Over the next couple of weeks, we will be counting down the Top 100 Oklahoma Albums of the 2000s. Every weekday, we will unveil another ten Oklahoma albums that helped shape the way Oklahoma music is heard by the outside world.
We asked three dozen musicians, fans and journalists for their opinions on the top albums of the past decade. With their guidance and our own opinions, we compiled what we hope is a decent and fair list.
Hopefully, there’s a good bit of reflection, discovery and enjoyment when listening to these albums through Lala (when available). Enjoy!
“Like the winter bite that spawned it, “Become My Army” is dark and icy throughout, an impressive first outing from an Engine build that could break down beautifully with future wrenching.” - Joe Wertz (Oklahoma Gazette)
Doors open and the sale and show starts at 1:00 p.m. Admission is free. The bar will be open for those 21 years of age and older. Items for sale at past events have included records, clothing, artwork, cupcakes, buttons, musical instruments, and other assorted items.
There are thirteen categories to vote for in this year’s edition. You can vote once a day online at tulsaworld.com/spotniks. Voting ends on Friday, October 5 at midnight.
The Spot Music Awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 20 at Cain’s Ballroom. Admission is $8. Performing will be Susan Herndon, South 40, P.D.A., Dustin Pittsley Band, 1 G.O.P., Down for Five, Callupsie, Thomas Martinez and Citizen Mundi. The after party will feature a live performance by Spot Music Awards Hall of Fame inductees Rewake.
Although Day 2 of DFest 2007 lacked a headliner as exciting as The Flaming Lips (all due respect to Leon Russell), most venues were packed to the gills with fans waiting to get in.
The effects of Day 1 really hampered any of our ability to hit the conference part of Day 2. But, I was able to sneak out of our room in time to see fans swarming Wayne Coyne’s every move.
As the sun went down, John Moreland & the Black Gold Band kicked off the festival’s second day with loud, thunderous country-twinged rock. Although the band openly admitted not knowing why they were playing the Main Stage, 150+ on-lookers enjoyed every minute. In addition to writing some fantastic songs, the band was also one of the tightest-sounding bands at DFest.
Before I move onto the next set of bands, let me loathe a bit about the venue Tsunami Sushi. While I’m sure the venue is useful for singer/songwriters that provide only good background music, it was an awful venue for the bands picked to play there (even if the sushi was great). Rows upon rows of tables were too close to the stage and gave little-to-no room for any movement. On top of that, the venue’s house music was playing throughout every musician’s set. It just wasn’t the best place for some of the bands and, even so, some special accommodations should have been made for this weekend.
Ladies Love Ryan Lindsey. This was proven true as Ryan’s female fans bombarded him for photographs after his set was over. A good-sized crowd gathered up front for Ryan’s super-poppy collection of songs, while a handful of fans were left waiting just to get into the venue.
Here’s a clip of Ryan Lindsey performing “My Place in the Hills” at DFest, shot by Cameron Buchholtz.
Crocodile may be Oklahoma’s husband and wife equivalent of Mates of State. Derek & Raechel Brown combine their pop sensibilities to front this energetic synth-pop-rock band. The band got the capacity crowd’s heads moving and hips shaking.
Before Crocodile’s set, a man dressed in full-track-star attire (tanktop, short shorts, tennis shoes, headband) let it be known that he was there for El Paso Hot Button. When an older man asked him to describe EPHB, the afro-headed track star blurted out, “He’s a one-man orgasm!” Maybe that’s what Mickey Reece’s pornstache was about — he wanted to rock our collective panties off (and he did). EPHB’s distorted guitar roared through Tsunami Sushi, as cooks looked around with bug eyes and dozens of fans in line outside yearned to come inside. Near the end of his set, a majority of the 164-capacity crowd was up front, clapping in unison.
I saw a portion of Elliot the Letter Ostrich’s set, which combined the goodness of Elvis with new wave sound of The Cars. The hometown favorites helped finish off a good night for the crowd of 120+ at The Continental Club.
Making sure not to miss an act I’ve heard so much about, I went to check out P.D.A. at the humid First Street Lofts Lounge — and I’m glad I did. P.D.A. has a great stage presence and knows how to work the crowd. It’s crazy to see anyone keep a crowd of 125+ constantly moving / bouncing / white boy dancing as he did. If you wanted to end DFest with an absolute party, P.D.A.’s show was the show to see.
Thousands of musicians and fans converge on downtown Tulsa this weekend for the seventh (and strongest) edition of DFest.
Yours truly will be there with the missus. I expect to see many of your faces there as well. (Wristbands are only $20!)
For those of you that cannot make it, we hope to provide you a glimpse into the world of DFest. Throughout the weekend and into next week, we plan on bringing you recaps on the conference and the festival, Q&As and pictures.
To wet your appetite, here’s a boatload of free mp3s from DFest 2007 artists:
Matt Elliott of the Tulsa World wrote a superb article on original music in Tulsa last week:
Downtown underground
Bands, clubs and promoters create a vibrant, original music scene
By MATT ELLIOTT World Scene Writer
5/27/2007
Leslie Hall of Leslie and the Lys sprang onto the Mooch and Burn’s stage clad in gold Spandex pants as slick as her Crisco rhymes, backed by a keytar player and turn-table girl, both dressed up like extras from “Logan’s Run.”
The audience of about 50 sweaty dudes and their girls, fueled by Budweiser and cigarettes, crowded the stage as the Ames, Iowa, gem-sweater fan spat her nimble suburban shopping mall raps, leaning wide-eyed into the crowd with her blond hair on her shoulders.
“Shoot them in the brains if you want to live!,” she shouted on her song, “Zombie Killer,” looking as if she had been dressed by Elvis and Ziggy Stardust’s tailors, tailors who maybe had drunk a little too much of Ken Kesey’s Kool-Aid.
Leslie and the Lys has become an Internet phenomenon this year, earning her a spot on MTV’s “TRL” with her bizarre synth/rap songs and traveling gem-sweater museum.
Where she performed, the Mooch and Burn, at 222 N. Main St., is part of a growing underground music scene exclusive to a few local venues, all located within feet of each other. Unique underground local and national bands jam that venue and the Soundpony up the street, and when that’s paired with the myriad of shows each week at Cain’s Ballroom, this little stretch of Main Street is jumping.
