Tag: Oklahoma

The Christian indie scene suffered a great loss last week, losing notable drummer Geoff Riley, known best for his immaculate time-keeping skills in the band Puller. The band was formed by Mike Lewis (ex-For Love Not Lisa, secular grunge/post-hardcore band), and hailed from Oklahoma. Mike posted the news of Geoff’s death, and some very poignant thoughts about Riley’s life and artistic contributions to the independent music scene via Instagram. Because it can’t really be said any better than this, I’m linking the post and including the entire text here: Geoff Riley Instagram Announcement “Hearing the news of my friend and music partner Geoff Riley passing is an overwhelming devastating loss.… Continued →

Unwed Sailor announce the release of a new album. Entitled “Underwater Over There”, the album is available to pre-order! You can pre-order the album now on at the band’s official online store (https://unwedsailorstore.com), and on their Bandcamp page (https://unwedsailor.bandcamp.com/album/underwater-over-there). Be sure to watch the video for the first single “Final Feather” on Youtube, and you can also stream “Final Feather” on the streaming service of your choice.… Continued →

Independent Christian music lost another legend recently. Jimmy Hotz (inventor/producer/solo artist/band member/producer/engineer/electronic music pioneer/author/multi-instrumentalist–and we’re not even exaggerating) died in June. Hotz first recorded in CCM in the 1970s with the group Dove, and then a handful of other mostly CCM artists before recording his solo album–and many would say his magnum opus–Beyond the Crystal Sea, released in 1980 on Oklahoma City-based Vision Records. Fortunately for fans, Born Twice (a division of Retroactive/Boone’s Overstock) re-issued the album in 2010. Hotz wasn’t content to release one of the greatest Christian rock albums of all time (this claim is verifiable too, repeatedly making appearances in all-time lists from reputable sources like HM, CCM, and various others).… Continued →

This was one of those ‘one and done’ bands, meaning they only released one album as Lovelorn. However, they were connected directly and indirectly to a number of other projects. Vocalist Jayson Holmes had been in metalcore band Eso-Charis, and later formed The Handshake Murders (who mostly recorded on secular labels). Corey Putman (Eso-Charis, Norma Jean) and Arthur Green (Eso-Charis, Living Sacrifice) also made appearances on the album. The album is a wonderfully strange concoction of emo-core, hardcore, indie rock and math rock–almost like Roadside Monument meets Coalesce, but with bits of Karate thrown in just because.… Continued →

Warning-Do NOT listen to this SOTD at full volume if you don’t like heavy worship music. I’ve know musician Kevin Tubby for a few years now since seeing him at several Audiofeed’s. I have also listen to his bands Obliteration & Death List before Broken Flesh. BF just released a live album which cleans up their live sound. I wanted to show the live video to show how fast their drummer is. Check em out if you already haven’t. & these lyrics too. Yeshua without you there is no life, father messiah into your hands i put my life, lion of the tribe of judah.… Continued →

Pulling from my childhood, Gary’s The Light Inside was a constant in my CD player. I know he’s country, but he also rocks w/ Floodgates & other tracks Finally, Sweet Glow of Mercy & album opener Where are the Broken Hearts? are 90s staples. He was formerly married to Amy Grant which was pretty big news back in the day. Check him out as he has done multiple endeavors over the years. And, he is NOT the Gary Chapman who wrote the Five Love Languages. … Continued →

Pop punk Philmore were a band that released some fun songs back in the early 2000s era. Most would remember Our Finest Hour, but my friend loves Fishy. The members currently work in a few different fields. One is a fireman, one realtor & one photographer. Enjoy my fave!     … Continued →

Pillar is a band I really got into while I was stationed in the military. My friend & I weren’t to so many shows I lost count. I remember seeing Pillar w/ EastWest & The Benjamin Gate in Greenville, SC. I didn’t get into their stuff much after Where Do We Go From Here save a few songs. Fireproof is just a staple int heir career, but Simply has lyrics that I have not forgotten over the years. I’ve made it so hard on myself, turning my back on how you felt Seeing a lie that led me on, leaving a love that did no wrong That’s what it took for me to say That you simply love Despite all the stupid things I’ve done It’s hard to remember That you simply love Even though I know not what I’ve done It’s hard to remember That you simply love I’ve tried to do all this on my own Not thinking once of what you’ve shown All that I’ve done has blinded me To everything that you have for me I want you to know that I finally see I don’t know why I can’t understand I don’t know why I can’t comprehend … Continued →

