Author Archives: zach kobrinsky

Creation and community: Midwest Mud – an artist collective

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Text and photos by Zach Kobrinsky

Additional text by Nishesh Sharma

Public outreach, pickled fawns, costume-craving electricians and full frontal nudity. What do these phrases have in common? Well, they are all necessary ingredients in creating an artist collective.

Midwest Mud (213 NP Ave N) has been around for about a year now, serving as a physical space for artists to create, as well as a community to encourage creativity and public outreach in visual arts.

Amber Parsons is the sole proprietor of the physical space, as well as the founder of the artist collective that resides there. According to Parsons, she created this space out of artistic necessity.

Amber Parsons demonstrates what melted ceramics look like.

Inception of a community
“I needed a space to work after I graduated, and I found this building. I just graduated two months prior to opening this space,” Parsons said.

Parsons believes that Fargo-Moorhead has very few outlets that encourage artistic output outside of the academic arena. You graduate with an art degree from one of our local universities… then what?

“(Creating the space), it was really quick,” Parsons said. “Everybody was shocked. I kept saying I was going to do it, and then all of a sudden I just did it.”

Parsons personally funded the physical space. After that, it was just a matter of finding artists to occupy it for a nominal fee — both to create a necessary outlet for upcoming artists as well as to recoup some of her own financial investment, although she said she prefers not to think about it as a financial endeavor. Creating a collective was and still remains the primary objective.

One of the settings for a modeling session.

The creative value of nude modeling
Nude portraiture has become a standard learning experience for an artist’s education. According to Parsons, not only do the observer/artists gain insight, but the model can gain insight during the process as well.

“I spend a lot of time modeling for the school (NDSU),” she said, “so I’d spend that time kind of organizing my thoughts… either thinking about how I was going to organize it (the collective) or what I wanted to do with it.”

Now the tradition of nude portraiture is being taken to a new level at Midwest Mud. According to Parsons, your typical art classroom nude modeling setup is quite plain and boring. So, the Collective hosts nude modeling sessions involving more elaborate and intriguing staging.


Improving the artists’ network
The ultimate goal of Midwest Mud is improve the F-M art scene at large. There will be another art collective opening up in the near future called The Station. Are these two collectives bitter competitors? Absolutely not. According to Parsons, she has been assisting The Station in the process of establishing itself.

“We’re going to start something called The Artnership,” Parsons said, “and we’re going to try and unite all the studios, like even the Roberts Street Studio. For one, for communicating with one another. Like if I want to do a class here, so we’re not offering the same classes at the same time to give more opportunities to people….

“I actually feel like this place is more about networking for artists. It’s people doing art and stuff, but learning how to use your networking skills is what this place is about really.”

Andrew Hanson, an art student from the area said, “These kind of co-ops are nothing but good news for our community. It gives us a place and a medium to learn to make better art and also provides a chance for us to meet and network with other artists.”

The pickled fawn.

Working with trade
In the spirit of the collective, a lot of what exists within its walls comes from collaboration — from trade, more specifically.

The electrician who did a lot of work on the space, for example, was paid in a roundabout trade.

“I threw my first show for Christy Bakke,” Parsons said. “She helps run Revolver. She’s a fashion major and she didn’t get a senior show, so I threw her a senior show here in trade that she would… my electrician who does all my electrical work — he likes costumes. So I made her trade him for… I kind of made her make him a costume. So I paid him with a costume….”

In addition to the electric upkeep of the space, one of the more notable points of interest Parsons acquired through trade. The pickled fawn pictured above was the result of such a deal. A friend of Parsons, knowing that she had experience as a taxidermist and that she had an interest in such trinkets, gave her the fawn-in-a-jar in exchange for some of her ceramic works.

The graphic designer, Andy Bissonette, who created the Midwest Mud logo was hired through trade as well.

“Almost everything I have here I’ve gotten through trade,” Parsons said. “When you’re an artist, you don’t have a lot of money.” She then laughed at that sentiment.

Parsons demonstrates where the antlers will be placed on her work in progress.

Giving art to the masses
Another goal of Midwest Mud and the artists involved with it is to create more public works. As of right now, the only real public art we see around F-M are the buffaloes sporadically scattered about town.

