BAM’s Blog NewsOK.com Blogging Community

The song that has been stuck in my brain the most this afternoon:

- “This of Me,” Oklahoma City singer-songwriter Lisa Curl.

This local singer-songwriter is a special education teacher by day. But in the evenings, she uses her soulful voice and skillful songwriting to weave some evocative music from threads of blues, country and jazz.

Curl is playing at 6 p.m. today at Untitled Artspace, One NE Third, as part of their Friday Faction series. If you hurry, you just might catch her.

She also will be performing at Full Circle Bookstore and Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse in the coming weeks.

Learn more about Curl, and even better, listen to her music, at http://www.myspace.com/lisacurl.

-BAM

Up-and-coming country singer Jason Meadows’s song “Ride It Out” has been chosen as the official theme song for Championship Bull Riding.

“Ride It Out” will be featured on CBR’s show on the RFD-TV cable station and at all their events for the rest of 2008 and 2009.

 According to a news release, the song also will be available for download exlusively on www.CBRbull.com.

CBR Chief Executive Officer Wes Bruce said in the release, “CBR is excited about our newrelationship with Jason Meadows and the song ‘Ride It Out.’ What a great song! It depicts the challenge that a bullrider faces each time he tries to ride an 1,800-pound bull intent on throwing him off. I know our fans will love it.”

Meadows grew up in Calera and broke out on the TV show “Nashville Star.”

For more about him, go to www.jasonmeadows.com.

-BAM

Up-and-coming country rocker Shawna Russell of Okemah, Oklahoma, is profiled in a new artist “Spotlight” feature in the October/November edition of CMA Close Up magazine, according to a news release.

The added attention comes after the Country Music Association named her one of their “Who New to Watch in 2008″ artists earlier this year, and it coincides with her emerging success on the heels of two radio singles from her critically acclaimed debut CD, “Goddess.”

The CMA Close Up feature says “‘Goddess,’ Shawna Russell’s debut album on Way Out West Records, wraps mainstream pop, romantic balladry and high-impact rock ‘n’ roll into a pure country package. The Oklahoma native’s singing echoes Martina McBride, Stevie Nicks or Bonnie Raitt, depending on how hard the drums drive or the power chords ring.”

The “Spotlight” focuses on her musical early years, when Russell first sang in public at age 7 and co-led a band with her father, Keith, at age 13, before going on the road full-time at 17 with her uncle Tim Russell’s band, Way Out West. She performed at several of the top clubs in America and spent 3 years fronting for fellow Okie and Garth Brooks protégé Ty England.

In 2007, Russell and her uncle/producer, Tim Russell, began work on her debut album and she and her family band permanently put her name out front.

Working with Ted Curtis at Upstairs Productions Studio, and armed with demos of Russell’s captivating voice, they enticed some of the industry’s top musicians and engineers to come to Oklahoma City to make Russell’s debut album.

Her current single “Should’ve Been Born With Wheels” is gaining fast traction at Mainstream and Texas radio.

Russell’s CMA Close Up “Spotlight” closes with a glowing endorsement for her: “With her name on the marquee now, and a glittering future ahead, Russell can take pride for launching her catalog with this powerful debut.”

- BAM

Oklahoma country star Blake Shelton describes “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” the lead single from his upcoming album “Startin’ Fires” as a vocal challenge with a rich melody.

“This is one of the coolest songs I’ve ever cut as far as being unique and from a fresh place,” Shelton says in a news release. ”I love to sing songs about regret - always have - and mistakes you make along the way. It’s extremely emotional and has a little different slant on things the guy could have done right along the way.”

The enthusiastic response to the album prompted the Ada native/Tishomingo resident’s label, Warner Bros. Records, to move the release date from January to Nov. 18.

Check out the cover art for the album, shown above.

-BAM

From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.  

Country

Darius Rucker “Learn to Live” (Capitol Nashville)

With the tendency of Top 40 stations to play the same songs ad nauseam, anyone who listened to pop radio in 1995 has Hootie & the Blowfish’s “Hold My Hand” permanently etched on their gray matter.

The pop band’s ubiquitous ’90s success looms over former frontman Darius Rucker’s first country album. He isn’t totally successful in shedding the shadow of his musical past, but the South Carolina native adeptly hops genres with “Learn to Live.”

He comes across too strong with the first two tracks, “Forever Road” and “All I Want,” laying the fiddles, banjos and steel guitars on thick. For people who last heard the singer-songwriter crooning “Only Wanna Be With You,” listening to Rucker twanging it up seems a bit incongruous.

But the album recovers with the effective ballad “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.” Rucker’s baritone exudes regret on the lead single, a No. 1 hit that has propelled the album to the top of the charts.

The album’s strengths are country-pop tracks with big hooks. Rucker excels at cheery loves songs “Be Wary of a Woman” and “History in the Making” and inspirational fare like “While I Still Got Time” and the title track.

