Video: Greg Metzer and “Rock Band Name Origins”
In this NewsOK.tv video, I interview Edmond attorney and first-time author Greg Metzer about his book “Rock Band Name Origins.” The video goes with my feature and review of Metzer’s book from Sunday’s Living section of The Oklahoman.
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What to do in Oklahoma on Aug. 24
Today’s featured event:
Rock along with Dallas-based alternative band Kessler, which includes Oklahoma native Jonathan Ogle, at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W Reno.
The free show is the last for this summer in the Arts Council of Oklahoma City’s Sunday Twilight Concert Series.
For more information, call 270-4848 or go to www.artscouncilokc.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
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SuperCroc skittering away Sunday
NORMAN – The special exhibit “The Science of SuperCroc! Featuring Nigersaurus” is leaving the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave. on the University of Oklahoma campus.
The museum is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The exhibit, funded by the Whitten-Newman Foundation, features a full-scale replica of SuperCroc, one of the largest crocodiles that ever lived, along with Nigersaurus, a sauropod that may have been its prey.
It is the first public display of Nigersaurus outside of the National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Click here to read the NewsOK story about the event and the musuem’s next special exhibit.
For more information, go to www.snomnh.ou.edu.
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“Numb3rs” gets new regular cast member
CBS has announced that Sophina Brown, who was most recently seen in the legal drama “Shark,” will join the cast of the network’s brainy cop show “Numb3rs” as a series regular this season.
The show’s fifth season premiere will be at 9 p.m. Oct. 3 on CBS. Brown will replace Diane Farr, who played agent Megan Reeves on “Numb3rs” for three years. Farr talked to TV Guide in May about why she was leaving, you can read about that by clicking here.
A news release sums up Brown’s character, Nikki Betancourt, this way: ”a tough, street-smart ex-LAPD officer and full-blown adrenaline junkie who got her law degree at night school. Nikki may be new to the team, but she’s not a rookie, and her method of handling cases won’t always mesh with how Don (Rob Morrow) likes to run his team.”
Along with her role on the CBS series “Shark,” Brown had s previous guest role on “Numb3rs,” a recurring role ” on Chappelle’s Show” and guest-starring roles on “Without a Trace,” “Hack,” “The Education of Max Bickford” and the daytime drama “As the World Turns.” Her theater credits include the role of Nala in the Broadway production of “The Lion King,” the role of Carmen in the national tour of “Fame – The Musical” and roles in regional productions of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “As You Like It” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” She also was in the film “Because I Said So.”
“Numb3rs” stars cutie David Krumholtz as Charlie Eppes, a math genius who uses his skills to help his FBI agent brother Don (Morrow) with cases. Since math was always my least favorite, most yawn-inducing subject in school, I love that the show actually makes math interesting.
In the fifth season premiere, Don and his team hunt down killers who possess a stolen diamond, and Charlie, who lost his FBI clearance last season, decides if he should get it reinstated. Along with the new agent joining the team, the first episode, titled “High Exposure” will feature Lou Diamond Phillips reprising his guest role as FBI sniper expert Ian Edgerton.
Brothers Tony and Ridley Scott are among the producers of “Numb3rs,” which was created by Cheryl Heuton and Nicolas Falacci.
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Oklahoma Humanities Council names State Poet Laureate nominees
The Oklahoma Humanities Council has announced that eight Oklahoma residents have been nominated for the appointment of State Poet Laureate.
The nominees are Jim Barnes, Atoka; Dena Gorrell, Edmond; Jennifer Kidney, Norman; Barbara Shepherd, Edmond; Sandra Soli, Oklahoma City; Don Stafford, Ada; Vivian Stewart, Piedmont; and Eddie Wilcoxen, Altus.
The State Poet Laureate is an honorary position appointed by the Governor for a two-year term, according to legislation. The next Poet Laureate term will begin in January 2009. Gov. Brad Henry appointed famed author, poet and scholar N. Scott Momaday as the Oklahoma Centennial State Poet Laureate in 2007.