“The buffaloes aren’t really that satisfying,” Parsons said. “To me, personally, they’re barely a public… they’re weird and they just… they made all these buffaloes, and because they didn’t want anyone touching them, they put them inside of buildings. Stratero has like four of the buffalos… I don’t know, I just feel like public art is meant to be more inviting. You’re supposed to interact with it. That’s something the artist should’ve thought through when they created them I guess.”

In response to the notion that more accessible public art is subject to vandalism, Parsons replied, “When someone’s vandalizing artwork like that, they’re like kids in a China store. Because they haven’t experienced it, they haven’t developed a respect for it. Like my mom, when I take her to gallery openings, she touches everything. But now that she’s been to a few of them she doesn’t pick up the pieces of art (anymore).”

Parsons couldn’t help but chuckle as she reminisced over her mother’s handling of art. “So it’s kind of like training your society to appreciate it a little more,” she continued, “by allowing people to interact with it.”

A painting by Wade Myszka.

Keeping artists focused
In addition to providing space for artists, Midwest Mud and the collective at large also provides motivation for artists.

According to Parsons, “We do critiques here of people’s work. Also I try to have them write contracts for me saying that they’re going to produce this work within this amount of time. Because that’s what you do naturally in a college setting to get motivation, and I find that people really lose that motivation. Self motivation, they have to learn how to do that themselves, but if you give them some sort of structure they’re setting their own goals.”

The contracts Parsons implements are not as severe as they may initially sound. Realistically, the only consequence for defaulting on your agreement is guilt. But according to Parsons, that’s enough to keep a number of artists motivated. The artists involved with the collective also have regular group critiques and meetings to discuss their work.

A painting by Parsons.

Current artists utilizing Midwest Mud space:
- Sara Schawn
- Mike Weiss
- Mike Nelson
- Nichole Lamb
- Tess Peckly
- Amber Parsons

Downtown Bathroom Guide: Men’s Edition

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Photos and illustrations by Zach Kobrinsky

Whether you’re out shopping during the day or bar hopping at night, you may find yourself subject to one of our most basic and necessary human needs: the need to relieve yourself. If you’re looking for a spot to go number one, two, or even three, I offer this downtown bathroom guide in the hopes that you might find the right bathroom to serve your needs. I was unable to investigate the downtown women’s bathrooms for obvious ethical reasons, but should you be a male in need of relief, may this guide point you in the right direction.

Day bathrooms (numbers correspond to map, not to actual rank)

#1: Pita Pit (206 Broadway N)

There’s nothing horribly wrong with Pita Pit’s bathroom, but rather it’s quite plain. Functionality is the key word for this stop. It’s a one man, one toilet scenario, and by toilet I mean a multi-functional toilet. No urinals, just the old fashion john like you might find in your home. It smells quite nice, or at least it did at the time I was there. Other than that, it’s pretty boring. If you can help it, there are far more interesting and comfortable bathrooms to make in. At least the old Pita Pit’s there for you in a pinch, and the staff aren’t likely to harass you if you’re not a customer. Just walk really fast straight to the back of the establishment like you own the place.

Grade: C

#2: Atomic Coffee / Studio 222 / Spider and Company (222 Broadway N)

There is an absolute world of difference between the Pita Pit and 222’s bathroom. For one, you won’t have to hang your head in shame as you leave the bathroom without buying anything, although purchasing a double shot latte from Atomic Coffee might expedite your restroom duration. There is a public hallway, with Atomic on the left, where you will find this soiling sanctum. It has cozy, warm colors, and a general comfortable feel to it. And while I normally don’t particularly enjoy being advertised to, the collection of flyers on the walls makes for good reading material, even if they’re out of date. Decorum and comfort level aside, however, it has the same basic amenities (single stall multi-purpose toilet and sink) as Pita Pit, albeit in a more stylish setting. It may also serve you to know that the ventilation fan was out of order at the time of my investigation.
Grade: B+

Erbert & Gerbert's

#3: Erbert & Gerbert’s (300 Broadway N)

