This is a sad and tragic loss for local music fans. In years past the event has showcased 100-150 bands, both local and touring. In addition, they held a conference for musicians and music industry professionals with workshops and the ability to get placed in front of a few heavy hitters from the record companies. The event has steadily grown for eight years, and everyone remembers the Flaming Lips show when Wayne Coyne came out into the audience in a “spaceship-bubble.”

After talking to a few local musicians today I get a sense of sadness about losing the opportunity to play DFest. I would say Tulsa has more quality talent to showcase now than in years past, with a much broader spectrum of musical genres. Some musicians feel that “hiatus” is code for “gone for good.” It is a fear that when a festival loses momentum and skips a year, its rare that they can come back with the same force. I hope DFest proves to be the exception to that rule.

Many local promoters use the event to book events in tandem with the festival. Jeff Richardson, of Hardwork Records, was hoping to put on Hardwork Summer alongside DFest. However, he plans to move the event, and still hold it the same weekend as DFest was planned to be.

What does losing DFest mean for the Tulsa music scene? “I think that it reflects badly on Tulsa’s growing music scene as a whole. Tulsa has become an awesome musical/cultural hub for Oklahoma and I think the rest of the country is starting to take notice. I’m afraid people will think that we as an artistic community aren’t taking our growth seriously, therefore our credibility is compromised,” said one local musician. That may be true, but we are nothing if not fighters. If our music scene can flourish as it has over the past year, when we lost a large number of venues for local music, then I think it will continue to burgeon and produce newer and better bands.

Whether it will impact the larger Musical Landscape is yet to be seen. However, losing an event of this caliber will have a negative impact on local bands’ ability to draw in new fans. One thing DFest always did really well was bring in huge bands that everyone would flock to see, and in the process they would see a few local bands and realize that we have something to offer here too. Many bands say playing at DFest was a real jumping off point, an introduction into the world of playing larger shows. It is sad to think about losing DFest forever, but hopefully we don’t have to think that.

So on that note, we’ll miss you DFest, and we’ll see you in 2011.

Fiawna Forte at the Independent Cause Launch Party

Ever wonder what separates good from great? What makes people come back for more? If there’s anyone in the Tulsa music scene right now that has unlocked that secret, it’s Fiawna Forte. Fresh back from her stint at South by Southwest, yes she was one of 23 Oklahoma acts that were in official showcases, Fiawna dishes about her heroes, her love life (ooh la la), and what the future brings for her and her band. Catch her Album release (over 2 years in the making) show at the Marquee on May 14th with Panda Resistance and Bruder!

IC: How long have you been performing?
ff: Pretty much since the doctor swatted my bum. When I was a kid, everywhere I went I usually was pretending to be someone else. My physical being was so engulfed in reality that I escaped with my mind. I guess it stuck. I started playing guitar at 7, sitting in my closet playing for thousands. But I didn’t really “come out of the closet” until I was about 15.

IC: What artists are you listening to right now?

ff: I’ve been exploring the worlds of some classical artists lately. There’s some intense melodies out there. I’ve been into Dr. Dog and Elbow recently as well. Then of course the usuals as in Elvis Costello, Billie Holiday, Bruce, The Who, Tom Waits, Kate Bush, Wilco…the list goes on.

IC: From which female front-women do you draw inspiration?

ff: Well the industry has come a very long way for females. There’s so many influences, I could spend forever on this one question. One woman, however, who broke down alot of walls was Odetta. She’s incredible. Then you have Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Then you have Wanda Jackson who opened the rock n’ roll door for us women. And of course a few who really proved that women can kick it with the guys..Ann and Nancy Wilson, Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde. But for me, one woman who has really proved to stand on her own and run the entire show would be the brilliant Kate Bush.

IC: What is it like to be in a band with your fiance?

Editorial note: Bassist Phillip Hanewinkel and Fiawna are engaged.

ff: It’s the greatest thing on this planet. I can’t even really explain it. It’s just overwhelmingly amazing to be able to fulfill your greatest desires with the person you love more than anything. It brings me such comfort and confidence knowing he’s right there. It really just makes things a lot more lighthearted and fun sharing every moment with your best friend.

