Joe Biel

Punks Around Joe Biel

In 2006, Joshua Ploeg and I found ourselves in Minot, North Dakota to put on the inaugural event at the Red Carpet, a brand new DIY venue. I played my films, he served the food, and that night we sold every single piece of merch. Mystified, I talked to the promoter. North Dakota is a flyover state. Don't treat the performers right and they'll never come back. I became fascinated with Minot and spent months researching their scene politics. Minot is a perfect little outpost of creative freedom, but also a cautionary tale of racism, alcoholism, and isolation.