Last month’s Live on the Plaza introduced us to tattoo/fine artist Josh Reynolds.
The avid Adult Swim fan and devoted father spoke to us about how painting informed his growth as a popular tattoo artist in Oklahoma City. Don’t forget to make it out to Live on the Plaza this Friday. It should be a barrel and a half of good times.
A special thanks to Ryan Parker for lending us his excellent track, “Feel.”
Oklahoma City-based artist, graphic designer and everyone’s favorite Mule bartender Jason Pawley hopped in the van at last week’s Live on the Plaza to discuss his art and striving to be a full-time artist.
Make sure to come out this Friday for another great Live on the Plaza.
OKC-based rapper aDDLib joined the list of impressive hip hop acts that have performed inside of the Spy Van.
His crew slowed things down and performed a sentimental tune complete with beats and backup singers.
Check out some stills after the jump.
Our van doesn’t break down often, but when it does then it does it in style.
Right as Chelsey Cope and company started her Spy Van performance, our fearless driver Ferris O’Brien let out an audible groan as the van halted in the middle of the road.
“Hang on,” he said.
But with a quick push, the van settled in a post office parking lot and the festivities began.
Cope invited her friends Alex Coleman and Alberto Roubert to fill the spaces of her heartfelt rendition of “Journey Down St. Vincent.”
We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Check out some stills after the jump…
We wouldn’t be surprised if Colin Nance dreams in zeros and ones.
Nance is a mainstay in the Okie electronic band The Gentle Art of Floating and his recent solo projects are like a one-man band M83.
So, it didn’t come as a surprise when Nance hopped into the Spy Van with an iPad and a boombox in tow.
The combination of cassette tape and his friend Pilar Pueyo made for one of the most inventive sessions we’ve had to date.
Check out some stills from the shoot after the jump…
Tyson Meade doesn’t write songs.
He writes postcards.
We’re not saying that because Meade spends most of his time pursuing music adventures in Asia. It’s because his songs capture a time and place. Meade’s lyrics tell stories like an old, dusty postcard message would. They have a rambling start, descriptions that make you wish you were there and they finish with a warm goodbye.
We felt lucky to catch Meade in Oklahoma and have him share two songs with us. It’s not often that he makes trips to the U.S. and when he does it’s usually for not very long.
The Bartlesville-native singer/songwriter not only lent us his songs but also his stories. He talked about falling in love with China and the new album he’s working on with students throughout Shanghai. Indie director He remembered working with Spike Jonze on the director’s first music video. Meade has lived a very rock and roll lifestyle.
“Some people have acid reflux,” he said in the van. “I have acid flashbacks.”
Sounds like a story fit for a postcard.
Be sure to check out Meade in Tulsa this week. He’s performing a show at Dwelling Spaces on Thursday.
Also, Meade has a Kickstarter. Help him make more tunes like these.
Check out some stills after the jump.
It’s unfair to call JD McPherson a blast from the past.
He’s more of a force to be reckoned with in the present.
Exhibit A: The Broken Arrow schoolteacher turned rockabilly frontman has been steadily building enthusiasm for his debut album “Signs and Signifiers” for about two years. The album is phenomenal and has enough rock to fill the Grand Canyon.
We discovered that first hand in the van when McPherson broke into a Morrissey cover and a Ike Turner cover after giving a blistering performance of “Signs and Signifiers” closing track “Scandalous.”
It comes as no surprise McPherson is set to perform as the Wednesday night musical guest on Conan this week. Good thing we caught him before a concert at VZD’s because he’s going to be pretty hard to pin down with as he tours throughout the U.S. this summer.
Who else thinks this guy has a bright future in store?
Check out some photos after the jump.
THE VDUB SESSIONS 