The Birth Of A Supergroup

I've been thinking a lot about music lately, probably because I've recently been practicing and playing a lot of music in preparation for our big Halloween Freak Show this Saturday. Reminiscent of our New Year's show, bringing in 2015 with music and friends, four bands will each play a set, and then all combine at the end as a supergroup for a big Halloween finale!

GR's first public appearance at Roger's Mind Explosion Dec.'13

The beginning of my musical collaborative performances started with the first Roger Nordquist Mind Explosion in December 2013. This was the first time Golden Ratio played as a band! We also participated in some tunes with newly-forming band, Boreal Gardens, Roger, and a couple other musicians. It was great to combine forces and work together!

Poster drawn by yours truly

A few months later, my 30th birthday rolled around in April. I asked myself,"What would be the best gift I could receive on such a monumental birthday?" All I could think is,"Play music with my friends!" So, I planned a show with The Prairie Meddlers, Boreal Gardens, and Golden Ratio, with special guest, the Rog, at our favorite watering hole, Laughing Sun Brewing Co. We played a few combined tunes at the end with all band members. There is something so magical about such a large group of friends, spanning multiple bands, playing music together. Coordinating rehearsals with that many people can be challenging, but the energy and amount of fun had is outrageous!

Golden Ratio continued to play shows with Boreal Gardens. We nicknamed them our "brother band" since both them and Golden Ratio formed around the same time, and we played so many gigs together, we began to feel like family. Our two bands, along with Kids With Beards, were asked to join Anonymous Phenomenon for a full night of music last New Years. I have to say, bringing in the New Year playing in this supergroup with some of the best musicians and friends in town was a true highlight of my musical career so far. Performing is already such a high, then to have that intensified with 15+ other musicians on stage, and a huge crowd enjoying what you're doing...This may be one of the best feelings in the world!

Playing tunes together into 2015!

We haven't had a huge show like this since New Years, so this coming Halloween show seems long overdue. Nolyn Falcon from Anonymous Phenomenon has done a great job coordinating meetings to choose combined tunes, planning rehearsals, lining up sound for the show, and driving the whole project forward. We all have learned a lot from the past experiences. With so many people involved, it is important that everyone knows their parts and where they fit into the equation, so when it comes down to the one or two rehearsals we have with a majority of the crew, it is smooth sailing.

I will be playing with three of the four bands this Saturday-Chameleon Moonflower, Golden Ratio, and trumpet with Anonymous Phenomenon. Boreal Gardens is also on the line-up, and a supergroup set with musicians from all four bands as a finale. If you are in the Bismarck area this Saturday, I highly suggest you come to the Ramada! Music starts at 8pm, all ages, and a costume contest too! Come experience this super phenomenon for yourself!