Joe Wertz;News

If the adage “families who play together, stay together” is true, then it is also the first reason why the future looks bright for the Oklahoma City-based band Crocodile. Like Yo La Tengo, Mates of State and a handful of other married (and divorced) indie rockers, Crocodile is cultivating a unique pop sound that comes […]

Starlight Mints will join the staggering ranks of specters, spooks and spirits summoned for this year’s “Ghouls Gone Wild” Halloween parade, drummer Andy Nunez confirmed last week. The Norman band will join the parade as musical representatives of the Norman Music Festival, he said. The Mints, heralded for delivering indie pop songs that pulse with […]

Cody Hanson, in town on a tour break, wasn’t at all happy with the Aug. 6 Soundcheck, detailing the early radio and iTunes chart success of “Use Me,” the first single from Hinder’s sophomore “Take It to the Limit” album, due out on Election Day. Hanson and company — two management- or tour-related gentlemen whose […]

An open letter to the metro’s music scene, penned by a frustrated member of Norman rock band Student Film, has garnered a flurry of Internet discussion and publicized commentary from local performers, fans and rock ‘n’ roll followers. The 1,000-word manifesto was penned by singer Justin Rice, who lamented some of Student Film’s wasted tour […]

The opening game for Oklahoma City’s NBA team is just months away. Pesky public funding has been attained, arena renovations are under way, a temporary practice facility has been acquired and an opening hometown salvo against the Milwaukee Bucks is slated for Oct. 29. By most sports media accounts ” including unnamed “sources,” anonymous confirmations, […]

It started three years ago. Airwave audiences eager to “Get Stoned” are largely responsible for morphing Oklahoma City party-rock band Hinder into the world-touring, album- and ringtone-selling juggernaut it is today. The beast is back. Armed with a new single, Hinder has trained the crosshairs on radio stations, and program directors already have been slain. […]

Nominations for Oklahoma’s official rock song close on Thursday, so log on and get to clicking. The nominations, which must have been written or performed by an Oklahoman, will be pared down to 10 selections by an appointed panel and then go before an e-vote of the people on Sept. 1. If you don’t realize […]

A dozen stages hosting 150 bands for two days ” Tulsa’s Dfest provides a one-stop shop for the best Okie-based and national indie-rock favorites. It’s impossible to hear every act at Dfest, so Oklahoma Gazette is sharing the highlights on our rock shopping list to help you find the best Dfest deal for your dollar. […]

Writers at The Boston Phoenix recently chose 150 bands and performers to represent the best music bets in each of the 50 United States. Three acts representing separate categories were chosen for each state and posted. According to the newspaper, Oklahoma’s all-time best solo artist is Woody Guthrie, an performer noted for writing hundreds of […]

Samantha Crain is a lot younger than many fans of American folk music, but one would never know it from the way she sings. WELL-KNOWN FESTIVAL FATHER FIGURE Her voice is powerful in its fragility, a raw-roots throwback to singer/survivors who had a story to share and the weathered voice to narrate it. Critics are […]