Having investigated a significant number of downtown bathrooms, a pattern begins to emerge: franchise bathrooms lack character. I will say that Erb’s and Gerb’s bathroom has more character than a Walmart bathroom, but it remains pretty sterile nonetheless. In a positive light, however, their bathroom is immaculate, and spacious to boot. This is also the first stop on the list that accommodates multiple patrons at a time. It has two urinals and two stalls (one of them handicap accessible). There is a partition between the urinals, which bodes well for urinal users that are perhaps a little self-conscious. Urinal partitions can make or break whether or not you use a urinal at all, for some. If you’re not a customer, make sure you go in the Kilbourne building entrance, and then through the Erb’s and Gerb’s side door. The staff won’t even notice you slip in and out without buying anything.
Grade: B-

Public Library

 

#4: The Downtown Public Library (209 3rd St. N)
Although it may be on the outskirts of what is typically considered the downtown area, this bathroom is well worth the trip if you can muster the wait. It’s about as spacious as downtown bathrooms get, which is kind of liberating. It has two urinals and two stalls, one of them handicap accessible. The urinals have partitions, and even drip mats to prevent any mishaps from ending up on your shoes. For the father on the go, there is a diaper changing station, complete with stainless steel veneer. The best part of the library’s bathroom is that it has wi-fi. If you have your laptop on you, you can cruise the web while you take care of business. And when you’re done and have washed your hands (assuming you do wash your hands), you have a choice between hand towels or air-drying. You can go green with the air dryer to save on paper, or you can save time by giving your hands a quick wipe. Its only pitfall is that it has kind of a corporate, impersonal feel to it.
Grade: B

Sidestreet Upstairs Bathroom

#5: The Sidestreet / Howard Johnson (301 3rd Ave N)
Time of day is a key factor in determining the worth of the Sidestreet bathrooms. During the day they can be quite pleasant. Upstairs, in the hallway between the bar and the hotel, you will find a one-person setup, although this lock-in bathroom has both classic toilet and urinal. Should you and your buddy decide to go simultaneously, the accommodations permit it if that’s what you’re into. It has a granite-top sink and burgundy walls, which significantly add character. A peculiar point of interest is that the ventilation fan has been inexplicably removed from the wall entirely. In the late hours, the missing fan may contribute to the horrendous odor that accrues. During bar hours, I typically forgo the men’s bathroom entirely and opt to use the women’s. It’s a lock-in private bathroom, don’t worry. No one’s privacy is being invaded in the process.
Grade: B-

Sidestreet Basement

In the basement on the hotel side, you will find a very different type of bathroom indeed. It has two toilets and no urinals. One of the toilets has a disconcerting permanent stain inside the bowl. It seems clean enough, or at least as clean as it can be. It seems to have suffered the wear and tear of many flushes, and there’s only so much industrial cleaners can do. If the face value of this bathroom makes you apprehensive, there are dispensable toilet seat covers available.
Grade: C-

There is yet another bathroom on the premises, but it is regarded as a privileged secret. It is clean, private and secluded. If I were to disclose the whereabouts of this bathroom, it would cease to be all those things.

Night bathrooms

I must preface the night bathroom section by pointing out that you must reduce your expectations of quality when dealing with bar bathrooms. I’ve already pointed out the disparity between day and night trips to Sidestreet bathrooms. Basically, smell and cleanliness are expected to degrade a notch between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. Keep that in mind.

Dempsey's Main Floor

#6: Dempsey’s / The Aquarium (226 Broadway N)

The main floor of Dempsey’s has quite recently undergone some serious renovations in their bathrooms. The walls are adorned with granite tiling, which is not a cheap undertaking. It has two urinals with a partition, and a single toilet stall. What’s remarkable about the stall is that it has an actual door, as opposed to your typical metal rectangle and latch. There could be 500 people in the bar and you would still feel completely comfortable and secluded in this stall. A full-on door adds significantly to this bathroom’s quality.

