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!

Bearhug, who doesn’t have a Myspace yet, or maybe they’re boycotting, is made up of Tulsa music veterans Brian Voris (Crackerwagon), Tony Delesdernier (Congratulations!, Wighead), Jeff Dipesa (Wighead), and Tyler Hall (Wighead). I haven’t heard much about Bearhug yet, but with this group you can expect crazy, energetic live performances and true musicianship. Expect to hear more about Bearhug later.

Mount Righteous is nine piece band with, get ready: Trombone, Electric Guitar, Trumpet, Drums, Bass Drum, Bells, Vocals, Cymbals and Tuba. All nine members sing, as well. Judging from the videos on their myspace, it is going to be really fun to see them live. They remind me some of, I’m From Barcelona. It seems the lead vocalist wears the bass drum, and plays it as he sings. Awesome! You don’t want to miss this!

See you tonight!

broncho-Insert Coin from Charles Elmore on Vimeo.

Charles Elmore’s video of BRONCHO’s show at Crystal Pistol,  January 16th 2009.

Dead Sea Choir provides a rich sonic-scape filled with keys, flutes, violins, synthesizers, and guitars. Choir is a great descriptor for this band, because it sounds like a choir of instruments coalesces to create a soothing, but somehow unsettling sound. I have never ‘officially’ seen them live, so I am looking forward to it tonight.

Giant Cloud is a folk-indie band with influences ranging from Bob Dylan to The Grateful Dead. If you like Camera Obscura, The Submarines, or The Dirty Projectors, you will enjoy this band. Deliciously sweet male-female vocals console you. But you don’t have to take my word for it…here’s what the band says about themselves, “Impressed with their own perception, they decided to live the life of traveling cantantes, touring the universe inciting dance riots and spreading the gospel of soft/loud/soft/loud rock ‘n’ roll.”

Come out and be a part of your city’s culture! We need you!

Album Cover

People familiar with the Tulsa indie scene would not hesitate to call Native Lights a ‘super-group.’ They are strung together with members from some of the most epic bands this town has birthed. Johnathon Ford of Unwed Sailor, Aaron Hamby of Callupsie (who recently departed the band after this recording), Nathan Price of Vandevander, and Bryce Chambers formerly of Ester Drang. Whew! A collaboration of this caliber can only be facilitated by one, Jeff Richardson of Hardwork Records, and famed front man of Stevedore.

I apologize if it seems like I’m name dropping, but Native Lights is important because of their collaborative nature. Sometimes music is beautiful because it comes together as one piece and gels. In other cases, music is beautiful because you can trace the threads back to their humble beginnings, and see how each thread forms a quilt of sound. With Native Lights, I think we have a case of the latter.

On their debut EP, ‘Blackwater’ Native Lights doesn’t hold back. The title track Blackwater displays a moody yet precise melody carried through with heavily effected guitars and feedback. The vocals sound far away, a droning melancholy chant of “I want to drown in your Blackwater / I want a taste of your Blackwater.” It is easy to hear the contributions of each member, yet they work together seamlessly.

On the second track, “Of All The Things We’ve Made,” we have the chance to be seduced  by a slower, sweeter sound. A low textured vocal line reminds me slightly of The National. The song swells and you hear a sadness well up as the protagonist realizes that what has worked in the past, may not always work in the future–the same old lines may not bring your love back to life. A nostalgic tinge distinguishes this song from the first, and shows some melodic and dynamic range on the part of the band.

If you like this, you may also like: If These Trees Could Talk, Unwed Sailor, Explosions in the Sky

Makes me want to: wear black leather in the rain.

BRONCHO sets up with three mics, 2 electric guitars, 1 electric bass and a drum kit. Their sound is raw, unbridled punk, drawing influences from Iggy Pop, The Ramones and Stiff Little Fingers. After hearing Ryan Lindsey’s solo project, I was surprised by the laissez faire vocals, but it works with the concept of the band. This being their first time playing in Tulsa, it was impressive that they reduced the crowd to a moshing, beer-soaked mass in a mere 20 minute set. There is a myspace page in the works, so you can hear them for yourself soon, and they have another show coming up next month in case you missed it!