IC: What’s the best moment you’ve had on stage?

ff: Probably our first show as a full band. It took a lot to get myself to that point. And I was terrified the whole time that I was making a huge mistake. We got bumped from our scheduled set, so we begged to set up outside on the sidewalk in front of Shades of Brown. I figured no one would show, but as we played more people started crowding around. I eventually looked up at everyone and it was such a great moment. People you would never expect to get along were dancing with each other and just having fun.

IC: What about off-stage (but still band related)?

ff: Well, with the small handfuls of rehearsals we’ve had in the last 2 years as a band, they’re still always a lot of fun. It’s always lovely to be in the middle of a song and look over to discover a sweaty drummer suddenly in nothing but some daisy dukes. (Which belong to me, by the way.) It’s like a magic show. A very, very disturbing magic show. And of course our sloppy renditions of “Glory Days” with me on drums, Lance on Bass, and Phillip and Hank on guitars and vocals. “We get a lot done”, she says with great sarcasm.

IC: What are the next steps for the band?

ff: We’ve got our album release coming up on May 14th at the Marquee with fellow local bands Panda Resistance and Bruder. It’s been over a 2 year process of getting it all together and it’s a relief having it all in the wraps. Then….who knows? Wherever the wind takes us.

IC: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

ff: 10 years? Old…with a few rugrats running around. Ha. I’ll be making music until the day I die…and perhaps after, if I have any say in it. So you can still expect that. If we’re not playing full time be then, then I’ll most likely be selling a lot of material. Who knows? I also have quite a few non profit ideas I’d love to see come to be. It all goes back to that wind thing.

IC: What’s your advice to little rocker girls out there, in Tulsa specifically?

ff: Well..first, never let anyone or anything control what or how you do things. Be true to and trust what comes out of you. Especially the wonderful assortment of men who try to kick ya down. You CAN be just as good. And to not lose confidence. I’ll tell ya from first hand, as a female who plays rock n’ roll it’s extremely hard to gain respect. Any necessary decision you make to improve the band will get warped down the line making others call you a man-eater, and most likely worse. But don’t let it get in your way or stop you. There’s a fair share of dumbasses out there. But also learn to listen to your gut. Don’t feed into the bull that you’ve got to have a bottle of jack in your hand, a hit of coke, a fake british accent, and some skinny jeans to make you rock n’ roll. There’s a hell of a lot more to it than that.

Jeff Richardson, Founder of Hardwork Records

If you’ve been to a local concert in Tulsa in the past five years and thought, ‘what a great lineup, this is so well organized, why aren’t there more shows like this?’ chances are Jeff Richardson had something to do with it. Jeff has been a key factor in developing Tulsa’s music scene for over ten years; whether in his role as front man for 80’s electro-pop band Stevedore, or as the idea man and owner of Hardwork Records, Jeff works to shape and groom some of Tulsa’s best bands. This month Jeff lets the Tulsa Project in on his upcoming projects, what bands he thinks we should watch, and where the local music scene is going.

tTP: Well, first things first, inquiring minds want to know, is Stevedore dead?

Jeff: Stevedore’s not dead but I am not focusing on Stevedore very much right now at all.

tTP: Are you planning on Bringing Stevedore back anytime in the near future?

Jeff: Yes. There is new material that needs to be recorded and done correctly and I want to put out a new record. But, right now the only stuff that we have ready to play live is stuff that we’ve played so many times I just want to throw up. I just don’t want to play it anymore. At least not right now, without having a bunch of new stuff to back it up. So the bottom line is I don’t want Stevedore to play live anymore until we’ve got a bunch of new stuff, with a totally new set ready to go. Right now it’s Molly (Jeff’s sister) and I, and who knows what it’ll look like when we do start playing live again. There are plans, but it’s just been on the back burner. There is a brand new song that we wrote about two months ago, so that’s good, that means there’s progress there, but it’s just slow. It’s an unlikely cover song, so it’s going to be fun. But it’s still a ways off right now because of all the other projects I have going.

tTP: Other projects, such as?

Jeff: Well the big one will be Native Lights. Their new 7” Blackwater just came out. We’re trying to get distribution for that because it’s the first vinyl record that Hardwork Records has put out, and there’s a lot of learning in regard to that. Digital is so easy, its like falling off a bridge it’s so easy, and awesome, and efficient, and great. But the vinyl is awesome in a totally different way. It’s a pain in the ass, and its heavy, and it sucks, but it’s the last artistic medium left for music.

tTP: It definitely says something about the band when they go to the trouble to do a vinyl release.

