Tuesday 22 May
OKG Newsletter
Stephen Carradini
David lean
To deliver his sparse songs, David Ramirez needs only a guitar, his voice and a place to play — preferably not at a hotel for dogs.
Music
Stephen Carradini
David Ramirez and Matthew Mayfield with Justin Joslin and Braylon Warr
8 p.m Wednesday, May 23
VZD’s Restaurant & Club
4200 N. Western
vzds.com
524-4203
‘Curse’ words
A local amateur game designer debuts a retro-style game for Xbox Live.
Features
Stephen Carradini
Every kid who has played a Nintendo gaming system knows about that part in that level where you have to make the character jump from single block to single block across lava/water/space/ nothingness. That section is universally reviled, due to the amount of time sunk into dying over and over.
97's in '11
Everything Old — as in Old 97’s — is new again, as the alt-country act keeps churning out ‘Fight Songs’ for fervent fans.
Music
Stephen Carradini
Old 97’s with Robert Ellis, The Workweek, Kentucky Knife Fight and The Lusitania
7 p.m. Friday
Opolis
113 N. Crawford, Norman
opolis.org, 820-0951
$15 advance, $20 door
Radio daze
Don’t touch that dial! Because it may be a thing of the past, as more local ventures go online to keep your ears entertained.
Music
Stephen Carradini
There’s never a shortage of articles claiming that old X media will disappear because of new Y media: newspaper/radio, radio/TV, newspaper/Internet — same story, different verse.
Lip service
In which a podcaster drunk-dials a rock star.
Music
Stephen Carradini
No Fun Intended’s live podcast Thursday at The 51st Street Speakeasy, 1114 N.W. 51st, has scored one hot guest: The Flaming Lips’ ringmaster, Wayne Coyne.
No dummy
The man behind alt-rock act Jack’s Mannequin knows what it takes to dress up his piano-pop tunes: freshness.
Music
Stephen Carradini
Jack's Mannequin with Steel Train, Lady Danville and River James
6 p.m. Friday
Diamond Ballroom
8001 S. Eastern
diamondballroom.net, 677-9169
$19 advance, $24 door
Graham Wright — Shirts vs. Skins
Looking for some summertime power-pop? Look no further!
Indie
Stephen Carradini
Tokyo Police Club has an instantly recognizable and nigh-on iconic indie-rock sound. When I heard the words “Tokyo Police Club side-project,” I figured it was code for “more TPC songs, but some guys in the band wanted to take some time off.”
Piñataland — Hymns for the Dreadful Night
Beautiful arrangements, skilled players and excellent production. What more could you want?
Indie
Stephen Carradini
As a newly minted music producer, I’m now professionally invested in the way that recordings sound (which means I have even more distaste for the intentionally terrible recordings of the San Francisco garage-rock scene).
James and Evander — Constellating EP + 2
Like the Postal Service. But not.
Indie
Stephen Carradini
I love The Postal Service. I’ve yearned for the day that their long-rumored second album comes out; I’ve pretty much resigned myself to it never appearing. In its stead, I’ve sought out other ge
Matt the Electrician — Accidental Thief
Maybe the Avetts’ long-lost brother?
Folk
Stephen Carradini
Banjo-playing Matt the Electrician actually was an electrician before he took up music full-time. This sort of earnest, workingman’s dignity powers his pop folk.
Paul Simon — Paul Simon / There Goes Rhymin’ Simon / Still Crazy After All These Years / In Concert: Live Rhymin’
Only one of the four is a true reissue; but c'mon...it's Paul Simon
Pop
Stephen Carradini
Some reissues are chock-full of new bits that entice hardcore fans to go out and buy beloved albums again. Columbia’s reissues of Paul Simon’s first three albums do not fall in that category.
Givers — In Light
The most enthusiastic calypso/indie-pop band ever delivers
Indie
Stephen Carradini
Givers’ “In Light” does not capture the exuberant magic that the band puts out live.
The Pretty Black Chains — Awakening
You’d never know that The Pretty Black Chains very recently used to be a Brit-pop band.
Music
Stephen Carradini
“Awakening” is proof that their tansformation into a Led Zeppelin-style rock band was as complete as it was swift.
Extra Cheeze
Shea Weaver’s varied monikers — like Cheezecoat — correspond to where music has taken him.
Music
Stephen Carradini
Shea Weaver
9-10 p.m. Friday
JJ’s Alley
212 E. Sheridan 605-4543
Cheezecoat
Saturday
Midsummer Nights’ Fair
Lions Park 450 S. Flood, Norman
normanfirehouse.com 329-4523
