Post Ralph's
Jef had written in an earlier blog post asking a question about the effect of Ralph's closing on the indie rock scene. Its a bit early and too hard to tell yet. But here is my long winded answer (I felt this discussion deserved its own thread)
the loss of Ralph's Corner has had an impact but so far we have weathered the storm. The greatest impact was this summer, I and others promoted a few shows that lost money. These were shows that had they been at Ralphs (where there was no cost for room rental, sound, doorman, food/drinks for touring bands), it would have been very hard to lose money but because of those added costs killed the bottom line. This is not something that myself and others who did shows at Ralph's could sustain for a long period in time. We needed to find a permanent venue to replace Ralph's. That was always the goal but easier said than done and in the interim a bit rocky. We needed a place that could be a hangout for drinking and camaradrie as well as provide a sound system and soundman for the shows and a stage. The East Gate Lounge filled the void for a while before it became Pistol Pete's new location. They had their own sound system which helped and the place really worked well. It just never was given enough time to sustain a crowd. Other venues such as the Moose Lodge and the VFW had their drawbacks (sound, atmoshphere issues as well as cost factors). I hope I am not getting too inside baseball here. Anyway after all that, it finally appears we have a place that has stepped up and been willing to embrace the bands that were playing Ralphs and that is the Great Northern Brewery. It is not perfect and we are working out some hitches (we needed a larger stage on the east side, need to improve acoustics on the west side) but the biggest endorsement I can have for this place is they are making my job as a local promoter easier. And if you want bands that played Ralph's to continue to come to Fargo, please support this venue. If you support the place, then they can afford to fix the biggest problems people may have with it. I can't ask for anything more than they've done so far. And all of the bands have been raving about it. A little bit on the plans for the place. Essentially, the Great Northern has been having a successful time recently doing a lot of the hippie and jam bands and that will continue but now there will be the opportunity with such a large space to have two shows at once. In addition to the west side (where the bar is located) where shows have traditionally happened there, there are now shows on the east side (where the restaurant is located). We've been doing the all-ages shows on the east side and most of the 21 and up shows will happen on the west side. I like the fact that it is downtown Fargo as well. After what happened in Moorhead with Ralph's, I think its clear how that city felt about having the club return so why should we continue doing business there. Also I feel strongly that these types of clubs should be in a downtown. If you like in any major city (Minneapolis, Chicago, Winnipeg), the nightlife and live music scene is primarily happening downtown. The shows so far have been going great. The bands are still coming and the ones have came have raved about the crowd and the place. So if that continues, we'll have a home for the Ralphs crowd. If people stop coming and the promoters start losing money, the scene will not stay together. But right now after a dark summer, the fall is looking bright. My attitude was I going to go full bore this fall and assess it afterwards. So far, so good.
Posted by: chennen on 9/29/2005 at 6:36 PM | Comments (14) | Permalink
this weekend
A couple things going on this weekend.....on Friday if you are a fan of indie pop punk, then you'll want to check out Hockey Night from St. Paul. They recently signed to Lookout Records and released an album called Keep Guessin. They remind me of a more uptempo early Pavement. They also have dueling guitars so Thin Lizzy comparison get tossed abound. Learn more about them here and see Hockey Night live Friday at the Great Northern Brewery for $5 for those 21 and up, music starts at 10 pm.
If you are into the heavier fare, there is two options for you. First more on the punk hardcore vein is an all-ages show Friday at the Fargo VFW. From Iowa, headlining the show is Modern Life is War. Also playing are locals What the H?, Any Day, and Poets and Thieves. Its $5 and begins around 7 pm.
Then on Saturday, metal hardcore over at the Great Northern with locals Necktie Suicide, and Strong Like Bear and out of towners Colin Spring and At The Spine. This show is $5 for those 21 and up and starts at 10 pm.
Tuesday brings the garage rock of the Willowz from Anaheim, CA. They sound like the Beach Boys meets the White Stripes. They record for Sympathy for the Record Industry and recently recieved a 3 1/2 star review from Rolling Stone. They also were featured on the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Soundtrack. This show is for 21+ at 10 pm at the Great Northern Brewery and is $5.