Jeff: It says something about legitimacy and you can’t have a certain feel without it being on vinyl. You can have great music, but there is an element that you will never have unless it’s on vinyl. It absolutely tells you what the band is all about when they release a record on vinyl, and you as a consumer know that other things that you like will be important to them also. That’s not to say that a bunch of bands don’t put out shitty vinyl, and keep it for a million years. But if it’s a good band and they put out a vinyl release, then you’ve got something special.

tTP: You spoke a bit about your role as Native Lights’ manager/record label. That leads into my next question: what is Hardwork Records and how does a band get on the label?

Jeff: Generally, Hardwork Records has dealt with bands that I do shows with. I like them, and I want to work more with them, and they want to work with me. People like El Paso Hot Button or Callupsie. Even newer friends that I work with, its all just about relationships. People who are easy to work with, you love their music, if all those elements are hit then, man, game on. I’ll do everything I can to make them successful.

tTP: What does being on the label include?

Jeff: It means being put on good shows with kick ass poster art, big promotion, PR with the big local media outlets, and digital distribution. I recommend Blackwatch studios in Norman to most of my bands who have a recording budget. That’s who records Unwed Sailor and Native Lights. I don’t personally do any of the recording. If there’s something I can’t do then I have people I would refer a band to. I always want the best for my bands, and I do my best to get press and exposure for them. There’s not a lot of options as far as management and promotions go in Tulsa, so Hardwork is unique in that respect.

tTP: Is there a process a band needs to go through to get ‘signed’ by Hardwork Records?

Jeff: Just get in touch. Hang out and get added to a bill. The first step, if I’ve never heard of somebody and they’re interested, is to send me a link to a recording, so I can hear what I’m working with. If its something I am interested in, I will pursue it. Generally I’m not too impressed with what I hear, but seeing a band live is a much better measure of their potential. If they don’t have a recording, then inviting me to a live show is a great way to get me interested. Seeing you live, and seeing that you’re doing stuff on your own initiative, I eat that stuff up. Doing what you say you’re going to do, and following through is really important to me.

tTP: Do you have any Hardwork shows coming up?

Jeff: Yes, April 2nd at the Marquee is the tour kickoff show for Native Lights, which will also feature Unwed Sailor. Also, I think Fiawna Forte will be a guest singer on Native Lights’ song “Black Walstreet.” That will kick off the Native Lights/Unwed Sailor tour to some of the Northern states, like New York.

tTP: What’s the most important element of having a successful music scene?

Jeff: People getting off their asses. I don’t know if there’s really much more I can add to that. People getting off their asses in whatever capacity that means, if its going to shows and having a good time, or making shows happen. Obviously you can’t have a very good time at a show that doesn’t exist. So, most importantly, people making shows happen.

tTP: What are your thoughts on Downtown Tulsa’s music scene in general?

Jeff: Well, Soundpony has gotten to where it’s so packed you can’t hardly get in anymore. Which in the small picture, sucks because you can’t see the bands, but in the big picture is a good thing because that means things are happening. Crystal Pistol opened up next door, and Soundpony didn’t even lose any business. That means that things are happening and growing, and more people are going to that area, which is what we want. People have more destinations, theyre not just going to Soundpony, theyre going down Main Street. That might be for the Cains, or Crystal Pistol, or The Marquee. Since the Crystal Pistol expanded that gives a lot more flexibility for shows, which is nice.

tTP: What about the Eclipse?

Jeff: Well that’s true, I guess Eclipse is right on the edge of downtown. I’ve done some shows there and I’ve been really happy with it. The size is good. And I like the fact that he’s doing his club there, and Tom and Angie (organizers of DFest) are in the Electric Circus space. So Tulsa netted an extra club out of that deal, and that’s great. Tom and Angie are remodeling Electric Circus right now, and in the future we can expect more touring bands to hit that spot. Since we’re right in the middle of everybody’s touring route, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be getting more mid-level bands coming through. And that opens opportunities for local bands to get on the bill. March is a big month because of the South by Southwest migration, and we should be seeing our venues fill up with lots of touring acts coming through, so that’s something to look forward to.

tTP: So, what’s your favorite band in Tulsa right now?

