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 […]
songwriter
Posted inMusic
Calvinist theory
Photo: Samantha Lamb Album titles can mean anything, really, be it an inside joke, a catchy turn of phrase or nothing in particular. In the case of Norman singer-songwriter John Calvin’s latest EP, Without Wax, the title reveals everything. “The name came from a conversation I had with a very wise acquaintance at a bar […]
Posted inMusic
Cope skills
Photo: Anna Lee It only took one neglected guitar for Oklahoma City singer-songwriter Chelsey Cope to devote herself to music. “My older sister had this weird obsession with Garth Brooks when she was younger. She asked for a guitar to learn how to play, but she was gone all the time. She had a lot […]
Posted inMusic
Forté’s forte
For some musicians, performing is work. For others, it’s just a big party. For Tulsa’s Fiawna Forté, it’s therapy. “I was a very shy child, and had a pretty rough childhood. I buried everything,” she said of her intense performance style. “Onstage, I’m taking every bad thing in my life and throwing it up, mentally […]
Posted inMusic
Parker Millsap and Michael Rose — Palisade
Like velvet laid over gravel, Millsap’s voice plays gruff, jagged and unexpectedly smooth at the same time. He captures the essence of Tom Waits’ vocals better than a 19-year-old singer ever should; fans of Closing Time-era Waits will find lots to like here, albeit more countrified. The opening title track saunters with a saucy strut […]
Posted inMusic
Stretch Marx
He’s sold 30 million albums and written 13 No. 1 Billboard singles. Still, Richard Marx is likely most memorable for his haircut. However, he’s spent the better part of the last three decades forging a humble legacy in pop history as a musician, producer and, most notably, a songwriter. “I’m so excited I still get […]
Posted inMusic
Paul revered
Folk musician Ellis Paul has faced a lot of audiences over his two-decade career. His new foray into children’s music has him facing the toughest one yet. “It’s like painting with primary colors: no subtle shades,” he said. “You’ve got to get their attention quicker, use exciting language. It’s a lot more demanding. I really […]
Posted inMusic
Whittington wit
Texas, meet Italy. Italy, meet Texas. Austin-based singer/ songwriter Daniel Whittington will showcase his tunes at 8 p.m. Saturday at “Norman’s Little Italy,” aka Othello’s, 434 Buchanan in Campus Corner. Touring to support his latest album, “Things Change,” Whittington certainly has lots of practice, having performing since he was 11 in his father’s blues band. […]