Photo by Jeremy Charles

Last night marked the last show for one of Tulsa’s longest living bands, Wighead. Founding member Chris Rusk is moving to

Chris Rusk and Evan Inman-Butts

New York City, and leaving his band of quirky musical miscreants behind. Rusk and band co-founder Evan Inman-Butts started Wighead when they were 14 years old. By my estimates thats about 11 years of rock’n'rolling together. In the world of musical collaborations, 11 years is nothing to sneeze at. The band has had many incarnations and several members can say they shared the name Wighead.

One of the hallmarks of a Wighead show has always been fun. Props, confetti, spaghetti, costumes, and bullhorns; this band has never shied away from spectacle. The audience never knows what to expect from a Wighead show, and in fact, they may leave covered in glitter. It’s certain that Tulsa will miss it’s quirk-rock quartet, but hopefully fellow remaining members will find other ways to express their musical creativity. Their last show was a fun reminder of why they will be missed. Rusk and Inman-Butts serenaded the audience with the first song they ever wrote together, Banana Flavored Apple Pie. It was a nice way for the band to come full circle. Good luck to Chris as he embarks on the Big Apple, and good luck to all the other members of Wighead. You will not be soon forgotten!

This is Fiawna’s first video release off her new album Transitus. Directed by Sterlin Harjo.

Sadly, as with many Tulsa bands that have potential, they felt they needed to move to a bigger city to really get noticed on the national stage (See also: Black Swan, Cheyenne, and Aqueduct). Not all the band’s members could commit to a move, so that was the unofficial end of Ester Drang. Jeff Shoop and James McCallister went on to play on Sufjan Stephen’s album Illinoise, and McCallister was a frequent stand in for Pedro the Lion.

Well, good news is afoot for Tulsa fans of Ester Drang. The band will be reuniting for one show coming up this summer. Ester Drang will play their first show under that name since 2007. There are no official plans for the band to reunite for good, but they are playing the FreeTulsa festival on July 30th and 31st. It’s a great opportunity for them to play some old favorites, remind their old fans of why they loved them so much, and introduce their music to a whole new generation of Tulsa music fans.

Stay tuned to www.okkle.com for an official schedule of the bands playing FreeTulsa, and make sure you catch Ester Drang while you’re there, you won’t be sorry.

Most of the action will be on Sunday, April 25th. They are closing down Main street, and there will be several different stages to float around to. The Tulsa bands booked on the bill really showcase Tulsa’s talent, and give broad picture of what our little town has to offer. Here’s a list of Tulsa bands you can catch in Norman this weekend:

• Dead Sea Choir
• Alex and the Anders
• Tony Romanello and the Black Jackets
• Unwed Sailor (playing right  before amazing OKC band The Non)
• Fiawna Forte
• Cecada
• Red Alert
• Scales of Motion

The Norman Music Festival is a great chance to get that big festival feel without having to drive too far, or fly to the coast. A nice part is almost all of the bands are native to Oklahoma. It really makes my heart swell knowing that our little red state can produce this much great talent and beautiful music. I haven’t even told you the best part yet. IT’S FREE!

It should be a toe-tappin’, PBR swillin’ good time!

[Editorial Note: In the first version of this post, I accidentally left out some of the bands who played at NMF. My deepest apologies for this oversight. I have added them here. If I have left anyone else out, please bring it to my attention. Thank you, and I will try no to let this happen again.]

If I were to create a list of the top ten most rockin’ instruments, guitar, bass, and drums are shoe ins. Toss in keyboards and maybe a harmonica for good measure. Would xylophones, glockenspiels or melodicas make the cut? I doubt it. These instruments are definitely rare among most rock bands, but they are what make …And There Stand Empires stand out from the crowd.

(By the way, in case you’re about to google, “what is a melodica?” I’ll fill you in; it’s a mini keyboard with a mouthpiece, also called a “blow organ.” The sound is similar to a bag-pipe or harmonica. They are really cute and awesome, in case that was in question.)

When playing live they set up a large metal xylophone and a glockenspiel with a keyboard, drums, bass and guitar. There are no vocals in their music, which definitely gives it a more modern and progressive rock feel. However, their melodies are based less on swells and builds and more on snappier jazz-type rhythms.

This foursome has incorporated some classic orchestral instruments into their style, which in my opinion makes it all the more rocking. Because if you can make a glockenspiel rock, what can’t you do?

Be sure to catch ATSE at the Marquee April 2nd opening up for Unwed Sailor and Native Lights!

Samantha Crain and The Midnight Shivers– Samantha has gained quite a bit of notoriety around the country within the Indie/Gospel revival movement, but for some reason Tulsa hasn’t gotten privy to her. Samantha’s song-writing will transport you to another era, a black and white picture of a (sometimes)  romanticized South. Full of wistful narratives and dusty spirituals, Samantha’s got the right idea. Her albums are available on iTunes. Mixtape Pick: Rising Sun

Fiawna Forte– Ok, well, maybe you have heard of her. The Gospel of Fiawna has traveled far and wide. She played our blog launch show on the 6th, and the pictures of her alone are enough to make you swoon. Fiawna and her band have found the holy grail: chemistry, dynamics, charisma, and a lead singer you want to take home to mom–but only if your mom is into Janis Joplin and Jack Daniels. Mixtape Pick: I’d Rather Die

