It was one other unbelievable weekend of music in Medication Park over the Independence Day vacation. With an electrical fierceness from the Most important Stage and the eclectic cornucopia of sounds from the aspect phases, a stroll within the park meant you bought a full dose of the ninth Annual Rock within the Park Music Competition.
Occasion coordinator Rodney Whaley was happy as punch with its kickoff. The evening’s double-dose of rock featured Echo 21 and the nearer, One other Pink within the Floyd. He stated Hitchin’ Submit Park was electrified, or extra like “electrifried” by the evening’s performances’ finish.
“Echo 21 wowed everybody,” he stated.
Underneath the tree-canopied viewers and performers, with lasers lights, smoke machines and no mirrors, One other Pink within the Floyd discovered its approach to the “Darkish Facet of the Moon” and again over a ferociously genuine three hour set. Whaley stated it was above and past final yr’s already known as historic, standing room solely set on the fest.
All through the city on Saturday and Sunday, the sponsored phases at Santa’s Snack Shack at Bathtub Lake and Good Ice/American Legends Tattoo Stage offered music from midday till evening. From the Lightfoot Household Singers close to the swimming space to Brad Good, Richard Clift Jr., Cade Roth and so many extra close to the hearth station, music crammed the air.
Whaley credited the companies for seeing the potential throughout the aspect stage inauguration on the Roots Ball in Might. They took it upon themselves to make it occur and to see the potential to create that vibe from South By Southwest in Austin about 25 years in the past. That’s what Whaley needed and hopes to see develop and flourish with the Blues Ball to shut out the summer time season.
At all times regular on the soundboard, Jim McLinden saved the system operating to perfection by the subsequent two full days of performances on the Most important Stage. Backstage, the interplay between a mingling of the band members of the next acts offered perception into the familial connection between musicians.
Johnny Mack (Jernigan) opened his acoustic efficiency with moments as electrical as any amp-plugged sonics. It must be with RDO Smokewagon to comply with. After exploding onto Medication Park stage to open the Roots Ball, Ryan Oldham and firm proceed to construct their status by memorable performances that go away a mark.
With the Wight Lighters closing out the evening, together with the 9:30 p.m. fireworks present intermission, it was as much as Gannon Fremin & CCRev to spark their very own explosives beforehand. These younger guys are a Southwest Oklahoma purple grime rock and roll panzer division. Sufficient so, Whaley stated they have been invited again for one more fiery set at 5 p.m. Then they headed over for a 4th of July live performance at Lake Lawtonka’s Schoolhouse Slough.
Drummer Tyler McCartney stated that is the payoff from the reside music shutdown over the pandemic. It was the right tribute for an aspiring rock god.
“I’m loving taking part in music,” he stated. “It in all probability makes it extra particular every time I get on stage.”
And that’s what Sunday was about with a pair of tribute acts to a pair of rock and roll deities. Even when you didn’t make it there in particular person, there’s a variety of Fb reside video from the day’s performances.
Louisiana’s spicy contribution to the Elvis-universe is Jelvis. As video from his efficiency confirmed, he got here to rock, to roll and to depart all of it on the market to kick off the day’s music with “The King,” child.
The grand finale introduced Subsequent Halen to the stage. Following the Van Halen (and never Hagar) mannequin of this indelible Eighties rock and roll machine, the band put out and shouted out loud sufficient everybody heard “Jamie’s Cryin.’” And at its shut, you could be positive there was an “Eruption” from the viewers.
You possibly can rock and you may roll all you need. However whenever you wish to do it proper, do it in Medication Park.
It’s been six years.
Six very lengthy years.
However when the primary new track from Allusion comes out like ”Dropping Out” has, you perceive why they did. Right here’s a sneak preview: https://www.facebook.com/allusionokla/posts/1966549743498016.
For six years, the band’s 2015 EP, “Land of Sleep” has remained in slot two of my Honda’s multi-disc CD participant. For six years, my ear has come again to crave it a minimum of weekly and, for a lot of weeks at a time, solely. All I can say is, “It’s about time.” I may also say, “Man, did that repay.”
They took the time to hone and refine their strengths into the fullest potential on this over-5-minute tonal wonderland. Opening with the sound of rainfall and Tyler Farmer’s hypnotically spiraling guitar, the fuzzy pummel of Pete Skulski’s bass line units a stage. It’s right here the place singer Seth Andrus takes his stage with vocals carrying nuance and unbridled help of the lyric’s level. “If I might solely discover the reality, I’d disguise it from you …” This hook is masterful in execution.
I’ve heard snips of snares and different bits of the remainder of the recording throughout numerous phases over the previous yr. Produced by fellow band/mix member Brandon Cramer at 1121 Recordings in Lawton and blended/mastered by Mychal Soto at Oklahoma Metropolis’s Slamnasium, there’s nothing produced as clear as this since ”WiseSpoken III” by Takeez at Fyu-Chur Recordings. They every punch otherwise however no much less powerfully.
I’ll be hanging with these guys this weekend to listen to the remainder of the gathering, discover out its title and torment them for insights into the songs, the recording course of and in surviving steadily as a band with out the rushed tempo of their youth. You’ll get the news in subsequent week’s version.
Appears to be like like I’ll have a recent CD to log into the ol’ multi-disc participant within the automobile actual quickly.
Though the ”As we speak’s Greatest Soundemonium!” radio present isn’t any extra, our social media presence stays so you may sustain with what’s occurring and what’s subsequent.
Keep in mind that all #VirtualSoundemoniumFest performances from the COVID-19 shutdown are archived on the column/radio present’s Fb web page: https://www.facebook.com/steveoandthescribe/.
And, hey, if in case you have a track you need us to take a look at, e-mail us: [email protected].
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Soundemonium Musaic Lawton music archive homepage: Scott Rains — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPw__GedGPOUD-wROFcuZ8w.
