Oklahoma City Museum of Art celebrating Last Call for “Princely Treasures” tonight
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art will celebrate the final week of the special exhibition “Princely Treasures: European Masterpieces 1600-1800 from the Victoria and Albert Museum” at a Last Call event from 5 to 9 tonight.
The museum’s Roof Terrace will be open until 10:30 p.m. Admission after 5 p.m. is $5; admission for members is free.
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is the only U.S. venue on the international tour for “Princely Treasures.” The exhibit closes Sunday at the OKC museum and next will return to London.
“Princely Treasures” showcases highlights of the Victoria and Albert’s European collections, which will be redisplayed in an elegant and newly refurbished suite of galleries, opening after 2014.
Reflecting the elegant and aristocratic life of the 17th and 18th centuries, objects in the exhibition include painting and sculpture, ceramics and glass, metalwork and furniture, textiles and dress, prints and drawings. One of the exhibition’s highlights is the extraordinary 18th-century tapestry “The March.” Measuring more than 12 feet high, the large wool tapestry is part of “The Art of War” series created in Brussels in 1718. The tapestry was the most expensive and prestigious form of pictorial art between 1600 and 1800 and often commemorated military exploits.
Here are the activities scheduled for tonight’s Last Call:
- Enjoy Cocktails on the Skyline on the roof terrace with live music. Cool off and create something artsy and fun with hands-on art activities in the main lobby.
- Register for fabulous door prizes to be given away each hour.
- Hear Tallgrass Strings with vocalist Erica Thomas in the atrium from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by a second performance in the Julie Heffernan exhibition from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
- Snap a princely photo with friends in the photobooth in Founders Hall. Have your face or body painted by artist Clarissa Sharp on the roof terrace from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Look and learn with curator talks in “Princely Treasures” at 6 p.m. and the Julie Heffernan exhibit at 7 p.m.
- Take part in Drop-in Drawing from 6 to 9 p.m. and try your hand at drawing from artworks on view in the second-floor British galleries. Artist Joni Derr will provide materials and instruction on basic drawing techniques during this come-and-go session.
- Revel with the royals as writer-director Sofia Coppola’s 2006 biopic “Marie Antoinette” screens in the Noble Theater at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for members, $8 for adults and $6 for seniors.
-BAM
“Static Squared” free film and music event kicks off tonight at IAO Gallery
Jabee (The Oklahoman Archives)
Denver Duncan (The Oklahoman Archives)
“Static Squared,” a collaboration between NewsOK.com’s “Static” music series and IAO Gallery’s “Static” film series, kicks off a series of monthly performances at 6:30 tonight with a performance by singer-songwriter Denver Duncan and rapper Jabee at the gallery, 706 W Sheridan.
Oklahoma City rapper Jabee, who is currently working on his new album, “Leap of Faith,” will share the stage with Duncan, both of whom have been previously featured on “Static,” hosted by Assistant Entertainment Editor George Lang of The Oklahoman and produced by NewsOK.com’s Kyle Roberts. This will be the first “Static” session in which the two artists have collaborated, according to NewsOK.com.
IAO Gallery’s “Static” series features one hour of short films. Admission is free to the event, which is sponsored by IAO, NewsOK.com and Joey’s Pizzeria. For more information, go to www.iaogallery.org.
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What to do in Oklahoma on May 10, 2012: See Reduxion Theatre’s world premiere production of “Sense and Sensibility”
Watch Reduxion Theatre’s world premiere production of “Sense and Sensibility,” a modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic story, at 8 tonight, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at its Broadway Theater, 1613 N Broadway Ave.
An after-party with refreshments from Cafe Nova will follow tonight’s performance.
Performances continue through May 26.
NewsOK host Angi Bruss recently sat down with playwright/director Erin Woods and actress Jennifer Wells to talk about the new version of the well-loved tale.
For more information, go to www.reduxiontheatre.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Oklahoma City Museum of Art celebrating Last Call for “Princely Treasures” Thursday evening
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art will celebrate the final week of the special exhibition “Princely Treasures: European Masterpieces 1600-1800 from the Victoria and Albert Museum” at a Last Call event from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday.
