The aptly named “Dream Cove” launches the effort with an expertly arranged froth of synthetic washes, cavernous percussion and his wistful, measured vocals. The following “Awakening” is more playful, bouncing with Casio beeps and a more vivacious melody that soars at the chorus; had this song come out 30 years sooner, I’m certain it would […]
Joshua Boydston
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The Strangers — The Strangers
Shawn C’s smooth, dreamy production provides a nice contrast to Tefic’s sharp-as-nails delivery. It’s a match made in heaven, and they certainly seem more comfortable together than the duo’s name might imply. Again, Tefic proves he can put his own spin on any of his favorite artists’ music to make it his own, and Shawn […]
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Affair of the hard
Photo: Chris Hultner The usual suspects of street punk brought the guys behind Violent Affair together: The Unseen, Broken Bones, Krum Bums and so on. But when it came time to record the Oklahoma City band’s latest material — the recently released, two-song EP, A Call to Arms — the five-piece sought inspiration through Nintendo. […]
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Book of love
Affectionately called a hillbilly bluesman, singer-songwriter and renowned guitarist Roy Book Binder has gone from star pupil to noted teacher. “I can’t say I was self-taught. Lots of people taught me,” Binder said. “I learned from old guys who shared their knowledge and skills with me, and it’s a good thing to do. You keep […]
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Tunes by 10
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US” lang=”EN-US”> Photo: Mark Hancock Oklahoma enjoys a special place in the scope of American music, producing the likes of Woody Guthrie, Garth Brooks and Leon Russell. But it’s not always been the best place for someone like Andy Nunez and his wife, Marian — respectively, drummer and keyboardist for the Norman-based Starlight […]
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Hostage situation
You won’t see Connecticut pop-punk act Hostage Calm refueling at Chick-fil-A on the road between gigs. The group’s guys are some of the most vocal supporters of marriage equality touring today, playing rallies, helping assemble a documentary on the movement and even selling merchandise that benefits organizations fighting for same-sex legal unions. “For my generation, […]
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Paramount release
Even if you don’t attend Friday’s show by New York noise rockers The Psychic Paramount, there’s a good chance you’ll hear it. And if you are within a block radius, you’ll feel it, too. “When those volumes approach a certain level, it does become this corporal thing,” said drummer Jeff Conaway of the band’s notoriously […]
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Later, Vader
Robert Harrison — who raps as Rob Vader — hasn’t been performing in front of crowds for all that long, but the journey to his latest album, Anti-Clone, started when he was 3 years old. “I wouldn’t get out of bed unless my parents played Kool Moe Dee’s ‘Wild Wild West.’ I’d rap to it […]
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Sample size
It’s hard to imagine that Gregg Gillis — best known as Girl Talk — spent several years playing for handfuls of people, being that he now regularly plays for 10,000 or more a night. No matter the number, he infused the same manic energy into his mad mash-ups. “I’d yell and jump on them, anything […]