Drew Grow could have planted his roots anywhere, but he could hardly be happier with his decision to do so in Rose City. “Portland has a loose-cannon quirkiness,” he said. “It’s a pretty great place to play music. There’s a lot of support for all sorts of creative endeavors and a lot of energy from […]
Music Features
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Moon fazes
Oklahoma City looked like a sort of mecca for guitarist and singer Blaise Thompson of local psychedelic-rock outfit Moon when he was making his way from New Orleans to attend ACM@ UCO to pursue a music career. For someone who considers The Flaming Lips’ “Clouds Taste Metallic” and “Transmissions from the Satellite Heart” to be […]
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Rector’s set
Tulsa native Ben Rector has never shied away from going things alone. From striking off for college at the University of Arkansas or opting for a career as an independent musician, self-reliance has been a virtue and advantage. “I value the total freedom to do or say whatever you want,” the singer/ songwriter said. “You […]
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Tower of cower
Crowds swelled at the OKC Farmers Public Market, waiting to enter the 2010 Carnality Ball when a handful of Bible-thumping protesters with bullhorns set up shop across the street. Hellfire-and-brimstone Scripture was volleyed at scantily clad women and drag queens, but members of the avant-garde band Of the Tower stormed out in costume, banging drums […]
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Various Artists — The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams
Now unearthed, some genius (not sarcasm) at Columbia thought it’d be a great idea to recruit a handful of singers indebted to Williams for the purpose of recording an album that simultaneously acts as tribute and debut. None of these songs were ever recorded, according to Columbia. Who finished writing them, we don’t know, but […]
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Mutemath — Odd Soul
Having now heard their third album, “Odd Soul,” it’s pretty easy to understand what King meant when he said, “A lot of the songs we have on this new record are fun to play, and will be fun to play for a long time, no matter what.” The LP’s first four tracks were the songs […]
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Go, Gringo, go!
What’s in a name? For the members of Atlanta’s Gringo Star, it’s a reprieve from having to answer the same question in their old band, A Fir-Ju Well. “‘What’s your name? What did you say? What does that mean?’” said Nick Furgiele. “It was every night. It wasn’t like we changed our sound or anything […]
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Soundcheck: Classic Series Concert Previews
Saturday marks the second of the group’s eight Classic Series Concert Previews, which are lectures that take place before showtime, in which local musicians and educators offer insights beyond what attendees will find in the program. At 7 p.m., an hour before pianist Jon Kimura Parker joins the Philharmonic for “Two Aspects of Romanticism,” Sergio […]
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Swift justice
Despite several attempts to contact Taylor Swift’s record label, management, backing band members, tightly cloistered press squadron, immediate family, scores of jaded boyfriends, and stable of talking unicorns and pegasii, I failed to procure an interview with the 21-year-old, flaxen-haired songstress in advance of her Saturday-night date with Oklahoma City. I mean, it’s not like […]
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Tympanic TNT
In the current state of superficial pop songs; flashy, hip-hop anthems; and too-cool-for-school indie-rock bands, it’s hard to find musicians who can elicit any sort of real, personal emotion. However, Austin, Texas, post-rock group Explosions in the Sky can do it, and without saying a word. “I actually think it’s because there is no singing. […]