The museum’s Roof Terrace will be open until 10:30 p.m. Admission after 5 p.m. is $5; admission for members is free.
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is the only U.S. venue on the international tour for “Princely Treasures”; the exhibit will next return to London.
“Princely Treasures” showcases highlights of the Victoria and Albert’s European collections, which will be redisplayed in an elegant and newly refurbished suite of galleries, opening after 2014.
Reflecting the elegant and aristocratic life of the 17th and 18th centuries, objects in the exhibition include painting and sculpture, ceramics and glass, metalwork and furniture, textiles and dress, prints and drawings. One of the exhibition’s highlights is the extraordinary 18th-century tapestry “The March.” Measuring more than 12 feet high, the large wool tapestry is part of “The Art of War” series created in Brussels in 1718. The tapestry was the most expensive and prestigious form of pictorial art between 1600 and 1800 and often commemorated military exploits.
Check out the video tour of the exhibit with Beth McKillop, deputy director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in this Wednesday Video Spotlight.
Here are the activities scheduled for Thursday’s Last Call:
- Enjoy Cocktails on the Skyline on the roof terrace with live music. Cool off and create something artsy and fun with hands-on art activities in the main lobby.
- Register for fabulous door prizes to be given away each hour.
- Hear Tallgrass Strings with vocalist Erica Thomas in the atrium from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by a second performance in the Julie Heffernan exhibition from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
- Snap a princely photo with friends in the photobooth in Founders Hall. Have your face or body painted by artist Clarissa Sharp on the roof terrace from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Look and learn with curator talks in “Princely Treasures” at 6 p.m. and the Julie Heffernan exhibit at 7 p.m.
- Take part in Drop-in Drawing from 6 to 9 p.m. and try your hand at drawing from artworks on view in the second-floor British galleries. Artist Joni Derr will provide materials and instruction on basic drawing techniques during this come-and-go session.
- Revel with the royals as writer-director Sofia Coppola’s 2006 biopic “Marie Antoinette” screens in the Noble Theater at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for members, $8 for adults and $6 for seniors.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: JD McPherson to play “Conan” June 6
Tulsa-area singer-songwriter JD McPherson will play on “Conan” on June 6, he announced on his official Facebook page. Conan O’Brien’s late-night show airs at 10 p.m. weekdays on TBS.
Named as an “artist you should know” in 2011 by NPR, McPherson made his Rounder Records debut last month with the release of “Signs and Signifiers,” “a rockin’, bluesy, forward-thinking album that subtly breaks the conventions of most vintage rock projects.” (All Music Guide).
Known for energetic live shows, McPherson and his band are touring the U.S. tour in support of “Signs and Signifiers.” Stops along the tour are planned for Boston, Chicago and a West Coast run beginning June 1; in addition, McPherson will play home-state shows May 18 at VZD’s in Oklahoma City, May 19 at Tulsa May Fest and June 13 at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa.
With more than 400,000 YouTube views, McPherson’s self-directed video for the first single “North Side Gal,” was shot by the band in the Hi-Style studio and features the classic gear used for the recording of the album, according to a news release.
Hailing from Broken Arrow, the former art teacher traveled to Chicago to record “Signs and Signifiers” at Hi-Style studio, which is housed in the attic of producer/bassist/studio owner Jimmy Sutton’s home and is 100 percent analog. “I have recorded this style of music in the digital realm, and it just doesn’t quite “sing” as much. Slamming that ¼-inch tape really hard produced the most beautiful distortion I’ve ever heard,” says McPherson.
Featuring JD McPherson (lead and backing vocals, guitar), Jimmy Sutton (bass), and Alex Hall (drums, piano, organ), the album was recorded through a collection of vintage microphones into an old 1960’s Berlant 1/4-inch tape machine. The 12-track album kicks off with the fervent pulse of the first single, “North Side Gal,” and segues into one of the albums two covers, McPherson’s take on “Country Boy,” an old R&B number originally written and recorded by Tiny Kennedy.
