemann, the leading lady of Karmin, is one of cleanest fast-spitting female rappers in the game right now. And yet she’s an unassuming, rising mega pop star. It makes no sense, yet it sounds so right. Search “Karmin” on YouTube and watch this chick flawlessly turn an arrogant, macho rap song into something cute and dorky. The video has more than 90 million hits.

<strong>Sharon Van Etten @ The Aquarium, July 14</strong>

Sharon Van Etten and her musical poetry – aaaah … Fans of Beach House, Low and Bon Iver will especially appreciate Van Etten’s music that listeners can really melt their moods into. Her music is glorious yet sullen, tender yet fiery. See why the New Yorker, NPR and Pitchfork have all praised her work.

<strong>Against Me! @ The Aquarium, Aug. 6</strong>

Prep your vocal chords and get ready to shout “And just James I’ll be drinking Irish tonight!” or “Baby, I’m an anarchist!” Against Me! is quite possibly one of the most influential punk rock groups of the last decade. Lead vocalist Laura, formally a man known as Tom, sounds and performs as powerful as ever.

<strong>Beats Antique @ Pure Bliss Ranch, Aug. 21</strong>

Performing for the Cosmic Ascension Music and Art Festival, Beats Antique produces some of the finest, weirdest, most extravagant electronic music on the planet. This is not laptop, disc-jockey dub step. It’s dream weaving, polyrhythmic craziness. Attend this concert only if you dare …

<strong>Ryan Bingham @ Bluestem, Sept. 6</strong>

Academy Award-winning songwriter Ryan Bingham has a rough-and-tumbled, smoked-too-many-cigarettes and drank-too-much-whiskey singing voice and a aching, yet tireless and inspired songwriting style. For a roots-rock, Americana musician, it’s a dream combination. Furthermore, Bingham’s sound is unparalleled in modern music.

<strong>Steep Canyon Rangers @ Bluestem, Sept. 6</strong>

Traditional bluegrass freaks and geeks (I mean that in the nicest way possible) will absolutely swoon over the Steep Canyon Rangers. Their harmonies are earth shattering, their finger picking is smooth and ultra clean, their songs are adeptly tuneful and their suits are ever so professional looking. They are also comedian Steve Martin’s backing band, NDB.

Yes, I’m missing lots of other great summer acts: Black Flag (July 21), Jeremy Messersmith (Sept 6), Five Finger Death Punch (July 12), Travis Tritt (Aug. 7) … so don’t stop at this list.

Keep posted for further concerts announcements from HPR, Jade Presents, The Aquarium, The Nestor, The Garage Bar, The HoDo, The Sidestreet, The Empire, Zorbaz, Soo Pass Ranch, Pure Bliss Ranch and more.