Wednesday Video Spotlight: John Fullbright releases “Gawd Above” video, returns to Oklahoma City’s Blue Door this weekend
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter John Fullbright, who hails from Bearden, recently released the official music video to “Gawd Above,” from his 2012 album “From the Ground Up.” Ovvio Arte directed the black-and-white video.
Fullbright will return this weekend to what he refers to as “Point A” of his burgeoning music career – the Blue Door.
He is playing sold-out shows at 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday as part of the fabled listening room’s 20th anniversary celebration.
I got the chance to chat with Fullbright by phone earlier this week about the Blue Door; look for that feature Friday.
-BAM
Video: John Fullbright featured on U.K.’s “Later … with Jools Holland” and Crypt Sessions
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter John Fullbright is back on U.S. soil today after spending much of April in Europe for a tour that included stops in Brussels, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Fellow Oklahoma musician Terry “Buffalo” Ware accompanied the Bearden native on the trek.
Fullbright’s breakthrough debut album “From the Ground Up” got its official U.K. release in March, prompting The Times of London to run a full-page article on the talented young Okie.
During their U.K. adventure, Fullbright gave a solo acoustic performance of “Satan and St. Paul” on “Later… with Jools Holland,” a music-based show that airs on BBC Two, and he and Ware played “Gawd Above” in the North London studios of the music video series The Crypt Sessions.
Fullbright will return to the Blue Door, the Oklahoma City venue where he recorded his first live album, for a three-night stand of shows May 10-12, but alas, guaranteed seating is already sold out.
-BAM
Video: Red Dirt Rangers running Kickstarter campaign to help release new album “Lone Chimney”
Venerable Payne County band the Red Dirt Rangers are conducting a Kickstarter campaign to help release their new album “Lone Chimney.”
The trio has been working for a couple of years with renowned Pawnee-based producer Steve Ripley on its sixth album, named for the rural northeast Payne County community they call home. The album also features Grammy-nominated special guests John Fullbright, Lloyd Maines and Fats Kaplin.
Although the recording process to old-school analog tape is done, a few key steps remain, including mastering, artwork, CD replication and promotion.
It’s the band’s 25th anniversary, so the album release is a big deal. Plus, I’ve been hearing the band talk about this album for awhile now and I really want to hear the finished product.
The Kickstarter campaign has raised $9,156 toward the $15,000 goal with 17 days remaining.
Click here to donate or learn more.
-BAM
Video: Amy Speace featuring John Fullbright, “The Sea and the Shore”
Americana singer-songwriter Amy Speace and Oklahoma Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter John Fullbright have released the music video for their tender duet “The Sea and the Shore.”
The song is from Speace’s fifth studio album, “How To Sleep In A Stormy Boat,” due out on April 16.
“I will forever be grateful to my good friend John Fullbright for braving the 15 degree weather with me on that spring morning in Nashville near Radnor Lake, the closest we could get to the sea on an indie budget,” Speace tells Grammy.com. “Also, I was so happy to discover the Nashville Puppet Theater in putting together this video. Once we found the blue-eyed puppet we knew we had our leading man.”
Though she began her career as an actress/director/playwright, Speace proved a late-blooming musical artist, picking up guitar at age 25 and composing her first song at age 28. She was discovered on the New York acoustic scene by Grammy winner Judy Collins, who has since recorded Speace’s songs and toured with her. In 2002, Speace released her debut album, “Fable,” which Billboard described as “undeniably earnest and commercially accessible.” Her sophomore effort, “Songs For Bright Street,” was released in 2006, with the album’s 13 tracks earning favorable comparisons to Grammy winners such as Sheryl Crow, Alison Krauss and Gretchen Wilson. Speace followed with 2009′s “The Killer In Me” and 2011′s “Land Like A Bird.”
Speace recorded “How To Sleep In A Stormy Boat” in Nashville with producer Neilson Hubbard. Featuring 11 songs, the album reflects themes of lost love throughout, with Speace drawing inspiration from the classic works of William Shakespeare. In addition to Fullbright, special guests include singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier and cellist Ben Sollee. The project was funded via a successful Kickstarter campaign.
Speace is currently in the midst of a U.S. tour, which recently played OKC’s Blue Door.
-BAM
John Fullbright, Monte Montgomery, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Jason Isbell, Will Hoge and Uncle Lucius to play Tulsa International Mayfest
John Fullbright
Oklahoma’s own Grammy-nominated Americana singer-songwriter John Fullbright, Monte Montgomery, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Will Hoge and Uncle Lucius will be among the headliners and supporting acts at next month’s Tulsa International Mayfest, organizers announced this week.
