It feels sometimes like you can’t go a single day without hearing someone decry the new generation of music and complain about how “the kids these days” just don’t understand the classics or rise to the level of the greats.
Well, let me be perfectly clear:
Anyone who ever says that just isn’t paying attention or isn’t looking very hard.
Yes, the current state of the music industry is at a historically low point, and the barriers to entry into the mainstream (whatever that means anymore) feel especially impenetrable and nepotistic, but that says nothing about the talent and stage-storming skill of the young artists carrying the true indie torch.
And Oklahoma City has some of the best examples that you’ll find anywhere.
The next couple weeks are loaded with opportunities to get yourself a crash course in what the city’s ground-level indies are doing across styles, from collaborative art-rock to a hip-hop/R&B/funk blowout and even an alt-rock showcase featuring the heirs to some OKC grunge legends.
And as a bonus, they’ll all be hitting the stage in some truly local indie venues.
Santiago Ramones “Hypothetical” album release w/ Moriah Bailey and Baileyboy – Resonant Head – July 17th
The newest full-length release from OKC’s Santiago Ramones, “Hypothetical,” has been one of the buzziest local releases of the summer, owing largely to its surprising conceptual depth and its rotating cast of cross-stylistic guest appearances from all across the local scene.
Well, if you’ve been curious about how Ramones might pull off a full performance of such a densely packed art-rock work, this might be your one and only chance to find out.
Ramones has assembled a full band, a slate of special guests, and a seriously intriguing lineup alongside hard-driving alt-rockers Baileyboy and experimental harpist – and standout indie songsmith – Moriah Bailey.
Will Ramones pull some surprises from his sleeve? Will he wax intellectual about the storytelling inspirations behind the songs on “Hypothetical?” Will there be a gravitationally epic synth-and-drum free-for-all during “Replacement?”
You’ll have to be at Resonant Head on the 17th to find out.
For tickets and more information, visit resonanthead.com.
House of Wavvez feat. Original Flow & The Wavvez, Nia Mone, Caj, and Alondra Marie – Blue Note – July 19th
If you’re looking to get schooled in what the OKC hip-hop, R&B, and funk scenes have to offer, the inaugural installment of what looks to be an ongoing Blue Note showcase is where you’ll want to be on Saturday, the 19th.
Dubbed “House of Wavvez,” the unstoppable Original Flow & The Wavvez are set to roll out a regular slate of artists spotlighting rap, soul, driving funk, and likely whatever else they want to put eyes and ears to on the historic Blue Note stage.
For this first one, they’re kicking it off with some scene giants, featuring the sensual, celestial soul of Nia Mone, the guitar-shredding, spirit-shaking rap/funk/hard-rock hybrid of Caj, and the rhythmic emotion and heartfelt lyricism of Alondra Marie.
And of course, Flow & The Wavvez themselves will be tearing it up, too, long-hailed (by me) as the most electrifying band on the scene in Oklahoma.
So turn out on the 19th and let the Note know that this should be a regular thing.
For tickets and more information, visit okcbluenote.com.
Sons of The Nixons feat. Sunpillars, Cherry Vance, and Bathtub Fishing – 89th Street – July 23rd
In a true showing of the power and potential of the next generation of rock music, 89th Street is hosting a lineup of hard-hitting indie upstarts that all have something unique in common.
Sunpillars, Cherry Vance, and Bathtub Fishing each boast their own brand of head-banging hard-rock, and each features members who are children of members of OKC grunge legends The Nixons.
Not only will it be an intriguing showcase for the full spectrum of differing rock styles that they’ve each developed, but word on the street is that their dads are planning to take the stage for a short set of Nixons tunes as well.
So if you’ve ever wanted to sing “Sister” at the top of your lungs in a real hometown venue with the hometown heroes that penned it, here’s your chance.
For tickets and more information, visit 89thstreetokc.com.
You can find out about local music and performance happenings in the OKC metro weekly in this music column by Brett Fieldcamp. | Brought to you by True Sky Credit Union.
Brett Fieldcamp is our Arts and Entertainment Editor. He has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for 15+ years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