But he saves his strongest performance for “I Hope They Get to Me in Time,” a harrowing tale about an accident victim watching his life flash before his eyes.

 - BAM

Catherine “Babe” Williams (Crystal Kellogg), Sleep-Tite factory grievance committee head, shares a lighthearted moment with Superintendent Sid Sorokin (Jason Winfield) in this scene from “The Pajama Game.”

Arts

- “The Pajama Game”: See “The Pajama Game” at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Information: (800) 869-1451 or www.celebrityattractions.com.

- OKC StorySlam: Share your funny story at the monthly OKC StorySlam, a competitive storytelling event, at 7 p.m. Friday at Istvan Gallery, 1218 N. Western. Information: 831-2874.

- White on White: City Arts Center, State Fair Park, will open its 2008-09 exhibit season will kick off with a showcase of artists involved who are involved with City Arts Center including: instructors, volunteers and board members. White on White will feature artworks in a variety of media including: pottery, sculpture, photography, painting and more. Each piece of artwork will be more than 85 percent white in color. This exhibition spotlights the skills of the City Arts Center family while at the same time limiting their palette to create artwork that is predominately white. Visitors will be provided with a unique opportunity to focus their attention to the subtleties of texture, contrast, value and form in each piece of artwork. Information: www.cityartscenter.org.

- “Last Call” for “Roman Art from the Louvre”: The Oklahoma City Museum, 415 Couch Drive, is offering several special activities from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday to mark the final days of the special exhibition “Roman Art from the Louvre.” The exhibit closes Sunday. Activities set for Friday include theme tours, coffee seminars, winetastings, hands-on arts activities, Cocktails on the Skyline and more. Information: www.okcmoa.com.

- “Underground Railroad: A Journey to Freedom,” Shawnee: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art at St. Gregory’s University is hosting a temporary exhibit “Grassroots: African Origins of American Art, Baskets from Africa and South Carolina,” which explores how the art of the coiled basket originated in Africa, was brought to America by African slaves, and how this art form has evolved through its journey in time. In conjunction with the exhibit, the Mabee-Gerrer is offering an educational component for children.
“Underground Railroad: A Journey to Freedom” explores the dynamics of slavery in America and throughout the world. The show includes music (including African and African-American songs of the period such as “Follow the Drinking Gourd”), dance, theatre, puppetry, stilt-walking, film, and audience participation. It is set for 1 p.m. Saturday. Information: www.mgmoa.org.

Miscellaneous

- Bricktown Haunted Warehouse: Get a sneak peek of the 24^th annual Bricktown Haunted Warehouse, 101 E California, at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Information: 236-4143 or www.okctickets.com.

Movies

- “City of Ember”: Two teens must try to keep their underground city alive and bright in “City of Ember,” the latest family film from Fox Walden.

- “The Express”: The movie follows the extraordinary life of college football hero Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

- “Body of Lies”: Russell Crowe and director Ridley Scott reteam for “Body of Lies,” in which an FBI agent (Leonardo DiCaprio) traces a Jordanian terrorist.

- “The Duchess”: Keira Knightley plays Georgiana Spencer, the ravishing and scandalous Duchess of Devonshire (and direct ancestor of Princess Diana).

- “Quarantine”: For sheer terror with a definite “Cloverfield” vibe, check out the video they found of the bizarre killings inside a Los Angeles apartment complex in “Quarantine,” a remake of the Spanish horror film “Rec.”

- “Billy: The Early Years”: This biopic chronicles the early years of evangelist Billy Graham.

Music

- Lil Wayne and Friends, Tulsa: Listen to rapper Lil Wayne and Friends at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 Saturday at the BOK Center, 200 S. Denver. Information: (866) 726-5287 or www.bokcenter.com.

- The Cardinals, Tulsa: Hear The Cardinals  featuring Ryan Adams, Neal Casal, Chris Feinstein, Jon Grabott and Brad Pemberton at 8 p.m. Friday at the Brady Theater, 105 W Brady. Information: www.bradytheater.com.

- Lee Greenwood, Shawnee: Hear Lee Greenwood at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Heartland Amphitheater, 42008 West Tech Rd. Information: 275-4700.

- Rare Earth, Shawnee: Hear Rare Earth at 8 p.m. Friday at at the Heartland Amphitheater, 42008 West Tech Rd. Information: 275-4700.

-BAM

The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee honored Wednesday the All-American Rejects with the 2008 Rising Star Award.

Other honorees included country songwriter Chick Rains, who has written hits recored by the Reba McEntire, Wade Hayes, the Oak Ridge boys and more; the late Bob Childers, known as the godfather of Red Dirt music; the Wichita & Affiliated Tribes for the contributions to American Indian music; and the nationally recognized Cherokee National Youth Choir.

For more on Wednesday’s ceremony, check out the story from The Oklahoman’s Assistant Entertainment Editor George Lang by clicking here.

