Stillwater band Other Lives is about a month away from opening for the guy who’s the odds-on favorite for album of the year right now (can you say national exposure?). But currently, they’re about to jet off to Europe for a string of festival and small-venue dates. It appears that it’ll be a few months before they perform in Oklahoma again.
But fear not, friends! KEXP Radio in Seattle shot five live-in-studio performances by Jesse Tabish and company. “For 12” is my favorite here, but please watch them and let me know what you think. I can’t overstate how great it is that Other Lives is representing Oklahoma to indie audiences across the country and Europe right now.
The Stillwater band scores the opening slot for U.S. tour's first leg.
A senior in high school, I was visiting friends in Stillwater when I saw Kunek for the first time. If you’d told me that night that some of the dudes in that band would one day open for the guys who recorded “Kid A” and “OK Computer,” then I would’ve considered giving you a few bucks to leave me alone, because you were probably a crazy homeless person.
But Jesse Tabish and the dreary, indie-pop mini-orchestra that is Other Lives have toured across this country and many others in support of the mindful, gorgeous “Tamer Animals,” to the acclaim of fans, critics and fellow musicians. Colourmusic’s Ryan Hendrix (the two bands, both from Stillwater, are very close) told me that Radiohead’s managers are friends with Other Lives’, which was a pretty big factor in the alt-Brits’ appearance at Other Lives’ show at Oxford’s historic Jericho’s Tavern in August.
But you don’t just ask somebody along on your tour as a favor to your manager.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, according to Radiohead's website. So far, Other Lives are set to open on 10 dates across the South and Midwest, and you can bet a ton of Okies will drive down I-35 for that March 5 date in Dallas, this writer included. I just can't imagine how much more ethereal and soulful Tabish's voice will sound pouring out of two-story speakers, how much more space the band's mid-tempo beauty will have to surround and envelop you.
Embraced by critics, NPR and now Radiohead, Stillwater band Other Lives is on the brink of exploding big beyond our humble borders.
Music Matt Carney
Sitting opposite a large mural of themselves at Jericho Tavern in
Oxford, England, three members of Radiohead watched and listened
intently as Other Lives played 45 minutes’ worth of the somber chamber
pop that the Stillwater group has spent near a decade refining.
