Tag Archives: VFW

Downtown music venues provide nightlife entertainment

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There is a growing number of singer/songwriters striking a chord with many listeners in the F-M area, and local music venues are tuning in.

I took it upon myself to find Fargo’s top three venue choices to hear local singer/songwriters.

`Can I get a drum roll?’

Coming in at no. 3 is the Fargo VFW club. Typically a spot for cover- bands, the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars club at 202 Broadway occasionally hosts local singer/songwriters. With an open floor plan allowing for an audience in the one hundreds and a drink list that rivals those numbers, this venue is a hidden gem if you’re looking for a place to relax with a pitcher of cold beer and listen to the local artists. Did I mention the pull-tabs? With the losing tabs pulled and thrown to the ground, the floor of the VFW is a minefield of bad-luck gambles. Even so, the venue is just the place for a singer/songwriter to test his or her luck. Hear what local musician Michael Pink has to say about Post 762:

`Wherever you go, there you are’

No. 2 on my list is a venue that has been a staple in the music community, even after a change in location. A haven for artists, musicians and espresso sippers, The Red Raven at 916 Main Ave. in Fargo offers 20-foot ceilings, a variety of hot and cold drinks and an intimate feeling of community and acceptance that only a locally owned coffee shop can offer. The Raven holds an open performance night on the first Thursday of each month and hosts shows of several varieties – perhaps the greatest of these being of the singer/songwriter type. Listen as local musician Morgan Ranstrom describes his experience at The Red Raven:

`Time to get a new perspective’

on my short-list is a venue that you have probably never heard of, located in a hotel that you are very familiar with. The Perspectives Lounge hosts a performance series every Wednesday night on the second floor of the downtown Radisson hotel at 201 Fifth St. North, Fargo. Buzzing with music fans and business travelers alike, the Lounge presents a unique listening experience with a panorama of downtown Fargo, all the while offering great drink specials, delicious food and one of the best feelings of musical community in downtown Fargo.  If you want a place to relax, hear some great musical talent and enjoy some cheap beer, The Perspectives Lounge has its doors open, speakers on and wait-staff ready. Little Winter guitarist, Ryan Weisse, has this to say about performing at The Perspectives Lounge:

(Edited by Ryan Kartes, MSUM Integrated Ad/PR major)

Disagree? What is the best venue in town?

1) The HoDo
2) The Perspectives Lounge
3) The VFW
4) The Nestor
5) The Aquarium
6) The Red Raven
7) The New Direction 

View Results

Make your own poll

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



The Dirty Hurlers A Pub Hit

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Story by Mark Matsuura.

MSUM Mass comm major.

The Dirty Hurlers played to a typical crowd at the VFW in downtown Fargo on the Friday of Halloween weekend. Packed due to the party atmosphere of the weekend and no cover charge that night, the Hurlers played a humorous and entertaining show. Taking the stage around 10 p.m. the audience was already growing.

Ben and John perform at the VFW during Halloween weekend.

The Crowd Digs The Hurlers

The crowd ranged from your regular college students to older folks all enjoying the live music. With a crowd of 75 or more packed in the small area in front of the stage it was a good showing for the VFW.  Crowd involvement is a big part of the Dirty Hurler’s show, lead singer John Rian would often yell for the onlookers to clap along and be part of the show. Rarely some people would gather enough courage to go and dance right next to the stage for a song or two.

Tyler Hamre plays mandolin during the Dirty Hurlers' most recent live show.

Hurlers Have Humor

The Dirty Hurlers’ humor really shines during their performances, commenting on people in the crowd and entertaining people who approach the stage as they perform. Even firing back a witty comment after, of course, someone was yelling for the band to play free bird from the back. More than once someone from the crowd interacted with John Rian or Ben Revier as they sang during the set, shaking hands or clinking beers. The whole show featured small talk between songs mostly between the two singers John Rian and Ben Revier, often selling their first CD to the crowd.

John Rian sings during the Dirty Hurlers' live performance at the VFW downtown.

