For many in Southern Minnesota, Bob needs no introduction, having hosted the long-running extreme metal radio show Here There Be Dragons on KMSU since 2001. His influence extends through Mankato's nightlife, initially assisting in organizing Fuzztalk Radio game nights at New Bohemia and exploring stand-up comedy at local open mic events just before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, Bob delved into organizing concerts in Mankato, overseeing a diverse lineup of over two dozen shows from August 2022 through 2023. In early 2024, amidst the closure of Mankato’s beloved underground venue, The What’s Up Lounge, Bob co-founded Filthy Cryptid Events alongside MK, Barry, and Trevor. 

Bob still performs stand-up on select occasions, and has been breaking into voice-acting, having landed prominent roles in three of the Fountaineers radio drama troupe.

As the head of Filthy Cryptid Events, Bob assumes a pivotal role in our organization by booking bands, securing venues, and spearheading promotional efforts. His leadership ensures each event provides a platform for numerous artists making their debut in Southern Minnesota, enriching the local cultural landscape.  

MK brings a unique blend of marketing expertise and creative talent to Filthy Cryptid Events, supported by an Associate of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing Communication, complemented by a solid foundation in marketing analytics gained through a dedicated internship.

MK’s journey to Mankato, MN, began out of financial necessity, moving with no money or connections. However, driven by a passion for art and live music, MK immediately sought out opportunities to foster the local culture. Immersing deeply into the music scene, MK collaborated with Barry, Bob, and Trevor, eventually co-founding Filthy Cryptid Events.

She is a passionate writer of poetry, prose, and screenplays, with experience in creating short films. MK began her journey in graphic design with GIMP in 2007 and advanced to Photoshop in 2014. Additionally, MK is proficient in coding, specializing in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for website development, while also leveraging JavaScript alongside Python for creating generative art projects.

As Marketing Cryptid, MK is instrumental in promoting Filthy Cryptid Events through a variety of hands-on activities. They engage actively with the community, networking extensively around town and online to enhance event visibility and audience engagement. MK is also responsible for taking and editing photos and videos of all of the Filthy Cryptid shows, enhancing the documentation of live performances.

Trevor has been part of the Mankato music scene since his arrival  in August 2012 to pursue his undergraduate degree in education at MSU.  He formed the three-piece band The Red Light District, alongside his friends Ben and Erik, where they became a fixture at Savoy’s open mics and regular performers at the old Boomtown near campus. In RLD’s second iteration, Erik and Trevor teamed up with local drummer Cody and German bassist/synth Ralph.  The band played numerous shows and open mic nights, showcasing their unique punk-meets-funk sound to Mankato audiences.  Trevor later shifted his focus to sound engineering, securing a position as a graduate assistant at MSU where he helped manage the AV department, gaining valuable experience in the process.

Prior to Covid-19 shutdowns, Trevor ventured into comedy through the local open mic scenes, but took a hiatus during and after lockdowns to deal with a tragic family loss.  Eventually, Bob badgered Trevor enough to get out of the house, start doing comedy again, where he’s been enjoying telling jokes across southern Minnesota and hosting open mic nights at The What’s Up Lounge before its closure.

Despite not being overly familiar with the metal scene, Trevor joined Filthy Cryptid Events because he saw his friends’ dedication to preserving Mankato’s underground music scene after The What’s Up Lounge shut down. What started as him simply hocking his personal PA into the basement of SelfMadeGlory Studios, gradually expanded into Trevor being able to provide the technology for events of various sizes.