In April 1997, a catastrophic natural disaster hit the twin cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota, East Grand Forks, Minnesota, and other communities in the Red River Valley. An event no one will soon forget, The Red River overflowed, causing massive flooding. The most significant flood of the river in 171 years, more than 50,000 people were displaced from their homes, and when it was all said and done, there was an estimated 3.5 billion dollars in property damage.
Truly heartbreaking, just a few hundred miles away, Minneapolis-based Rock band Soul Asylum caught wind of devastation in the Grand Forks area and hoped to assist in any way possible. Could they raise money to live in the Grand Forks area through a promotional single? Sure. However, while funding for rebuilding was essential, what would reinvigorate the human spirit of those who lost so much? Thinking it all over, within a flash, Soul Asylum’s conclusion was to do something unique and exciting… perform a prom concert for local high schools in the area.
A wild dream comes true for high school kids who had their prom canceled due to the flood; at the peak of their commercial success, Soul Asylum would jump in to perform a benefit concert as a joint prom event on June 28, 1997. Held at one of the hangars at a nearby Grand Forks Air Force Base, Soul Asylum, including Vocalist/Guitarist Dave Pirner, Lead Guitarist Dan Murphy, Drummer Sterling Campbell, Keyboardist Joey Huffman, and Bassist Karl Mueller, arrived that evening to put on a show that sticks with the people decades later.
Performing an 18-song set that included a list of their originals like “Misery,” “Black Gold,” “Just Like Anyone,” “Without a Trace,” “Somebody to Shove,” and of course, “Runaway Train,” there was also some unforgettable covers like Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out,” The Miracles’s “The Tracks of My Tears,” Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing,” Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now,” and the famous Lulu song “To Sir with Love.” Truly one of a kind, each song moved into the next with ease, and it was clear the band carefully curated the setlist to offer light and hope to provide an outlet of release for everyone in attendance amidst tremendous uncertainty.
In truth, this special evening with Soul Asylum is perhaps one of the most relevant Rock concerts of the ‘90s era. Initially released for the broader world to hear as a CD in 2004, it has also been available digitally for some time. However, in 2025, the historic Soul Asylum recordings made their way to vinyl for the first time.
A special Record Story Day release (arriving on Saturday, April 12, 2025) comes as a limited release of 3,500 copies as a 2LP set through Legacy (a division of Sony). Offering the concert in its entirety, the recordings sound absolutely spectacular. Furthermore, with knowledge of the concert’s purpose and the emotion felt by all involved, you cannot help but get choked up with each passing moment.
Presented with the original artwork that grabs your attention, depicting a moving piece of art with a young guy carrying his prom date through a flood, the physical records are of the highest quality to assure premium sound. Overall, it is a fantastic way to honor Soul Asylum, the music, and the spirit of Grand Forks, North Dakota, in the face of adversity. That is why Cryptic Rock recommends seeking a copy of this release before it is too late, giving After the Flood: Live from the Grand Forks Prom, June 28, 1997, 5 out of 5 stars.
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