The Oklahoma Humanities Council coordinates the work of the State Poet Laureate selection committee. The committee studies the nominations, which come from writing groups, poetry societies and other literary organizations. The committee then recommends a candidate to the governor.
Here are the nominees’ biographies, from the Oklahoma Humanities Council:
Jim Barnes is a retired professor, with past appointments at Northeastern State University, Truman State University, and, most recently, Brigham Young University as Distinguished Professor of English and Creative Writing. His awards include a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a Fulbright appointment, an Oklahoma Book Award for “The Sawdust War,” and the American Book Award for “On Native Ground.” His published works include 11 volumes of poetry, literary criticism, short stories and an acclaimed autobiography. He is founder and editor of the literary journal “The Chariton Review.”
Dena Gorrell, a retired secretary and native Oklahoman, was named Poet Laureate of the Poetry Society of Oklahoma in 2004 and 2005. She is a member of the National League of American Pen Women and has been appointed second vice chancellor of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies as Poetry Day/Poetry Month Liaison. Gorell’s published works include individual poems in publications across the country and four poetry chapbooks: “Truths, Tenderness, and Trifles”; “Sunshine and Shadow”; “Five Favorites”; and “Light the Lanterns.”
Jennifer Kidney is director of literature programs for the Oklahoma Humanities Council and has served as the director of the Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma! reading and discussion program for 20 years. She earned a doctorate in English from Yale University and has held teaching positions at Oklahoma State University, Southern Methodist University, and Oklahoma Baptist University. Kidney was a poet-in-the-schools for the Oklahoma Arts Council for two years. She continues to engage young people with poetry through classroom workshops as the state facilitator of the Poetry Out Loud national recitation competition. Her poetry collections include “Field Encounters,” “Endangered Species,” “Animal Magnetism,” and “Women Who Sleep with Dogs.” Her new book is titled “Life List.”
Barbara Shepherd has received numerous awards from literary publications and organizations, including being selected as a “Woody Guthrie Poet” in 2007. She co-compiled a cookbook with proceeds benefiting the victims and families of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Her poetry chapbooks include “Patchwork Skin” and “Old Folks,” due out in December. Shepherd is also an accomplished visual artist in painting and sculpture.
Sandra Soli is former poetry editor for ByLine magazine and has dedicated 40 years to supporting poetry and poets in Oklahoma. She holds an honors master of the arts from the University of Central Oklahoma. Soli taught at UCO, was an Oklahoma artist-in-residence for 10 years, and has guest lectured at the University of Oklahoma, Cameron University, and Rogers State University. Her chapbook “What Trees Know” won an Oklahoma Book Award this year. Her earlier work, “Silvering the Flute,” was a finalist for an Oklahoma Book Award.
Don Stafford is a native Oklahoman and retired professor of science education and chemistry. He taught several courses as an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma and retired from East Central University, where he taught for 35 years. At ECU, he was chairman of the science education department for seven years and chairman of the chemistry department for 15 years. Stafford has been active with many community organizations, including Boy Scouts of America, Ada Chamber of Commerce and Ada Lions Club.
Vivian Stewart is a native Oklahoman. She holds a master of arts degree in English education from Southern Nazarene University, where she was professor of English for five years. She changed careers and now works as a real estate agent. Stewart is active across the state, teaching workshops and participating in poetry organizations, including Windmill Poets and the Poetry Society of Oklahoma, which named her its poet laureate for 2008. Her poetry chapbooks include: “A Scrapbook of Poems and Snapshots”; “The Five Seasons of Life, A Crown of Sonnets”; “Reversettes – Poems to Turn Thoughts Around”; “Singing Songs of Friendship”; and “Singing Songs of Inspiration.”
Eddie Wilcoxen is the host of the daily morning show on KWHW Radio in Altus. He has been recognized for his civic leadership and work with young people, including serving as a mentor in the “Raising Readers Initiative” of the Southern Prairie Library System and as a speaker for Reading Renaissance, which introduces Oklahoma poetry to second- and third-grade students with limited reading abilities. His published works include: “Oklahoma Proud, A Centennial Book of Poems”; “Reflections of a Wondering Mind”; “More Reflections”; and “Songbook in My Head.”