Grade: B+

The Aquarium

The upstairs of Dempsey’s is a different world entirely. The Aquarium is one of the premier venues for both traveling and local musicians alike, and you can find evidence of this in the bathroom. Although some of the graffiti can be both lewd and crude, it also touts band stickers and logos from across the nation. Minnesota’s White Iron Band has made its mark prominently on the hand towel dispenser, for example. However, these bathrooms can get significantly grosser than other bar bathrooms throughout the course of an evening. But again, that is to be expected. There is a direct correlation between the amount of traffic a bar gets and the cleanliness of its bathrooms. Late night cleanliness aside, the artwork and graffiti make The Aquarium’s bathroom an unforgettable experience… in a good way.
Grade: B-


HoDo

#7: The Hotel Donaldson Lounge (101 Broadway N)
The HoDo has the best bathroom in all of downtown Fargo, hands down. I doubt anyone would dispute this claim. It’s clean, classy and elegant. It wouldn’t seem out of place for a bathroom attendant to reside their, although those guys are kind of creepy, and they’re probably better off without one. Like the rest of the HoDo, the bathroom has all original artwork. You can also solicit your wares or get informed on upcoming events via the flyer wall near the exit. This bathroom also has some kind of magical ability to stay clean and fresh-smelling, regardless of time of day. Ultimately, though, what truly makes the HoDo’s bathroom great is quality toilet paper. Very few establishments will go beyond the single-ply, but the HoDo has made it clear that it cares about its patrons by means of soft, quality T.P.
Grade: A+

Monte's

#8: Monte’s (220 Broadway N)

Monte’s is one of the closest contenders to the HoDo. It’s a single-person lock-in bathroom, but Monte’s doesn’t really need to accommodate more than that. Their traffic is significantly less than some of the other locations listed, so a bigger bathroom isn’t really necessary. Monte’s bathroom needs no bells and whistles. It stands strong by simply providing the basics, and providing them well.

The general feel of Monte’s is just comfortable. What more can you really ask for in a bathroom other than comfort? You could ask for quality T.P., but the HoDo has cornered the market on that. I was a little perplexed by the random chair sitting in the corner, but then it occurred to me that this likely serves as a changing table for single dads. A changing table the HoDo does not have, I’m afraid.
Grade: A-


The Empire

#9: Empire Tavern (424 Broadway N)
Now we begin to delve into an entirely different type of bathroom altogether: the dive bar bathroom. Dive bars are a very different kind of monster — monster being the operative word. The Empire has two urinals (no partition) and one toilet stall (handicap accessible). When choosing one of the two urinals, the issue is not if you’re comfortable urinating next to a stranger with no partition. Rather, the issue is whether or not you want random bar-goers to potentially see your business. Should you choose the urinal on the right, not only will anyone who walks in get a clear view, but under the right circumstances, a few lucky folks in the bar may just get to see the full monty. The conditions are what you might typically expect from a dive — nothing to write home about. However, it serves its function. Just keep in mind that if you’re not entirely comfortable in your skin, choose the urinal on the left if you can help it.
Grade: C

The Bismarck

#10: The Bismarck (522 Broadway N)
The Bismarck bathroom is probably the smallest bar bathroom yet addressed. It has two urinals, no partition, and one toilet stall. The problem with the toilet stall is that there is no door whatsoever. Should you choose to go number two, you will be on full display for anyone who might peak around the wall. There is no mirror above the urinals, however, so at least anyone utilizing a urinal won’t catch you in the reflection. There is a mirror near the door, but it’s distorted to the point where you almost feel like you’re in a circus fun house by using it.
Grade: D

The VFW

#11: The VFW (202 Broadway N)
For its age, the VFW bathroom is in reasonable condition. It’s kind of gross regardless of what time a day you use it, but not to the point where it’s too repulsive to use. It has two urinals and a toilet stall. There is no urinal partition, which I find is normally no big deal. However, these urinals are so close together that you’re literally going to be rubbing elbows with your neighbor. Like the library, the VFW offers a choice between hand towel or air drying, which is nice. I prefer hand towels, personally. There’s a spot on the wall near the mirror that looks like it may have been subjected to a drunken telephone conversation with a girlfriend gone horribly wrong. There a couple dents in the dry wall that appear to have been created by a fist or two. All things considered, though, its semi-dilapidated state almost gives it charm.
Grade: C



Extreme Hipster Makeover

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Text and photos by Zach Kobrinsky, Model: William Block

This is Will. He works a 9-to-5, always votes Republican, and lives a self-admittedly boring existence. He is what you might call a “square.” Yet as fulfilling as his life may be, the encroaching age of 30, the continued existence of liberal media and healthcare reform have him rethinking his life in strange ways. No need to worry, Will. We have a solution for you: an extreme hipster makeover. It’s time to cast aside your comforts and embrace your new life. But where do we begin?