The album hosts an array of guest musicians, including Scott Ligon on piano (NRBQ’s Terry Adams Rock & Roll Quartet); Jonathan Doyle (Nick Curran & the Lowlifes, White Ghost Shivers); Chicago’s Josh Bell (The Del Moroccos) on tenor and baritone saxophones; Susan Voelz (Alejandro Escovedo, Poi Dog Pondering) on violin; Allison Chesley (Helen Money) on cello, and Joel Paterson (The Modern Sounds) lends choice guitar work to the Joey Simone classic “Your Love (All That I’m Missing).”
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Wednesday Video Spotlight: Guitar Center and Slash team up for contest to give unsigned bands a chance to open for the guitarist
Guitar Center – the world’s largest music retailer – and legendary guitarist Slash have teamed up to offer an opportunity to 20 unsigned American bands. By submitting an original song at www.GCOnstage.com, bands can enter for the chance to open for Slash on his upcoming fall tour, supporting his new album, “Apocalyptic Love,” out May 22, featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators.
In the fourth installment of Guitar Center On-Stage, 20 bands hand-selected as Slash’s opening acts will perform at stops on the tour closest to their hometown. At the closing of the tour, one of the opening bands will be named by Slash as the grand prize winner of Guitar Center On-Stage.
Oklahoma City is one of the markets that is part of this year’s Guitar Center On-Stage.
Not only will the 20 selected bands be opening for one of the world’s greatest guitarists, but they also will be receiving a tour support prize pack that includes gear from Ernie Ball, Zoom, Dunlop, Monster Cable, Pro-Mark and Converse. The top performing band on the tour, as selected by Slash, will be named the grand prize winner and take home $10,000 in guitars from Gibson and Epiphone, a $5,000 shopping spree at Guitar Center and much more.
How to Enter: Through June 30, unsigned bands across the United States are invited to submit their unique music track at www.GCOnstage.com. The 20 bands handpicked by Slash will be announced in August.
Guitar Center On-Stage: Slash Grand Prize Winner to Receive:
- $10k in guitars from Gibson and Epiphone
- A $5k shopping spree at Guitar Center
- New gear and products from Ernie Ball, Zoom, Dunlop, Monster Cable, Pro-Mark, Orange County Drums and Percussion, and Converse.
“I’m a strong believer that the best way to get your music heard is to get out there and play shows,” said Slash in the contest announcement. “There are tons of talented bands that simply don’t have the resources to go on tour, so I’m stoked to be able to host them on my tour and at the same time introduce my fans to great, undiscovered artists.”
The 20 chosen opening acts will each perform in one of the following markets:
Atlanta
Los Angeles
Austin, Texas
Chicago
Cleveland, Ohio
Dallas
Denver, Colo.
Detroit, Mich.
Houston, Texas
Indianapolis, Ind.
Kansas City, Mo.
Nashville, Tenn.
New York
Norfolk, Va.
Oklahoma City
Philadelphia
Phoenix, Ariz.
San Francisco
Sayreville, N.J.
Washington, D.C.
Guitar Center On-Stage exemplifies Guitar Center’s ongoing commitment to developing unique programming that provides musicians with the opportunity and exposure to further their success. Previous editions of Guitar Center On-Stage featured Janes Addiction, Mötley Crüe and KISS, with Mötley Crüe’s winning band, The Last Vegas, going on to win iTunes critics’ 2009 “Rock Single of the Year” with their hit single “I’m Bad.”
-BAM
Ticket prices announced for Carrie Underwood’s Oklahoma City and Tulsa shows
Ticket prices were announced today for Carrie Underwood’s home state shows.
The Checotah native will play Oct. 25 at Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday and have been priced at $45, $55 and $65, plus applicable fees.
Oklahoma City tickets will be available at Chesapeake Energy Arena box office, area Homeland stores, by phone at (800) 745-3000 and online through Ticketmaster.com
For more information, go to www.chesapeakeenergy.com.
The 2005 “American Idol” winner will perform Nov. 21 at Tulsa’s BOK Center. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. May 18 and have been priced at $46, $56 and $66.