Jeff: It will be hard to name just one, but for my top 3…definitely Unwed Sailor. They’re the biggest, most legitimate thing in Tulsa right now, and have been for a long time. Ester Drang is an old favorite, even though they’re not really that active right now, but that may change in the future. As far as newer bands, Daniel(s) has caught my eye recently. I am totally stoked about what he’s doing. I knew him when he was in ATL ATL years ago, and I loved him then, too.

tTP: He’s doing something no one else is doing right now.

Jeff:…which is automatically right down my alley. Its hard for me to get excited about bands that are doing stuff that’s been done so many times. Even though they’re really good at it. That makes it sound like I’m talking crap which I’m not, I am glad they’re there, and I am glad they’re doing what they’re doing but if its not really different sounding then its hard for me to get really, genuinely, excited about it.

tTP: Anybody else that’s really sticking out right now?

Jeff: Fiawna Forte is pretty awesome. The best active bands right now, for me, are Native Lights, Broncho, Fiawna Forte and Unwed Sailor, that’s who I want to promote and be involved with.

tTP: Just for fun, what’s your Favorite Band in general, or Top 3 if that’s easier?

Jeff: I would have to go with Mr. Bungle, Swans and Fugazi.

Read the rest of the March Issue of the Tulsa Project here.

Bart Ford, owner, had an entire shelf dedicated to local music, stocked local artists Louis & Cluck t-shirts, and records for miles. Located on 14th and Harvard, a mere stone’s throw from TU and entertainment district Cherry Street, I think we all took for granted that Under the Mooch would always be there.

Over the time the Mooch was open, it found a warm place in the hearts of Tulsa’s alternative music fans. Bart had in-store shows with some of the country’s budding musicians including Tavo Carbone and many more. The Mooch was also a venue for blossoming avant garde t-shirt company RandR. Always a first stop to put up concert posters, the Mooch was a proverbial hotbed of the music scene here in town.

I have fond memories of spending money at The Mooch, and anytime I was curious about a band or album Bart would do his best to play me a sample, even if he had to go to the band’s myspace page. He would go above and beyond for custom orders, whether it be new vinyl, or an old favorite. Try getting that kind of service at Best Buy!

But Under the Mooch’s closing signifies more than just the loss of an amazing local business. To me it signifies our need to fight for our local culture. The malls are closing in, and its getting harder and harder to find local businesses that deliver good customer service and competitive inventory. The one thing we can do to support our town, and develop our own identity is to think local first. When going out to eat (Elote, Joe Momma’s, Tucci’s, Kilkenny’s), when going to a movie (Circle Cinema), when going shopping (Ida Red, Dwelling Spaces, Kiddlestix, Shoe Gypsy), think…is there a local business that will cater to my needs? If there is, by all means go there first over a big box store. I know I am preaching to the choir to some extent, but Under the Mooch is our loss too. If we fail to support our local businesses, they will close, plain and simple. Don’t take them for granted.

Anyway, here I am.  I am still working on a recap of the La Panther Show Saturday. Should be up this afternoon, I think.

P.S. A new layout is on the way, it wont be this vanilla for long…

Well, I have the answer, but knowing the answer won’t make it happen. There are several factors contributing to why Tulsa can’t be more like Austin or St. Louis. Many of them have to do with a lack of our own local culture. Another, larger problem is a lack of venues in which to showcase said culture. There are a few steadfast venues such as the Soundpony, but in this economy, local businesses have taken the hardest hit. I tried to solve this problem by opening my own venue, The Collective. Sadly, we were victims of bad timing and bad circumstances. Almost a year after our closing, I am ready to start contributing to Tulsa again. This time, however, in a much smaller way.

There is one fallacy in the above paragraph, can you find it? We  DO have our own culture! But, who is talking about it? Who contributes to it? How can you find it? This will be the purpose of this blog. There are several music blogs, such as the lovely Jennifer Chancellor’s Barrelhouse Beat, but I am going to focus on music lesser known. Maybe there are bands that play in Tulsa that you would love, but you don’t know they exist! I have a link to the “Independent Cause Picks” Calendar on the right so you can see when and where independent shows take place.

Feel free to email me about your band, your friend’s, or a band you saw and loved, independentcause@gmail.com