Bemidji Music Underground
Edgy Tunes From the North Woods
By Amy Borgman
Brooding guitars and crashing drums blare from a basement on 14th avenue on a cold and rainy October day. The ruckus is caused by none other than Bemidji natives, Alex Narveson, Carl Goughnour, Eli Balbach, and Simon Mahlberg. They calls themselves Docks, and they create dark instrumental rock. The group formed in the winter of 2007, and is a part of a thriving alternative music underground in Bemidji.
Eli Balbach toys with his bass guitar and discovers a rift that the band likes.
The scene began in 2003 when Eli and Alex met at a concert at the Armory. Their groups of friends meshed impeccably, and they decided they should start a band. Thus, Venom Lord was born. It was one of the first metal bands to thrive from Bemidji’s music scene. They had a radically different sound from regular Bemidji bands like Pelican Railroad or Uncle Shurley. They played hardcore metal: the type of music with indecipherable lyrics and guitars so loud you could feel your clothing move from sound vibrations. The group comprised of Matt Houle, Eli Balbach, Alex Narveson, and Simon Mahlberg. In 2007, members became more busy with fatherhood, school, and travel, so they began to perform less. They went on a hiatus until a fundraiser in September of 2009 for the Blue Ox Co-op where they played a reunion show at the Elks Club.
The Blue Ox Co-op was a short-lived organization that attempted to give Bemidji musicians a place to practice, share music, and participate in cultural happenings. Grace Gouker was the founder of the organization in 2009 and has since moved to Minneapolis to attend school at the University of Minnesota. The fundraiser show in September earned about $500 and the money was initially going to fund a commercial space for the organization to occupy, but with the disintegration of the co-op the money went towards new equipment for Docks.
Even though the co-op is no more, Bemidji musicians and friends are continuing to collaborate and make new music together. That rainy October day, Docks managed to improvise an entirely new song in only four tries. They were entranced by their own instruments, but managed to stay in the same key and in rhythm with one another. They gradually stripped their sweatshirts and t-shirts because the intensity of their practice session was making them sweat.
What kind of music were they creating exactly? It can be compared to the works of bands like, Russian Circles, Mono, Isis, and Godspeed! You Black Emperor. The genre most frequently used to describe them is post-rock experimental, but sometimes their songs lead into a harmonious xylophone melody or drone-like fuzz that push them past the boundaries of any labels.
Most of the band members want more recognition and potential profit for their music. Alex was the exception, and is focused more on creating music that he appreciates and worries less about what others think or fiscal rewards.
The group loves living in Bemidji and receiving adoration from fans and friends, but they do feel it’s harder for their music to be understood by the general populous of Bemidji. Eli said, “A lot of people just aren’t exposed to that type of music in Bemidji”. Although their style of music is generally an acquired taste, it does not discourage them one bit. Music is the glue to a lot of their friendships and has helped them cope with hard times over the years.
Docks have recorded two full-length records, one self-titled in 2008, and Docks II in 2009. The quirkiness of the group shines through in their pun-inspired song titles like “Doctopus” and “Zombiance”. Free downloads of their songs can be found at www.last.fm/music/docks.
Besides Docks, Alex is also in bands: Fulcrum, Up Jump The Devil, Hound, and Escargot. Simon is the mastermind behind Escargot, which is a techno dance project that sounds like bands, Daft Punk an MSTRKRFT. Carl is also in Escargot (which also has free downloads at www.last.fm/music/Escargot) and is the mastermind behind the formation of Docks. Eli also plays in Hound, which is a bluegrass-folk ensemble that was started by his brother in-law, Matt.
Venom Lord is no longer performing but live on in the hearts of Bemidji music lovers. Like Eli said, “All of our friends play music with each other. It’s a way for all of us to play what we want to play without any boundaries”. He also assured fans that they can look forward to a show at the Blue Ox Bar and Grill in the near future.
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