Friday 24 May
 
 

IndianGiver — Plafond EP

If you were to peruse the “About” section of IndianGiver’s Facebook page, you’ll notice how the instruments attributed to each of the Oklahoma City band’s five members are described with downright flippancy: Dylan Jordan plays “sticks & animal skins,” while Jazzton Rodriguez earns his keep with “shanties & loud noises,” and so on.
05/22/2013 | Comments 0

Various artists — Never Give Up: Celebrating 10 Years of The Postal Service

Few indie bands have had the impact on current music that The Postal Service has. Even fewer have done so with only one album.
05/15/2013 | Comments 0

Big Worm — Bench All-Stars

Fans of the comedy classic Friday may recognize the name Big Worm, but the Big Worm behind Bench All-Stars is rooted not in South Central L.A., but on the streets of Oklahoma City.
05/08/2013 | Comments 0

Code 22 — Going Soft: The Acoustic Album!

The guys of Oklahoma City’s Code 22 seem like a likable group of fellas. Their latest release, Going Soft: The Acoustic Album!, is likable enough as well — so likable that on first listen, I took its clean, acoustic sound and clear, unstressed vocals as an alternative praise-and-worship band.
05/08/2013 | Comments 0

Eureeka — Polysynthetic Fields

It’s always refreshing to hear music that embraces its own eccentricity, yet presents it in an accessible and meek fashion. Eureeka — the Norman-based duo of Jordan Vargas and Devin Wahl — has tapped into this rarified air on its self-released EP, Polysynthetic Fields.
05/08/2013 | Comments 0
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Music

‘Strip’ down


Metal act Soul Crisis finally releases its long-delayed ode to gentlemen’s clubs, raising hell and drinking till dawn.

Charles Martin April 6th, 2011  

Soul Crisis with Silent Civilian, Severed by Sin and more
7 p.m. Sunday
The Conservatory, 8911 N. Western
Conservatoryokc.com, 607-4805
$8

Metal musicians make for fun interviews, and Soul Crisis front man Riley Hahn has never disappointed. He mixes bombastic theatricality with a surprisingly sober view of modern metal to discuss how the Oklahoma City band is working to carve out a living and finally make good on the long-awaited album, “Strip.”

“There’s not even one cuss word on the album. Did you know that?” Hahn asked drummer Ben Sprouse.

“Isn’t ‘bitch’ on there once?” Sprouse said.

“OK, there’s ‘bitch,’ but that’s it,” Hahn said. “That’s why there’s no parental advisory sticker on there: no explicit language. Yeah, the subject matter is explicit, but until the (Recording Industry Association of America) comes after me, I’m leaving that son of a bitch off. I asked my buddy about it, and he said, ‘Man, your album cover needs a parental warning.’ But it’s just a leg, ass and some panties.”

Six party burners and one live track are packed onto “Strip,” using aggressive, growling vocals and chomping guitars to keep the energy level high from beginning to end. Hahn said the title track is an anthem to beloved catwalks and stripper poles.

“I wanted a modern ‘Girls, Girls, Girls,’ Mötley Crüe thing,” Hahn said. “I’ve always been a huge fan of what rock ’n’ roll was. There are certain bands still rocking that theme, but rock ’n’ roll used to be all about going out, partying, having fun, going to strip clubs, drinking with your friends and being reckless. Nobody who went to a Mötley Crüe show would say their concerts weren’t just big fucking parties.”

Hahn admitted that a studio album wasn’t ever a priority for Soul Crisis, whose bread and butter are raging live shows, which is partially why it took about two years from laying down the drums on “Strip” to getting it into fans’ hands. The release date was rescheduled three times, and a remix had to be cut from the disc because of the snowstorm.

In the future, the band is seriously considering putting out live albums only, since the energy onstage — sure to be on display Saturday night at Bricktown Live — is more intense than what can be captured in a studio.

“We are an excellent live band. That’s our strong suit,” Sprouse said. “We’ve had fire marshals arrive to the venue before the show to tell us what we couldn’t do, based on what we did do during the previous show. We back it up live, for sure.”

That intensity has led to a wide listenership, from old-school metalheads to the next generation of thrashers.

“We can’t keep small T-shirts in stock. It’s bizarre,” Hahn said. “These kids just beg their parents to take them to the show, and I’m not talking about 15-year-olds. I’m talking about 10- to 12-year-olds.”

 
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