Tulsa International Mayfest is set for May 16-19. Downtown Tulsa takes its celebration of arts and music outside with an array of fine arts and crafts, four stages of performing artists and a KidZone. Plus, five indoor galleries will be showcasing a variety of artwork.
Here are the musical headliners and supporting acts:
Thursday, May 16: MONTE MONTGOMERY (award winning guitar wizard/singer songwriter) with John Fullbright (Oklahoma 2013 Grammy Award nominated singer songwriter)
Austin-based Monte Montgomery is a longtime Tulsa favorite. Named one of the “Top 50 Guitar Players” of all time by Guitar Magazine, Montgomery is often called a “triple threat” for his outstanding vocal, songwriting and guitar skills. He is currently touring behind his critically acclaimed release, Tethered.
From Bearden, Oklahoma, young John Fullbright has seen the national spotlight shine his way the last few years. A tremendous talent, Fullbright was chosen to perform at this year’s Grammy Award Ceremony. His album, From the Ground Up, was nominated for “Best Americana Album”. His songwriting invokes musical heroes like Jimmy Webb, Randy Newman and Townes Van Zandt.
Friday, May 17: ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD featuring Devon Allman, Cyril Neville & Mike Zito (rocking blues, soul, funk supergroup) with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (progressive alt-country)
Royal Southern Brotherhood‘s debut release was recently nominated “Best Blues Rock Album” by the Blues Music Foundation. The members of this musical supergroup have impressive pedigrees – Cyril Neville (The Meters & The Nevill Brothers), Devon Allman (Honey Tribe, son of Greg Allman), Mike Zito (award winning blues guitarist), Charlie Wooten (award winning bassist) & Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks band). In the US South, where music is religion, two rock ‘n’ roll bloodlines tower above all others and mere mention of the Allman and Neville Brothers casts a magic spell. With a lineup comprising both the iconic Cyril Neville and Devon Allman, Royal Southern Brotherhood come pre-loaded with expectations. Don’t worry: they can match them. The family tree might be auspicious, but this new band trades on talent, not genealogy. It’s not about rock history: it’s about the here-and-now.
Jason Isbell was born in Greenhill Alabama. Isbell joined the Drive-by Truckers in 2001 where he recorded and wrote for the band over their next three albums, authoring some of their more popular songs. He left the Truckers in 2007 and quickly released his first solo album “Sirens of the Ditch”. Since then he and his group the 400 unit have released three more albums and have performed at music venues everywhere, appearing on many music-related television programs. He continues to write and perform to critical acclaim and just recently won an Americana Music Award for song of the year “Alabama Pines”, about his North Alabama home.
Saturday May 18: WILL HOGE (Americana & Southern rock) with Uncle Lucius (young Texas rockers)
Will Hoge is a Grammy nominated singer, songwriter and musician who has toured with artists like Shinedown and Needtobreathe. He has performed on three occasions at the Grand Ole Opry. Hoge penned the 2013 Grammy nominated Eli Young song “Even if it Breaks Your Heart”, and Country hit band Lady Antebellum recently covered Hoge’s song, “Better off Now”.
Uncle Lucius are a group of talented young Texans whose songs are reminiscent of everything from The Doors to early Black Crowes. The band’s music comes from the deep roots of rock and roll, combining it with elements of blues and r&b.Expect an energetic upbeat show from this Indie rock band.
For more information, call (918) 582-6435 or go to www.tulsamayfest.org.
-BAM
Video: David Byrne & St. Vincent, John Fullbright and JD McPherson to play Bonnaroo
David Byrne and St. Vincent
John Fullbright
JD McPherson
Three performers with Oklahoma ties have selected to perform at the massive 2013 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tenn.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer David Byrne and Tulsa-born singer/songwriter/guitarist St. Vincent will continue their collaboration at Bonnaroo, while Grammy-nominated Bearden folk-rock singer-songwriter John Fullbright and Broken Arrow retro rocker JD McPherson also are on the lineup of the prestigious festival.
The four-day festival will take place June 13-16 on a rural 700-acre farm and will feature its usual eclectic slate: Paul McCartney, Mumford & Sons and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers are among the headliners.