Swap that crappy domestic beer for a good one. PBR is the proud unofficial sponsor of the hipster community.

No more historical military books and right-wing memoirs. Time to embrace your artistic side.

The First step toward hipsterdom

Will’s going to need to fashion that boring goatee into a moustache. Hipsters love moustaches, so if you want to fit into your new brotherhood, a moustache is a step in the right direction, although not entirely necessary. But if we’re going to convince the hipster community that Will is legit, we’re going to have to use every card we’ve got.

Will flushing his identity down the toilet.

Would you look at that? Five minutes into the hipster makeover and Will’s already deep in artistic contemplation.

What clothes will you need?

First of all, what hipster would be complete without tight jeans and a flannel shirt? These are a must. If you don’t have a flannel, however, you can always substitute it for a tight t-shirt boasting an obscure band name, comic or video game reference.

We had some difficulty finding a tight enough pair of jeans, so we had to use women’s jeans to create a convincing enough illusion. Will happens to be a size 11.

Time to accessorize

Here is a list of some items that can help you pull off the hipster look:

-          A folded bandana to insert into your back pocket. Will you ever use it for anything? Probably not.

-          A G-ring for your keys. Those pants are way too tight to be putting your bulky keys in. Keys clipped onto a belt loop are a classic hipster identifier.

-          A thin wallet chain.

-          Converse All-stars are the most typical hipster shoe, although any solid color, lace-less slip-on shoe will work as well.

-          An extra long, plain stocking cap. Make sure you wear it just above the ears and let the extra length of the cap flop off the back of your head.

The greenish flannel just wasn’t working, so we had to swap it for the more stereotypical red and black look.

The look is starting to come together

Got the basics? Let’s take it to the next level

Now that we have the most important bases covered, let’s take it a step farther. Will’s in a funk, and we need him to be convincing if he’s going to make new friends at indie rock shows. Here are a few more ideas:

-          A scarf or neckerchief of some kind, or any piece of cloth to go around your neck for that matter.

-          A thin jacket. Even in the dead of North Dakota winter, hipsters rarely wear bulky jackets.

-          Some cool, yet slightly weird shades. Yellow frames will do just fine.

-          iPod ear buds, preferably white.

If this isn’t a hipster in this photo, then we’re not sure what is. It’s probably safe to call the makeover a success.

Time to change your ideology, Will

We’ve got the look down, but as soon as Will opens his mouth, everyone will know he’s a fraud. Here are some basic ideological guidelines that make you readily identifiable as a hipster:

-          A general distaste for anything mainstream.

-          A general like for anything “indie.”

-          Avoid corporate business.

-          Support small business.

-          Support women’s rights to abortion.

-          Support the legalization of marijuana, even if you don’t smoke it.

-          Basically all liberal ideals are tantamount with hipster ideals.


An identity is transformed

Once Will understood and accepted hipster ideology, something strange happened. The hipster spirit overtook him. Dr. Dog started playing on Pandora, and his new-found hipster instincts took over, although we’re not entirely sure how a lampshade ended up on his head. Oh well. Embrace the spirit, Will. Rock on. Catch you at the next Stars show.

Downtown, up close and personal: a photographic saga

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Text and photos by Zach Kobrinsky

Anyone who has been downtown or even lived in Fargo has seen the typical downtown visual icons, or dare I say, clichés. You know the ones: the Fargo Theatre marquee, the fountain at the train depot, the antiquated black clock that bears the word Fargo across the top, the old immobilized train engine, the barren Broadway strip contrasted with the populous epicenters of Paris, London and Moscow.

There exists a plethora of visually stimulating imagery in the downtown area beyond the stereotypical, but sometimes you have to look a little closer to find it. If you look hard enough, a world of living, breathing art peers out from the decrepit cracks and untrodden alleyways.

The dead tendrils of a once flourishing vine effervescently cling to brick behind Zandbroz Variety on the Roberts Street side.

A caulk formation looms ominously over the heads of passersby.

Commuter limbo.

Words of encouragement left on an arbitrary Dumpster by an unknown artist.

Fargo's red light district.

A downtown derelict alley teems with the leavings of a secret pigeon society.

