There’s a reason why the best blues musicians from the ’60s and ’70s are still the best blues musicians today: They tend to get better with age. Texas-based guitarist Smokin’ Joe Kubek is a perfect example. His first album to land on the U.S. Blues chart came when he was in his 40s, and he’s […]
years
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Christian music
“I’m still the 15-year-old kid sitting on the side of his bed dreaming that all this stuff would happen, so you make it work,” said Kane, who has a starring role on TNT’s hit series “Leverage,” opposite Timothy Hutton. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. If you really want something, you’ve got […]
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‘Dawn’ of the dread
After watching all his fellows mauled, eaten or drowned, Odysseus resolved to stay at home, thenceforth, with his family in Ithaca. And now the sequel, “Odyssey Dawn: II.” Will it be 20 years before America comes home again? Perhaps we should revise our Constitution so that our soldiers are required to die in wars declared […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Way out West
Years of cattle wrestling and ranchhanding have taken their toll on Jay Rankin, one of the last of the great American cowboys. When he speaks, his lips barely move, so you’ve got to lean in close to hear the stories he tells. He’s spent most of his 70-plus years on the sprawling Selman Ranch in […]
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Fight club
“Basically, there were no rules,” Hoffman said. “I suffered an injury that put me in a coma for a short period of time. I was told I would never be able to fight again.” With fighting still in his blood, he eventually resumed training and took over Western Avenue Boxing Gym, 4416 N. Western. After […]
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What’s up? Docs
“Strangers No More” looks at a K-12 public school in Tel Aviv, where students from 48 countries unite as one. “Children is children. In education, there’s no strangers,” says the principal. “And everyone has a special story. A real complicated story.” She’s not joking. Many of the kids have never set foot in a classroom […]
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Liberty’s Bell
Joann Bell’s children tell a story that seems emblematic of their mother. She was driving her kids to school when she glanced out the window and spotted four preteen boys beating up a younger boy. Bell slammed on the brakes and rushed to the boy’s rescue. Amid the scuffle, one of the boys inadvertently hit […]
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The last Samurai
Not everyone’s comfortable sending out a photo of themselves in a Donald Duck onesie or that Halloween Catwoman costume as a 8-year-old. But this is the situation The Samurai Conquistadors found themselves when they returned from a yearlong hiatus. The jazzy, atmospheric rock quintet from Norman formed nearly four years ago when most of its […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Nondescript knockouts
Nic’s Grill 1201 N. Penn 524-0999 “Nic’s Grill on Penn Ave. and 10th St. They have the best hamburgers in OKC!” —Sara Neely Fielder Owner Justin “Nic” Nicholas has owned this tiny joint for 13 years, where he said he churns out good burgers and fries. Or is it something more that keeps people coming […]
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Crown heights
Oklahoma City’s Wanda Jackson carries a storied past, but she’s not dwelling on it. She’s a legend, an icon, a slice of rock ’n’ roll history, and while those things are well and good, all she’s ever really wanted is a crowd to hear her sing. Nearly two years ago, she was inducted into the […]