Tulsa tickets will be available online at www.bokcenter.com, at Arby’s Box Office, at all Tickets.com outlets or by calling (866) 7-BOKCTR.
Underwood’s home state shows are part of “The Blown Away Tour,” in support of her fourth studio album.
“Blown Away,” makes history today by debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, making her only the second country artist in the 47-year history of the chart to have each of her first four albums debut at No. 1, according to a news release.
With more than 267,000 albums sold – according to the announcement from Underwood’s publicist, which cites Nielsen SoundScan – “Blown Away” debuts at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart making the Checotah native only the second country artist in history to have three consecutive albums debut at No. 1.
In addition to holding the No. 1 spot on both the country and all-genre album sales charts, “Blown Away” also holds the No. 1 spot in digital sales, with more than 107,000 copies sold, making “Blown Away” country’s best-selling digital album debut since 2010.
“Good Girl,” the feisty lead single from “Blown Away,” has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of more than 500,000 digital singles, according to RIAA.com. The song is currently Top 10 and climbing on the country airplay charts.
To read my recent Carrie Underwood feature, click here. To read my review of “Blown Away,” click here.
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Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 and country charts
Oklahoma country music superstar Carrie Underwood’s fourth album, “Blown Away,” makes history today by debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, making her only the second country artist in the 47-year history of the chart to have each of her first four albums debut at No. 1, according to a news release.
With more than 267,000 albums sold – according to the announcement from Underwood’s publicist, which cites Nielsen SoundScan – “Blown Away” debuts at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart making the Checotah native only the second country artist in history to have three consecutive albums debut at No. 1.
In addition to holding the No. 1 spot on both the country and all-genre album sales charts, “Blown Away” also holds the No. 1 spot in digital sales, with more than 107,000 copies sold, making “Blown Away” country’s best-selling digital album debut since 2010.
“Good Girl,” the feisty lead single from “Blown Away,” has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of more than 500,000 digital singles, according to RIAA.com. The song is currently Top 10 and climbing on the country airplay charts.
Since releasing “Some Hearts” in 2005, the 2005 “American Idol” winner has sold more than 14 million albums with “Some Hearts,” 2007’s “Carnival Ride” and 2009’s “Play On,” making her the best-selling “Idol” in the United States, according to the release. She’s amassed 14 No. 1 singles, six of which she co-wrote, and became the first country artist in history and the only “Idol” winner ever to achieve 10 No. 1 singles from their first two albums.
She is a five-time Grammy winner, a two-time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, a three-time Country Music Association and ACM Female Vocalist winner, and a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Underwood currently leads the nominations for the upcoming CMT Music Awards with five. The fan-voted awards will be handed out June 6 in Nashville, Tenn. To vote, go to www.CMT.com.
The Oklahoma native will embark in fall on a new North American tour that will include two Oklahoma stops: “The Blown Away Tour” will include an Oct. 25 stop at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Tickets for her Oklahoma City show will go on sale Friday, according to a representative from the venue. Prices are $45, $55 and $65. For more information, go to www.chesapeakearena.com.
The singer-songwriter then will return to Oklahoma to play Nov. 21 at Tulsa’s BOK Center. Tickets will go on sale May 18, according to a venue spokeswoman. Ticket prices are $46, $56 and $66. For more information, go to www.bokcenter.com.
To read my recent Carrie Underwood feature, click here. To read my review of “Blown Away,” click here.
-BAM
Interview: Pat Green gets back under covers with “Songs We Wish We’d Written II,” plays CD release show tonight at the Wormy Dog
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman. To read my early review of “Songs We Wish We’d Written II,” click here.
Pat Green gets back to the covers
The Texas country music star just debuted his new album “Songs We Wish We’d Written II” and will play a CD release show Wednesday (tonight) at the Wormy Dog Saloon.
Pat Green is spending the summer spreading the word about his sequel.
The Texas troubadour hasn’t gone Hollywood, but he does dabble in pop and rock along with country on “Songs We Wish We’d Written II.” The new album is the follow-up to his well-received 2001 covers collection “Songs We Wish We’d Written,” which paid homage to the music of Waylon Jennings, Billy Joe Shaver and Steve Winwood, among others.