An inexplicably vibrant ball of lint, about a foot in diameter, nestles into the urban landscape.

A fallen sign post lies harmoniously atop a rusted-out I-beam in the ABC bookstore parking lot. Never remove from box.

The dilapidated remnants of a street side pillar on 4th Ave N.

Trickles of rain and garbage grease paint downtown Dumpsters red with oxidation.

Don’t go toward the light.

Is it live or is it Memorex? Another find in the ABC bookstore parking lot.

Another tree in the concrete jungle.

Gears and Grit: Bike Polo

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Andy Bushaw takes a swing. Photo by Amita Manandhar

Stating the obvious

Bike polo is exactly what it sounds like. It’s polo… on bikes. The basic rules are typical of most sports involving a ball, or any such semi-spherical object. You want to put the ball in your opponent’s goal, with a few minor details in between. But to the F-M bike polo crew (the original gangsters, so to speak), it’s about much more than that.

Click here for an F-M bike polo video shot by Amita Manandhar.

Why play bike polo?
According to Joe Curry, an F-M Community Bike Workshop member and avid polo-ist, “It’s a really good, cheap way to get people together and communicate and just hang out.”

“It’s about fun, it’s about community,” he said.  “It’s about all those positive things.”

He added jokingly, “It’s about PBR and hugs.”

Brandon Mellem is another FMCBW member / polo fanatic, and according to his cyclist compatriots, he is bike polo.

Mellem also remarked on the community aspect of bike polo:

“When people see us playing, or biking with our mallets we get funny looks or a ‘Hey what is that pole?’ or ‘What are you all playing?!’ They, the mallets, spark interest, which is good. It gets people to start a conversation, most of the time which is with a complete stranger, and that is not something most people like to do.”

Photo by Amita Manandhar

Making fun of exercise
According to Mellem, exercise is also a major factor among other things.

“Probably the final thing I get out of polo is the physical activity,” he said.  “Not just exercise in the sense of a workout, either.”

“There is hand-eye coordination, there is learning how to ride your bike better, there is team building skills,” he said. “It’s most of the same things that a lot of sports do, we who play just do them on our bikes.”

There happens to be no affiliation
Most of the members of the downtown bike polo crew are members of the F-M Community Bike Workshop, although there is no official affiliation between the two groups. The fact that games are largely comprised of FMCBW members is mostly a matter of happenstance according to Curry.

It goes without saying (but let it be said anyway) that members of the FMCBW love bikes. It stands to reason then that they would be more inclined than most to find a passion in bike polo.

Photo by Amita Manandhar

The rules rule
“The rules have always evolved with us as we’ve learned them. We’ve played with other people who have played in different places, so the rules as we know them change regularly,” said Gerardo Rodriguez, another FMCBW and bike polo member.

Aside from slight rule variations dependent on where you’re playing and whom you’re playing with, the basic principles remain consistent.

The match begins with a faceoff, and both teams compete to put the ball in the opposing team’s goal. Ball handling is only allowed with a player’s mallet. Putting a foot down results in a penalty. These are some of the most basic rules of bike polo.

The International Bike Polo Federation, however, has made a sort of list of standardized rules.

Photo by Amita Manandhar

Making use of unused space
Lately the polo gang has been playing regularly in Moorhead’s Woodlawn park.

“It’s kind of an abandoned park, and it’s kind of nice to see that people are using it in other ways,” Curry said. “There are tons of people that use it to play Frisbee golf. I’ve only seen once that people were playing tennis there.”

“But then we chased them away with our mallets,” Rodriguez jokingly added.

The tennis court Curry refers to in Woodlawn park is just behind the tee-box for hole no. 10, for those who are more familiar with the Frisbee golf layout of Woodlawn.

You’re welcome, noobs
“It can be casual or competitive depending on who’s playing,” Curry said.

“Say if a new person was jumping in, obviously the game would change a bit. In my mind, this is what I want to happen and it has happened: to make that person to be a part of it, give them a chance to go for the ball, pass them the ball as much as possible.

“There are times when it does get a little more aggressive, when two strong players go at it. But for the most part, it’s been a pretty casual, friendly environment.”

Living and playing in and around downtown
A lot of the bike polo gang lives in or near the downtown area, and they also have a lot of downtown arenas.

