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Nina Medley — Red Dirt Redemption

Well, I can say that I’m pretty sure she’s found it. Her smoky, soulful vocals slink around the archetypal blues riffs, but beneath every song is that homegrown, Red Dirt, roadhouse rocking ’n’ rolling that draw immediate comparisons to Janis Joplin. “Drive Right Through Memphis” has a down-and-dirty groove that’s as playful as it is […]

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Them Hounds — Them Hounds

Given the parameters of what actually constitutes the blues, it’s easy to see why: There just aren’t that many variations of the genre’s 12-bar framework that retain that “bluesy feel.” Instead, its divergences usually come in the form of vocal variance and guitar solos, and Them Hounds thrive within these confines. Two things immediately jump […]

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Fox news

Having made a name for themselves in Fort Worth, Texas — first as a duo and now as a five-piece — blues rockers Foxtrot Uniform are all set for their Oklahoma debut, Friday at Blue Note Lounge, followed by Saturday at Grady’s 66 Pub. According to lead guitarist Kenny Uptain, the short trip north has […]

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Kick-brass

Dirty Dozen Brass Band Celebrating its 30th birthday this year, Norman’s annual Jazz in June concert series showcases some of the best jazz and blues musicians in the country. The free event runs Thursday through Saturday. This year’s lineup includes: • bluesman Duke Robillard; • the Herb Alpert tribute band, A Taste of Herb; • […]

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Trading places

Between being a band, helping manage a record label/recording studio and maintaining a full-time day job, time management is crucial. Maybe that’s why Josh Griffin and Jonathan Eldridge — the two-man crew behind Oklahoma City blues-rock outfit The Trading Co. — have taken to writing songs and playing shows at the same time. “We’ve done […]

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No Justice — America’s Son

For the record, the film is a back woods action-revenge thriller starring Kevin Sorbo. That perfectly suits the bluesy-rootsy tune with lines like, “Who you gonna call when it gets rough” and “Where you gonna run when the river runs dry,” sung with a passion that would go great with a couple of roundhouse kicks. […]

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Beaming with blues

America’s musical roots are entrenched firmly in the blues. From the field hollers of slaves to the guttural Southern gospel of the late 19th century, early blues drew upon feelings and sounds that later paved the way for much of today’s popular music. It’s appropriate, then, that Luella and the Sun hail from Nashville, Tenn., […]

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’Wood burning

A lot rides on a debut album: It’s the first — and sometimes only — chance to tell the world what you’re all about. Ramsay Midwood did just that with 2002’s spectacularly named Shoot Out at the OK Chinese Restaurant. “There were a lot of gunfights in Chinese restaurants in California … too much MSG […]

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Rebel with a cause

Thin and full of nervous energy. James Dean cool in a white T-shirt, leather jacket and boots. Tats on his forearms before everyone had a tattoo. A hurricane of black hair on his head and a cigarette dangling from his lips. He even came with a mysterious and somewhat menacing accent, courtesy of his native […]

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Dirty Red & the Soulshakers — Soul Shakin’

Opening with the innuendo-laden “Cornbread,” which makes you want to sop up all forms of sexual beans and greens, lead singer Eric “Dirty Red” McDaniel’s powerfully soul-drenched vocals and funky harmonica immediately let you know you’re in for a long, sweaty night. The pure, rolling thunder of “Shotgun,” with its impressionable refrain of “My shotgun […]

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