On the other, the fact that a 32-year-old band is writing relevant music is kind of amazing and deserves more props than the first line gave it. I suppose it matters if you’ve heard Social Distortion before: If you’re a fan of their music, “Hard Times” will be nothing but exciting to you. New listeners […]
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Esben and the Witch — Violet Cries
The quiz determines whether or not you will want to purchase “Violet Cries” by Esben and the Witch: 1. Do you like Björk? If yes, buy album. If no, continue to question two. 2. Do you like art for the sake of art? If yes, buy album. If no, continue to question three. 3. Do […]
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Cloud Nothings — Cloud Nothings
The band — brainchild of frontman Dylan Baldi — made its first blip in late 2010 and has come on strong in 2011 with its proper debut and a simple enough style: Take recent tourmate Wavves, swap the weed for Red Bull, bathe it in Fun Dip, and you’ve got a close approximation. The self-titled […]
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Destroyer — Kaputt
Destroyer — despite its metal-sounding name — has been unleashing some of the best and brightest chamber pop since its formation in 1995. Frontman and chief songwriter Dan Bejar has taken time out since to contribute to supergroups The New Pornographers and Swan Lake, but has steadily streamed new tunes through Destroyer, including 2008’s acclaimed […]
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Cold War Kids — Mine Is Yours
The Black Keys proved you could play smart rock/blues/soul music (and people would eventually take notice with their monumental 2010), but Cold War Kids opted for the Kings of Leon route, dumbing things down in hopes of netting a bigger crowd. It worked for them, but it’s clearly going to be a bigger struggle for […]
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’Ham it up
Welcome aboard and meet your captain. Jon Mooneyham — who does (and doesn’t) operate under the moniker DJ Bronzai — is the tall, wily figure in the corner of the room, spinning everything from ’60s folk to the ’80s post-punk that pleases his piercing-lined ears. His thick, grizzled, gravity-defying hair pops out every direction from […]
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Roping in ears
Somewhere, an Anthony Kiedis impersonator cries. His Red Hot Chili Peppers cover band conquered Montreal quartet Braids during a high school battle of the bands years ago, but it’s art rockers Braids who are enjoying the record deal, media mentions and an international tour, including tonight’s stop at Opolis in Norman. “They probably deserved it […]
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Ugly no more
“We didn’t know if, when we broke up, these songs would ever get released,” said Colin Bray, guitarist for the band. “I’m really glad they did. I think they’re some of the best songs we’ve written.” The disc was recorded pre-breakup in the band members’ houses, and the cover was conceived by them and local […]
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Whittington wit
Texas, meet Italy. Italy, meet Texas. Austin-based singer/ songwriter Daniel Whittington will showcase his tunes at 8 p.m. Saturday at “Norman’s Little Italy,” aka Othello’s, 434 Buchanan in Campus Corner. Touring to support his latest album, “Things Change,” Whittington certainly has lots of practice, having performing since he was 11 in his father’s blues band. […]
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Wolf pact
It’s not who you know, but how you know them. Phil Chamberlain, drummer for North Carolina metalcore quintet To Speak of Wolves, knows that as well as anyone, and he has an impressive in with the scene: His brother fronts the revered Christian metal band Underoath — not that he and his fellow Wolves have […]