With Stringbean Music & Coffee having been around for 4 years now there have many cool things that have happened here and articles written about us..   ALONG WITH THESE COOL INSTRUMENTS PASSING THROUGH OUR STORE.

WORLD RECORD SET

Adam Brodsky stands next to the van he is traveling in during his "Fifty in Fifty" tour

_{Adam Brodsky plays guitar outside of Stringbean Music & Coffee in Bismarck on Saturday afternoon. Brodsky, hoping to get in the Guinness Book of World Records, is attempting to play before audiences in all 50 states in 50 days. North Dakota was Brodsky's 29th state completed.}

By Angie Buckley
Bismarck Tribune

     When folk singer Adam Brodsky rolled into Bismarck Sunday afternoon, driving his white van name Pequod and completed with a stove and solar shower, he didn't know what to expect. Certainly not to like it so much.

     Brodsky, a Philadelphia-based musician, made Bismarck the 29th stop on his "Fifty in Fifty" tour during which he will attempt to play each state, and the nation's capital, in 51 days.

     During his show at Stringbean Music and Coffee, standing on his tiptoes to get his harmonica to the microphone, he repeatedly told audience members how much he liked them. He joked that maybe he'd move here, "get away from it all". But first things first - there's a record to break.

     If accomplished, Brodsky's tour will break a record for the faster tour by a solo performer. He began his nationwide trek in Delaware Aug. 3 and will conclude in Philadelphia Sept. 21. He'll fly to Alaska and Hawaii, but other than that, it's mostly him and some books on tape and the interstate. 

     "I'm way more tired than I thought I would be. No day of for 50 days-- it seemed like a good idea when I was drunk," Brodsky said.

     Sleeping, eating, showering and living in his van has taken Brodsky to the corners of Maine, the Deep South, and today Billings, Mont. As a Lewis and Clark fan, he tries to see some of the sites along the trail. And while folk music may not be the most popular genre in some places, he is touched by the care he receives from fans.

     An audience member from Boston, fro whom Brodsky helped move a dresser, had sent a card to greet him in Bismarck, as she had done for two previous shows. Gestures like that make the 25,000-plus miles worth it.

     "The greatest part is the outpouring of support and enthusiasm from strangers, but especially people who've been my fans from before," he said.

     Brodsky said that since his tour is "as expensive as it is stupid," even the coins placed in the tip jar during shows get him closer to realizing his record-breaking dream. The Pequod, named for Captain Ahab's ship in Moby Dick because folk music and whaling are both "antiquated, obsolete, and reviled," gets about 20 miles to the gallon. As other Labor Day journeyers know, keeping the tank full is a financial feat.

     His first trip to North Dakota was a good one, with the few dozen people at the Stringbean upping the number of people Brodsky knows in North Dakota by "a million." Upon finding out a fellow Jew was in the audience, Brodsky asked him if he'd been bar mitzvahed. When the 12-year-old replied that he hadn't and probably wouldn't have the opportunity, Brodsky offered his own services the next time he passes through. Although not a rabbi, he said a folk singer might make the cut if options are limited.

     Making new friends and playing songs is all in a day's work for Brodsky, adding another perk to his 51-day sprint.

     "This is a wonderful opportunity for publicity for something I wanted to do," Brodsky said about breaking the record, "but it's really about the songs, It's easy to forget about the music but it's really what I like Most."

This bean is not your ordinary vegetable. And you won't want to hide this one under the table.

by Nicole Nagel - Staff Writer BHS Hi-Herald October 2, 2003

An Elvis sounds good. Or maybe I'm in the mood for a Led Zeppelin.

Heck, why not take the full nine yards and go for a Michael Jackson. Don't know what I'm talking about? Well, wake up and smell the coffee!

The Stringbean Music and Coffee opened it's doors on Main Street this summer giving Bismarck a refreshing new music and java scene.

With an interior set up to please all decade lovers from the fifties to the seventies, enough guitars to make a rock star starry-eyed and live music every Thursday night at 7:30, the Stringbean is definitely the place to be.

Even BHS is not a stranger to the Stringbean by any means. Our own jazz combo, All in Favor, recently played on the Stringbean stage this summer near the start of school.