Band and Fan Interaction

The sets lasted around an hour each playing from around 10 p.m. until bar close that night. They were the only band playing that night and were featured on many signs around the bar advertising live music all weekend. The few breaks the Dirty Hurlers took you could find them spending time in the crowd talking to friends and anyone who wanted to chat. The band is really accessible to talk to for anyone attending.

The beer and drinking fueled singing, dancing and clapping is nothing new for the VFW. But the Dirty Hurlers, as always, brought their own unique Irish pub band style to the downtown bar and didn’t disappoint.

Check out their webpages on Myspace and Facebook:

http://www.myspace.com/thedirtyhurlers

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dirty-Hurlers/23196901528

Previously article about the Hurlers’:

http://doingitdt.areavoices.com/2010/10/27/bringing-pub-music-to-fargo/

Bringing Pub Music to Fargo

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Story and photos by Mark Matsuura

MSUM Mass Comm Major

The Dirty Hurlers are a local beer-fueled Irish pub band. “We play a mix of contemporary and traditional Irish music,” John Rian, the band’s co-leader, said, describing the band. Their musical influences range from modern Irish music like Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphys to the more traditional music of The Dubliners and The Pogues. Their choice of playing Irish music is an odd choice but Rian found a lot of inspiration.

A poster for a past gig hangs in the garage next to a beer light.

What Inspires The Hurlers

The inspiration to play Irish music came from John Ria’s love of the special kind of life contained in Irish music. “I like the folk aspect of the music” said Rian. Rian’s always liked Irish music, finding an interest in the music after watching many of the old John Wayne movies set in Ireland. Rian thought of the name, the Dirty Hurlers, after watching the movie “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” and seeing people play hurling, the traditional Irish game, on the screen. The name encompasses the bands overall style. The band is already more than three years old.

The Dirty Hurlers practice in their garage on a chilly night.

Dirty Hurlers Irish Roots

John Rian and his roommate Ben Revier founded the Dirty Hurlers in the fall of 2007 in their living room. Early on the two started playing with another one of their roommates by learning chords on the Internet and listening to YouTube videos, emulating what they heard.

Ben Revier plays the tin whistle during practice.

Dirty Hurlers Makeup

The Dirty Hurlers currently has five members. John Rian is the lead singer and a co-founder of the band. Ben Revier plays the tin whistle and does vocals, he co-founded the band with Rian. Sir Ian Derkin, as the band members know him, is the lead guitarist. Chad “Doctor Fiddle” Bonski, as his nickname alludes, plays fiddle for the Dirty Hurlers. And Tyler “Digits” Hamre is the band’s drummer and plays mandolin also. They are currently auditioning female vocalists to round out their sound.

The band has gone through many changes in members throughout the years. At one point the band had seven members, including two fiddlers at the same time. “It was impossible for all seven of us to make it (to practice),” Rian said. Weekly practice works for them now to keep the 50 or so songs they know fresh. Constantly refining their sound practice is often hectic.

Tyler "Digits" Hamre plays the mandolin.

The Bands Interesting Instruments

The band uses many instruments that aren’t contained in many other bands, including some traditional Irish instruments. Some of them include: a bodhran, practice chanter, mandolin and fiddle. The bodhran is a traditional Irish drum made of goatskin stretched over a wooden drum. The fiddle is also a staple in all of their songs adding a traditional sound.

Sir Ian Derkin plays the guitar during band practice.

The Dirty Hurlers are playing their next local show downtown at the VFW on Friday at 10 p.m. The Dirty Hurlers always bring their blend of modern and traditional music with their own edge.

Listen to their music on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thedirtyhurlers

Become a fan of the Dirty Hurlers on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dirty-Hurlers/23196901528

Human Baggage parlay Fargo

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Justin Bohmer of 19XX

Monday nights in downtown Fargo are not exactly notorious for being chock full of non-stop good times. This is especially true when it comes to a good punk show.

When I got a phone call in late August from a member of the Oakland-based band Human Baggage my instincts told me that I should probably tell them to spend the night driving through to Montana.

I instinctively ignored my instincts and had a show for them booked in the basement of the VFW building in downtown Fargo within a couple days.

Off to an early a late start

10 p.m.: I arrived at the VFW approximately 30 minutes before show time to help set up the PA that I’d borrowed from local band Ceiling Walker. We worked together to scrounge up extension cords, lights and speakers that were lying around the basement’s main room and adjacent storage space.

