The fifteenth Annual Drugs Park Blues Ball completed out the 2021 summer season pageant season with a stomp and a holler.
With three days of music all through the Cobblestone Group, occasion coordinator Rodney Whaley stated it was a fruition to the imaginative and prescient he’d had for the neighborhood to develop into a protected harbor for stay musicians to do their factor all through city.
In fact the Fundamental Stage in Hitchin’ Publish Park was the principle occasion hotbed. He famous that spirit resonated with native companies sponsoring an array of Southwest Oklahoma musicians by way of the weekend.
From The Therapeutic Clinic the place Moe Mitchell made his mark Saturday afternoon, to the Santa’s Snack Shack Stage the place Gordon Lightfoot’s nephew Joshua entertained as a one-man band and all factors between, music was within the air.
The American Legends Tattoo stage made its everlasting mark with a powerhouse late-Saturday afternoon set by the rising Kat Pratt Band. Whaley stated enterprise proprietor Mike Evans has invested in making this new stage a gradual residence to stay leisure all through the pageant season with excessive hopes for subsequent 12 months.
The Drunken Goose Stage at Small Mountain Road Tacos provided a double-shot of fine stuff Saturday with Renee Nunley opening for the Brothers DuPree. Nunley is certainly worthy of the thrill she’s been receiving since hitting the stay music circuit round right here. She places her soul and spirit into every music and, regardless of using the time period, really does have the voice of an angel.
However, man, there’s one thing about that Fundamental Stage. When Cecil Grey and his bandmates opened up into some Jimmie Reed tunes throughout their Saturday afternoon set, the wheels had been in movement. His genuine blues tones resonating from his Fender Stratocaster minimize by way of the air like lasers might solely dare dream.
Whaley stated plans are underway to start work on the everlasting stage within the park. Making the most of the lay of the land, the creek and the cover above, the brand new stage will provide an amphitheater expertise for the viewers and performers.
Since shifting the Fundamental Stage to Hitchin’ Publish Park, performers and annual attendees provided reward on the reduction discovered from being guarded considerably from that infamous August/September solar and warmth to create a near-perfect expertise.
Because the man who has to place all this collectively and maintain issues shifting, Whaley stated this couldn’t have been a greater occasion. He credit all from the Drugs Park Financial Improvement Authority, volunteers, the musicians and the trustworthy viewers who make it occur.
And, he stated, you’ll be able to wager subsequent 12 months will likely be even larger and higher.
In final week’s column, we caught up with the ever creating Bannister Chaava and what went into his newest album, “Realizing, Understanding & Different Myths.”
I didn’t have house to evaluate it final week. With one thing this authentic and artistic, I’m making the house this week.
About that album, it’s fairly nice. No lies. Chaava is exploring his inventive, esoteric Beatles-meets-Flaming Lips vibes with the opener, “The Forces.” It’s rapidly turning into one in every of my favourite songs of the 12 months.
Following up with the jazz-inflected great thing about “Don’t Assume Too A lot About It,” it’s a reminder of what number of methods you’ll be able to fall in love with this man’s musical journey.
A sublime acoustic samba leads into “Saboteur,” appearing like a whispering surprise of musical magic. Chaava has an angelic voice that dances amongst notes with deft, gentle steps. It leads into the morning candy 26 second interlude of “Supergüd.” It’s a pleasant introduction to the later, full-length “Supergüd II.”
Sparse acoustic guitar and vocals lay out the shoreline to “Nice Blue Coast” because the mellow drum and bass provide a low hum background of tones as substitute to the mountains lining it you visualize whereas listening. It takes you on that psychological street journey you typically want.
A cool beat with some peppy hi-hat joined with piano melody leads into Chaava’s clear-sited reminiscence of “A Yr within the Fog.” “This 12 months’s been a awful daydream” could possibly be one of the best descriptive lyric of the previous 12 months or extra.
Following this journey of introspection and atmosphere, Chaava sends the album out on a high-note with a rockin’ quantity that lives as much as its title, “Stuff to Discuss About.” With organ whirls beneath the refrain it shakes into Foo Fighters territory with a scorching lead by the ever-surprising younger expertise.
Becoming a member of Chaava on his musical journey is without doubt one of the greatest tickets I’ve punched up to now few years. I hope you hop in and take the journey with me, he’s particular.
You’ll be able to try Bannister Chaava’s newest album, “Realizing, Understanding & Different Myths” at: https://bannisterchaava.bandcamp.com/album/knowing-understanding-other-myths. You too can discover his different works on his homepage.
Subsequent week, I’ll be shining a highlight on the Sept. 17 Straight Outta Lawton Music Video Pageant on the Vaska Theatre, 1902 NW Ferris. At the moment’s the final day to get your entry in for the occasion.
I’ve already submitted a video from a venture a number of years again and I do know Takeez, Knuckles and Plot Armor have added their clips to the roster.
Every artist accepted could have the chance to introduce their video and maintain a brief Q&A with the viewers after if desired. Prizes will likely be given for better of classes.
Admission to the occasion is a donation in any quantity of your selecting to the Great580, a neighborhood group doing nice issues locally.
Artists have till midnight to submit their movies to: [email protected].
Though the ”At the moment’s Finest Soundemonium!” radio present is not any extra, our social media presence stays so you’ll be able to 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, when you’ve got a music you need us to take a look at, electronic mail us: [email protected].
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