When something’s simple, it’s usually because someone worked hard to make it that way.
That’s precisely why we think OK Sweetheart deserves attention.
Erin Austin isn’t living in Tulsa anymore, but she still plays in Oklahoma under the moniker OK Sweetheart during her active tour schedule and makes sweet ’60s-inspired pop songs sound as easy as Sunday morning.
If you are in Norman this week and have the means then we highly suggest you visit OK Sweetheart and Brine Webb performing at The Opolis.
It can be a lot of work getting to a show, but you should know OK Sweetheart will make it easy on you.
Check out some photos from the shoot after the jump…
Edmond-based artist Tiffany Edwards hopped into a green 1977 Vanagon and shared her artwork with the VDub crew.
The original music you hear is by Derek Knowlton of The Pretty Black Chains.
Here’s the Vimeo version of this video if you are into that sort of thing.
You’re not going to find a hotter band in this country.
But that’s mostly because Dallas-based rockers Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights decided to play in OKC in the midst of the hottest summer in the our planet’s history.
However, JTNL is toasty warm in other ways too.
We mean career wise.
The band recently got off of a blistering tour with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and the Texans are working on a Fall tour.
The VDub crew was lucky enough to grab JTNL just long enough for the band to bust out a brand new unreleased tune. As soon as the song was done, everyone bolted out of the van.
It wasn’t because of Ferris’ driving, it was because the van become an inferno.
If you don’t believe how hot it was, watch closely because throughout the new episode and you’ll see beads of sweat dripping off of drummer Jordan Cain.
BTW, Jordan has a sweet knuckle tat.
He was hanging out in the top of the camper portion of the van.
We told you this band was hot.
Get used to it.
Here’s the Vimeo link if you are a big shot fancy pants video person.
After Ben Kilgore finished his set at the Mustache Bash on Wednesday night, a women in the crowd asked me who had just performed.
(I get this question a lot because of how my jeans fit and because I’m holding a camera at every concert ever.)
When I answered with the name Ben Kilgore, the new fan paused and said, “As soon as I heard his voice, I had to sit down and listen.”
I’m sure this had everything to do with the Tulsa-based singer’s commanding voice.
It’s unreal.
But I was most surprised by Kilgore’s thoughtfulness.
I approached him about performing a quick song in the Spy Wagon, and it seemed like his world stopped for a minute.
He got quiet, as if the songs he knew were battling for position in his head and heart.
I’m glad he picked Otis Redding’s “These Arms of Mine.”
Not only was it a highlight of his set, but also Kanye West/Jay-Z’s track “Otis” is fresh in my mind.
Oddly enough, you can hear one of Kanye’s earliest songs playing in the background near the end of this song.
No matter who’s covering Redding, you’re in for a treat.
Oklahoma City-based artist Kris Kanaly hopped into the Spy Van and crafted an original piece of art during Live on the Plaza last month.
Kanaly has a really interesting family history. His family owned an art gallery for almost 100 years.
And all of that happened in Oklahoma (it unfortunately closed last year).
We met up with Kanaly inside DNA Gallery and had Derek and Kurt of The Pretty Black Chains help out with some original music for an interview. Kanlay talked about his interest in street art and growing up with skater culture.
If you aren’t doing anything Friday then come out to the latest Live on the Plaza for a lot of free music and fun.
Update:
Kris Kanaly is responsible for painting the outside of Wayne Coyne’s new art gallery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FXsYpNpCAM&feature=player_embedded#at=122
During the final day of Norman Music Festival 4, the Spy Wagon was parked on the corner of Main and Peters.
We invited locals musicians and headliners for interviews and performances.
Penny Hill, who performed her song Olympia inside the van last year, is up first.
Check back every day for new NMF4 videos.
P.S.
The VDub Sessions crew tried something new with this episode.
Instead of our usual hyper-local focus, we invited a non-local band to perform on the show.
We went big.
Silje Nes (pronounced Seal-lia) not only isn’t from Oklahoma but also she’s not from this country.
Regardless, the Norwegian singer/songwriter blew us away just a few hours before her headlining gig at The Conservatory.
Let us know what you think.
THE VDUB SESSIONS 