Campaign for Real Music featuring Crown Imperial, The Wurly Birds, Copperheads, Ryan Lawson, Plaid Rabbit, Dadrock, Psychotic Reaction and more
4 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Opolis
113 N. Crawford, Norman
www.opolis.org
820-0951
A diverse assortment of local bands will rally together Friday and Saturday at the seventh annual Campaign for Real Music at Opolis in Norman. Twenty different acts — of genres ranging from post-punk to indie folk — will each perform their personal take of what real music is. Oklahoma Gazette sent out a questionnaire to figure out what makes them tick, touching upon lemon twists, Shaq and backwoods antics.
Taylor Johnson, lead singer for The Wurly Birds 
Describe your music in a sentence.
TJ: Muddy, fuzz guitars and threepart vocal harmonies flooded with Hammond B-3 and chiming Rickenbacker guitar tones.
Who are three bands that inspire your music?
TJ: The Kinks are definitely a big inspiration in our music. George Martin isn’t a band, but he’s a big inspiration as well. We also like any and all Motown recordings.
What is another local band people should check out?
TJ: There are tons of great local bands; I would be listing things forever. A few local bands I really like are The Separation and the Starlight Mints.
How would you define “real music”?
TJ: I would define real music as a person or group who has wits in their note choices and their songwriting skills. I cherish many things in music. I’m a big fan of harmonies and background vocals.
What’s your favorite part of being based in Oklahoma?
TJ: Oklahoma, contrary to popular belief, has some musical networking, and a scene with some pretty damn good people. There are some great people in Oklahoma who are willing to help you musically and support you.
What’s the worst part?
TJ: I assume, just like any music scenes, there are downsides. I wish more people would come out to shows (even though a lot do), and that more venues would open up.
Why should people check out your band?
TJ: Why not? Unless you’re busy, you don’t have anything else to do. Only kidding. I think if more people heard us, more people would dig us. I’d like to soon reach more people (hopefully, this interview gets us a few million fans).
Wade Stanley, bassist for Plaid Rabbit
Describe your music in a sentence.
WS: We are trying for a Queens of the Stone Age meets James Brown.
Who are three bands that inspire your music?
WS: Most of our influences vary between Queens of the Stone Age, Jimi Hendrix, Cake, Miles Davis, The Band and way too many to be listing off to you.
What is another local band people should check out?
WS: You should
check out The Copperheads and Motown Blood. These two bands, who sound
nothing alike, are doing what every local band fights to do, and that is
sound different and be respected for it.
How would you define “real music”?
WS: I am pretty sure it’s bands trying to make a mark on this city without be stuck at a bar doing covers.
What’s your favorite part of being based in Oklahoma?
WS: My favorite part about being in the Oklahoma local scene is the fact that every band has every other band’s back.
What’s the worst part?
WS: The
worst part is trying to get notice from venues. There is a handful of
Christian and hardcore bands that might not even see a local stage
that’s not a church.
Why should people check out your band?
WS: You
should check us out for the reasons beyond words. We move it, we study
it, we throw it around, we turn it up and we focus it into what we want
you to hear, all with a twist of lemon.
Ryan Lawson, solo artist
Describe your music in a sentence.
RL: Campfire country.
Who are three bands that inspire your music?
RL: Townes Van Zandt, Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Buckley.
Who is another local band people should check out?
RL: I
love the following locals: Brad Fielder, Brian Cagle, Bloody Ol’ Mule,
Jay Vick, John Fullbright, Psychotic Reaction, The Purple Church and a
whole lot more.
How would you define “real music”?
RL: Real music is good in any form, be it country, rock, metal, hip-hop, blues or jazz. If it’s good, then it’s “real.”
What’s your favorite part of being based in Oklahoma?
RL: It’s fertile ground just waiting to be worked for harvest by talented musicians.
What’s the worst part?
RL: Seems about like everybody is at odds with each other instead of helping each other out.
Why should people check out your band?
RL: It beats sitting around doing nothing.
Kevin Lough, guitarist for Psychotic Reaction, solo project Dadrock
Describe your music in a sentence.
KL: We sound like a ’60s pop record being played in hell.
Who are three bands that inspire your music?
KL: The Stooges, Spacemen 3, and Roky Erickson.
Who is another local band people should check out?
KL: Debris,
who were post-punk before there was punk. They put out one of the best
records of the ’70s and now they’re a bunch of old guys with big beards
still making crazy avant-garde rock.
How would you define “real music”?
KL: When
you feel the uncontrollable urge to play something even if no one gives
a shit. It also helps if it’s loud, weird and stops making sense.
What’s your favorite part of being based in Oklahoma?
KL: There’s lots of uncivilized backwoods where you can go do bad things in private.
What’s the worst part?
KL: Not enough venues where new bands playing strange or noncommercial music can break in.
Why should people check out your band?
KL: You need a new face, and we will melt yours off. Besides, what else could you possibly be doing?
Andy Escobar, drummer for The Copperheads
Describe your music in a sentence.
AE: Garbage cans.
Who are three bands that inspire your music?
AE: The Germs, Chuck Berry and The Beach Boys.
Who is another local band people should check out?
AE: The Boom Bang, because Shaq told me to plug them, and because they’re great!
How would you define “real music”?
AE: Umm, I don’t think we could answer that without sounding pretentious and dumb at the same time. Sorry!
What’s your favorite part of being based in Oklahoma?
AE: Playing with bands like Shitty/ Awesome, The Boom Bang and Psychotic Reaction. Always make for a good night.
What’s the worst part?
AE: Exposure.
Why should people check out your band?
AE: For our music.
Cali Tonnu, singer for Crown Imperial
Describe your music in a sentence.
CT: Simple and complex.
Who are three bands that inspire your music?
CT: The Velvet Underground, Roy Orbison and Joy Division.
Who is another local band people should check out?
CT: The Electric Primadonnas, Shitty/Awesome, The Nghiems and Gentle Ghost.
How would you define “real music”?
CT: If people make it and love it, then that is real music.
What’s your favorite part of being based in Oklahoma?
CT: The sense of camaraderie and tremendous creativity from local bands.
What’s the worst part?
CT: Not gonna say.
Why should people check out your band?
CT: We believe.