The lineup also includes R. Kelly, Bjork, Wu-Tang Clan, Wilco, Dwight Yoakam, Pretty Lights, The Lumineers, The National, The xx, Kendrick Lamar, Billy Idol, A$AP Rocky, Nas, Portugual. The Man, ZZ Top, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Animal Collective, Glen Hansard, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Passion Pit, Grizzly Bear, Cat Power, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Gov’t Mule, Of Monsters and Men, Calexico, Father John Misty and The Tallest Man on Earth.
In addition, Jim James will host a Soul SuperJam with John Oates, Zigaboo Modeliste of the Meters and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
Daniel Tosh and “Weird Al” Yankovic, who also are among this year’s Bonnaroo performers, helped announce the lineup today via YouTube. For more information, go to www.bonnaroo.com.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood wins sixth career Grammy
Carrie Underwood poses backstage with the award for best country solo performance for “Blown Away” at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP)
Carrie Underwood performs on stage at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP)
A version of this story will appear in Monday’s The Oklahoman. To read my Grammys live blog, click here.
Carrie Underwood wins sixth Grammy
The Checotah native earned the best country solo performance for her chart-topping story song “Blown Away.”
“Country music has always been so good to me, and I think the good Lord that I’m a part of such a wonderful, talented, amazing family,” Underwood said, her voice choking with emotion as she thanked her label, family, fans and husband Mike Fisher. “And just really, glory to God, thank you so much.”
Underwood won the best country solo performance award for her chart-topping story song “Blown Away.” She beat out two other nominees with Oklahoma ties: Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton was nominated for his hit power ballad “Over” and former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn for his timely anthem “The Cost of Livin’.”
In addition, Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins earned the best country song Grammy for penning “Blown Away.”
When she took the Grammys stage to sing, Underwood changed up the tempo of the song, the title track to her platinum-selling 2012 album, and then merged it with her latest hit single, “Two Black Cadillacs.” But her soaring vocals weren’t the only show-stopping aspect of her performance: Her grand silver gown became a projection screen for roses, swirls and finally, a swarm of butterflies that soared away as the crowd gave her a standing ovation.
Although she was the only nominee with Oklahoma ties to win, Underwood wasn’t the only one to perform. Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert and tourmate Dierks Bentley did a duet that mingled her heartbreaking ballad “Over You” with his heartfelt anthem “Home.”
After winning the best pop vocal album for “Stronger” — and briefly getting stuck to Lambert’s dress as they hugged — Kelly Clarkson used her big voice to pay tribute to two of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners. She sang “Tennessee Waltz” in honor of the late Claremore native Patti Page and “Natural Woman” in a nod to Carole King.
It was one of many star-studded tributes: Bruno Mars, Sting, Rihanna and members of the Marley family paid homage to late Bob Marley, while Elton John, Mavis Staples, Zac Brown, Mumford & Sons, T Bone Burnett and Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes played “The Weight” in honor of the late Levon Helm.
Other “Grammy moments” paired John and Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z, Maroon 5 with Alicia Keys, The Black Keys and Dr. John and Miguel and Wiz Khalifa. Taylor Swift, fun., the Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, Frank Ocean and Jack White also performed on the show.
When it came to the awards, The Recording Academy voters spread around the Grammy glory. Mumford & Sons received album of the year for “Babel,” Gotye and Kimbra earned record of the year for “Somebody That I Used to Know,” and fun. garnered new artist of the year and song of the year for “We Are Young.”
Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys was the night’s top winner with four trophies, including non-classical producer of the year and three rock category victories with bandmate Patrick Carney.
With the CBS broadcast jammed with performances, many of the actual awards were handed out during the pre-telecast ceremony. Art director Fritz Klaetke won Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package for “Woody At 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection” and paid tribute to the late Okemah native’s powerful songwriting.
Bearden singer/songwriter/musician John Fullbright brought fire and brimstone to the pre-telecast with his performance of “Gawd Above,” from his album “From the Ground Up.” His debut studio effort was nominated in the competitive best Americana album category, but veteran recording artist Bonnie Raitt won for her “Slipstream.”
Contributing: The Associated Press. See the winners in several of the categories after the break.
Carrie Underwood and Woody Guthrie help others win early Grammy Awards
Carrie Underwood arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. Songwriters Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins won the Best Country Song Grammy for penning the Checotah native’s hit “Blown Away.” (AP)
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards are airing from 7 to 10:30 tonight on CBS, and I will be live blogging the be show right here on BAM’s Blog.
The Pre-Telecast Ceremony just closed out, and while no Oklahomans were early Grammy winners, a couple helped others win golden gramophones.
Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins earned the Best Country Song Grammy for penning Checotah native Carrie Underwood’s chart-topping story song “Blown Away.”
Art director Fritz Klaetke won Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package for “Woody At 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection.” Klaetke thanked the late, great Okemah native for his songwriting, noting his lyrics are even more powerful than they were when he wrote them.
Here is a list of the Oklahomans who had the honor of being nominated but were denied early Grammy wins:
- Former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn and Phillip Coleman got a nod for Best Country Song for penning “Cost of Livin’,”but the award went to Kear and Tompkins for “Blown Away.” Dunn also is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance for his timely anthem “Cost of Livin’.”
- The Time Jumpers, which features Norman-born and Oklahoma City-bred singer/songwriter/musician Vince Gill as well as Texas-born and Liberty-bred fiddler/singer Kenny Sears, were nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “On The Outskirts Of Town,” but the prize went to Little Big Town’s “Pontoon.”
- Bearden singer-songwriter John Fullbright, who rocked the Grammy’s Pre-Telecast Ceremony, was nominated for Best Americana Album for “From the Ground Up,” but the award went to Bonnie Raitt for “Slipstream.”
- Four-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O’Hara, who was born in Elk City and raised in Edmond, shares principal soloist duties with Matthew Broderick on the Broadway cast recording of “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” nominated for Best Musical Theater Album. The award went to “Once: A New Musical.”
- Among the Oklahomans who helped others earn Grammy nominations: Gill, Midwest City High School graduate Kevin Welch and Soper native Ray Wylie Hubbard are featured on “This One’s For Him: A Tribute To Guy Clark,” which was nominated for Best Folk Album. The Grammy went to Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile for “The Goat Rodeo Sessions.”
- Jeff Place and Robert Santelli, compilation producers, and Pete Reiniger, mastering engineer, were nominated for Best Historical Album for “Woody At 100.” The Beach Boys’ “The Smile Sessions (Deluxe Box Set)” won the award.
- Elizabeth Mitchell’s “Little Seed: Songs For Children By Woody Guthrie” was nominated for Best Childen’s Album. The Okee Dokee Brothers won for “Can You Canoe?”
- Art director Noah Wall was nominated for Best Recording Package for “Love This Giant,” the collaborative album for Tulsa-born singer/songwriter/musician St. Vincent and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer David Byrne. The artists behind Bjork’s “Biophilia” won the prize.
Several Oklahomans still will be contending for Grammy glory when the big show begins at 7 tonight:
- Three artists with Sooner State ties are nominated in the Best Country Solo Performance alone: Underwood for her chart-topping story-song “Blown Away,” Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton for his hit power ballad “Over” and former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn for his timely anthem “Cost of Livin’.”
In addition, Underwood will perform on the show.
- Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, who will perform on the broadcast with tourmate Dierks Bentley, earned a Best Country Album nomination for her fourth effort, “Four the Record.”
- The Time Jumpers also got a Best Country Album nod for its self-titled studio debut.
- Gill, Dunn and Lawton-born Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leon Russell are among the guest stars on Jamey Johnson’s “Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran,” another of the Best Country Album nominees.
To read my complete Grammy preview, click here, and be here at 7 p.m. for my live blog!
-BAM
Reminder: Grammy Awards live blog begins at 7 tonight!
The 55th Grammy Awards will be handed out tonight, and I will be live blogging it here at BAM’s Blog. (AP file)
Just a reminder: The 55th Annual Grammy Awards are airing from 7 to 10:30 tonight on CBS, and I will be live blogging the be show right here on BAM’s Blog.
Checotah native Carrie Underwood, Justin Timberlake, Mumford & Sons, Kelly Clarkson, The Black Keys, FUN., the Lumineers, Frank Ocean, Taylor Swift and Jack White are just some of the superstars set to perform during the music industry’s premier event.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the Grammys without special star-studded musical mash-ups: Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert will perform with tourmate Dierks Bentley; Bruno Mars, Rihanna and Sting will join forces onstage; Elton John and Ed Sheeran will do a duet; and Alicia Keys will team up with Maroon 5.
