Sleeping In Gethsemane | Microtia | Faster On Building tour '08
04/25/2008 The Aquarium Fargo, ND W/ Prize Country, Sirhan Sirhan
04/30/2008 The Aquarium Fargo, ND W/ Microtia, Battlefields
05/01/2008 The Terminal Bar Minneapolis, MN W/ MICROTIA
05/02/2008 Nottingham Co-op Madison, WI W/ MICROTIA,
05/04/2008 Porch Honkey House Normal, IL W/ MICROTIA
05/05/2008 The Corner Bar Kallamazoo, MI W/ MICROTIA
05/06/2008 The Mutiny Chicago, IL W/ MICROTIA
05/08/2008 The Swing State Lake Villa, IL W/MICROTIA
05/09/2008 The Upper Room Virginia, MN W/ MICROTIA
05/10/2008 The Venue Duluth MN W/ MICROTIA
05/12/2008 TBA Gramd Forks, ND W/ MICROTIA
05/16/2008 First Cup DesMoines, IA W/ MICROTIA
05/17/2008 Indian Rock Salina, KS W/ MICROTIA
05/19/2008 Box Awesome Lincoln, NE W/ MICROTIA
05/20/2008 The Rocket Room Colorado Springs, CO W/ MICROTIA
05/21/2008 Three Kings Tavern Denver, CO W/ MICROTIA
05/22/2008 Velour Provo, UT W/ MICROTIA
05/23/2008 The Broken Record SLC, UT W/ MICROTIA
05/24/2008 The Slabtown Portland, OR W/ LOOM, Microtia, Prize Country
05/26/2008 Sunset Tavern Seattle, WA
05/28/2008 The Green House Seattle, WA W/ Faster On Building
05/30/2008 Jesters Tavern Helena MT W/ Faster on Building
05/31/2008 Boulder Canyon Bar Sturgis, SD W/ Faster on Building
06/1/2008 The Red Barn Williston, ND W/Faster on Building
06/2/2008 The Red Carpet Minot, ND W/Faster on Building
06/20/2008 - 06/25/2008 Recording at the Devils Workshop
When you think about cities renowned for their rich musical history, Fargo, North Dakota is probably the last place that would come to mind. The sprawling midwest metro area, located in the middle of nowhere, has produced few noteworthy musical acts. The town does, however, possess a bustling, tight-knit underground music scene, where bands are able to craft their own sound away from the trends and hipper-than-thou attitudes that often permeate larger cities. Out of this small, down-to-earth community has come Sleeping in Gethsemane, a monstrous three-piece poised to put Fargo on the map.
Their debut album, The Great White North, features nine tracks of masterfully played post-rock that is beautiful yet heavy, crushing yet delicate. Likely influenced by their geographical surroundings, one could hardly ask for a more fitting soundtrack to the barren, rural North Dakota landscape. When listening to songs like “Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc” or “They Are All Perfect,” it’s not difficult to envision yourself standing in the middle of the windswept, snow-blown prairies of the Great Plains. Comparisons to bands like Russian Circles and Explosions In The Sky are almost inevitable when discussing Sleeping in Gethsemane, but such name-dropping is doing the band a disservice. Sleeping in Gethsemane are their own band doing their own thing, and while they’re impressive enough on record, they’re at their best live. The dynamic interplay between guitarist Brandon LaPlante and bassist Brandon Schiwal is humbling to witness as the pair navigate their way through mind-bendingly intricate compositions, backed up by Heilman’s impeccably tight and impossibly powerful drumming from behind the kit. The band’s unique chemistry is awe-inspiring, and it’d be foolish to pass up an opportunity to see them destroy the stage.
Having signed a deal with Exigent Records, and with plans to release a new album late this year, Sleeping in Gethsemane’s future couldn’t possibly be brighter. With their hardworking attitude, backed up by their raw talent, there is no limit in sight how far this band can go.
Nowlikephotographs review of review of "The Great White North"
Loud instru-metal post-rock is possibly the last thing you'd expect to surface in Fargo, but here it comes, rumbling at the seams with only one guitar, one bass, and one explosive drumkit. Live, the band turn the venue ghostly with only a small array of bright white lights sitting on the floor in an otherwise pitch black cavern, creating for a doom-laden effect interlaced with gorgeous multi-layered fretwork invading your ears. Howling screams picked up only by amp and drum mics perfect the balance of destruction and beauty.
High Plains Reader Review of "The Great White North"
One of our better local acts, Sleeping in Gethsemane is impressive is simply for their ability to win over crowds with entirely *gasp* instrumental sets.
SiG proves that, if done right, bands can be successful sans vocals. Imagine a more claustrophobic Explosions in the Sky. Less cinema and more metal, they add density and punch than the latter's more spacious sound.
Incredibly well practiced, freakishly intuitive, or both-it matters little. Watching the two Brandons (LaPlante & Schiwal) duel frenetic guitar work and bending bass lines is impressive. Incredibly tight as a band, SiG never miss a beat, so it's no suprise that the band's live energy translates well to disc.
Aside from a very few drum mis-cues(note: end of track seven), The album is spotless. The production is tight, and the spacing just right. These days a 50-minute album is out of the ordinary, but SiG pull it off gracefully. As far as production quality goes, it's the second best local recording you'll find (for the best, pick up The Palest Blue's "Belles Lettres Hymns")
"The Great White North" shows not only talent, but skill and method. Now all they have to do is guild on this sound and, if we're lucky, top it next time out. -High Plains Reader
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