Pillotalk– Broken Arrow crooners Seth Harcrow, Nikolai Datsko, and David Warwick certainly are smooth. With complicated guitar harmonics, acoustic/electric pairing and cymbal heavy drum beats, they make very difficult musical endeavors look, and sound easy. Comparisons to Snow Patrol and Iron & Wine are easy to draw. Mixtape Pick: Away With Me

Low Litas–Mandii Larsen is responsible for Low Litas, which is remarkable in itself. To think that one person could create all the sounds you hear in Low Litas music is mind-blowing. I hear something new every time I listen. At the core, Low Litas is a girl singing about love and loss. Piled on are heavy vocal effects, sound effects, harmonicas, guitars and a number of other things. Listening to Low Litas is like finding someone else’s love letters. As you uncrumple the music, you begin to live vicariously through the protagonist. She lets you in, and you root for her. Mixtape Pick: Closer, but No Good For You is pure poetry.

The Lava Children–Featured on NPR last lear, The Lava Children are one of Tulsa’s best kept secrets. They don’t play often, but their Self Titled EP is available on iTunes. If you purchase this EP, you can expect to hear Joanna Newsom-esque vocals, heavy basses and lots of electro elements. The sound is layered and whimsical. The Lava Children manage to combine a childlike fairy tale fantasy with a heavy alternative rock sensibility.  Mixtape pick: I am a Pony

If you’re looking for a romantic trip to Swoonsville check out Leah Hugon tonight at Ida Red. (3336 S. Peoria Ave.) 7pm.

With vocals akin to Neko Case, soulful and deep, Leah’s music is decadent. Acoustic guitars accompany the gentle but sure siren. On her recordings, there are also electric guitars and basses, but I don’t know if tonight is an acoustic set or not. Either way Leah’s voice will mesmerize you.

She is playing with an act dubbed simply Anne! At this point I haven’t been able to gather any information about Anne!, but maybe her elusive behavior adds to her charm. I will update you fully, or you could just come out to the show and see her for yourself!

Ida Red Boutique is an offshoot from The Cains. They sell Cain’s gear as well as local art, jewelry, soda pop and candy! In an effort to do more local shows, Ida Red was created to give local musicians a venue that is all ages. It is a great place to enjoy local music that you might not see at some of the more mature venues (bars). We love Ida Red here at IC, and we want you to love it too!  Even if you just stop in for a Brambleberry Soda, all the shows are free!

Keep on rockin’ Tulsa!

Wighead’s new release, due out in a few weeks, is a refreshing and fun new direction for the band. It’s safe to say that Wighead has matured over the past few years, and Frontage is great evidence of that. The band members are seasoned veterans of the Tulsa music scene, having weathered many incarnations, but Chris Rusk and Evan Inman-Butts’ are the main song-writing machine for this lineup. With the introduction of new instruments including the slide whistle, the ukelele, the banjo and trumpet, the band really goes all out on this release.

Track 1: William and Edward Frontage R.I. P. — Harmonies and Organs start out the record, an homage to the record’s fictional namesakes. This track provides a serious intro which couples well with the bubble-gum sensibilities of the next track.

Track 2: Never Go Home — This track is the gem of Side A. The ukelele blindsides you with a cheerful and hooky melody. Claps and backing “oohs” accompany “If you ever feel alone / like the darkness, it can’t be over thrown / Just take my hand in yours we’ll go away.”

Track 3: Madrid — It is difficult to make a slide whistle relevant, but these boys pull it off. With the help of Lindsey Bolliger on backing vocals, this song tells the tale of a sailor who “wrote his future in invisible ink.” The banjo adds a delicacy to the song that couldn’t have been achieved with the acoustic guitar.

Track 4: Bad Idea – Bad Idea is a quirky story of a man who’s fallen in love with the ocean. “I guess its a bad idea to fall in love with a body of water / but its hard cause it’s so big and it sparkles in the sunshine.” The introduction of the cello and ukelele make this star-crossed love song a legitimate reality. This song is a great example of Wighead’s ability to merge fantasy and reality.

Overall, the record is deeply enjoyable. It displays a move into new territory for Wighead, away from a less serious, younger band to a more mature and fleshed-out ensemble. The record will be officially released February 20th, and you will be able to purchase it at Dwelling Spaces, or on WigheadCentral.com.

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.

The crowd was more thinned out when Bearhug went on, but they certainly amplified the energy level of the audience. With song titles like “Get Down On Your Knees and Tell me You Love Me” and “Clenched Fists,” Bearhug presents a macho-rock sensibility. If you’re a fan of Black Flag, or Minor Threat, you’ll appreciate Bearhug’s work. Thick guitar riffs paired with tinny drums, this is the kind of music you listen after a bad day when you just want to break faces.

Mount Righteous packed out the bar, not only with their fans but with themselves! I mentioned in my last post that they’re a nine piece ensemble. Their sound is sensory overload in the best possible way, you don’t know whether you’re at half time during a Big 12 Game, or enjoying a symphony, or even at a dance club. I think its a happy marriage between all those things. They take the best elements of big band/marching band music and incorporate it with indie melodies and harmonizing vocals. It is really a sight to behold. The floor was so crowded, and being vertically challenged myself, I could only see the lead singer, his bass drum, and the top of the white tuba. Still, they created a fabric of sound that’s hard to resist dancing to. My one suggestion to Mount Righteous: next time you come to Tulsa, come to a bigger venue!