“In the winter, the parking lots we’ve played in have been in and around downtown Fargo,” Curry said. “We’ve done the Plains Arts Museum parking lot, in the Bike Collective parking lot, in the winter.”

Curry also mentioned the convenience of having a group that mostly lives in the downtown area.

“Often times if someone needs a tool and the tool’s not there, someone can quickly ride to their home near downtown, grab it, and quickly ride back, so there’s only a few minutes downtime,” he said.

Photo by Amita Manandhar

Naturally, there are some risks
Like most sports, bike polo is not without its own risks of injury, both to bikes and players.

“On grass it’s more of a rubber ball, if you whack it, it will launch. I’ve been hit in the head and chest before,” Curry said.

“Hard court is a little more technical game (hard court meaning a hard surface court). There’s a lot more ball handling. We use two different types of balls depending on the type of court.”

Rodriguez added, “On the grass you can get going a lot faster because the field’s bigger. People just, bam, sometimes they’ll run into each other. There have been a few black eyes–usually from mallets. Everything’s a risk (though). You coming here to talk to us was a risk.”

Minimizing risk
“We do our best to try and minimize risks,” Curry said.

“You’ve got to be aware of who’s coming from what direction. If you’re just staring at the ball, you have no idea what’s going on. So, you have to be a participant and be active and know your surroundings.

“Wear a helmet. We don’t want to guard up too much, because that makes people a little overly aggressive. We also try to keep our mallets low.”

Equip yourself
Here are few things to consider if you’re thinking about getting into bike polo. First of all, you’re not going to want to enter a match with a $1,000 bike. Use a bike that you don’t mind taking a beating.

Mallets are usually fashioned out of ski poles, typically with gas piping on the end to function as the mallet head. Companies are arising that make “proper” bike polo mallets, but most people just make them themselves.

If you’re right handed, switch your break levers. Your right hand will be occupied with a mallet, and you don’t want to be breaking your front tire (which is typically on the left handle), or you’ll flip. It’s called “Euro-style” breaks.

Get involved
During the spring and summer, you can pretty consistently find a game of bike polo around 6-6:30 p.m. on Sundays, usually at Island Park or Woodlawn. Now with school back in session and the weather taking a turn, however, games are a little more sporadic. But if you are looking to join up or simply watch a match, you can email Brandon Mellem at brandonmellem@hotmail.com.

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All in the Family: The Downtown Music Family Tree

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The Downtown Music Family Tree - illustration by Zach Kobrinsky

Pat Lenertz on brotherhood

Pat Lenertz is a Fargo-Moorhead musician. He is the lead singer and guitarist for four bands: Heavy is the Head, The Quarterly, Bad Mojo and The Legionnaires, although the Legionnaires are currently on hiatus. How can one man lead so many successful bands at a time?

According to Lenertz, “There’s a whole collective unity amongst members of different bands and even across sub-genres….

“I don’t feel as if playing a gig is directly correlated with cutting someone out of a gig. People might feel that way in a larger city, per se, but I think there is definitely a feeling… of unity and brotherhood.”

Why Fargo is better than Minneapolis

Seth Holden performing with Sovereign Sect - Photo by Nicole Hofer

“I can personally vouch for Fargo being better than Minneapolis.” This is coming from Seth Holden of Sovereign Sect, a seasoned electronica group from F-M that has gained a reputation in F-M, Minneapolis and beyond.

According to Holden, bigger cities can never appreciate music that way the F-M downtown scene does.

“When you have that much music, you’re spoiled,” he said, “and you turn your nose up at everything…. The enthusiasm in Fargo is something not found in other cities, that’s for sure.”

Getting weird with Werewolf Bar Mitzvah

Tom Johnson on stage with the Johnson Family Band (one of the many groups he performs with) - Photo by Zach Kobrinsky

In some ways the downtown music scene has a little catching up to do. Tom Johnson (whose name is particularly not weird) and his pseudo-Semitic Avant-garde group Werewolf Bar Mitzvah actually got kicked off stage for being too weird.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that the band name “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” is a reference to an episode of NBC’s 30 Rock.


How it went down

The conflict began as a scheduling miscommunication at the VFW.

