Fargo Rocks
We're back to historical material now, which I really like doing. As mentioned before, I enjoy looking at regional rock and roll scenes, especially from the 1960s, which I like to call, the "That Thing You Do Era," from the movie about the band that had that one that temporarily propelled them into the national stratosphere.
The truth was not quite staggering, when what really happened was that after the purchase of Sears Silvertone guitars with newspaper delivery money, and a couple of gigs at the local VFW Hall, was that maybe, the band was able to put together enough money to record 45 and get it played on the local radio station. Demands of life, jobs, and family, would often rear up to break up the band and all that would be left would be a couple of flyers announcing gigs and that elusive 45.
But, there is something that is optimistic about this era. The idea that anyone could do it and be The Beatles.
Fortunately, we have had books and recording compilations that have documented these regional scenes, and at least one movie.
There regional scenes help clarify the idea that rock and roll at its best can be democratic and bubble up from the bottom instead of being imposed by the top down.
One such movie got as far as a regional entry in one of these local areas.
Better yet, there were CDs released from the film and I got the last two from the producer/director of "Fargo Rocks," who, apparently does not want to have anything to do with the movie anymore.
I scored the two CDs for five bucks each and they fall into the category of rare, but not valuable.
I use the two CDs frequently on my radio show on KNNZ-FM.
Vol. 1 examines how a music tragedy helped rock and toll in the Fargo area. The set kicks of with what is considered to be, and is pictured above, Fargo's first rock and roll band, Terry Lee and the Poorboys. They along, with future teen idol, Bobby Vee, who was helming the group called the Shadows. They both got the nod to fill in on the last leg of the Winter Dance Party tour, at the Moorhead Armory, when Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, the Big Bopper, and a couple of the Belmonts died in that famous airplane crash.
While the Poorboys ended up as a purely local group, Bobby Vee went on of course, to fame and fortune. Bobby Vee's brother, who was also in the Shadows, took control of that group and got one single out that is on this set.
Instrumental rock and surf rock are represented as well, with cuts such as the Treasures, which got some airplay in the Western United States.
There are other notable contributions to this set of music, such as nearby Detroit Lakes, Minnesota's Unbelievable Uglies, who went from a Kingsmen-like garage band, to a punkier sound, to what we have on this CD set, a horn-driven professional act. They persisted into the 80s as a popular area showband.
Also of note are Grand Forks' commercial pop comb, The Cornerstones, who recorded with Minneapolis' Metrobeat records and got some airplay in the area.
Tiny Oakes, North Dakota somehow produced the most psychedelic combo on this set with The Dynamic Dischords.
Volume One takes us up to early 1970s with the first Fargo band to get a record contract for an album, with a major label, Epic.
Volume Two goes up to the 1980s, music-wise with bar bands and New Wave.
Bar bands are well-represented witch cuts by perennial area-showman, Johnny Holm, the bluesy Mike and the Monsters, who supplemented gigging with recording local commercials, and teen-aged Jonny Lang and the Big Bang, his band before he went solo.
The commercial side of New Wave is represented by The Newz and The Phones, who both left for the Twin Cities and some commercial success.
This set proves that there are music scenes just about anywhere, even in the frozen North of Fargo, Since what I have were the last copies that the film-maker wanted to have, this whole set is probably completely out of print and should be re-issued as a vital document of an interesting scene.
If you'd like, you can check out my other blog
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