Through these changes, Johnson remained steadfast in his approach, hammering away at a sound that pays homage to his roots and influences while, at the same time, retaining a distinct individualism. Now, with two albums released on two separate labels behind them, Grooms sound rejuvenated on their third proper full-length, Infinity Caller, their most intricately […]
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Music Made Me: Mike Hosty
Photo: Mark Hancock Leon Redbone, Double Time (1977) I stayed up late and watched Saturday Night Live and saw Leon Redbone sing “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” At first, I thought it was a joke, but there was something about the song and the delivery. His finger-style playing technique led me to discover Blind Blake, Jimmie Rodgers and […]
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Heart-shaped rock
Chris Harris has listened to a lot of albums in the past 20 years, but Nirvana’s grunge-rock masterpiece In Utero is one the local musician (Depth & Current) and producer (Hook Echo Sound in Norman) hasn’t been able to shake. When he and friend Mickey Reese (El Paso Hot Button) first discussed collaborating on a […]
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Oxford karma
As odd and eccentric as Dent May’s sun-soaked soul tunes might read, they are firmly planted in pop territory — just not the one most of us are accustomed to. “When we are on tour, we only have the radio. It’s either oldies or contemporary pop radio, and I’m an FM pop junkie. In my […]
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Inside the Octo-gon
When Austin’s The Octopus Project takes the stage, it’s more than a concert — an immersive and organized chaos ensues. Thickly layered instrumentals, colorful projections and a conscious commitment to putting on a show come across clear as day. It’s frenetic, to be sure, but it’s also accessible in a way unique to this quartet. […]
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Pony up
Like a lot of local musicians, Steven Battles has grazed the floors of Norman’s Opolis for as long as he can remember. The Pink Pony ringleader has seen countless musicians at the venue, even cutting his teeth as a doorman at one point. But no matter how vital the place has been in the booking […]
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All that jazz
Jeremy Gossett On July 5, many months of work and sacrifice paid off when the first episode of Backstage Jazz hit the airwaves on Norman-based public radio station KGOU-FM 106.3. After the first show aired, Gossett received praise from his new legion of followers via the phone and Internet. “That night, we got about 30 […]
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As good as he once was
While “Good Girl” Carrie Underwood wasn’t quite “Blown Away,” coming in at No. 5, with $31 million, it was Toby Keith who outworked and outearned all of his fellow boot-stompers, raking in a cool $65 million – definitely enough to keep him “Chill-axin’” and out of the “Trailerhood.” No doubt the songwriter’s 18 excruciatingly loud […]
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Huff stuff
New Fumes isn’t technically a local act. However, one gets the feeling this is its home away from home, as the Dallas-based experimental brainchild of Daniel Huffman returns to Opolis this Friday. “I’ve lived all over the metroplex,” Huffman said. “Now I feel like half the time I live in Oklahoma City.”It started in the […]
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Gotta have friends
After her teenaged daughter suffered a car crash and traumatic brain injury, Cathe Fox saw how isolated life in a wheelchair was for the girl. As a result, Fox found other mothers of disabled young adults, and together they started gathering for craft projects, games and conversation. The group soon outgrew the First Baptist Church […]