I haven’t yet featured any post-rock on the Song of the Day series, so it’s time to remedy that. Circle of Birds was a one-off collaboration between members of Ester Drang, Unwed Sailor and Lasso. The vast ensemble (encompassing nine members!) allowed for a true spirit of improvisation. The resulting 3-song EP is entirely instrumental, but it’s a very satisfying listen. Characteristic for the genre, 2 of the 3 songs clock in at over 7 minutes long. Check out the title track here.… Continued →

Harp & Lyre remind me of an emo metalcore band from Oklahoma. I have always liked this song for the keys & the song name. There is a decent IVM interview from the band here: https://www.indievisionmusic.com/interviews/harp-lyre-2/ … Continued →

The Agony Scene is friggin’ heavy. I remember it seemd this band & AILD came out at roughly the same time. I loved this debut & not As IU Lay Dying better as the song quality was tons better. Plus I was into the goth & metal scene & fishnets &  eyeliner & Hot Topic & all that. Crowd surfed at Norma Jean shows & hung out with Zao & Stretch Armstrong at New Brookland Tavern in Columbia, SC. Well this song is a killer tune, but also check out the debut as there isn’t a dud on it.… Continued →

The one, the only, the legendary hardcore band from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mr. Bishop’s Fist only released one 3-song demo, and had 2 compilation appearances, before they broke up and moved to the Pacific Northwest. So why include the band here when they made such a small impact? Well, despite their limited output, the band actually had an incredible impact. First, because the songs were so good, so brutal, so raw and real, fans and collectors to this day still talk about the band. Second, members of the band wound up in a number of other bands that were equally influential.… Continued →

Fight the Fade is a modern rock band from Tulsa, Oklahoma that remind me of a harder edge 7eventh Time Down for some reason.  The band has released 5 albums thus far & several catchy singles including some amazing songs including Rise, Seasons, Lanterns, Falling & some great covers from Adella, Linkin Park & this SOTD from Echosmith. … Continued →

Awake is the 2nd reincarnation of the heavy metal band Eternal Decision with an alternative rock band Veehr being the third. I looked for this & another called More Like You for years when I ended up having a conversation with one of the band members. The awesome dude sent me the mp3s of the whole album & I was stoked! A Few years later it appears YouTube has finally gained a couple fan made videos of the song listed here today. Anyways check out this one & More Like You which was a really hard choice to come to between the 2.… Continued →

Eternal Decision had gotten some flack about sounding too much like early Metallica (a la ED’s song Hunger) just like another metal band, Jesus Freaks.  I don’t mind because a lot of music sounds like so & so. This song, pulled from their 1997 Godfather Records S/T, in particular was destined to be a fave of mine because of the Scooby Doo intro! I’ve even had some Facebook conversations with vocalist Joe Chambless & drummer Bill Meeks some years ago. Some other bands the members were in worth checking out are Awake which does 2 greats More Like You & Carry Me along with a more laid band rock band Veehr that has the catchy Everyone.… Continued →

Oklahoma’s Chaotic Resemblance plays music reminiscent of 80s hard rock/glam metal. This review is in high expectations of their upcoming release which will probably sport their most current single Unto The Lamb which features Stryper’s very own Oz Fox who has undergone some health issues recently but is recovering. Plus, they just have a cool name & my buddy Kelly & I got the chance to see them live a couple years back before this whole Covid hit. They have new pretty cool t-shirts as well on their site: https://chaoticresemblance.com/collections/all… Continued →

90s quirky alternative band Mellowdramatic Wallflowers have recently made all their releases available for free download here. The Oklahoma-based band remained independent throughout their existence, but released four full-length albums during their time. The band reluctantly changed their name to Admiral Twin (inspired by a historic Tulsa movie theater) to avoid confusion when the similarly-named mainstream rock band The Wallflowers gained in popularity. The Mellowdramatic Wallflowers might appeal to fans of They Might Be Giants, The Ass Ponys, Hokus Pick and other quirky bands.… Continued →