Posted by: Chris Hennen on 9/28/2005 at 6:52 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
ATMOSPHERE SATURDAY
It is hard to believe that Atmosphere hasn't played Fargo in sometime. The Minneapolis rap group fronted by Slug has been attracting audiences all across the nation for a few years now and was only a stone's throw away yet never made it here on the rise up. All the more reason Fargo needs to represent big time on Saturday. Every other major city has been packing Atmosphere shows so why can't we? I guess the thing I like the most about Atmosphere is that Slug did it on his own by putting out his own records and building a crowd on a real grassroots level. It is pretty amazing when you can play places thousands of miles from home for thousands of people without even being on an established record label. Another thing that's admirable about Atmosphere is I have friends from all facets and wings of the Minneapolis rock community and the only band they can unite on liking and respecting universally is Atmosphere. They can't see eye to eye on much musically but they can on that. I think if Slug keeps it up, Atmosphere will be remembered with other high impact Minneapolis musicians such as Prince and the Replacements. If you listen to the two available tracks (Watch Out & Smart Went Crazy) from Atmosphere's forthcoming album "You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having", which are available for listening here and here, its clear that Slug is not losing a step at all. In fact the band will probably continue to grow by leaps and bounds with the new album. I've never seen Atmosphere live but am most excited to see the portion of the show backed by a band. Too many rap groups take the soul out of their live show by rapping to canned tracks. Its not suprising that Atmosphere is one of the groups bucking that trend. You can read more about Atmosphere here and here. Its hard to believe that a white boy from Minneapolis is leading a new rap movement. But believe it, its happening and its a lot cooler than it sounds (This ain't no Straight Outta Edina).
Atmosphere performs Saturday at Playmaker's with P.O.S, Turbo Nemesis, Blueprint, & DJ Rare Groove. The show is all-ages, begins at 7 pm and is $16 in advance, $18 on the day of the show. Tickets available at Playmakers and Ticketmaster.
Posted by: chennen on 9/21/2005 at 6:42 PM | Comments (19) | Permalink
Tuesday, September 20th
Phosphorescent will be performing Tuesday at the Great Northern Brewery. Phosphorescent is the brainchild of Matthew Houck, a great, young songwriter in the vein of Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Magnum or Palace's Will Oldham. The result (performed live with a 5 piece band) is sad and beautiful providing a sound like Wilco. Phosphorescent hail from Athens, GA and record for Misra Records. Opening the show is locals Capture the Flag and a folk punk outfit from Grand Forks and Minneapolis, the Go Devils. The cost is $5 and it gets started at 10:30 for those 21 and up.
Posted by: chennen on 9/19/2005 at 1:31 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
the weekend of September 16th-18th
This weekend, there are several shows to check out. On Saturday, there is two shows happening. One is an all-day affair beginning at 2 pm at the Great Northern Brewery parking lot assuming it doesn't rain. This show will feature a reunion of longtime Fargo punk band Jet Set Ready, Poets And Thieves, Snakehandler, Dude Bazooka and more. It is a benefit for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The cost is $5 and its all-ages. Free Pizza as well.
Also on Saturday, catch some punk rock from Gainseville, Florida, with J Page along with Useless Wooden Toys from Minneapolis, locals Les Dirty Frenchmen, Code of the West, and a new band performing their first show, Lore at Bombsight, with ex members of Messin With Texas. The show is at Billiards at Broadway (which I had heard may soon be becoming a bar), its all-ages with a $5 cover and gets started at 7:30 pm.
On Sunday at the Great Northern, an all-ages performance from indie rock heroes Xiu Xiu, who are from Oakland and record for 5RC/Kill RockStars. They are touring in support of their latest album "La Foret". Opening is tourmates from San Francisco Yellow Swans and locals Guitarmaggedon. The show starts at 9 pm, its all-ages and their is a cover of $6.
UPCOMING:
Next week brings Phosphorescent, an Athens, GA based ensemble on Misra Records similar to Wilco or Neutral Milk Hotel on Tuesday at the Great Northern. Plus, the Fargo debut of Atmosphere, the Minneapolis rapper who has created a new underground rap movement, on Saturday at Playmaker's. More on those shows next week.
Posted by: chennen on 9/16/2005 at 4:49 PM | Comments (20) | Permalink