Owners Phil Feser and Shawn Oban thought up the idea on countless hours of road traveling from gig to gig in long stretches of time with their band.

Feser talked about having a music store while Oban dreamed of coffee. Min the two together and viola! The "Bean" was born.

"Java wise, we wanted the Stringbean to shy away from typical corporate coffee houses of today. We wished the decor to have a '50's/ '60's/ '70's theme with a hippie corner, '50's tables and '70's demo room while remaining comfortable and how I feel the coffee houses were meant to be," Oban said.

Everyone's wonder exactly what it is about this hangout that especially appeals to Bismarck's youth. Is it the demo room-- disco ball included-- or maybe that lovely red lips couch that you can comfortably lounge around on?

"The best thing about coming to the Stringbean is supporting Bismarck's local music scene," said junior Ron Strohaug. "What makes it unique and fun to visit is the crazy furniture, the hippie corner and the nice, cool people."

Unique is just the word. I've racked my brain but still can't think of any other places where in the ladies' rest room I can view a poster of Frank Zappa answering nature's call.

True, the Stringbean offers espresso drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, and smoothies, as well as baked goods including caramel rolls, muffins, cookies and other mouth water nibbles but there's much more to the Bean than what you see offered on the menu or hanging on the walls.

The musical availability is up the wazoo. Just like Diane Sawyer, I dug deep and got the inside scoop.

The Stringbean offers a variety of everything musically such as many different guitars, drums, amps, wireless microphones and lighting and sound system rentals all at "the best prices in town," according to Oban.

If you're like me and have a tendency to rock out just a little too hard, your instrument and/or amp may be in need of a few repairs. No sweat. Just take it to their instrument and sound-system repair shop.

Maybe you're wondering how you can get started as a musician? It's cake! Sign up for lessons through the Bean and let the music flow! If you're already a musician looking for gigs or simply need a band for an event, Oban and Feser serve as booking agents as well. That's just about the whole kit and caboodle a musician would need. The question is not what these guys do, rather what they don't do!

"It's like a full circle," says Oban. "We have the begging's and the end. You can purchase your guitar or drum set here, take lessons with us and once you have progressed we can hook you up with gigs. No longer do parents need to sit in their car twiddling their thumbs waiting for their child's lesson to end. Now they can come in, kick back and enjoy a delicious drink."

If your pocket seems a little light and you don't have the big bucks to burn, then check out the little things. Those guitar shaped car fresheners and rockin' sockin' $1 key chains to spruce up any driving adventure.

Or maybe you're tempted to buy that John Travolta poster in his Saturday Night Fever get up. Whatever it is you find, there seems to be a little something for everyone to enjoy.

For more information on Stringbean, surf to their website at www.stringbeanmusic.com. Better yet, swing by, leave all that school blood, sweat, and tears behind and bring your friends to enjoy music, drinks and eats.

Truth be told, I'm now motivated to whip out my harmonica, knee symbols, and work on that one-man band I've always wanted to master.

August/September 2004 Business Watch


The Stringbean is among a handful of businesses that have incorporated cafe counters in order to diversify business.

43. Would you like a hat, guitar or a CD with your cappuccino? Businesses around Bismarck-Mandan are incorporating cage counters into their buildings and diversifying their business. This Old Hat, STRINGBEAN MUSIC and the Rainbow Shop are selling cafe lattes alongside traditional merchandise.

String Bean offers coffee and atmosphere

by Amanda Bakkedahl - SUMMIT Reporter

Cookie-cutter coffee shops sprang up like corn stalks around Bismarck this summer, but locally-owned Stringbean Music and Coffee is fighting Starbucks empire by offering elements the competition doesn't have: unique atmosphere and knowledge of music.

People can get a cup of coffee virtually anywhere in Bismarck. In order to differentiate, Stringbean offers cushy chairs, high-speed Internet access and relaxed atmosphere to chat with friends soothed by the background of legendary rock bands.

Shawn Oban, part owner of Stringbean, described the unique musical atmosphere at the downtown coffee and music depot as a place where "it's happy hour all the time."

String Bean Music and Coffee is a new-aged coffee house with a wall of guitars screaming to be played.

"There are so many places in the Bean to chill, talk with friends and demo that 6-string of your dreams," said frequent customer Matt Boynton.