Ishi, I must admit, was my favorite band of the night. I didn’t do them justice in my previous review. Ever think a handlebar mustache, a feathered fedora, a vocoder and a cover of ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ could make sense all in the same 30 minutes?Prepare to be surprised. Ishi makes it work, not only that but they work it. The dynamic between the lead vocalists, a fiery headed chanteuse and the previously mentioned Fedora-sporter, is romantic and intriguing. Watching their onstage relationship felt voyeuristic and  gritty, but still innocent and sweet somehow. The subtle harmonies and calm synth parts will sneak up on you, and before you know it you’re breaking out your best 90′s moves. If you get the chance to see Ishi, in their hometown of Dallas, or if they come back to Tulsa, take it. You won’t regret it.

Ptiaradactyl closed out the night in their tighty-whiteys. No, they didn’t bring the papier mache dinosaur heads this time, and I imagine they might be worse for wear after a few of their shows. Ptiaradactyl is the premier avant-garde band in Tulsa right now. With masks, vocal effects, and pedals they produce an electronic-screamo-metal sound. Its worth seeing, even if you don’t get it. The secret: no one gets it, thats the point. I think.

We are throwing a party to ofiicially launch this blog! Here is the info…

For more information email music@tulsaproject.com!

This show is going to be great! I will tell you a little about the bands:

Fiawna Forte–There are literally no words. Fiawna is a whirlwind femme-fatale who will steal your heart (and maybe your drink when you’re not looking). As Fiawna sings, the entire crowd formulates an “I want to date a musician, marry him/her and have babies and a white picket fence” fantasy. Well, see for yourself…

I’ve already done posts on Ghosts and La Panther Happens, so I want to tell you about The Televised. If I had to come up with a close comparison of genres, I have to say pop-punk. But ‘pop-punk’ sets off certain alarms in your head. Don’t be afraid. There are so many more sub-genres involved in what The Televised do. I’m talking singer-songwriter, ska, mariachi…how does it work, you ask? Seamlessly. I don’t know how a magician does his tricks, and frankly, I don’t want to know. I just want to be spellbound. That is what The Televised does, they spellbind you.

Coincidentally, you can catch them tonight at The Soundpony! 409 N. Main. I think they’re the only band on the schedule tonight, so you can savor it.

Thats all for me today, see you tonight and this weekend! Dont forget to check my show calendar for great shows you might not hear about anywhere else…

La Panther Happens–If you’re looking for a 60′s style surf band with a dark side, La Panther is your ticket to poppy hooks and Beach Boy harmonies. Jhohn Casio, formerly of Elliott the Letter Ostrich, and Chris Rusk of Wighead pair their falsetto voices ardently. My favorite lyric is “Im gonna take all my troubles and paint them gold / Then I’ll be he richest man you know.” They haven’t been playing as frequently as their fans would prefer, so tonight’s the night to get your fix!

Barf Makeout–A punky, hardcore funny-fest, Barf Makeout suggests you “Barf Yourself Thin.” A comment on our overindulgent, superficial society, or a diet plan? You decide.

Lizard Police– Remember Only the Bugman? Well, Lizard Police is Mitch Gilliam’s newest project. I haven’t seen them live yet, so expect a full report tomorrow.

I know this post is late notice. Don’t worry if you can’t make it, I will do a recap tomorrow! And there will always be more shows!

PTiaradactyl, BRONCHO and Ishi (Dallas, TX) will be playing and there are a lot of reasons to be excited.

1) Ptiaradactyl. They are a fun, prehistoric take on divas (hence “tiara”), metal and madness. Last time I saw PTiaradactyl, they handed out individually crafted papier mache dinosaur heads to randomly chosen audience members. This brings “art rock” to a whole new level. I am not sure if the heads are still part of the program, but either way you wont be disappointed.

2) Ishi. Hailing from Dallas, this band is a combination of things that come together in a truly original way. There are highly polished synth parts, coupled with organic acoustic guitar parts. Two things that seem to have no business together create a delicate balance between dancey 80′s electro, and heartfelt singer songwriter. It works. The repetitive lyrics push them over into, if not a dancey band, then at least a sway-worthy band.

3) BRONCHO. So new, they don’t even have any recordings posted. We will all have to just be surprised, and with members from Starlights Mints, Unwed Sailor and Native Lights coming together, what else could we be? It is like a local music holy trinity. Word is, BRONCHO won’t resemble any of the members’ other efforts.  Since they are being so mysterious, that only leads me to believe we can expect a whole new sound.  Color me giddy!

See you at that show for sure! Here’s the event.

In other news, big things are in the works here at Independent Cause. Stay tuned to hear big news regarding a Blog Launch Show, and more!