“I figure if every 10 years I put out an album of everybody else’s stuff, that can be fun,” Green said in a phone interview last fall. “Man, we got in there with all the usual suspects: Jack Ingram and Cory Morrow and Walt Wilkins and a bunch of my friends and just had a good time.”
Green will play a CD release show at 8 p.m. Wednesday (tonight) at the Wormy Dog Saloon. Admission is $15, which includes a copy of the new album, and the Texas country star will be signing CDs after the show.
Released Tuesday, the album marks the former RCA/BNA recording artist’s first on Sugar Hill Records, a sister label to Vanguard, one of the longest-running indies in America.
“It’s just a more independent record label that kind of lets the artists do what they want to do,” Green said.
“This idea and this particular covers album, it was a just-for-the-hell of it kind of thing and it turned out to be a lot of fun the first go-around. And we had some really good success with it so we’re gonna do it again. If it works the first time, don’t break it.”
While he partnered with Morrow for the first “Songs We Wish We’d Written,” Green took on the sequel as a solo project. But he got several guest stars to perform on the follow-up and reunited with Morrow for one track, a faithful rendition of Lyle Lovett’s “If I Had a Boat.”
Not surprisingly, Green’s new covers collection pays tribute to many of his fellow Lone Star State songsmiths: He opens the album with Joe Ely’s “All Just to Get to You,” gets toes tapping with Jon Randall’s “Austin” and makes earnest romance with Liz Rose’s and Wilkins’ “If It Weren’t for You.”
After all, Green is considered one of the sub-genre’s top artists. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter received the Decade Award from the Texas Music Chart as the most played artist on Texas country radio from 2000-2010, and many young stars on the scene cite him as an influence.
“I sometimes worry and think they should set their sights higher than me,” he said wryly. “But I’m sure thankful that I’ve had the opportunity in life to be at least in the front portion of the line as it comes to a brand of music. I think that I happened to be kind of getting onto the scene just about the same time that the scene was really starting to pop.” So that really helped my life out and … if it rubs off on other people or helps other people get here to the same place, I think that’s fantastic.”
“There’s nothing bad about this job except for missing home every now and then,” added the married father of two. “We get to just sit around and make stuff up and sing about it and then get back on the tour bus and do it again tomorrow night. This is a great, great thing to do for a living, and then to inspire other people to do the same thing, wow, what a treat.”
Green’s own musical influences range far outside the borders of Texas and country. The 40-year-old was raised in a blended family of nine children, so he grew up listening to a bit of everything, from ‘80s pop and country to Motown and classical. That eclecticism is reflected on his latest album.
His smooth Texas twang mingles with layers of piano and strings to deliver a countrified version of Tom Petty’s, and Ingram helps him convert Todd Snider’s raucous rocker “I Am Too” into a rowdy boot-stomper. Green and Collective Soul frontman Ed Roland strip down the Georgia band’s 1995 smash “The World I Know” into a soulful duet with just a few subtle country flourishes.
“That song was a big fun song for us in the ‘90s, and I got to know Ed through some charity work that we did. And I was like, ‘I’ll put it on the record if you’ll sing with me,’ and he said yes,” Green said.
Despite his enthusiasm for covering songs he wishes he’d written, Green hopes to get into the studio this year to make an album that focuses on songs he actually wrote.
“The writing process is never-ending,” he said. “There’s probably 20 songs right now that I feel comfortable are good enough to go on any record. You just gotta whittle ‘em down, and … it’s kind of like putting together an outfit to wear. You don’t wanna wear plaid and stripes.”
IN CONCERT
Pat Green album release show
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday (tonight). Doors open at 6 p.m.
Where: Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan.
Admission: $15, which includes a copy of his new album “Songs We Wish We’d Written II.”
Information: www.wormydog.com.
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What to do in Oklahoma on May 9, 2012: Hear Shinedown at the Diamond Ballroom
Shinedown
Today’s featured event:
Hear Shinedown and special guests Emphatic at 7:30 tonight at the Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S Eastern Ave.
For more information, go to www.diamondballroom.net.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