“Basically what happened was I was told we could start at 10 p.m.” Johnson said. “We get there, and we’re opening for Classical Chill, and the guy’s like ‘Bands start at 9:30.’ I told everyone we were starting at 10, so people were coming at 10. Basically we wanted to wait for the folks who had been drinking there since probably 4:30 (p.m.) to clear out so we could get the younger crowd in.”

“So we started playing probably our three most normal songs. I mean, we weren’t going as far out as we can go, and he came up and did a ‘you’re safe’ sign, but then he basically said, ‘You’re out of here, we’re losing business over you.’”

Let’s spell “irony”

Tom Johnson and Dianne Miller as "Tom and Dianne" - Photo by Zach Kobrinsky

The irony is that several groups of WBM patrons eventually showed up fashionably late to the show, (easily outnumbering the outgoing older crowd whose interest the bartender was defending) only to find that they had missed it altogether on account of a disgruntled bartender.

Perhaps even more ironic, however, is that word spread quite quickly over this little incident at the VFW, and WBM actually gained notoriety as a result. Weird.

Krueger Construction V.P. Corey Krueger in the recording studio - Photo by Zach Kobrinsky


Why don’t they get a real job?

There is an unfortunate truth about being a F-M musician: it doesn’t pay very well. This may come as a shock, but it is true, nonetheless. How do F-M musicians deal with it? Corey Krueger has the hook up.

Krueger, the drummer for Moody River Band and V.P. of Krueger Construction, has seen to the employ of countless F-M musicians. Corey’s father and employer, Greg Krueger the president of Krueger Construction, also happens to be a drummer. And so they share a mutual respect for the duality of a musician’s life.

According to Corey, Krueger Construction is happy to hire musicians, as long as they show up and work hard, and for the most part, they do just that.

Here is a list of some of the musicians who have worked for Krueger Construction:

- Guy Nelson (Age of Consent, Your Lord and the Infinite Soul Tribe)

- Mike Murphy (FUP, Crapbarf)

- A.J. Anderson (Necktie Suicide)

- Cody Conner (Bad Mojo, Legionnaires, Moody River, runs open mic night at  Dempsey’s)

- Tom Peckskamp (Moody River, Leaving the City)

- Charlie Young (Moody River)

- Matt Monson (Ancient Protector, Moody River)

- Pat Lenertz (Heavy is the Head, The Quarterly, Bad Mojo, Legionnaires)

Is it incestuous?

Some might call the network of F-M musicians nepotistic or even incestuous. Is this the case? From a certain point of view, one might say so, and here’s an example of why. The Fargo VFW is one of downtown’s primary music venues for locals. Nathan Pitcher, who is the lead singer of Inside Out Strings handles band booking on Thursdays at the VFW.

Oddly enough, a lot of bands that some might consider buddies to Pitcher tend to get booked (including his own group). Is this playing favorites? Does it really matter? Nepotism in a small entertainment scene is good for the gander. Besides, the F-M music roster is not nearly expansive enough to avoid it, ultimately.

Speaking of incestuous…

For the sake of full disclosure, I would be remiss if I failed to mention that aside from being a journalist, I am a freelance saxophonist. I’ve sat in with a number of aforementioned groups. Should this ethically ban me from covering these bands? The best I can do is try to stay as objective as possible.

Me not writing about bands I’ve played with would be like telling the editor of a small town paper he/she can’t write about any of his/her acquaintances. In some scenarios it is simply unavoidable. Besides, I avoid writing about groups that I am an “official member” of. Writing about groups I’ve only sat in with is a little more ethically sound, in my humble opinion.

When F-M bands don’t play well with others

In the simplest terms, one might say that F-M bands must work well with others to be able to survive. An example comes to mind of how a talented band can fail when it refuses to work well with others.

Carl Clinton and the Great Divide was once a band that embodied community among musicians. When it began, it was an amalgam of 14 prominent local musicians from groups like Sovereign Sect, Johnson Family Band, Inside Out Strings, Mindfunk Allstars and WBPN.

It had a lot of promise, but over time members of the group would wax and wane. Band members would inevitably get fed up with the leadership, peter out, and new members would come in to fill the gaps, only to inevitably quit or get fired. In the end it was a failure, because the band’s leader did not play well with others.

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