To the general public, the current face of country music is dominated by GQ models with chiseled, square jaws who are more proud of their frosted tips and designer Western-wear than their music. But not the outlaws of Normans Empty Bottles. Not now, not ever.
As a personal preference, I just dont like pop country, bassist Charley Reeves said. Thats what those guys like Willie (Nelson) and Waylon (Jennings) were fighting way back when in the 70s. They got to Nashville and they wanted to be country stars, but the machine out there had a certain way they wanted them to sound on the radio, and they didnt have that kind of voice. The Empty Bottles is a celebration of these guys who stuck to their roots and didnt let the machine destroy them. Its in our being.
Paying homage to the classic country sound of the bygone outlaw era, The Bottles started off as an impromptu, one-off gig, performing the entirety of The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo album at the Okie Noodling tournament. When the public cried for more, the boys were happy to oblige. Reeves believes The Bottles success lies in the fact that these are timeless songs that most Oklahomans grew up with.
Im 41 years old, so I remember growing up in southwest Oklahoma and my parents listening to all that stuff, Reeves said. Theres just something about the pure simplicity and understated nature of the music. Thats whats great about it; it doesnt have to be complicated or showing off to be powerful and fun and beautiful.
While many of the Bottles shows are packed with lovers of old country, theyre also equally packed with indie-rock fans who are hungry for this style of music, and its one of the reasons the group hasnt split town for Nashville or Austin like so many of their contemporaries.
We get a pretty big hipster crowd. I dont know if its, like, the cool thing like drinking PBR but the crowd seems to be a complete mix of people, Reeves said. Young people who I would think dont know these songs
and sometimes they dont but we teach them the songs they dont know.
Its an opportunity to hear this kind of music in a cool club, something
people dont get to hear normally. People keep coming back.
With their upcoming show at the Opolis, The Bottles are hoping their infectious roots music will catch on to an even bigger crowd of folks looking for some rowdy fun.
People who havent heard us can expect a throwback to a honky-tonk time, Reeves said. Were just some guys up there, loving what were doing, playing our hearts out, enjoying it and having fun, and that really transfers to the audience. Its open for a party, its open to sit and listen, and I think thats what live music is all about: going out and having a good time with great music.