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.
It only takes a few moments for your hips to wiggle and your toes to start tapping before you realize there’s something special about Matt Stansberry’s latest project.
Billed as Matt Stansberry & The Romance, the 10-member crew is more than a throwback to catchy ’50s tunes.
No, it’s more like an episode of American Bandstand and each member is just itching to show off their musical chops.
We can only fit so many humans into the van, so Matt had to consolidate the band’s size for this session. He invited his brother Joe Stansberry and backup singers Chandra Graham and Myra Beasley.
Matt chose wisely, and the resulting episode is a reminder of how keeping it simple only looks easy when you’re songs are that good.
What do you get when you mix a dog, a fiddle, an upright bass and a Purcell-native named Parker Millsap?
Well, the session above should give you a pretty good hint but we can make it easy on you.
The answer is hot sauce.
We couldn’t be happier to invite the red dirt talents of Millsap into the van to play an unrecorded, new song.
If you enjoy this session then you’ll be pleased to know Milsap and bassist Michael Rose will be performing at The Blue Note Lounge on Friday.
Now, grab your dog and start dancing.
Check out some stills from the session 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…
You know that old expression about how the company you keep determines the trouble you meet?
I could only imagine what sort of trouble Edmond-native singer/songwriter Audra Mae could get into.
Her enthusiastic Spy Van performance of “My Friend the Devil” might give you a pretty good idea of Mae’s meddlesome ways.
Or you can look at her fingernails. Her thumb was painted with her symbol, an anarchistic A for Audra.
We’ve been fans Mae since her impromptu session at Norman Music Festival two years ago.
Both songs she has performed in the Spy Van are from her excellent self-titled album Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound.
Please don’t hold us responsible for all the trouble you get into after giving it a listen, but at least we can promise it will be worth it.
Here’s the Vimeo version of this video if you’re into that sort of thing.
Check out some stills of Audra 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.
You know that saying, “They don’t make ’em like they use to.”
Well, it’s time you meet John Paul Keith.
One part Buddy Holly and the rest parts catchy as hell.
That’s the best way to describe the rockabilly songs coming from Memphis-based artist.
The good people of Okie Dope records invited Keith to perform at VZD’s, and he was kind enough to share a song from his latest album.
Enjoy this blast from the past because they do make ’em like they used to.
Check out some stills after the jump.
THE VDUB SESSIONS 