Photo: Jason Tanaka Blaney When Ohio rock act Red Wanting Blue got booked to play Norman Music Festival this past spring, the band members worried about whether they’d be able to impress the crowd. “These people have seen everything,” lead singer Scott Terry said. “I’ve never been close to a tornado, but most of these […]
concert
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Blondie has more fun
Blondie co-founder Chris Stein hears traces of his band in a lot of contemporary rock and pop, from Garbage to Lady Gaga. It’s an impressive range of influence for an outfit once considered the ugly duckling of New Wave acts toiling in the sweaty, steamy environs of New York’s CBGB back in the 1970s. “Assuming […]
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The way back home
Even superstars of country music need to find good excuses to come home. Trouble is, Norman-born Vince Gill can’t find enough of them. “My mom would probably echo that sentiment,” he said. “But you know, life’s busy: five kids and a career and life and all of that. It is hard to get back as […]
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We’ve been had
Coming up in the New York garage-rock revival of the early 2000s with bands like The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Interpol, The Walkmen have stepped out of the past decade looking no worse for the wear. Unlike most of their peers, the group has put out one critically acclaimed album after another, emerging as […]
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Shadow of no doubt
Photo: Alex John Beck George Lewis Jr. — the New York City-based New Wave musician who performs as Twin Shadow — is in a different place than he was in the time surrounding the release of his 2010 debut, Forget. Touring behind that record found him abusing drugs, canceling some shows and waking up in […]
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Still lovin’ and learnin’
It was early 1972 when 13-year-old Tanya Tucker headed for Nashville to cut her very first record. By spring, “Delta Dawn” was a hit on every radio station in America. “I was in Las Vegas when I heard ‘Delta Dawn’ and myself on the radio for the first time,” Tucker said. “It was the beginning […]
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Slim chance
You might think that Denver alt-country act Slim Cessna’s Auto Club would have claimed Oklahoma City as a second home a long time ago, but in its two-decade existence, this show marks its first time here. “It makes sense really, for us to play more in Oklahoma City,” bandleader Slim Cessna said. “I can’t believe […]
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In orbit
Photo: Chris Phelps In the winter of 2010, things were looking pretty good for Austin, Texas’ The Rocketboys. Then half the altrock sextet walked out, worn out and abused from the exhausting tour schedule that got them to that point. The Rocketboys looked doomed to crash and burn. “There was a lot of not knowing […]
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Mayhem fest
Oklahoma City outfit Chronicles of Mayhem isn’t like most metal bands. The four-piece is just about as concerned with shaking your hips as melting your face. “I like music that is accessible. There’s great music that is so highly technical and impressive because of that musicianship, but it can get lost in the crowd,” guitarist […]
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Fablecar — Fablecar
“Diamond Slice” sounds like a song that Pink Floyd would have written in 1999, had the band been recording then, thanks to a “Money”-inspired groove. The following anthem, “Threes,” hits more in line with Interpol — or, maybe more appropriately, Joy Division. With the ease that it’s executed, I can only imagine this is where […]