10:15 p.m.: Professionals we were not, but with a little work the stage, or rather dance hall floor, was ready and set for the night’s festivities. It was only a matter of playing the waiting game to find out if any would show up.

10:45 p.m.: About 10 people were mingling in the basement casually sipping on $3.25 cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon, while another 10 huddled outside with cigarettes in hand, as Ceiling Walker made final adjustments before commencing the night’s festivities.

Let the show begin

11:00 to 11:30 p.m.: Ceiling Walker pounded through their brand of heavy and intricate hardcore. Fiery riffs led into melodic interludes with anguished yelling interspersed throughout. Guitarist Clint Kliewer and drummer James Dravitz exuded a noted awkwardness between songs though the minimal stage banter was about to be starkly contrasted by the next act, locals 19XX.

Clint Kliewer of Ceiling Walker

11:50 p.m. to 12:20 a.m. About an hour prior to the beginning of their set, I walked by 19XX guitarist Chris Martini teaching some songs to fill-in bassist James Osborne. The direness of the situation was explained moments before their first song. Vocalist Justin Bohmer explained that Osborne had taken on duties as tonight’s bass player about three hours before the show.

Nevertheless the four-piece, joined by drummer Matt Novak, launched into a hilariously unrehearsed cover of Judas Priests’ “Breakin’ the Law.” The song ended about 90 seconds later.

Chris Martini of 19XX

From there, the group attempted to tackle covers of other Fargo punk bands, some of which were former and current endeavors of 19XX members. After taking a seat in bar stools that were dragged on-stage to “bring things down a little,” Martini and Bohmer performed “Taco Bells are everywhere,” a duet consisting of lyrical imagery from the movie “Demolition Man.” Osborne stood idle the whole time unaware of what chords were being played.

By this time the crowd of about 25 was laughing louder than the band was playing.

“This song is about ‘Demolition Man’ too,” Martini said, “and that’s ‘t-o-o,’ as in ‘also.’”

Following the second song about “Demolition Man,” a microphone stand flew across the room spilling a full beer in the process. Bohmer ran to pick it up and then rushed back to the front to finish their closing song, another attempt at “Breakin’ the Law.”

Bohmer and Martini perform "Taco Bells are everywhere"

Please direct your attention to the main stage dance floor

In good spirits, the crowd dispersed as Human Baggage prepared to play the final set of the night.

In talking to drummer Jaime Clark on the phone, she struck me as a becoming individual. Her politeness was one of the main factors in motivating me to get the show booked. As a local promoter for underground punk shows since 2006, I have dealt with bands who seemed ungrateful and acted as if playing Fargo was a waste of their time. Human Baggage was not one of these bands.

12:40 to 1:15 a.m.: The crowd was instantly enthralled from the first moments of Human Baggage’s set. Clark and guitarist Nick Wortham craft a unique blend of punk and avant-garde elements leaning heavily toward no wave.

Twigs & Mud – Human Baggage

Nick Wortham (foreground) and Jaime Clark of Human Baggage

The duo’s male and female vocals worked separately and together to create an abrasive presence. The pounding drums kept an anxious rhythm while the caustic guitar carried the melody.

Two Cities – Human Baggage

Members of the audience yelled for more songs at the end of their set at which time the band divulged that they had played all seven or eight songs that they knew. People descended on their merchandise table shortly thereafter to purchase t-shirts and cassettes.

1:25 to 1:35 a.m.: In another group effort, we worked to dispose of the empty beer cans that littered the space and returned the stage and sound equipment to their respective places.

On my way out, I talked to bartender Paul Evans who worked in the basement that night. He was apologetic that more people hadn’t shown up but I assured him that the band had and would be taken care of.

Human Baggage

I raced up the steps and out into the back alley where some show attendees lingered as Human Baggage loaded their equipment into their van. It was discussed earlier that they wouldn’t mind spending the night in town and I offered them the basement of my house.

The Monday night in Fargo turned out better than I expected, and as I walked down the alley to The Empire for last call, I knew it wasn’t over yet.

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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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