Americana artist Greg Reichel describes his music as “very real and soulful.” And while many singer-songwriters typically use such terms to describe their sound, Reichel believes he goes out of his way to prove it. “I try to write with as much soul as I can, instead of just throwing a song together,” he said. […]
country
Posted inMusic
‘Free’ at last
Rap has long held domain over comedy skits between songs until country crooner Jerrod Niemann laid claim to them with his breakout 2010 album, Judge Jerrod & the Hung Jury. “We were just laughing, having a blast and couldn’t stop between takes,” said the self-described half-Oklahoman who grew up in Liberal, Kan. “We’d get these […]
Posted inMusic
Wanda Jackson — Unfinished Business
Here she builds on the success of last year’s The Party Ain’t Over, her collaboration with Jack White, but unlike that effort, this album is raw, spare and constructed to showcase the Oklahoma-born-and-bred Jackson’s prodigious gifts. Ample credit goes to Justin Townes Earle, who produced this 10-song collection of blues, country, gospel and soul covers. […]
Posted inMusic
Corn’s new crop
Based in Weatherford, Green Corn Revival never has boasted a stable lineup, but even a massive lineup shake-up this past spring put the group on pause. Six months later, the alt-country act is enjoying a bit of a revival itself, and bandleader Jared Deck believes it’s the finest incarnation yet. “It’s the trust I have […]
Posted inMusic
Whitey power
Photo: Clay Abbott While many critics are quick to label Whitey Morgan as part of the new breed of “outlaw country,” a movement begun in the 1970s by the likes of Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings, he is just as quick to put that dog down. “I don’t think there’s really any outlaw country these […]
Posted inMusic
Sooner the Sunset — Sooner the Sunset
Their chemistry is undeniable, and from the sound of this self-titled debut EP, the two bring out the very best of each other — no small feat for artists who are incredible in their own right. The pair finds the perfect blend of pop and indie folk, crafting songs that recall the likes of Mumford […]
Posted inNews
Sir Toby
Credit: Brad Gregg Didn’t know that. We thought the Brits were a snobby group when it comes to music. Heck, they worshipped The Flaming Lips well before these United States — not to mention li’l ol’ Oklahoma — got around to it. We bring this up because Toby Keith looks well-prepared to conquer England. Last […]
Posted inMusic
Jimmy LaFave — Depending on the Distance
LaFave, however, has not seen the stardom that fellow Red Dirt pioneers Cross Canadian Ragweed and Stoney LaRue have, if only because the thoughtful performer never quite pandered to the beer-swilling crowds. His latest release, Depending on the Distance, follows suit; its 13 inspiring tracks have all the country flair of the brothers with whom […]
Posted inNews
Tishomingo blues
Credit: Brad Gregg On Sept. 18, the platinum-selling singer-songwriter posted, “If you live in Tishomingo Ok., our dog Loretta has been missing for 2 days. She is a small black lab. She has a pink collar w a tag.” A longtime champion of our four-legged friends, Lambert started the nonprofit MuttNation, which raises funds for […]
Posted inMusic
One direction
Six months ago, John Johnson and Joie Sherman-Johnson, both University of Oklahoma alum who make up the duo North Meets South, were working corporate jobs in Washington, D.C., playing “casually, not even weekly, not even monthly for about two years,” per Johnson, before relocating to Norman. Fresh from a short tour of the Midwest, the […]