Stars with Oklahoma ties who are nominated include Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, John Fullbright, Blake Shelton, Ronnie Dunn, Time Jumpers and Kelli O’Hara. To read my full Grammys preview column, click here.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, John Fullbright, Blake Shelton, Ronnie Dunn, Time Jumpers and Kelli O’Hara to represent Oklahoma at Sunday’s Grammy Awards
Carrie Underwood performs her latest hit “Two Black Cadillacs” on the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Los Angeles. The Checotah native also will perform Sunday on the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. (AP)
Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, left, and Dierks Bentley present an award onstage during the 54th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 in Los Angeles. The tourmates will perform together Sunday night on the 2013 Grammys. (AP file)
A version of this column appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. To read my feature on Patti Page’s posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, click here.
Oklahoma to be well represented at Sunday’s Grammy Awards
Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Ronnie Dunn, The Time Jumpers, John Fullbright and Kelli O’Hara are among the nominees with Sooner State ties.
Checotah native Carrie Underwood, Justin Timberlake, Mumford & Sons, Kelly Clarkson, The Black Keys, FUN., the Lumineers, Frank Ocean, Taylor Swift and Jack White are set to perform during the music industry’s premier event, airing live from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the Grammys without special star-studded musical mash-ups: Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert will perform with tourmate Dierks Bentley; Bruno Mars, Rihanna and Sting will join forces onstage; Elton John and Ed Sheeran will do a duet; and Alicia Keys will team up with Maroon 5.
Bearden singer-songwriter John Fullbright, a first-time Grammy nominee, will be among the performers during the Grammy Awards Pre-Telecast Ceremony, which will stream live from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Grammy.com/live and CBS.com.
Also, Bearden singer-songwriter John Fullbright, a first-time nominee, will be among the performers during the Grammy Awards Pre-Telecast Ceremony, which will stream live from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Grammy.com/live and CBS.com.
Not surprisingly, several Oklahomans earned Grammy nominations, particularly in the country music categories. Three artists with Sooner State ties are nominated in the Best Country Solo Performance alone: Underwood for her chart-topping story-song “Blown Away,” Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton for his hit power ballad “Over” and former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn for his timely anthem “Cost of Livin’.”
Dunn and Phillip Coleman also got a nod for Best Country Song for penning “Cost of Livin’,” while Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins are nominated in the category for writing Underwood’s “Blown Away.”
Lambert earned a Best Country Album nomination for her fourth effort, “Four the Record.”
The 11-piece Western swing band The Time Jumpers, which features Norman-born and Oklahoma City-bred singer/songwriter/musician Vince Gill as well as Texas-born and Liberty-bred fiddler/singer Kenny Sears, also got a Best Country Album nod for its self-titled studio debut.
Gill co-wrote and provides the lead vocals on “On The Outskirts Of Town,” which garnered The Time Jumpers a nomination in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
Gill’s propensity for musical collaborations is apparent among the nominations: He, Dunn and Lawton-born Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leon Russell are among the guest stars on Jamey Johnson’s “Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran,” another of the Best Country Album nominees. Also, Gill, Midwest City High School graduate Kevin Welch and Soper native Ray Wylie Hubbard are featured on “This One’s For Him: A Tribute To Guy Clark,” which is nominated for Best Folk Album.
Fullbright earned his first Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album with his debut studio effort, “From the Ground Up,” which he recorded at 115 Studios in Norman and released on his own Blue Dirt Records label.
Four-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O’Hara, who was born in Elk City and raised in Edmond, shares principal soloist duties with Matthew Broderick on the Broadway cast recording of “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” nominated for Best Musical Theater Album.
The lasting legacy of Okemah native Woody Guthrie is represented among the nominations. Elizabeth Mitchell’s “Little Seed: Songs For Children By Woody Guthrie” is nominated for Best Childen’s Album. Art director Fritz Klaetke is competing for Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package for “Woody At 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection.” In addition, Jeff Place and Robert Santelli, compilation producers, and Pete Reiniger, mastering engineer, are nominated for Best Historical Album for “Woody At 100.”
Art director Noah Wall is nominated for Best Recording Package for “Love This Giant,” the collaborative album for Tulsa-born singer/songwriter/musician St. Vincent and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer David Byrne.
As part of the Grammy Week festivities, Claremore native Patti Page, who died Jan. 1 at the age of 85, will posthumously receive The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award at an invitation-only ceremony Saturday. Page and fellow Lifetime Achievement recipients Carole King, Glenn Gould, Charlie Haden, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Ravi Shankar and the Temptations will be acknowledged during Sunday’s Grammys telecast.
GRAMMYS LIVE Blog
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards will air live from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
Follow my live blog of the show here at BAM’s Blog, blog.newsok.com/bamsblog.
-BAM
