The Dynamic Dischords came from the small town of Oakes, North Dakota, in the southeast part of the state. Members were: Mel Bruns, Dave Enquist, Tom Rodine, Bob Vorachek and Tim Weatherhead.
In 1967 the band played the Roof Garden in Arnolds Park, Iowa, 330 miles from Oakes, but not an unusual distance for a band to travel in the upper Midwest. After their show the band visited Iowa Great Lakes Recording in nearby Milford, Iowa, where they cut their first 45, released on IGL 45-150 in November, 1967.
“Passageway (to Your Heart)” starts with a gloomy four-note riff then settles into something resemblings “You Keep Me Hanging On”, with heavy fuzz breaks between the verses. The IGL Rock Story, Vol. 2: 1967-1968 has a slightly longer version with an alternate vocal, though I prefer the 45.
I’m a fan of the flip side, “This Girl of Mine”, an upbeat harmony song without any psychedelic influence at all.
Tom Rodine and Mel Bruns wrote both songs and Mark Reiner produced the single. I don’t recall Mark Reiner appearing on credits for any other IGL singles so he may have been part of the Dischords’ management. The publishing was by Okoboji Music BMI, a common credit on IGL 45s (and named after the lake where all this fun was happening).
The band did not record again until 1971 when they released “The Age of Caesar” / “I Love Life” (another Rodine & Bruns original) on Mark Custom Records from Moorhead, Minnesota, distributed by Midwest Booking Authority in Grand Forks, ND. I haven’t heard either side of that 45 yet.
Info and top poster taken from http://www.nightlifemusic.com/HOR/Dynamic%20Dischords/index.html. Poster below sent to me by Philippe Wegmuller.
Hi, I just got a copy of “Passageway”, I read somewhere this is the only white label 45 on IGL.
Its nice to see something about the band. I Paul Rothenheber had the pleasure to sing as lead singer with the group 1969-1970. Many great memories. A warm hello to Mel, Tom, Tim and Mortz. I sang at Dave Enquist funeral. Such a sad moment. Anyways hello to all of you. I am retired and reside in Columbia Missouri.
Hi Tom, Mel, Tim, Paul & Mortz. Tom (AKA Kyd here) I played keyboards for the Dischords 1970-71 and just discovered this site. I too am retired and living in Colorado. Lots of great memories, especially “Live at Lisbon”
Tom Lang Mark Sorlie here from Grand Forks. I played for a short time with you in the Dischords in late 1971 and early 1972. I just saw this myself. I hope all is well.
I am living in the Chicago area now.
The band performed at the Eureka Country club, Eureka SD 1966-1970. The band always drew a large crowd. We were all crazy about them and their music.
I have the drummer’s Ludwig drum set. Two bass drums, one with “Dynamic” and the other “Dischords” on them. My brother originally bought them from Margueritte’s Music in Jamestown about 1970. I ended up with them, played drums for several years and went back to guitar, they’ve been in my basement ever since.
I grew up in Oakes, and I heard this band at the local armory. I was 14 at the time and dressed like a hippie in a long suede vest with beads. One of the band members flirted with me, and I was starstruck and very shy, and didn’t say anything back to him. Anyway, that’s my main memory of this band! I thought they were really cool.
Their 2nd 45, released as ‘Dischords’ in 1971 can now be heard on youtube. I like it more than their debut tbh, the production is better & the playing has matured. The A-side ‘ Age Of Caesar’ is the more commercial of the 2 songs, but also retains the Psychedelic feel of old. The B-Side ‘I Love Life’ is a catchy track that nods more towards the Heavy Rock sound of that era with some extended guitar & organ interplay. Very positive feel with a cocksure stomp underpinning everything. A really nice little record all round.
Age Of Caesar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afOJ5Xd36Yg
I Love Life:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWnbO_IoKOw