-BAM

Champ Devere

As an Oklahoma State University alum, I’m not really into all of the hoopla over the University of Oklahoma-University of Texas football rivalry.

But as a loyal, lifelong Oklahoman, who grew up just 45 miles away from Norman, I am definitely not a Texas fan. I firmly adhere to the belief that our state is far superior in every way to our neighbors to the south.

Besides, burnt orange is ugly. Orange is meant to be bright and bold, not burnt.

In honor of OU-Texas, Norman country-rock duo Champ Devere has written a couple of funny songs, “Bevo Gives Milk” and “Boo Texas.” You can hear them at www.myspace.com/champdevere. They’re still pretty catchy even if OU isn’t your favorite team.

And since the OU-Texas game is at 11 a.m. Saturday and my Cowboys don’t play the Missouri Tigers until 7 p.m., I might take a little time to watch some of the Red River Rivalry and cheer on my fellow Okies against Texas.

OSU-Texas also will be a musical occasion. The Tumbleweed Ballroom in Stillwater is planning for Oct. 23-25 the Red Dirt Rivalry Weekend. It will feature top Stillwater and Austin bands, including Stoney LaRue, The Eli Young Band, No Justice, Reckless Kelly, Nick Gibson, Micky and the Motorcars, The Jason Savory Band, The Band of Heathens, Clint Osmus and the Bushmills and The Turnpike Troubadours.

For more information, go to www.calffry.com.

-BAM

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert (Associated Press photo) 

 Country music stars and Tishomingo neighbors Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert recently talked to CMT.com about their new co-headlining tour that they launched last week.

It’s hilarious reading or listening to these two banter because they really give each other a hard time in a rather affectionate way.

To read the very funny Q&A, click here.

-BAM

Female country music stars Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Taylor Swift will appear on the November cover of Redbook and appear in Lifetime Television public service announcements to encourage millions of women to vote.

The cover feature and PSAs, titled “Vote (For Your) Country,” are part of Lifetime’s and Redbook’s nonpartisan, yearlong Every Woman Counts campaign to empower and engage women in the political process as voters and future candidates, according to a news release. The stars won’t be touting their party affiliations, just working to encourage voting.

“Who better to represent the heart of America at election time than country stars?” said Redbook Editor-in-Chief Stacy Morrison in the release. ”Redbook readers have always been huge country fans and so we are thrilled to partner with Lifetime Television in this latest expression of our Every Woman Counts/What We Share campaign, which has been wildly successful in motivating women to speak up and talk about what matters most for our country in politics.”

Meredith Wagner, executive vice president of public affairs for Lifetime said the netowrk is particularly pleased to partner with McEntire, who was born in McAlester and raised in Chockie.

“We are thrilled to work with Reba, the queen of country and star of our hit series, and so many other passionate and talented artists. Thirty-five million eligible women did not vote in 2004. With these powerful and respected country voices and with Lifetime and Redbook teaming up to amplify them, we can and will change this statistic and get millions more women to make their voices heard.”

McEntire said in the release, “There are people in foreign countries who stand in line all day just to be able to vote, and when people here take it for granted, I think it’s a shame. If you have a gripe, you have the right to voice it and try to fix it by voting.”

The PSAs will air on Lifetime through the Nov. 4 presidential election, and the special Redbook issue will be on newsstands starting Oct. 14. Photos, outtakes and exclusive quotes are also posted on www.redbookmag.com.

Several other country stars, including Owasso resident Trisha Yearwood, also appear in the Lifetime PSAs, in the expansive Redbook photo spread and on www.everywomancounts08.com, sharing why they feel voting is so critical and what they would do if they were president. Other country stars participating in the proejct include Rodney Atkins, Clint Black, Sarah Buxton, Jewel, Julianne Hough, Jack Ingram, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Rissi Palmer, SHeDAISY, Sugarland and Wynonna.

Redbook has a circulation of 10 million, and Lifetime, is the No. 1 network for women in about 97 million homes. To reach women where they live, work and play, Lifetime and Redbook launched the first Every Woman Counts media and advocacy coalition. Celebrities, experts and hundreds of women’s nonprofit organizations joined the cause, bringing together more than 15 million women from all sides of the political spectrum.

The Redbook cover feature and Lifetime PSAs were shot at the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas in May and in Nashville, where the country stars donated their time.

The project is extremely meaningful to Swift who said, “The first thing I did this year on my 18th birthday was register to vote. I was still in my pajamas and I got on my computer and registered. It was so cool and empowering. I felt this sense of responsibility that I’ve never felt before - I actually had a say in the political decisions of my country.”

McBride also feels incredibly proud to lend her voice to the effort to get women to the polls, “I sang the national anthem at the first Monday Night Football game after 9/11. I will never forget hearing 70,000 Americans who were as hurt, confused, and proud as I was sing the words. The compassion, faith, strength, and determination I saw in that time of fear and uncertainty changed the way I view this country forever.”

-BAM