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What to do in Oklahoma on Aug. 23
Today’s featured event:
Listen to country band the Dirt Drifters, which includes Moore natives Ryan and Matt Fleener, at 11 p.m. Saturday at the Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan. Doors open at 6 p.m.
For more information, call 601-6276 or go to www.wormydog.com.
To learn more about the band, go to www.thedirtdrifters.com and www.myspace.com/thedirtdrifters.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
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Friday Featured Track
The song that has been on my brain the most this week:
- “Happy Jack” by The Who, from their second U.S. album, 1967′s “Happy Jack.”
This infectious song became the British rock band’s first Top 40 hit in the United States in spring 1967.
The song manages to show off all four band members’ remarkable musical talents, but it especially highlights The Who’s consummate rhythm section. The unhinged percussion mastery of wild man drummer Keith Moon coupled with the aggressive stylings of bassist John “Thunderfingers” Entwistle really drive this pounding rock ditty.
The band starred in a funny music video for the song, which features them as goofy, pie-fighting robbers.
“Happy Jack” also was used a few years ago in a memorable Hummer ad. It’s one of the better uses of a classic rock song in a commercial, largely because of the two-minute-plus storytelling arc and the great, stoic kid who stars in it.
Both the music video and ad appear below, courtesy that old YouTube magic:
“Happy Jack” music video:
“Happy Jack” Hummer ad:
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Entertainment podcast: New movies
“The House Bunny”
George Lang and I give you the breakdown of the movies opening in Oklahoma City theaters this weekend in this NewsOK entertainment podcast.
Since it’s late August, the studios are offloading several releases, including “Death Race,” “The House Bunny,” “Hamlet 2″ and more.
Listen up to find out what’s worth seeing.
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Rascal Flatts releasing greatest hits collection this fall
In more Rascal Flatts news, the country music band, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, is preparing to release its first greatest hits collection this fall, according to www.rascalflatts.com.
“Greatest Hits Volume 1″ will be released on Oct. 28 and include 16 tracks. Thirteen are previously released songs, including the group’s hits “What Hurts The Most,” “Life Is A Highway,” “I’m Movin’ On” and the six-week No. 1 “Bless The Broken Road.”
The collection initially will be offered as a limited edition release in a foil-embossed two-disc package. The limited edition greatest hits album will include three newly recorded Christmas songs as bonus tracks: the holiday favorite “White Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and an a capella rendition of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” The three Christmas tracks will be available as part of “Greatest Hits Volume 1″ for just a limited time and are the only Christmas songs the trio has released at this point.
The trio certainly has notched enough hits to warrant a compilation. According to their Web site, they’ve spent more than 25 weeks at the top of the radio charts and sold more than 17 million albums. The band also has been named the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association and Country Music Television vocal group of the year.
Here is the track listing for Rascal Flatts’ “Greatest Hits Volume 1″:
“Prayin’ For Daylight”
“I’m Movin’ On”
“These Days”
“I Melt”
“Mayberry”
“Feels Like Today”
“Bless The Broken Road”
“Fast Cars And Freedom”
“Skin (Sarabeth)”
“My Wish”
“What Hurts The Most”
“Stand”
“Life Is A Highway”
Limited edition bonus tracks
“White Christmas”
“Jingle Bell Rock”
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
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Rascal Flatts continuing to bob heads
Country music trio Rascal Flatts, which includes guitarist Joe Don Rooney of Picher, has added more dates to its “Bob That Head Tour.” The tour now will run through Nov. 2 with opening act Taylor Swift.
The band is playing two sold-out shows this weekend: tonight at New England Dodge Music Center in Hartford, Conn., and Sunday at Hershey’s Giant Center in Pennsylvania. Fan attendance should number at 50,000, according to a news release.
The band also is playing Saturday at the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain Ski Resort in Scranton, Penn.
Rascal Flatts and Swift will play Sept. 25 at new BOK Center in Tulsa.
For more tour information, go to www.rascalflatts.com.
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