The String Bean offers a black-light demo room as just one of the places in the store to try out instruments. It also offers competitive coffee prizes.

"It's a great place to do homework while sipping a flavored drink and working on the Internet," commented String Bean customer and University of Mary student Valerie Anderson.

String Bean sells a wide variety of new and used guitars, amps and basses. They also offer a complete sound and lighting department including sound system rentals, wireless microphones, lighting systems and lessons for the guitar, bass and drums.

String Bean offers a package deal where one can surf their high-speed Internet for half an hour and enjoy any type of 16oz. coffee drink for only $5.00. Two hours of high-speed Internet and 16oz. of any coffee drink will cost you $8.00. If you need only computer access, $3.00 will allow you half an hour of high-speed Internet while for only $5.00 you will get an hour of high-speed Internet. Drink specials are good anytime you use their internet. They also have hookups available for laptop access.

In addition to these great offers, String Bean also has live music on Thursday nights from 7:30 to 8:30.

"I've hung out there a few times and their live music on Thursday nights is an awesome place to go relax and hang out with friends." stated String Bean customer and University of Mary student Erin Hill.

Are you in the mood for a coffee, but just to lazy to go pick it up? String Bean will deliver with a $10 minimum purchase. This is a great way to start your day or surprise a friend or co=worker with a coffee drink and maybe even a singing telegram from Oban. He has been known to sing and play his guitar to whomever he is delivering the coffee. One of their tasty creative drinks is the Michael Jackson, their 1/4 vanilla and 3/4 chocolate coffee drink!

Music is definitely their specialty, but they are also trying to expand to become a booking agency for this area. If you are in need of a musical act for a wedding or special event, give them a call. They offer rock groups, DJ's, acoustic acts, country acts, jazz groups and a hypnotist. They can also install sound and lighting systems.

String Bean is located at 510 East Main and open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday night. Weekend hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can contact them for more information at 701-250-8699 or visit their website at www.stringbeanmusic.com

New coffee shop returns Thursday night live music to downtown Bismarck

by Lisa Horner - Century High School

A varied crowd sipping coffee and listening to live music recently occupied Stringbean, a small cafe with '60s memorabilia located on Bismarck's Main Avenue.

Three grade school girls sat on multi-colored bean bags and chatted. A mother danced with her baby while waiting in line to buy a drink. A retired Navy officer sat at a table with some college guys. A couple from San Francisco came in to look up an address on the Internet and decided to stick around for the music. High school students and twentysomethings stood outside on the grass, where speakers had been set up.

"It's a cool place," said 20-year old Michael Roehrich, a Bismarck State College student. "I like the decor, and it seems like a good group of people who come here."

Roehrich came to watch his friend, a performer in the group Adam's Bridge, the first band to perform at the Stringbean.

Every Thursday night from 7:30-8:30 a new local band will be featured. Reggae group Roost appeared four nights ago.

"It gives an opportunity for musicians to play," Stringbean partner Shawn Oban said. "And a lot of people get to see them, so it helps the band."

Any band interested in performing drops off a promo tape. Oban says owners want a variety of music with the only requirement that it "keep an acoustic flare."

"Thrash bands can play, they're just going to have to pay in a style that is a lot more coffee house," Oban said.

Oban and Phil Feser, the other part-owner came up with the idea of a cafe-guitar shop while traveling from city to city when they were in a band together.

"Musicians tend to keep pretty late hours," Oban said. "Sometimes it's tough to get going. What we typically do when we travel out of town is play the night, stay up real late and then hit the coffee shop in town."

Besides selling coffee and guitars and featuring live music, the cafe offers guitar lessons.

"We want to have a place where you can buy a guitar, you can learn to play it, you can actually perform it and then eventually go out and play other places and make a living," Oban said.

Oban and Feser wanted to create something unique with their business -- a place where anybody can come for a coffee, Danish, music, guitar or Internet connections.

"We don't really have anything like this (in Bismarck)," said 16-year old Kate Cichy while watching Adam's Bridge. She said she'd definitely be back Thursday.
(Horner, a senior at CHS, will be the co-editor of the school newspaper and editor of a literary magazine project. She also plays tennis and serves burgers in a restaurant.)